Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

So sorry I am late in posting today! I overslept, had things to do this morning, and today is Sebastian‘s birthday. Crazy morning!

5 questions are posted as spoilers; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #NancyDrewBR .

Next month, we uncover The Clue in the Crumbling Wall. 😮

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze

Roary47 Happy Birthday Sebastian! I hope the rest of your day runs more smoothly. Thank you for posting the discussion questions. 💛 5d

Ruthiella No worries! Happy birthday to Sebastian! 🥳😻 5d

Sace Happy birthday Sebastian! 5d

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DGRachel Happy Birthday Sebastian! 🥳 5d

Librarybelle Thank you, @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @DGRachel ! I hate oversleeping, something I rarely do, and that threw me off. My priority this morning was to make sure Sebastian felt some extra love and received extra yummies from me! 5d

BarkingMadRead Happy birthday to Sebastian 4d

DebinHawaii Happy Birthday to Sebastian! 🎉🎉🎉 4d

Librarybelle Thank you, @BarkingMadRead @DebinHawaii ! 4d

MemoirsForMe Happy Birthday Sebastian! 🎉 4d

Librarybelle Thank you, @MemoirsForMe ! 4d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

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5. We talked about the spookiness of the story, but I always like to compare the adventures in the books (what does that say about me??? 😂)

Think of the dangers Nancy faces in this one--even Mr. March had a rock thrown at him in the beginning of the book. Any stand outs this time? I'd not be happy if a spider, poisonous or not, was on the loose and approaching me. #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk Her stealing the chemicals from the scarf factory (?) stood out to me. While probably not admissible in court I loved that part. 5d

Roary47 @Bookwormjillk I didn‘t even think of that! It‘s true she did swoop them. I thought it was interesting that she knew someone that she disliked, and that girl still left her alone to wander the factory. Like I mentioned earlier I didn‘t think the spider was all that scary, but Mr March getting in the way and alerting the intruder felt like he was purposely trying to sabotage the investigation. Although she did seem really alone and needed backup! 5d

Ruthiella While she was not conked on the head, she was imprisoned-very common predicament for the sleuth! 😅 And the industrial espionage was pretty nail biting, though I found it a little cavalier of Mr. Drew to ask her to do it. 5d

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Sace I actually liked the industrial espionage story better than the stolen music story. 5d

DGRachel I‘m with @Sace in liking the industrial espionage aspects more. I do love a good attic search for hidden “treasures” but I think Mr March‘s character, his insistence that the music was his son‘s based on having heard the melody and the constant woe-is-me made me less interested in the outcome. I found him a pathetic character instead of sympathetic, if that makes sense, and that annoyed me. 5d

dabbe Nancy being captured and tightly bound by the culprit leaves her completely helpless. Unlike other “bound“ moments in other books, she literally can't wiggle her way out of this one, truly becoming the damsel who needs a #nednickersonrescuefromoutoftheblue. 5d

DebinHawaii @dabbe I feel like George & Bess could have done the spider stepping! 👞🕷️🥿 Okay, maybe not Bess! 🤣🤣🤣 4d

Ruthiella @DebinHawaii Don‘t sell Bess short! Remember in the case of the exploding oranges aka The Moss Covered Mansion , she ran to a doctor and fed the attacking bobcat tranquilizer-doped meat! 😂 4d

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella You bring up a very valid point! 😂 4d

MariaW I liked the Mr Drew part of the mystery more interesting as well, Nancy‘s mystery was more about poking around the attic cluelessly. (edited) 3d

kwmg40 I found Nancy's spying in the factory the most tense part of the story. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

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4. Though in the story, we do not see much of Bess and George. And in the 1970 edition, Ned is a very random insert into the story...I almost rolled my eyes thinking of the “knight in shining armor“ just happening upon Nancy in distress.

Instead, we have the Marches and Effie. Any thoughts on the secondary characters? More in the comments regarding Effie and a theory from one reader. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle While most reviewers believe that Effie is the Effie from the Larkspur story--Effie is Hannah's niece--one reviewer thinks this is a different Effie. Nowhere in this story is Effie mentioned as Hannah's niece; this reviewer's thoughts indicate that Effie is a stereotypical non-white servant character as portrayed in literature in the early 1900s, and her mannerisms suggest the stereotype's exaggeration. I think she's the niece. Thoughts? 5d

Bookwormjillk I kind of was on team Effie. If my employer left me alone in a falling down house with poison spiders I'd want to go home too! Honestly where is HR when you need them? I thought she was the niece as well. 5d

Roary47 @Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle I also think it was the niece. Nancy knew her and picked her to help our father/granddaughter duo. Effie doesn‘t seem like a common name/nickname so I didn‘t think much of it. Effie in the other book helped out in maid like duties too didn‘t she? “Where is HR” I love that! 🤣 It‘s true she got bit and sick and then she is being left alone. Poor Effie! 5d

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Ruthiella I just assumed it was the same Effie from before. And she was a bit of a dingbat in Larkspur Lane too. 5d

DGRachel While they didn‘t mention Effie being the niece, her name was dropped like she was a character we‘d seen before, so I assumed she‘s the niece. I agree that she does have non-white servant stereotypical mannerisms, but I still think she‘s the niece and that the ditzy air is the “young working class girls are not as sophisticated as brilliant Nancy Drew” and therefore classist not racist in this instance. 5d

dabbe Did anyone read the 1944 version? I didn't, but in researching, it definitely had Effie exhibiting more lower-class stereotypical behavior, especially with her dialect. Just for fun, I asked AI if these Effies were the same, and AI said NO! 😱 ... quite emphatically, I might add. Even though they have the same name, AI stated that this was l“ikely due to the Stratemeyer Syndicate‘s reuse of minor character names across ghostwritten books.“ 🤷‍♀️ 5d

BarkingMadRead Effie is such a space case, she makes me nuts, and don‘t even get me started on Ned showing up. I‘m sure the 70s girls swooned 🤣 4d

bookandbedandtea @Roary47 @Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle I thought Effie was the same character from the earlier book. She worked as a "flighty" maid before and she seemed to react much the same way in this book so it made sense to me that she was the same person we had already met. As for Ned showing up, I love him, generally, but this came out of nowhere and struck me as annoying. Would have made more sense for it to be Mr Drew. 4d

CogsOfEncouragement Same name + same role = same character. I love a Ned that is around to take direction from ND and do just as she says. This out-of-nowhere-Ned was a disappointment. George and Bess should have saved ND if the writer couldn't figure out how to have Ned in the plot. Mr. March is useless, but I guess that is the point. ND needed to come do things he couldn't seem to get done. He was too old and Susan was too young. 4d

DebinHawaii I think she is the niece. She‘s also the one who packed Nancy‘s passport into the trunk in the Brassbound Trunk. @dabbe Interesting on the AI but ask it what it‘s sources are because I asked it once if a particular character died at the end of a book because I needed fair warning & it said yes & I questioned it and then got who actually died, so 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also, I must repeat my response to an earlier question, Ned came in & stepped on a spider ⬇️ (edited) 4d

DebinHawaii … to “save” Nancy. I‘m not ready to knight him yet! 🕷️😱🤣 4d

dabbe @DebinHawaii Oh, I know AI gets things WAY wrong! For some reason I find great pleasure in telling it that it was wrong, but then I think I'm enabling it by making it smarter. 😅 And good call on Ned. He's nowhere near ready to be a knight yet. 😍 4d

DebinHawaii @dabbe I like telling it that it‘s wrong too! 😉🤣 4d

MariaW I loved the relationship of Mr March and his granddaughter and how he tries everything to male sure he can care for her. And I agree on Effie being the niece as well. There must be a character that is firghtened a lot, so that Nancy can outshine them with her bravery and this time it‘s Effie. 3d

kwmg40 I would have liked more George and Bess and I agree that Ned showing up out of nowhere and saving Nancy seemed somewhat artificial. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

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3. An element I picked up on in this story was the extra spooky tone, and that could be because of the black widow spiders (I think I would pass up on the mystery and drive off into the sunset) and the skeleton. I did not read this one as a kid, but I think it would have given me nightmares (I'm very squeamish).

What did you think of the spooky level? #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk I loved it. There's something about an old skeleton in an attic with hidden rooms that makes me happy. 5d

Roary47 @Bookwormjillk I agree I really enjoyed this spooky level. I double as an entomologist when I focused my degree on plants and bugs…. So I‘m probably outside the norm in not thinking ONE spider was scary. Give me an 8 legged freaks scenario and then I‘ll be creeped out the skeleton in the attic was pretty creepy since it moved a few times! 😱 5d

Ruthiella Agree, this one doubled down on the spookiness! Skeletons, spiders, secret compartments and rooms…😱 5d

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Sace I found this pretty spooky as well especially the music coming from seemingly no where. 5d

DGRachel I loved the spookiness, especially with the skeleton, but I do wish Nancy would get a functioning flashlight. How she managed not to set the dusty old attic on fire with her candles is beyond me. 😂 5d

dabbe @DGRachel 😂🙌🏻😂 5d

dabbe I particularly loved the 1970 cover art (featuring a skeletal hand and candlelit shadows): it leans into Gothic horror, evoking the DARK SHADOWS aesthetic of the era. And how can you not love the literal skeleton in the closet that figuratively holds the secrets, too? And that creepy attic! The March mansion‘s attic is described as dark, cluttered, and filled with hidden dangers, you know, like black widow spiders. Sure, use them to make gossamer. 5d

BarkingMadRead Very spooky in the best way, I‘m not a fan of spiders so that helped and I loved the spooky attic 4d

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I'm with you! I cringed every time she went up there with a candle! ONE candle! 🤦‍♀️ 4d

CogsOfEncouragement I think this has a good level of peril for a chapter book. And the use of poisonous spiders by the bad guy because he has an obsession with them would make perfect sense to my 1970s kiddo self. I grew up where we would find them in the garage sometimes. I knew to carefully kill them on sight. So, scared of them in a way that respected their danger but not too scared to deal with them. 4d

DebinHawaii Spiders plural are scary & black widows scare me from childhood. I like a good spooky attic & skeleton. @bookandbedandtea & @DGRachel if mystery is you business, you need extra flashlights & batteries! 🔦🔦🔦 4d

MariaW I thought the spiders were pretty scary because most people are afraid they can be poisonous. But I laughed hard at rhe skeleton in the closet … ehm … wardrobe, it sounded like a joke right away. 3d

kwmg40 I liked the extra bit of spookiness that the spiders and fake skeleton brought. The setting did have some haunted-house vibes even if we knew that there wasn't any supernatural element. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

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2. In the previous question, we thought about the novel overall. Now, let's dive into the plot and the mysteries themselves. I saw lots of great reviews so far about this 21st in the series...some #LittenDetectives noting the two mysteries intertwined nicely. What do you think of the plot? Any aspects completely unbelievable? Any plot point you're dying to talk to others about? #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk Almost a little too well, but that's what we expect now right? I liked how feisty Nancy was in this one standing up to all the bad guys and sneaking into factories. 5d

Roary47 @Bookwormjillk The factory sneaking was interesting. I had to keep reminding myself that there probably wasn‘t cameras and security everywhere. I liked the tie in of spider silk and the spider that Nancy was trapped with, but I didn‘t really sense the danger. Like girl you are really tough… why don‘t you just squish it? Lol 5d

Ruthiella I found the coincidences too convenient, as usual. But a kid wouldn‘t care about that. And while I have a healthy fear of black widow spiders, they aren‘t predatory. The using spiders to spin silk for cloth was interesting. I thought for sure it was made up, but I googled it and while humans have not been able to actually achieve it in a large scale, it has been successfully done. 5d

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DGRachel I liked that Nancy got to work with her dad a bit more on this, that the mysteries were tied to his cases. I‘m still mad about Nancy being saved by Ned at the end, but I know that‘s a “where my head is” kind of thing. Like @Bookwormjillk I found the factory investigation fun. 5d

BarkingMadRead My tour in Costa Rica yesterday had a tarantula sighting and we talked all about what they use spiderwebs for now. Lots of really cool uses 4d

bookandbedandtea @Roary47 @Bookwormjillk I also thought the factory sneaking was fun and had to remind myself of the lack of cameras! 😄 4d

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella The coincidences did feel a bit much this time but one of my expectations about ND is that there are always two mysteries that tie together at the end so I just roll with it. 😁 4d

CogsOfEncouragement For a chapter book, I thought the tie-ins were kinda fun. I appreciated knowing that Trott threw the rock at Mr. March, I thought we might never know. Don't you just love it when the bad guy monologues all his misdeeds? 4d

DebinHawaii Yep, again River Heights is the Mecca for art, music, industry & invention & they all show up there.🤷🏻‍♀️ The coincidences & twin mysteries do get a little old, but it‘s Nancy Drew & often fun, so, I‘m okay with it. I think Nancy‘s sneaking around the factory was interesting. @CogsOfEncouragement It‘s so helpful when they do that! 🤣 4d

MariaW I like how Nancy is always able to sneak her way into houses or in this one a factory. From the point of view of bystanders she must seem innocent young woman or why would Diane follow/believe her that promply? And even though Nancy already solved 20 cases in the area the word did not get through to the Dights. 🤦‍♀️ 3d

kwmg40 I liked the undercover spying that Nancy did at the factory, even if everyone there did seem a bit too gullible. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

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1. While the 1944 and the 1970 versions are fairly similar, the 1944 version has a possible love triangle with Ned and Diane Dight. As if! 😂

Which version did you read? Overall, what did you think of the story? Better or worse than the others we have read so far? Somewhere in the middle? #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk I read 1970 but in my opinion Diane can have him! I liked this one. It was a little strange that what's his name thought he could carry out his evil plan by just letting one spider loose, but that was balanced by the skeleton and the old attic in my opinion. I'm realizing though these books are all pretty much the same and external circumstances very much influence how I feel about these books. This month I had a nice long metro ride. 5d

Roary47 I did the 1970s also and I actually like Ned. However, I‘ve read bits and pieces of series where she is older too. I was sad that the side characters were not there and Effy (spelling) was super annoying and probably scaring the little girl more. I enjoyed the creepy factor. I‘m not sure Black Widows are the worst spider though. I would be more scared of a Brown Recluse! 😱 5d

Ruthiella I like Ned too! He‘s always there for Nancy. The love triangle does sound intriguing however. 😅 I read the 1970s version, so I missed all that. Overall I found it silly but entertaining. I thought Effie AND Mr. March were annoying. But somebody‘s got to move that plot along! 😂 (edited) 5d

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Sace I read the 1970 version. I got annoyed with Mr March too @Ruthiella ! The mystery could have been solved earlier without him! 5d

DGRachel I read the 1970s version and I think it was on par with most - somewhere in the middle. I gave it a so-so because Effie and Mr March were so obnoxious and the black widow spider as murder weapon made my eyes roll. But actually, what pushed me over the edge was Ned‘s miraculous save at the end. Like dude, where have you been this whole book? I‘m glad to miss the love triangle, though. I HATE those. 5d

dabbe This one would be a middle-tiered ND for me. Too many coincidences: Ben Banks just happens to be a Dight who just happens to be in cahoots with Bushy Trott? (gotta love that name, though). Ned just happens to be there to rescue ND, our so-called damsel in distress of the moment? And at the moment of capturing Trott, George and Bess just wanna go home? And Trott just happened to know Fipp in the army? As Biden would say, “C'mon, man!“ 5d

BarkingMadRead I had the 1970 version and I‘m still mad on Nancy‘s behalf 🤣 boys are dumb! So many parallels in this one 4d

bookandbedandtea I read the 1970 version and I'm glad I did. I'm not down for a love triangle in ND books AND I can't see Ned having eyes for anyone but Nancy! I thought the events of this story was pretty typical for ND (no meteors barely missing their ship!) and I suspect child- me found the whole thing thrilling. 4d

CogsOfEncouragement 1970. This started out w/a rando rock to the head and was somewhat slow in some parts after that, IMO. I thought it was fine for a chapter book overall. What I found most irritating was the candle. ND drove back and forth from the March's home a zillion times. She is even said to have run errands at one point. Girl, pick up a battery from your house or the store. Better yet, grab a camping lantern from your garage which we all know you have. 4d

DebinHawaii Late to the party—had to wait until after work. I read the 70‘s version only & would also not be happy with a love triangle! 🤬 This was in the middle for me, just not that exciting & too much Effie. I do remember being terrified by the spiders but did have to laugh when it said Nancy pointed to the spider 2 feet away & Ned stepped on it & saved the day. That just seemed less scary than I remember it & as @Bookwormjillk said—one spider doesn‘t ⬇️ 4d

DebinHawaii … seem like a great diabolical murder plan. Bonus points for “Bushy Trott!” 🤣 4d

MariaW I‘ve read the 1970 version as well, so no love triangle for me. But I think it would have heated up things a little bit. And I was already wondering why Ned was appearing so suddenly at the end of the story. And I have to admit I am getting more and more annoyed with the stories‘ structure. It the same every single time. (edited) 3d

kwmg40 I'd read the 1970 version and also happy for no love triangle. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

pick

**I‘m running a bit behind for the discussion Tuesday, but will post the questions ASAP!**

Light pick. This one had a lot of good, creepy elements—spooky attic, possible disembodied sounds, and yucky spiders—but the character of Effie was so terribly distracting and annoying. Nancy would have done well to use one of her friends to help her with the Marches in this one.

#NancyDrewBR : discussion Tuesday!!

Ruthiella Lots of “classic” elements in this one. 6d

Sace I‘m curious about the Effie character. I want to know the history and origins because I almost wonder if in the 1944 version the character was a stereotype that they tried to remake in the 1970 version. At least that‘s how it read to me. (Have we seen Effie before?) 6d

Librarybelle @Ruthiella Yes! 6d

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Librarybelle @Sace Was Effie the one who appeared as a “help” to Hannah when she was laid up in bed? I feel like we have seen her before. Maybe I can find something regarding the purpose of Effie in my research… 6d

Ruthiella @Librarybelle @Sace Yes, Effie was introduced in

Nancy Drew 10: Password to Larkspur Lane

Librarybelle Thanks, @Ruthiella ! 6d

Bookwormjillk My commute book for tomorrow 6d

BarkingMadRead I liked it, I‘m getting more used to all random things converging at the end 🤣🤣 6d

Sace @Ruthiella ah. Ok. I did not read that with y‘all and it has been quite a long while. Maybe I‘ll go back and read it this week while Effie is still fresh in my mind. 6d

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk 😁 6d

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead 😂 6d

Luke-XVX Is the Nancy Drew series something you loved growing up? I don‘t know how widely available they were here in the UK but I remember being aware of them (mostly likely pop culturally) Same with the Hardy Boys. Not something I‘d ever read but I caught the tv series on Disney+ and enjoyed it 5d

Librarybelle @Luke-XVX I did like them when I was a kid. My mom and I read through several of them together, and that was probably my gateway into loving mysteries. 5d

Luke-XVX So many of them too! You may never run out! 5d

DGRachel @BarkingMadRead I agree. I‘m getting better at just rolling with the insanity and therefore enjoying them more. 😂 5d

Librarybelle So true, @Luke-XVX ! 5d

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Librarybelle

Wedding Cake Crumble | Jenn McKinlay

pick

Wedding bells are chiming in this 10th addition to the Cupcake Bakery series, and Mel finds herself once again trying to identify the killer. The multiple murders in this one are a little gruesome (off page, but you can read between the lines). It‘s fun to see how the characters have developed over the course of the series, with several more books to go. Good listen, and a fast listen too!

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Librarybelle

Summer You Were Mine | Jill Francis

pick

Summertime in Italy with a bit of romance—a great escape listen. Add in a diverse cast, including a neurodivergent MC, and some snarky dialogue, to make the perfect beach read. I don‘t always read romance—I‘m still recovering from my 2020 bingeing of Regency romances—but I‘m so glad I picked this one up through #NetGalley . Ellie and Chris are childhood friends turned not-speaking strangers who are forced together when their grandparents marry. ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ Both are also dealing with career scandals and secret professional ambitions. And, Ellie is still mad over Chris‘s behavior from ten-ish years ago. It‘s a fun, light read. (edited) 2w

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Librarybelle

Common Sense | Thomas Paine

pick

Paine‘s passion against a monarchical government is present in this short treatise. It may be short, but it packs a punch.

250 years later, it‘s a reminder of the struggle for independence in the American colonies. I‘m glad I took the time to revisit this and ponder how much this relates to today‘s political climate.

Librarybelle @Butterfinger @TheBookHippie @Deblovestoread @kspenmoll @IriDas So sorry I did not follow up sooner—yesterday was not a good mental health day. I‘m glad I read this…I hope this reading brought you what you had hoped, whether it is the feeling of hope or better understanding past struggles or even how eerily similar the struggles are between then and now. Thank you! 2w

Butterfinger Thank you, @Librarybelle 2w

kspenmoll Please do not apologize for taking care of yourself! I read it in spurts & it helped reinforce just what our founders were thinking, hoping, & felt forced to do-demand independence from England. And fight a war to get it. (edited) 2w

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TheBookHippie I enjoyed the reread. It helps to see thoughts of what the dream was. Always take care of you first. 💙💙💙💙 2w

Deblovestoread Agree with @kspenmoll Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. The rest will happen when it happens. I didn‘t make very good progress. My Libby copy didn‘t give me an option to open on my kindle and I hate reading on my phone. So I‘m going to get a physical copy and try again. 2w

Librarybelle Thanks everyone! @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @Deblovestoread 2w

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Librarybelle

Common Sense | Thomas Paine

Vladimir & I are ready! I suspect I‘ll read parts throughout the day & let them simmer. I think it‘s remarkable that nearly 250 years after its publication Paine‘s words still resonate. For me, I‘m hoping this read helps me reflect on history & the current political dynamic.

Paine, a man with no prospects, helped ignite the colonies with this work. Anyone can be a hero.

What do you hope to learn/gain from today‘s reading?
#Vladimir #CatsOfLitsy

kspenmoll, TheBookHippie, Deblovestoread, Butterfinger, IriDas

TheBookHippie Honestly to hold on to HOPE. I‘ve not read this in so long. 2w

TheBookHippie Here‘s the PDF if someone needs it https://archive.org/details/commonsense50pain 2w

kspenmoll To remind myself of what could be again. 2w

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Butterfinger I don't think I have ever read it - only parts in social studies, and that's a maybe. I want to see the parallelism of the two eras - creation of modern democracy and today. I am ashamed that I haven't already read it. I minored in history, for heaven's sake. . 2w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie @kspenmoll @Butterfinger I read this for my AP Government class 25 years ago when we dove into pre-Revolution writings and the new nation‘s Federalist and Anti-Federalist writings. I don‘t think I‘m quite ready to dive into those writings quite yet! 😂 2w

Deblovestoread I don't recall ever reading it and now seems like the right time 2w

Librarybelle @Deblovestoread 🙂It‘s a good day to read it! 2w

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

I was up half the night—thanks anxiety and Zeke‘s frequent food schedule (I feed him when he wants food, because it‘s whatever makes him happy)—let‘s gather joy!

1. My boys…always! Throwbacks of my guys when they were very young
2. Fun author event last weekend
3. Lindt chocolate, because I‘m eating it like it‘s going out of style
4. Poppi soda—tried Strawberry Lemon and loved it!
5. Litsy—I don‘t feel alone in this crazy world ❤️

#5JoysFriday

DebinHawaii

Susanita Litsy is helping me get through as well. 2w

Sace Litsy is always my happy place. 2w

Bookwormjillk What would we do without Litsy? 2w

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Librarybelle Litsy is wonderful! @Susanita @Sace @Bookwormjillk 2w

Trashcanman Have a safe and happy 4th! Give Zeke a hug for me. 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, George! I will definitely give Zeke a hug. 🤗 Wishing you a safe and happy 4th as well! @Trashcanman (edited) 2w

JenReadsAlot Adorable boys!! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @JenReadsAlot ! 2w

RaeLovesToRead OMG I cannot cope with the kitten pics 😭😭😭😭 Cute overload 💕 2w

AmyG All your beautiful cats! 🙌🏻❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @RaeLovesToRead @AmyG ! 2w

Aims42 Ooo, I love Poppi soda also! I‘ll have to try that strawberry lemon flavor next ?? I love their cherry lime and raspberry rosé flavors ? (edited) 2w

Librarybelle @Aims42 It was my first time with Poppi! I think I have the cherry one and a lime one to try yet. 2w

Deblovestoread Such sweet photos! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Deblovestoread ! 2w

Aims42 @Librarybelle Enjoy!! 😍 2w

RaeLovesToRead XANDER'S EXPRESSION!!!!! 2w

Librarybelle @RaeLovesToRead Even as a kitten he was unsure if he liked to be held 😂 2w

dabbe #daboys! 🖤🐾🐾🐾🐾🖤 2w

Reggie 🖤🖤🖤 2w

ShelleyBooksie Love all the kitty pics! Keeping Zeke in my thoughts ♡ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @ShelleyBooksie @dabbe @Reggie ! 2w

MemoirsForMe Love seeing your sweet boys! 😻Ditto on #5 🙌🏻 2w

Luke-XVX Too cute ! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @MemoirsForMe @Luke-XVX ! 2w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

I cannot believe that this is the last six months for #192025 !

For the first half of 2025, I managed to read 4 more titles. I am determined to get as close to finishing as possible.

And for those interested, I will post the official announcement for #192030 , set to begin in January 2026 and run through December 31, 2030. Much like this current challenge, read one book originally published for each year, 1920-2030. ⬇️

Librarybelle If you would like me to tag you in the reminders, such as the official post and when the challenge is added to Storygraph and goes live, let me know. 2w

Mollyanna Please add me to your list. This sounds fun! 2w

mabell I would like to be on the list! I have quite a few reviews to add to Litsy, but probably not checking off many more years. 😆 It‘s been lots of fun to see how many I got! Thank you for doing it! 2w

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BarbaraJean I have 25 more titles to go... hoping I'm not deluding myself that I'll be able to stay on track to finish by the end of the year. If somebody would just ground me from spontaneous library holds and new buddy reads, I'd probably be fine 😂 Please add me for the next one! 2w

Bookwormjillk I am super interested! Almost done with #192025 just missing a few chunks. 2w

Librarybelle I‘m so glad you‘re interested in the next round, @Mollyanna @mabell @BarbaraJean ! I‘ll tag you when I post the official info in a couple of weeks and when I post the challenge on Storygraph (I‘m aiming for October 1st). 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @Bookwormjillk ! I‘ll add your name to the list! 2w

Amiable Me! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I have been plodding along on the list and will not finish by next year — but Hope springs eternal for the next one! 😀 2w

Librarybelle Terrific, @Amiable ! I‘ll add your name to the list! 2w

Bookwormjillk I just looked and I have 26 left (but am in the middle of The Bean Trees 1988 now). 2w

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Yay!! You can do it! 2w

llwheeler Please add me too! 2w

Librarybelle @llwheeler Hooray! I‘ll add your name to the list! 2w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

One more post—taking advantage of a free moment. My July #BookSpinBingo list is ready to go! Xander approved. #Xander #CatsOfLitsy

TheAromaofBooks

Leftcoastzen 😻👏Xander ! 3w

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen 🥰 3w

PaperbackPirate 😻 3w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3w

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

I‘m still trying to figure out how to juggle everything with Zeke‘s needs and appointments with contract work (thank goodness I don‘t have a set work schedule), house chores, and not to mention down time!

But, I managed to finish 12 books in June! I‘ve not handed out many 5 stars this year, but I had two excellent reads in June—This Is Not a Game and The Accidental Favorite. Loved them; right reads at the right time.

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Librarybelle

Burial Rites | Hannah Kent

Great discussion so far for The Chelsea Girls! Our next #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is Kent‘s historical fiction account of the last woman set to be executed in Iceland.

Read at your own pace. Discussion on July 31st. I will post periodic check-ins throughout the month. All are welcome to join! I know several are planning to join in for the discussion!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Teresereading, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, IriDas, Lkempf

AllDebooks @LitsyEvents 3w

Sace Just put a copy on hold at my library! 3w

Librarybelle Thank, @AllDebooks ! 3w

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Librarybelle Yay, @Sace ! 3w

julieclair Just picked up my copy at the library today! Also visited Iceland last month, so this timing worked out well for me! 2w

Librarybelle Oh yes, @julieclair ! 2w

Teresereading I just finished The Good People for Bookclub. And currently listening to Always Home, always Homesick, so keen for a trifecta! I‘m in!! 2w

Librarybelle @Teresereading Perfect! I‘ve read The Good People and liked it, but not as much as Burial Rites. 2w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

#LittenDetectives : We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion!

What could be the secret in the old attic? How will Nancy discover the secret? Will she have a head injury this time? Will Ned continue to sulk that he is second to a good mystery in Nancy‘s eyes?!? Let‘s find out!

Discussion July 15th!

BarkingMadRead I can‘t wait! 3w

Ruthiella What secret talent will Nancy display this time? 😂 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 3w

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Librarybelle @Ruthiella It‘ll be something that seems so random yet very helpful for the situation! 😂 3w

dabbe Thanks for posting this! 🤩 We should take a bet on #NNK's! 😂 3w

Librarybelle @dabbe 😂 3w

TheAromaofBooks This one was sooooo scary to me growing up!!! 3w

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks I don‘t remember this one! Maybe I didn‘t read it. Now I‘m really intrigued! 3w

TheAromaofBooks All I remember are the spiders 😂 3w

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks OMG! 😱 3w

34 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Common Sense | Thomas Paine

It‘s been over 25 years since I last read this, and I feel like this is a good document to read on the 4th.

Anyone wish to join me reading this on the 4th? If so, we could post comments throughout our reading, but make it very lowkey.

Butterfinger I think I will join you. 3w

Librarybelle That‘s great, @Butterfinger ! 3w

TheBookHippie Yes I‘ll try to find my copy otherwise I‘ll get one! 3w

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Deblovestoread If i can get a copy I will join in. 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @TheBookHippie @Deblovestoread ! I‘m sure there is a copy somewhere online, such as on Project Gutenberg. It has to be in the public domain, I would think. My copy is from high school‘s AP Government class! 😂 3w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle my son is working his job at the bookshop tonight 🤣 I too have my school copy somewhere 3w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie 😂 An easy in to the bookstore, then! And a dangerous one too! 😂 3w

Deblovestoread FYI for those that might be interested if you have Spotify premium there is an audio version. 3w

IriDas Sounds fun. Especially since there are free copies all over the internet. :D 3w

Librarybelle Good to know, @Deblovestoread ! 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @IriDas ! 3w

kspenmoll I would like to join. I think my son has a copy. 2w

Librarybelle That‘s great, @kspenmoll ! 2w

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Librarybelle

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd | Agatha Christie

Great discussion so far about Chimneys! Please feel free to join the discussion whenever.

July‘s #ChristiesCapers returns us to Hercule Poirot. Considered to be one of the best mysteries of all time, I think one can argue that we truly see Christie‘s writing genius in this.

Discussion will take place on July 27th. All are welcome! Let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list! #AgathaChristieClubR3

janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill

dabbe Thank you! Just saw that this one's on sale on Amazon for Kindle at $1.99--if anyone can stomach Amazon these days. 😂 3w

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @dabbe ! 3w

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mrp27 I‘m hoping to get back on track with this one. 3w

willaful @dabbe we're still in Public Domain Christie so it's free at Project Gutenberg. Also cheap at Kobo is you want a nicely formatted one. (Though it's equally possible the paid editions are just the ones from Project Gutenberg!) 3w

dabbe @willaful Good to know! Thanks! 🤗 3w

MallenNC I don‘t think I‘ve ever read this one so I‘m excited for it. 3w

Librarybelle That‘s awesome, @MallenNC …I‘ll be very interested to hear what you think after you read this! 3w

43 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 7 questions posted as spoilers; you can find these on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

I think this is my favorite of Davis‘s I‘ve read so far. Hope you enjoyed it too!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

TheBookHippie I enjoyed this read very much -

This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland

TheBookHippie This one as well

The Ice at the End of the World: An Epic Journey Into Greenland's Buried Past and Our Perilous Future

TheBookHippie Greenland is the world's largest island, not a continent, and is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While part of North America geographically, it has strong cultural and historical ties to Europe, particularly Norway and Denmark. 3w

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TheBookHippie Nuuk, Greenland's capital, is a small city on the country's southwest coast. Its large fjord system is known for waterfalls, humpback whales and icebergs. The waterfront is dotted with brightly colored houses against the backdrop of Sermitsiaq mountain. Greenland National Museum has mummies and Inuit skin boats, while the Nuuk Art Museum displays local works. The Katuaq cultural center offers films, concerts and art.
3w

TheBookHippie Greenland's education system includes primary, secondary, and higher education levels, with a 10-year compulsory primary education for children aged 6-16. While education is free, including university, and students may receive a monthly grant, challenges remain in quality and completion rates, particularly at the secondary and higher education levels. 3w

Jerdencon I really enjoyed this one! But I love all her books! 3w

PurpleyPumpkin I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me of The Briar Club, but went in a different direction. A definite pick for me!👍🏽 3w

Sargar114 Good pick, thank you for hosting! 3w

Sargar114 @PurpleyPumpkin agree there are similarities to the Briar Club, especially with it being the same time period. Still working my way through that one but I like the artsy feel of this one. 3w

julieclair So, I was 2/3 through and loving it. Then the library wouldn‘t let me renew. 😭 So I‘m back on the waitlist and will finish whenever. 😕 3w

PurpleyPumpkin @Sargar114 Yes, definitely enjoyed the artsy side of this one!🙌🏽 3w

Karisa @PurpleyPumpkin Agreed! Definitely has some parallels with Briar Club (house, women MCs, red scare). I liked both 😊 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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7. McCarthyism plays a massive role in this novel. Do you think McCarthyism made romantic and friendly relationships difficult? Why or why not? If so, what were the complications and the consequences of having a relationship? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Link in comments to a PBS American Experience page on Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism

mcctrish I think connections can be found between McCarthyism and Trumpism today. It is really hard to overlook that kind of awful in a person 3w

Jerdencon @mcctrish I agree! So many times I was reading about McCarthyism it felt like I was reading about the ICE raids and it made me sad on how the world doesn‘t ever learn. 3w

Deblovestoread I agree! There are so many similarities. History continues to repeat itself. 3w

Sargar114 It‘s hard not to be disappointed in someone who shares appalling beliefs about a group of people the way McCarthyism and Trumpers do. 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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6. “Maxine‘s bravery in the square, as well as now, with the major, astonished Hazel. She wished she were that brash. But she wouldn‘t dare question an authority figure. Always the understudy, in life as well as in art.” How does Hazel transform throughout the novel, and does the word “understudy,” which she considers to have negative connotations, change in meaning as well? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Sargar114 Oh interesting I forgot about her role at the start as an understudy.considering once she took the lead and directed she became much more of a fighter and much more brazen. 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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5. How do Hazel and Maxine subvert or conform to 1950s expectations and gender roles? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Sargar114 I found it interesting that Maxine was able to be a spy by conforming. She was able to get inside and serve the needs of the party. Hazel fought so hard (rightfully so) but it‘s ultimately what led her to be an outcast. 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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4. What did you think of Charlie and his desire to join the FBI? How do you think his relationship with his father shaped his ambitions? Were you rooting for him and Hazel? Why or why not? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish Charles totally bought into the idea that communism was wrong and his country was true and righteous and wanted to fight on the side of good. Then he learned countries are ruled by men and they are not always promoting good. I rooted for them so hard 3w

Deblovestoread I wanted them to work it out. Hazel lost everything. 3w

Sargar114 I don‘t know if I was rooting for them. I wasn‘t terribly fond of Hazel and she seemed to sabotage as well. While I don‘t know how Charlie really felt about the FBI, it‘s seemed pretty bold of her to ask him not to plow what he thought was his dream. 3w

Karisa I was rooting for them too. We need sensible, honorable people like Charlie in those powerful positions. People who can think for themselves and see nuances 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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3. When Maxine flubs her lines on opening night, her career doesn‘t suffer, but Hazel‘s does. Why do you think that is? How would you have reacted in Hazel‘s situation? Do you think she has a right to be bitter about the success of Wartime Sonata‘s revival, or should she be grateful? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

mcctrish What a double edged sword this was - I would totally have been so upset with Maxine and so bitter but the bitterness did really impact Hazel‘s life and that just made it feel a waste 3w

Jerdencon I feel like Maxine doing that set the trajectory of Hazels life… it wasn‘t just a quick fix it had long term repercussions. 3w

Deblovestoread I love Broadway musicals but don‘t know enough about what decides a closing. Up until Maxine‘s purposeful errors the buzz was positive, it seemed extreme that the actress erroring would shut it down. 3w

Sargar114 I mean, Hazel was an outsider who was on the cusp of being blacklisted due to the communist scare it makes sense that the powers that be find a reason to shut it down. It completely upended her career and because of her status couldn‘t overcome. Maxine was already somewhat established so she could overcome a speed bump. 3w

Karisa Ugh, I agree with @mcctrish I would‘ve been so sad and mad at the waste of it all too. Hazel‘s career, Floyd, Charlie…and who comes out on top still? Maxine and Tangerine girl 🥴 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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2. If Maxine had not made the tragic choice she did, do you think she and Hazel would have renewed their friendship? If you were in Hazel‘s shoes, would you forgive Maxine? Why or why not? ~ from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon Im not sure they would have ever gone back to the way they were. Hazel was very head strong and not sure she would have completely forgiven Maxine. 3w

Deblovestoread Maxine‘s choice changed Hazel‘s life trajectory. It would be hard to forgive it. 3w

Sargar114 It‘s tough because Hazel wouldn‘t have gotten the opportunity she got if it weren‘t for Maxine, but then to ultimately bomb the play to save her destroyed her life. Like @Deblovestoread said, completely changed the trajectory. We can see the why but Hazel will always wonder what could have been… 3w

Karisa I feel like Hazel didn‘t know Maxine really. She had so many sides—who was the real one? I felt disconnected from that character and wondered if her story arc was just a little too much 3w

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Librarybelle

The Chelsea Girls | Fiona Davis

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1. I enjoy Davis's works because she focuses each story on a landmark in New York City. For this novel, we visit the Hotel Chelsea.

Have you visited the Hotel Chelsea? Do you want to visit after reading this book?

Links in comments to an interview in which Davis details her reasons to feature the Hotel Chelsea, as well as the history of the hotel from the hotel's website. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Librarybelle Davis interview: https://www.fionadavisbooks.com/the-chelsea-girlsqanda

Hotel Chelsea history: https://hotelchelsea.com/history 3w

mcctrish I totally want to visit it someday 3w

Jerdencon I actually have been in the lobby of the hotel (I live in NYC). It‘s been redone and is very artsy and cool. I need to go back now that I‘ve read the book. I have eaten at El. Quiojte several times - they have the best sangria! 3w

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Deblovestoread Would love to visit some day. I, too, like the setting of Davis‘s novels and getting an intimate look at historical buildings. 3w

Sargar114 Never been, but would love to. I actually wish this story had more of it. It felt like it started strong but then got away from the hotel itself. 3w

Karisa So many cool people through those doors! I‘d like to see it too, especially since @Jerdencon mentions it‘s been redone in an artsy way. The ending of the book made it sound so drab and sad. (And yum, sangria! 😊) 3w

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

The #ChristiesCapers discussion for this month is posted! You can find the 5 questions either on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.

Next month we revisit Poirot and dive into one of Christie‘s best novels and ranked as one of the best mysteries of all time: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Official post tomorrow! #AgathaChristieClubR3

Deblovestoread I‘m about halfway I think. Will pop in when I‘m done. 3w

mrp27 I didn‘t get to this one this month. 😕 3w

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

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5. Though Herzoslovakia is fictional, the 1925 publication of this novel, and the placement of the country in Eastern Europe, alludes to the unrest in the Balkan region of Europe. Christie also introduces some of her experiences during the Grand Tour in Africa in this novel--think, for instance, the novel's opening in Africa.

Wikipedia article on the Balkans' history below. How aware were you of this? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Librarybelle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Balkans#20th_cen... 3w

MallenNC I had limited knowledge of the Balkans, with a little more knowledge about how World War I started and then the war in the 1990s. I assume the readers at the time of publication would have had more of that knowledge in mind than I did reading it now. 3w

BarbaraJean So interesting! The “Black Hand“! I had very little knowledge of this historical backdrop for the story. 3w

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dabbe I also have very little knowledge of this region and its history. The article definitely helped; thank you! 🤩 3w

Larkken That is all very interesting, thanks! 3w

suvata I that it definitely draws on the 1925 political climate and Christie‘s personal experiences to enrich its setting and themes. The fictional Herzoslovakia, placed in Eastern Europe, mirrors the Balkan region‘s real-world unrest during the interwar period, with its volatile mix of monarchist and revolutionary tensions. 3w

MariaW Thanks for the article. I think Christie did do well to use the current state of affairs (e.g. both World Wars, Balkan Wars) in her novels. It made them more referable to the readers (even though they might not have been well informed) and at the same time more believable fiction. 5d

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

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4. We'd be very remiss to talk about Herzoslovakia, Christie's fictional Eastern European country that will later appear in two Poirot stories. In prior discussions, we discussed the casual racism found in the books; this one is no exception. Christie barely discusses the country itself, but we the reader get a sense that the people from Herzoslovakia are suspect, to say the least. Any comments? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristeClubR3

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Librarybelle Here is a link to an article found in the Journal of Literature, Culture and Literary Translation that discusses all of the nuances of Herzoslovakia, including Christie's take on the place and the people: https://www.sic-journal.org/Article/Index/406 3w

MallenNC I think this came out the most in the way Boris, the servant, was described like an animal. Thanks for sharing the article. 3w

willaful The racism and politics are so bad in this one I had to just not think about them. 3w

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BarbaraJean Like @willaful, I had to set aside the problematic racism/politics & not think about it. It was easier here than with Man in the Brown Suit, maybe because it's a fictional country! Thanks for sharing that article. The idea that Christie uses Herzoslovakia “not...as an Other to illustrate British virtue, but as a mirror to British vice“ is super interesting. The British characters are shown to also be complicit, so there was a BIT more nuance here. 3w

dabbe @Librarybelle @MallenNC @willaful @BarbaraJean Christie‘s Herzoslovakia is a vague, unstable monarchy filled with “swarthy“ conspirators, bomb-throwing anarchists, and exaggerated accents; it seems that she depicts the Balkans as a hotbed of intrigue and violence. Herzoslovakians are uniformly portrayed as untrustworthy (Prince Michael) or buffoons (the Baron). Even Cade is a British-educated outsider, implying superiority. Thanks for the article! 3w

Larkken I think I had just read the Poirot story with the “chinamen” cringe bits so I was braced to do like the rest of you and set them off to the side while reading. It‘s a bummer since they limit her books‘ rereadability- I have to be in the mood to consciously not think about things 3w

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

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3. Speaking of main characters, Anthony Cade is the true main character in this novel and presents a less-than-serious approach to the story. While some reviewers call this a thriller (see question 1), reviewers also comment on the levity in the book, considering this more humorous than Christie's previous five books. Do you agree/disagree? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MallenNC I liked Cade as a character and some parts were funny but that didn‘t really stick out to me as I read. I admit I was confused/surprised by the twists his character was involved in 3w

BarbaraJean I‘d agree—Cade and Virginia and Bundle especially are much more lighthearted characters. There‘s quite a bit of banter, which adds to the humor. Secret Adversary also had both those things but the overall tone/situations there felt more serious. 3w

willaful I guess I was in just the right mood because I really enjoyed the Silly Asses and Bright Young Things in this. It wasn't a favorite of mine growing up -- I preferred The Clocks, which is sort of a sequel , and I'll be interested to see if I still do when we get to it. 3w

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dabbe @Librarybelle @MallenNC @BarbaraJean @willaful I definitely agree. I snorted out loud quite a few times reading this. The novel is packed with witty banter, absurd situations (e.g., sneezing during a stakeout), and caricatured characters (e.g., Baron Lollipop's Yoda-like syntax). To me, it is markedly lighter than Christie‘s first five novels. 3w

Deblovestoread I enjoyed the lighter tone and Anthony very much. 3w

suvata I agree The Secret of Chimneys is more humorous than Christie‘s prior five books, driven by Anthony Cade‘s witty, carefree attitude. His playful charm and the tangled, almost farcical plot create a lighter tone than the serious mysteries of *Styles* or *Links*. (edited) 3w

MariaW This one is definitely funnier than the last ones, but then again Anthony jolly behaviour somehow is like a red herring. It seems like he is on the case because it‘s fun (and there might be money in it was well), but in the end we realize it was a far more serious matter for him all along (edited) 5d

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

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2. Christie moves away from Poirot again to introduce Inspector or Superintendent Battle, who will appear in four other works. What do you think of Battle? Why do you think Christie chose to introduce another non-Poirot main character? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MallenNC I was wondering that myself as I read, why didn‘t she just make this a Poirot mystery. I wonder if she didn‘t want to get stuck in only one series or if she just wanted to present the solution without her really clever Poirot involved 3w

BarbaraJean Because this feels less like a traditional murder mystery, it made sense to me that she introduced a new main character. Although it felt a little like with Colonel Race, where he wasn‘t exactly the main character! 3w

willaful I think she wanted her romantic couple at the forefront but an intelligent member of the force was useful. Poirot would have wrong for the tone of this. In a similar way (though very different tone) she used Battle again in Towards Zero and though she did use Poirot in The Hollow she regretted it and removed him from the play adaptation IIRC. 3w

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dabbe @Librarybelle @MallenNC @BarbaraJean @willaful Since these were Christie's early years, maybe she was still experimenting and finding which detectives worked and which didn't. Poirot would have never worked here. Battle is an understated, methodical Scotland Yard detective with no flashy quirks—no foreign accent, no theatricality, just steady competence. Christie describes him as one “who listens more than he speaks“, making him a foil to Poirot. 3w

Larkken I liked Battle ! As @dabbe says, the lack of theatricality was refreshing after Poirot lol. If it was me, I‘d also be sick of writing Hastings if I was Christie and they seem like a bit of a set 3w

dabbe @Larkken 🎯🩵🎯 3w

Deblovestoread I liked Battle, too, although the twinkle in his eye might have been mentioned a time or two too many. I agree with @dabbe Agatha had lots of ideas and she trying out what works best. 3w

dabbe @Deblovestoread 🩵🎯🩵 3w

suvata Superintendent Battle is a solid, understated detective—calm and sharp, fitting the thriller vibe of The Secret of Chimneys. Christie likely introduced him to diversify her detective roster and suit the novel‘s action-driven plot, moving away from Poirot‘s cerebral style to appeal to adventure fans. 3w

MariaW I agree with all that was mentioned earlier. And his way of handling the case is a good contrast to Anthony‘s unpedictable and unusal behavior. He is the serious one next to the jolly character who wants to solve the case more for fun than reason. Only in the end we find out, that this was just a mascarade as well. 5d

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Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

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1. The Secret of Chimneys has been categorized by reviewers as another work that is more thriller than traditional mystery (think Poirot). Overall, what did you think of the book? Would you agree/disagree that this is more thriller than traditional? This is the sixth book we have read...how did it measure up to the past five books? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MallenNC It definitely read more like a thriller than a mystery for me. There were a lot of secret identities! I always miss Poirot in these books without him (unless it‘s Miss Marple). 3w

BarbaraJean I wouldn‘t have called it a thriller, just because the tone was more lighthearted (though maybe I didn‘t get thriller vibes because thrillers today have a quite different tone!). But it does feel more thriller than traditional if compared to Poirot. It‘s not really a spy story, either, but maybe intrigue would be a better word? 3w

willaful I'm not sure it's thrilling enough to be considered a thriller. 😂 I'd call it a mystery adventure I guess. 3w

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dabbe @Librarybelle @MallenNC @BarbaraJean @willaful Agree with all of you! I think I'd call it a witty thriller of intrigue. You've got a fast-paced, high-stakes plot, multiple crimes occurring, and action over deduction where Cade engages in daring acts over methodical detective work (talking to you, Sherlock). And interesting that Cade was more of the detective than Battle (IMHO). 3w

Larkken I always feel like a romantic subplot with danger to one of the MCs gives off more thriller than mystery vibes. But there sure were a bunch of red herrings in mystery-like fashion! 3w

Deblovestoread Thriller didn‘t occur to me…maybe meatier mystery or mystery adventure like @willaful said 3w

suvata I agree it‘s more thriller than traditional mystery, with its focus on international intrigue, hidden identities, and adventure rather than Poirot-style deduction. 3w

MariaW Definitely too much politics and too many secret identities in for me. For sure it was more fast-paced than the last ones. 5d

11 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

The Colony of Lost Souls | Kelsey James

so-so

Promising premise, but I think the audio made me less inclined to fully appreciate it.

May receives a letter from her missing sister June with a return address from the Kinima Theosophical Society. May rushes to the Society and becomes enamored with Rex, the leader of The Colony. What follows is a gothic-esque novel that takes May through the rituals of a cult as she tries to find out the whereabouts of her sister. Set in 1930s California. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle May‘s naivety and repetitive thoughts of helplessness made me want to roll my eyes. Sure, May is sheltered and has led a very careful life, but the reader can gather May is trying to find a solution. The voice actress for this reading also makes May sound a bit whiny at times, which I know helped me form this opinion. Rex is well-drawn multilayered character; the reader will loathe him by the end. The mansion and grounds are also well crafted, ⬇️ 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️ …making them a character in the book. Elements of the story felt rushed or a little hard to believe, and I‘m not talking about the supernatural bits. Lots of trigger warnings too (we are dealing with a cult, after all): miscarriage, stillbirth, sexual coercion, drugs, strangulation, child endangerment, animal cruelty…full list on the author‘s website. In the end, I think I would have preferred this in book form rather than audio. #NetGalley 3w

59 likes1 stack add2 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Happy #5JoysFriday day!

1. My boys…always! Recent photos, including Zeke well enough to jump on top of the kitchen cabinets.
2. Zeke‘s bloodwork came back looking very good, and the specialist is pleased by the amount of weight he has gained.
3. Bunny in my backyard
4. Litsy
5. Air conditioning

DebinHawaii

dabbe Yay for Zeke! Plus all #daboys and your joys. 🖤🐾🐾🐾🐾🖤 3w

JenReadsAlot Yay Zeke!! 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe @JenReadsAlot ! 3w

See All 15 Comments

AmyG Glad to hear Zeke is doing well. 3w

Luke-XVX All hail the cat queen of Litsy!! 3w

kspenmoll Yay for air conditioning! And always, your babies! 3w

rubyslippersreads Such good news about Zeke! 😽 3w

mcctrish Air conditioning is a total joy - glad Zeke is feeling frisky 3w

TheBookHippie Yay ZEKE!!!! Air!!!! 3w

Librarybelle Thanks everyone! @AmyG @kspenmoll @rubyslippersreads @mcctrish @TheBookHippie 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Luke-XVX ! And I love the nickname! 3w

shortsarahrose So cute that Zeke went on the cabinets! Glad he‘s doing well. 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @shortsarahrose ! 3w

MemoirsForMe So happy Zeke is getting his spunk back! 🙌🏻❤️ Love seeing all the boys! 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @MemoirsForMe ! 3w

49 likes15 comments

Librarybelle

The Summer Book | Tove Jansson

pick

Beautifully descriptive vignettes of summer time on an island. While Sophia drove me crazy with her frequent crying and protestations, this shows a loving bond between grandmother and granddaughter. A nice escape and perfect for #MidsummerSolace #Naturalitsy #LitSolace #192025 #1972

AllDebooks

67 likes1 stack add

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Sorry…couldn‘t help myself. If you‘re part of this horrible heatwave, you can understand this…

“Man, it‘s a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun…”

My area is at a 100+ degree heat index today, and communities I used to work in are without power until at least mid-week, according to the electrical company. I lost power for about 20 minutes last night, and that worried me. #TuesdayTunes

https://youtu.be/6Whgn_iE5uc

TieDyeDude

DGRachel The heat and humidity are oppressive. We‘re expected to hit 100* today. Right now, the air temp is 92* with a feels-like of 100*. I‘ve been joking that I left Florida to get away from this nonsense but apparently didn‘t move far enough north. 4w

Librarybelle @DGRachel It‘s terrible! I am a cream puff and absolutely do not do well in warm temps. When the power went out last night, I was wondering how I could get all 4 cats into carriers and take all of us to my parents for cool air. I feel bad for those who do not have a/c and/or power and for the animals. Total yucky weather! 4w

DGRachel I do worry about rolling brown outs. At least I have screens on my windows and a battery powered fan so we could all hang out in the living room with the fan for a bit if we had to. I hope you keep your power and ac! 4w

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TheBookHippie 104 here 😩🥵 4w

TheBookHippie We‘ve had surges too. 🤞🏻 4w

Librarybelle You too, @DGRachel ! 4w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie So horrid! 4w

Deblovestoread Hope the power stays on and you and your boys can stay comfortable. 4w

Bookwormjillk Did you have a storm or is it power grid issues? We're at feels like 102, but for some reason today feels better than yesterday? 4w

Read-n-Bloom Heat wave where I am too. 🥵 TY God for AC. 🙏🏻 4w

LiseWorks Yeah we beat the record for heat yesterday in the Ottawa region. It's brutal. 4w

Mimi28 Heat wave here too!! I hope things get better for you and your cats 🐈 4w

Librarybelle No storm, @Bookwormjillk . I think power grid issues, plus two transformers caught fire the last couple of days, which has affected the communities still without power. Let‘s hope nothing else happens! @Deblovestoread @Read-n-Bloom @LiseWorks @Mimi28 Stay cool!! 4w

MemoirsForMe Oh my! Stay cool! 🍦 3w

Librarybelle @MemoirsForMe Thankfully the temps have dropped a little, but we‘re only at the beginning of the summer, so who knows… 3w

53 likes15 comments

Librarybelle

The Accidental Favorite: A Novel | Fran Littlewood

pick

I‘ve seen mixed reviews of this one throughout the Internet, but I absolutely loved this! Perhaps another “right book at the right time” choice for me…

Told from multiple perspectives, the story begins with a near-disastrous incident and a choice made that shows the cracks in a family. Littlewood beautifully layers each perspective, and as the narrative unfolds, the reader really sees what is behind the behaviors and attitudes of each family ⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️ …member. There‘s trauma, love, heartbreak, and a need for closure. What seems like a loving family is in fact a family in disarray. The glass house they stay in together is so symbolic, as well as the smell permeating the interior of the house. It‘s a slowly revealing story that had me listening intently as each piece of the puzzle is revealed. Haunting, thought provoking, and worthy of a read. I listened to an ALC through NetGalley, ⬇️⬇️ 4w

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️ …and the voice actress is superb, conveying emotion so well. Happy pub day to this one! #NetGalley 4w

mariaku21 Well this sounds interesting. Going to have to look for it at my library 3w

Librarybelle Hope you‘re able to find it, @mariaku21 ! I absolutely enjoyed it. 3w

54 likes1 stack add4 comments

Librarybelle

This Is Not a Game | Kelly Mullen

pick

This was the exact book I needed right now, full of snarky humor with so many mentions of mystery and crime characters. I loved every minute of it. Two sleuths, a granddaughter and her grandmother, have an IRL locked room-style murder on their hands, when a snowstorm isolates their hostess‘s house from the outside world, leaving a killer to target the guests one by one. While there is a lot of humor, there are somber moments, and you can see ⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️ …the growth of the characters, as well as their coming to terms with heartache and difficult situations. I‘d love to know Mimi IRL. #SebastianKitty #CatsOfLitsy 4w

RaeLovesToRead Sold! Also Sebastian is such a long boi 🥰 4w

Librarybelle He is, @RaeLovesToRead ! ❤️ 4w

See All 7 Comments

BookNAround I so wanted to love this one but I ended up disappointed. ☹️ (edited) 4w

Librarybelle @BookNAround I really enjoyed it, but I can see where it is not for everyone! 4w

AnnCrystal 💕😻💝. 4w

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4w

59 likes2 stack adds7 comments

Librarybelle

The Secret of Chimneys | Agatha Christie

We‘re a week away from our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! I‘ve seen some good reviews posted so far; this one does get mixed reviews by Christie lovers. I like this one and plan to reread it this week to have it fresh in my mind for next Sunday.

Discussion questions will be posted by 12pm US East Coast time on the 29th! #AgathaChristieClubR3

52 likes

Librarybelle

Burial Rites | Hannah Kent

As we approach our June 30th discussion of The Chelsea Girls for #LiteraryCrew , July‘s #BuddyRead is right around the corner!

Burial Rites is one of my favorite books, and I thrilled the group voted to read this one this year. It‘s dark, compassionate, slow burning, and hauntingly beautiful.

Read at your own pace. Discussion July 31st. All are welcome to join. Let me know if you would like to be added or removed from the tag list!

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1mo

mcctrish I‘ve read this already so I will join in at the end and see if I can remember anything 1mo

Cuilin @mcctrish same here! 1mo

See All 14 Comments

Librarybelle Sounds good, @mcctrish @Cuilin ! 1mo

Deblovestoread Same as @mcctrish and @Cuilin. Loved it! 1mo

julieclair Sounds wonderful! I‘m in. 💙 1mo

Librarybelle @Deblovestoread 😁 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @julieclair ! 1mo

IriDas I‘d like to be added 1mo

Librarybelle Of course, @IriDas ! Welcome! 4w

tpixie Thanks! 4w

Jess861 Such a good book! 4w

Librarybelle @tpixie 😁 4w

Librarybelle It truly is, @Jess861 ! 4w

53 likes1 stack add14 comments

Librarybelle

Ash | Malinda Lo

pick

Light pick. This retelling of Cinderella combines folk/fairy tales from different cultures, and I enjoyed reading the intro from this 10th anniversary edition to hear the reasons for Lo‘s decisions on the structure of the novel. I didn‘t quite click with the writing style, but the last few chapters flew by for me, so worthy of a pick rating. #SundayBuddyRead #LitsyAToZ #LetterA #52BookClub25 #AFairyTaleRetelling

TheBookHippie, Texreader

TheBookHippie ♥️ 1mo

Texreader Great review 1mo

Librarybelle Thank you, @Texreader ! 1mo

58 likes1 stack add3 comments

Librarybelle

Murder on Cape Cod | Maddie Day

so-so

The first in a series set on Cape Cod, this one had a lot going on…and not all in a good way. Lots of nonessential info that could not even be described as red herrings. I‘d say more, but it may be considered spoilerish. Let‘s just say it‘s confusing. #Xander #CatsOfLitsy

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1mo

MemoirsForMe 😻😻😻 1mo

AnnCrystal 💕😻💝. 4w

65 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 21: The Secret in the Old Attic | Carolyn Keene

What is the secret in the old attic? Never fear…Nancy will figure it out! Discussion of this 21st in the series will take place July 15th.

All are welcome to join. Please comment if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1mo

Ruthiella Looking forward to finding out the secret! 🤫 1mo

Librarybelle Yes, @Ruthiella ! 1mo

See All 18 Comments

BarkingMadRead Can‘t wait! 1mo

Honeybeebooks Would love to learn how it works. 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 1mo

Sace Can‘t wait! I love the monthly ND discussion. 😁 1mo

Librarybelle @Honeybeebooks The #NancyDrewBR group is reading through the original Nancy Drew mysteries, one a month. The group reads at its own pace, and we discuss the book on the 15th of the month. I post discussion questions, and the group jumps in whenever they are ready. I hope this helps, and I hope you join us! 1mo

Librarybelle They are so fun, @Sace ! I plan to jump in on the discussion tomorrow! 1mo

TheBookHippie How many concussions ?? 1mo

JenlovesJT47 Dang I got behind. Going to try to finish this week! 1mo

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie A couple books ago, she had a head injury and also fainted/lost consciousness! I think we‘re up to at least 9 of the books the describe at least one head knock for Nancy. 1mo

Librarybelle @JenlovesJT47 No worries! 1mo

bookandbedandtea Looking forward to it! 1mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle 🫣😵‍💫🤣 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @bookandbedandtea ! 1mo

Pageturner1 @Librarybelle Hi. I have enjoyed this group a lot. I haven‘t been following for a while. Can you take me off list for now. 1mo

Librarybelle Of course, @Pageturner1 . Thanks for joining us! 1mo

53 likes18 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

I was able to post the #NancyDrewBR discussion points earlier than I anticipated! You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month, we find out The Secret in the Old Attic, which has slightly different story lines depending upon the version you read, but nothing drastic. Official post tomorrow!

Bookwormjillk I just finished! Off to discuss ❤️ 1mo

DGRachel Oh no! I got my days mixed up and thought I had a couple of days left to get started! 😭😭 I know what I am doing this afternoon! 1mo

Librarybelle No worries, @DGRachel ! I also did not remind everyone in a timely fashion. Jump in whenever! 1mo

Ruthiella Just finished this morning! 👍 1mo

DebinHawaii Finshed it last weekend & just tried to remember it! 😉 1mo

42 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

show me

5. I have to bring up Ned for his own discussion point; Ned seemed to me to be a little tired of Nancy always having a mystery. He seems game to help, but I kinda feel like he would also just like to have a regular date without Nancy sleuthing... 😂

Thinking of our other regulars, it did not seem like we saw a lot of George and Bess this time, and Hannah and Carson did not appear as much, or at least in the 1972 edition. #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead Poor Ned will never come first 🤣 Hannah was a lovely background character bringing things together, but still very much in the background! 1mo

Bookwormjillk Ned is getting on my nerves. Mr Drew was around a bit more, but I agree the background characters were very much in the background this time. 1mo

Sace George and Bess were practically invisible in this one. I assume more room was needed for Katherine and the queen. 1mo

See All 12 Comments

bookandbedandtea @BarkingMadRead Poor Ned, indeed! He's always game to help but I think he realizes Nancy will always prioritize mysteries. I liked having Helen pop up again, even though we got less of our other usual characters. 1mo

MariaW At some point it was mentioned Nancy had admitted herself Ned was her favourite admirer. That does sound like jovial feeling towards him, but not like love. He and the the other two boys are the muscle/extra number of people she sometimes needs for her sleuthing. 1mo

MariaW I liked Katharine as a warm background character, but then again what is the chance of three expatriates/refugees of the same country ending up inRiver Heights through three different circumstances? 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 1mo

Ruthiella I feel that Ned‘s comments are said with a wink. Sure, he might like an uninterrupted date now and again, but he likes Nancy as she is and supports her. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement I didn‘t appreciate Ned in the last book or this one. They should have kept him an ever supportive - do whatever Nancy needs no matter what or when Nancy needs it. Little girls shouldn‘t be told that a boyfriend acts this way with no apologies. 1mo

DGRachel I should have read all the questions first! As I mentioned in my answer for the last question, I don‘t like Jealous Ned. I get that we‘re not going to have modern YA romance with these, but like @CogsOfEncouragement noted, his behavior is not something girls should be taught is okay. 🚩🚩🚩 1mo

DebinHawaii I could do with less Ned.🙄 And it does seem like when new friends or a returning one like Helen come in, George & Bess get pretty sidelined. 1mo

kwmg40 I don't have strong feelings about Ned either way, but I liked that there wasn't any fat-shaming of Bess in this book (unless I recall incorrectly). In fact, there is one point where George, and not Bess, declares that she is really hungry! 1mo

Roary47 I didn‘t mind so much with Ned wanting to just do something fun. I saw it as more Nancy was stressed and hyper focused on this mystery and she needed the break. Ned caring about her I feel recognized this and insisted that she take a break. 3w

13 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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4. Nancy's adventurous episodes are not as dramatic as in prior stories, but she still has troubles! I would have been so upset over the stealing of the hair piece, even if it was fake! Any thoughts on the “dangers“ this time around? #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead I always think about modern times when these things happen to her. She would have been dead like 10 books ago! People have definitely killed for less! So many scary incidents 1mo

Bookwormjillk The Ferris wheel part had me a bit freaked out. 🎡☠️ 1mo

Sace As we read through this series I feel like there‘s pressure in the author to up the danger ante. It‘s why the books start to feel more like disconnected episodes of “The Perils of Pauline”. Like the reckless driver…no real connection to the mystery, just random danger/excitement. 1mo

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Sace @Bookwormjillk another bit of danger completely unconnected to the plot…unless it was imperative to the plot to have yet another sighting of the pickpocket and for Nancy to be late. 1mo

MariaW The boat accident in the second chapter seemed very far-fetched as well. There seems to be a lot of traffic on the waters surrounding River Heights. ⛴️⛴️⛴️ 1mo

Ruthiella I enjoyed how Nancy herself committed two felonies: breaking into Mrs. Alexandra‘s house and kidnapping “Michael”. 😅 1mo

DGRachel @Ruthiella Nancy‘s own misdeeds and everyone‘s rush to be helpful and tell her private information on her cases never ceases to amaze me. I knew we were in for another action packed story when the storm came up out of nowhere and the ferries crashed. The Ferris Wheel thing seemed more like a “we need more pages, people. What can we throw into the story” It made Ned seem like a jealous jerk, though, forcing Nancy to the fair, and I didn‘t like that 1mo

DebinHawaii I would not have liked to be trapped in the Ferris Wheel at all! 🎡🫣 And I kind of forgot about the ferries—I think unless it is exploding oranges 💥🍊 or a #NNK the side dangers in the books run together a bit. 1mo

kwmg40 The episode that disturbed me the most was Nancy's dress for the show being damaged by the barb wire. It was great that our heroines all repaired the dress sewing late into the night, though I found that bit very implausible. 😂 1mo

Roary47 I agree with @Bookwormjillk and @DebinHawaii the Ferris wheel scene was pretty scary! 3w

13 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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3. The other piece to this story line involved finding a missing prince...who happened to be in River Heights! This leads me to think of the secondary characters in this one. Any standouts, for good or bad? Personally, I'm glad the gang left Francis/Michael/fake prince to find his own way off the island. What a horrible person! #NancyDrewBR

BarkingMadRead That was a fun trick 🤣 he was wretched, and so stupid to act that way right off. He could have been stealthier and stretched it out more! 1mo

Bookwormjillk Loved that part. He deserved it. 1mo

Sace I disliked him and I hated that the dog didn‘t get a redemption arc!! 1mo

See All 11 Comments

bookandbedandtea That imposter was pretty dumb. Instead of being a jerk and robbing the old lady for temporary gain, he could have been nice and settled down to live a pampered life without anyone knowing. 1mo

MariaW @bookandbedandtea & @BarkingMadRead This is how most imposters are put to justice, they want to much too fast. 🤦‍♀️ He could‘ve tried to disguise himself at least instead of being his natural self. 1mo

Ruthiella I definitely copped on to the pick pocket double long before Nancy did. It was nice to see Helen and Jim again and Katherine and Mr. Ellison‘s rapid romance was fun. 1mo

DGRachel I liked Mrs Alexandra and I loved Anna. I figured out the ruse with the pickpockets early on and was a bit disappointed with how obvious it was that Stanley or whatever is real name was, was an imposter. @Sace I‘m just glad they didn‘t kill the dog. I liked seeing Helen again. 1mo

DebinHawaii I commented in my review that I love how everyone shows up in River Heights, which apparently is “The Riviera” of the Midwest. 😳🙄The deposed Queen, her subjects including an antiques dealer & a fashion designer & finally the lost prince— not to mention all the criminal gangs. It does make it easier for Nancy to solve the local mysteries. 1mo

kwmg40 The fake prince was definitely detestable. I cheered when he was exposed! 1mo

bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii I love that aspect of these stories- that it's treated as completely normal that important personages (and people connected with them) just randomly turn up in River Heights 😄 1mo

Roary47 @Ruthiella I agree it was nice to see Helen again. I also liked the antiques dealer and was hoping that he was the long lost prince. I liked the scene where Nancy got help taking off imposters shoes. 🤣 3w

14 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

This post contains spoilers

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2. Did you have a jewel box with a secret compartment? What would you hide in it?

I found this interesting talk about the history of jewelry boxes. Link in the comments! #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://nycjewelryweek.com/unlocking-the-jewelry-box-a-visual-history/ 1mo

BarkingMadRead I don‘t and now I‘m sad 🤣 I do have a Gone With the Wind ceramic music box that we keep random old keys in though 1mo

Bookwormjillk I wish. Not sure what I‘d hide. Some fabulous secret. 1mo

See All 11 Comments

Sace I had a metal jewelry box with cheap red velvet lining and a broken hinge. I also had a beat up ballerina jewel/music box. I‘m sure I just kept junk in it. 😂 1mo

bookandbedandtea Like many little girls of my generation I had a twirling ballerina jewelry box. 🩰 I have a wooden jewelry case now but no hidden compartment, sadly. 1mo

MariaW Like @Sace and @bookandbedandtea I used to have a twirking ballerina jewelry box for the cheap sparkling jewelry I owned as kid - without any hidden compartment either. I am not sure if I ever owned something that precious to make me hide it somewhere hidden. But I am assuming in my wild teenage years I would have used it to store away cigarettes or 🌿. 😂 (edited) 1mo

Ruthiella Like everybody else, I had the ballerina jewelry box with no secret compartment! If I had, I‘d have probably stashed money in it! 😅 1mo

DGRachel I never had a jewelry box with a ballerina or a secret compartment, but I do have one that is a music box. I can‘t imagine what I would have secreted away, but I am a little sad that I don‘t have one with secret compartments. 1mo

DebinHawaii I always wanted a box or jewelry box with secret compartments -not that I had anything good to keep there! Alas, I had the ballerina musical jewelry box too.🩰 1mo

kwmg40 No hidden compartment, but I had a jewelry box that mimicked a stereo cabinet containing a turntable with a tiny record. It played “The Blue Danube“ when I moved the turntable arm. 1mo

Roary47 I never had one as a kid, but I do have a Twilight jewelry box now with a twirling Cullen crest. 🤣 3w

13 likes11 comments

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Joined September 2016