pickOverall, a good collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. Some are better than others, but they each lend for great discussion between the #NoPlaceLikeHolmes group!
pickMurder at a thriller writer conference? Told from four perspectives, the narrative looks at a 24-hour period after a murder occurs. Twists throughout keep the narrative moving, and the multiple voice actors and actresses for the audio help lend to the individuality of the characters. The ending was just wow! #LitsyAToZ #LetterI
pickI finally took the time to finish this for #InDeathLongReadalong …I‘m a bit behind! But, I think this was another great addition to the series. We see a more vulnerable Eve in some ways as she navigates grief and love. We also see a very strong Eve who speaks of walking with the dead. A bit of a sentimental end. #LitsyAToZ #LetterJ
pickI love the Golden Girls (I‘m a Dorothy, by the way). Of course I had to try this. While this does not quite capture the magic of the television show, it‘s close. And really, can anything capture it (I have the same feelings for the Murder, She Wrote book series)???
Dorothy is accused of murder, and Rose has to put the St Olaf spin on her niece‘s wedding. There‘s humor with that heartwarming touch of friendship and family. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Life continues to be an up and down rollercoaster!
#5JoysFriday
1. My boys…always!
2. Purina Pro Plan Lamb and Rice for sensitive stomachs— not what the vet wants Zeke to eat, but after literally starving himself to near death last week, I bought a couple non-chicken primary ingredient foods, and Zeke is loving this.
3. PetSmart for curbside pickup
4. IRL book club for non-vet human interaction
5. Spring, listening to the birds chirp
pickThis novel has one of the most psychologically evil fictional characters I have ever met. Be forewarned—parts of this are very difficult to read due to the actions taking place and the pure sinister behavior of one of the characters. We hear the story through Gillian, who as a woman in her 70s is reminded of a troubling episode in her teenage life, prior to WWII, when she visits the home of her friend Violet Claybourne over winter break. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
so-soJax stumbles upon a dead body behind her aunt‘s restaurant. Her father, a local cop, asks for her help in identifying the murderer. The second half of the story was much better than the first—it seemed to take me forever to read the first 40 pages. So-so read, though now I really want a milkshake! 😂
In our 19th outing with Nancy, we go on a quest for a missing map. Will the map lead to treasure? How are Nancy‘s cartography skills? Discussion on May 15th!
All are welcome to join the #NancyDrewBR . Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, julieclair
Thanks for the tag, @dabbe and @TheSpineView !
1. No…I file as early as possible. I even submitted my estimated 1st quarter tax for the 2025 tax season last week! Get it off my to do list and move on to the next item. 😂
2. I‘m reading so many books, but this one released today that features The Golden Girls conjures up nostalgia. And, a good word: cheesecake! #Two4Tuesday
It‘s time for our discussion, #LittenDetectives ! I have 6 questions as spoilers posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #NancyDrewBR . This one was a bit of a hot mess in my opinion, but I just love reading these with you!!
I‘ll post the official graphic for next month‘s book, The Quest for the Missing Map, tomorrow. Not many variations between the editions this time!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair6. Circling back to the adventures in the books...adult critics for the 1971 edition indicate Nancy's near-death experience in the pool as atypical of the stories. Some of you have also commented on the James Bond-esque escapades of Nancy. I did not read this one as a kid, so I'm not sure if I would have been awed or petrified (like Bess) at what Nancy experiences. Any thoughts? A favorite adventure in the book to share? #NancyDrewBR
5. I don't know about you, but I found the supporting characters in the 1971 edition to be mostly rude. They just seem more abrasive than others from the prior books, including the culprits! I'd love to hear your take on the side characters in whichever edition you read! #NancyDrewBR
4. To continue with the 1971 edition, I wanted to highlight a couple of elements. Remember, the Space Age was shining bright at the time of the revision, so it seemed Adams really wanted Nancy to take part. We get a brief tour of the then Kennedy Space Center. Link in comments to the official site.
I also learned about orange varieties! Link to a 2013 article about orange varieties in comments. #NancyDrewBR
3. The 1971 edition. I'm still hung up on the whole “exploding oranges“ thing--who knew?!? Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, who worked on previous revisions (and, according to Wikipedia, claimed she wrote the first 28 Nancy Drew stories--she didn't), revised the outline and the story for this. There was a lot going on, and adult critics often cite the “strange elements“ in their discussions. What about you? Agree? #NancyDrewBR
2. Let's talk about the 1941 edition first! I did not read it, though given the very detailed synopsis on Wikipedia (link in comments), it sounds more enjoyable to me than the 1971 edition! This is the last book to be outlined by Edna Squier, and it was written by our friend Marion Benson. I'd love to hear what those who read this version thought of the murder, gypsies, plane crash, and forest fire! #NancyDrewBR
1. Depending upon the edition you read this month, you may have helped Nancy track down a missing heiress and uncover the clues to the sounds in a mansion (1941) or help Nancy determine who sent explosive oranges to the Kennedy Space Center (1971). We'll explore each version in the next two questions. But first, which edition did you read? Any overall thoughts to share about the version you read? #NancyDrewBR
so-soI feel like this would have been better titled as “The NASA Caper” or “The Mystery of the Exploding Oranges” for the revised edition. The moss—covered mansion portion was rather contrived. I was very offended when someone questioned Nancy‘s ability of helping, as she‘s a girl. 🙄
Not the greatest, in my opinion. Discussion on Tuesday!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair
pickI picked this up solely because it fit with a #BookChain2025 prompt! I know Bonneville from his work in Downton Abbey and Notting Hill, so I was interested to read a bit more about his journey. There‘s humor laced with stories on various sets and theater productions. Not recognizing Leonardo DiCaprio was hilarious! #LitsyAToZ #LetterP
pickMy local bookstore asks me to contribute reviews for their newsletter and handed me this one. I wasn‘t sure what to expect when I opened the book, but from page one…wow. Just wow. This is an adrenaline-filled rollercoaster ride, filled with terror and red herrings and so many surprises. Underneath it all is a statement regarding first impressions and the way we tend to not think how our blasé look at world events impacts others. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
pickThis slowly revealing novel has themes of loss and regret and the power of love. It‘s beautifully written, and I greatly enjoyed the 1934 timeline. There‘s also a really horrible villain in the novel. In 1971, Nell discovers a photo of her mother from 1934, which starts a journey to learn more about her mother, herself, and her sister Evie. The audio was superb. Recommended.
April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead features the latest the Kate Quinn. Read at your own pace, and discussion will take place on April 30th!
mcctrish, DebinHawaii, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, BethM, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf
#LittenDetectives : We are two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion! Will Nancy be able to solve the mystery of the moss-covered mansion? What talent will we learn she possesses this time? Discussion on the 15th!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair
There were so many positive comments left on my post last night that I think it‘s worth making this official.
This is very low key—no tag list, so feel free to participate how often you would like. I am reading one nonfiction a month that looks beyond the history found in schools.
If you would like to participate, post your book and thoughts each month, using #RealHistory and/or #HonestHistory . I‘ll make a bibliography for those interested.
New day, new month, new #HashtagBrigade book.
I‘ve fallen behind on so many reads and have found myself reaching for quick reads or books where I really don‘t have to think. Maybe this will be the month to get back on track.
#Zeke has had a good few days, which is nice. He‘s more active recently, and his only issue is not eating the food best for his issue (we see a specialist the end of this month for an official diagnosis). #CatsOfLitsy
Fair warning…this may be a bit political. Though, as @TheBookHippie recently posted, reading is political.
I am beyond angry. Today‘s loss of IMLS, and the recent news of the future changes at the Smithsonian, are terrifying. Imagine a world without the services you rely on at the library or visiting a museum that provides a sanitized, incorrect history. In the US, that‘s what we will soon see.
So, I plan to read one nonfiction title a month ⬇️
Great discussion so far for The Murder on the Links! Our next #ChristiesCapers introduces Colonel Race, who appears in a few other books later in Christie‘s canon. Discussion on April 27th.
All are welcome to attend. Please 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, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill
It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! And sorry everyone…I really fizzled out on this. I also really struggled with the book‘s writing, so there are only 4 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.
Next month‘s #BuddyRead is The Briar Club. Reminder will be posted tomorrow!
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Deblovestoread, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf4. Admittedly, I struggled with the writing style in this novel. I just could not connect with the narrative. Any comments on the writing or the style of the novel? Did you the first person narrative enhanced or took away from the telling of Livia's story? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
3. Moving away from the characters, let's look at the bigger picture discussed--the Roman Empire post-assassination. How familiar were you with events prior to the novel? How does the novel portray the events?
Quick reference guide from the History Channel:
https://www.history.com/articles/julius-caesar-assassination-fall-roman-republic
#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
2. Now that we have some additional facts about Livia, what did you think of her? History considers her to be cold, calculating, heartless, and ruthless. Is that a fair assessment? Think about the men in her circle. How does this novel portray them, and if you are familiar with them, is their portrayal in the novel fair? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
1. Smith allows us to go inside the thoughts of Livia as she becomes involved with the most powerful men in Rome. Were you familiar with Livia before reading this book?
History Hit did 10 facts about her: https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-livia-drusilla/
#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Sunday evening chores are done early, and Zeke and the others are resting, so I can sneak in a #hyggehour tonight. Reading this month‘s #LiteraryCrew title—I know, discussion is tomorrow and I barely put a dent into the book! Current candle is Yankee Candle Black Cherry. My mood is exhausted and stressed; hopefully my weighted blanket will help (and I may have to take a nap).
It was wonderful to take some time and plan out my April #BookSpinBingo list. Hopefully, I can tackle it! The last two months have not been good for sticking to reading lists…
It‘s time for the #ChristiesCapers discussion! I have 6 questions posted as spoilers; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.
Next up is The Man in the Brown Suit, the first appearance of Colonel Race in the novels. The official post will appear tomorrow!
#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, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill6. We've discussed Poirot and Giraud and touched on characters during our mystery discussion, but let's think about the characters now. Christie purposely has Hastings ride off to Argentina in the end in order to let Poirot stand on his own for future stories (though Hastings does come back, as we will see). What did you think of the cast of characters? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
5. This novel takes place in France, but the region surrounding Calais has a very deep history with England. I'm sure our UK friends could talk about this better than I can! But, to give a small bit of history as to why British citizens would be living in Calais, I have a couple of links in the comments for more of a history between to the two regions.
Any thoughts on setting? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
4. Let's think of the mystery itself. How does it compare with the prior two novels we read, especially Styles? Were you surprised by the ending? Did you figure everything out before Poirot made the big reveal? Any red herrings trip you up? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
3. Poirot meets not exactly a rival but definitely competition in the detective from the Paris Surete, Giraud. In the novel, Poirot outlines his methods of deduction--not needing to traipse around the world in search of clues but really just use the grey little cells--whereas we first meet Giraud lying in the grave. What are similarities and differences between Poirot and Giraud? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
2. Some reviewers draw comparisons between this novel and the stories of Sherlock Holmes. What do you think? Are there any instances in the novel that reminded you of Holmes? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
1. The Murder on the Links marks the 2nd Hercule Poirot mystery. Fun facts:
*According to the AC official website, the game show Jeopardy indicates this is the first time the phrase “the scene of the crime“ is used anywhere.
*Christie enjoyed French mysteries, especially Gaston Leroux's works, and this is somewhat in homage to them.
What did you think of this Poirot adventure? How does it compare to Styles? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
pickThis was a perfect combo of creepy and suspense (too much creepy, and I have nightmares, so this worked well). I never quite warmed to Alice, and I‘d be petrified of some things happening to her, but the suspense and surprises kept the narrative quickly moving, and I gasped at a few of the reveals. The audio narration was good and enjoyable. I‘d read another by Paris!
pickCallaway has a great way of describing the Greenbrier and its landscape—I‘ve never been there, yet I could envision everything. Dorothy Draper and her talent comes to life in this novel. I loved the language, the writing style, and the story. Won‘t say more until the #SundayBuddyRead discussion! #52BookClub25 #300To400PagesLong
Thanks for the tag, @DebinHawaii !
#5JoysFriday
1. My boys…always!
2. Zeke was above the kitchen cabinets for the first time in weeks (a sign he was feeling perky thanks to medicine)
3. Opening Day for baseball!
4. Book mail, especially Jane Austen-related book mail
5. Litsy
Several of you have asked me about Zeke and how he is doing. Lots has happened this week, and the news could be better…
Zeke had an ultrasound on Wednesday. The results came back today. No large tumors, which is good news. However, he shows signs of chronic pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel. The most concerning are his lymph nodes around the stomach and intestine. They are enlarged—these could be related to his GI issues or ⬇️⬇️⬇️
So excited my copy arrived!!! I‘ve paged through, and it is gorgeous.
If you are unaware, this year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen‘s birth. Jane Austen‘s House in Chawton put together a book that chronicles everything Austen each month of the year. Perfect for any Austen fan!
I apologize—I should have posted this sooner! Zeke is going through another rough patch & has an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday. I picked up more meds for him from the vet today. I‘m not as consistent keeping up with everything else. 😂
April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is by the amazing Kate Quinn! Read at your own pace; discussion on April 30th. All are welcome to join. Let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list!
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
Thanks for the tag, @DebinHawaii and @TheSpineView !
#5JoysFriday
1. My boys…always. Pictures from this week.
2. Xander‘s bloodwork came back normal.
3. Zeke finished his medication, but he‘s having some GI issues again. He goes for an ultrasound next week. Partial joy for a few days without meds!
4. IRL book club was hilarious this week!
5. So many library holds arrived! #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime
We have less than two weeks to go before our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! I‘ve seen some good reviews and comments on rereading so far on Litsy, so this should make a good discussion on the 30th! Anything to share with the others? #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill
Check in time for #LiteraryCrew ! We‘re less than two weeks away from our next #BuddyRead discussion. Any comments to share?
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf
#RantTime
It was not really reported in the news today, but DOGE made its way to the IMLS office this morning. Changes in leadership this morning has also greatly concerned libraries and museums, given the rhetoric used by the newly appointed director.
As a former public librarian, and one with a library degree, I am absolutely devastated. Libraries are for everyone. Librarians are not to censor, pass judgment, or hide truths. We have a code ⬇️
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}