
April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead features the latest the Kate Quinn. Read at your own pace, and discussion will take place on April 30th!

April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead features the latest the Kate Quinn. Read at your own pace, and discussion will take place on April 30th!
#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!
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
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!
4. 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
6. 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
This 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!
Callaway 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!
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
Check in time for #LiteraryCrew ! We‘re less than two weeks away from our next #BuddyRead discussion. Any comments to share?
#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 ⬇️
OMG…this was good! Hilary Huber as the voice narrator for the audio edition is superb. Told in parallel narratives in the form of flashbacks, two best friends are invoked in a fatal accident in 1999. Over twenty years later, what really happened that night is finally coming to light. Great twists and surprises that found me making excuses to keep the audio running. I‘d definitely read more by Hendricks! #LitsyAToZ #LetterL
This was a reread for me, and I forgot how much I enjoyed this when I read it several years ago—I reread it for my IRL book club, and the other members were not as enthusiastic. Still a pick for me!
Hopefully this propels me to continue with the series. #LitsyAToZ #LetterH #52BookClub25 #HasAnEpigraph
I had to set every book aside to devour this one in 24 hours! The latest Hamish Macbeth, this one looks at smuggling of whisky and sex trafficking in Scotland. As always with a Hamish Macbeth, the quirky characters of Lochdubh help Hamish investigate. The reader pretty much guesses the culprit early on, but it‘s fun to see the twists Hamish‘s investigation takes. I read these purely for escape, and this did not disappoint!
The April #NancyDrewBR book takes us to a moss-covered mansion (who knew?!?). The versions vary—the 1971 version starts with explosive oranges!
Discussion takes place on April 15th. All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to added or removed from the tag list!
Good morning #LittenDetectives ! I have 6 questions/comments posted as spoilers for today‘s #NancyDrewBR discussion; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.
Different plot lines between the story versions! It‘ll be interesting to see how they compare!
Our next books, also with different plot lines, is The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion. Official post tomorrow!
6. I almost forgot to ask about the mystery! We thought about the setting and the characters, but let's now think about the mystery or the mysteries.
I thought it was pretty ingenious how the crooks hid all of the stones and gems throughout the brass-bound trunk, including behind the lettering on the trunk (1976).
It did seem implausible that the FBI would completely believe Nancy in the 1976 version. #NancyDrewBR
5. Each version introduces its own slate of secondary characters. Personally, the two guys who throw Nancy and Nelda overboard in the 1976 version were awful!
Think about the secondary characters you meet in this book. Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR
4. Nancy faints in this one (I think in both 1940 and 1976)! We also find George in the infirmary (at least in 1976) and a meteor (also 1976) rocks the ship. I read the 1976, and it just seemed more convoluted than other story lines (but I am still secretly miffed we don't know why Nancy visited the Netherlands).
What did you think of the adventures in this book? Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR
3. In the 1940 edition, Nancy travels to South America. She has to travel somewhere, and with World War II happening, I suppose South America it is!
1940s South America not only became a refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe, it later became a refuge for former Nazis fleeing captivity.
And, nations like the US saw an opportunity to capitalize on partnerships. Link in comments to a documentary from the 1940s! #NancyDrewBR
2. In the 1976 edition, Nancy uncovers part of the mystery by observing suspects use sign language. She refers to this as “finger language,“ and the casualness of this speaks to the struggles the deaf community have faced to fully recognize sign language as a legitimate form of communication. It was not until 1965 that American Sign Language garnered recognition!
A link to ASL history from Gallaudet University is in the comments. #NancyDrewBR
1. This month's book has differing plot lines between the original and the revised. In 1940, Nancy and friends travel to South America as part of a tour group and help out a friend of Carson Drew with a mystery. In 1976, Nancy and friends return to NYC from the Netherlands and befriend a young woman recently accused of stealing a diamond bracelet in Johannesburg. Both mysteries, of course, have a brass-bound trunk! Which did you read? #NancyDrewBR
Like @Ruthiella , I want to know why Nancy was on a ship going from the Netherlands to NYC! This one is not a favorite of mine—not only did I catch a few editing errors, but one of the adventure sequences seemed more convoluted than usual.
One thing, though: Nancy does not know how to speak Dutch, so I think there is finally one thing Nancy cannot do!
#LittenDetectives : Discussion on Saturday! #NancyDrewBR
I was a little worried I could not find a reasonably priced used copy of this, but thankfully I could! My library didn‘t have it, but I found a copy for less than 10.00 plus free shipping. Hooray! #SundayBuddyRead
This might be my year to read more Murder, She Wrote books (such good comfort reading). A fitness guy is found dead in his gym, and Jessica has to clear a friend‘s name. My one quibble: I‘m not sure why authors are insistent that librarians will give away library card info (address, books out, etc.). That‘s a privacy issue! And even Jessica Fletcher would not get that from my lips. 😂
A super quick fun addition to the series! Good twists in the mystery, with lots of humor and some big red herrings. The audio narration is so good. I cannot say much without giving away the plot line, but this takes place near Christmas, and Ernest has just a few days to solve the murder before his ex-wife has to spend Christmas in jail.
I attended a cozy mystery event sponsored by Kensington publishing and hosted by my local mystery bookshop. It‘s always fabulous hanging out with cozy mystery authors, and I splurged on this hardcover. A cozy mystery with food and ghosts and adult beverages? Ummm…yes please!
Now, to find the time to read it! 😂 #bookhaul
Slowly, so very slowly, catching up on buddy reads and other books. I finished this one tonight, and maybe the third time is the charm—I appreciated Tommy and Tuppence a bit more with this reading than I did the prior two times. Perhaps I needed an off-the-wall pair of unlikely detectives.
It just goes to show how you can have a different reading experience each time you reread a book. #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
#5JoysFriday
1. My boys…always. A Monday night photo that has us hanging on the bed together.
2. Xander is 100% back to normal and had a good annual checkup.
3. Zeke transitioned without issue to his new food sensitivity diet food.
4. We‘re now down to one medication from 5 for Zeke!
5. My library added April releases to the catalog, and I loaded my hold list.
My life has been sick cats and so many medicines! The joys of returning to normalcy!
I was not sure what to expect when I started listening to this (thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC opportunity), but this story is more somber than the cover suggests. It‘s very contemplative but yet also offers hope for new beginnings (hence the title). The audio narration is engaging, and I enjoyed listening to this while doing household chores and preparing kitty medicine. #52BookClub25 #AuthorsLastNameIsAlsoAFirstName #LitsyAToZ #LetterN
This has been on my tbr forever, and I am so glad the #HashtagBrigade read it, though I‘m pretty late finishing the book for the group.
This is a hard story to rate, as Esther‘s story is parts disturbing and hard to read. Knowing Plath‘s state of mind too adds to backstory of this mental health novel. It‘s not supposed to make one comfortable. Glad I read it! #192025 #1963 #LitsyAToZ #LetterB