

Interesting
Westmacott, aka Agatha Christie, writes a romance of passion, obsession, power, and in terms of “Giant,” genius. This covers so many aspects, from childhood to war to fame and fortune to loss that it almost feels like an epic novel. I think this is one to reread at some point to get further into the layers of the story - Westmacott/Christie certainly gives a lot of perspective and topics to ponder.
A month late, but finally finished for #LMWBR !
I‘m really behind for last month‘s #LMWBR , but I‘m making headway!
I had to capture this quote:
“‘Tell me, Jane, what is life to you?‘
She paused a minute and then said:
‘A difficult, dangerous, but endlessly interesting adventure.‘”
Fiction winner for September! Giant‘s Bread by Mary Westmacott (aka Agatha Christie). Special thanks to the #westmakittens - I definitely got a lot more out of it thinking it over for our discussion!
Don‘t forget to start looking for Unfinished Portrait, our #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead pick for October. Discussion will be posted Oct 15 & 22. #LMWBR
Spent the rainy afternoon curled up with our #lmwbr #marywestmacottbuddyread - rather cozy and perfect. Still sitting out my thoughts on that book, so going to peek at the discussion now!
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead #westmakittens
Joe chooses a tumultuous life with her artist lover over a stable, affluent life with Sebastian.
Nell chooses comfort over love, staying with Chetwynd even when Vernon returns.
Sebastian chooses his friends over money, sacrificing profits to go see Vernon and later to aid Joe when she is ill.
And Vernon — his final, terrible choice between Nell and Jane. What do you think that signifies?
The Beast comes up many times throughout the story. What did you think the Beast represented? Did you understand the Beast better as the story progressed, or did it become more murky?
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead #westmakittens
I‘m getting ready to post more discussion topics about Giant‘s Bread - some heavy ideas here! I‘ll hide the next post under a spoiler tag but we‘re going to explore the significance of “the Beast” and the meaning of the title—why is it called Giant‘s Bread, anyway? #LMWBC #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead #westmakittens
Absolutely blown away by this story of a group of young people coming of age in the 1910s. Christie explores themes of social expectations, and what happens when one tries to subvert them; what does art require of the artist; what is love; what is genius; and most poignantly, how does each character‘s sense of self hold up when they are tested by events? What do their choices say about them? Brilliant, tragic, and thought-provoking. 5⭐️
What did you think of the different characters‘ reaction to the outbreak of WWI? Do you agree with Sebastian, that things always seem different or unique when we are living through them? What about Nell‘s emotional clarity in the face of imminent danger, versus Jane‘s stolid practicality?
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead #Westmakittens
This was absolutely fascinating. It's completely different from Christie's mystery novels, and yet there are so many similarities. The same sharp insight into human nature, for one. It's also oddly darker than most of her mysteries, which was surprising to me. I‘d only read Miss Marple and Poirot, etc. thus far, and had heard that the Westmacott novels were Christie's "romance novels." This is not a romance at all, though it certainly deals with⤵️
“You don‘t know anything about God or you couldn‘t have spoken like that, gently patting God on the back for making life comfortable and easy for you. Do you know a text that used to frighten me in the Bible? ‘This night shall thy soul be required of thee.‘ When God requires your soul of you, be sure you‘ve got a soul to give Him!”
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead
@Ruthiella @KathyWheeler @quietjenn @Librarybelle @kspenmoll @BarbaraJean @peanutnine @Roary47 @willaful @batsy
Happy Saturday #westmakittens
I haven‘t *quite* finished the book yet but I thought I‘d start posting some discussion questions just to get us started. I‘m really finding it compelling! (Hard to say “enjoying” since everyone is so dreadfully angsty all the time.) What do you think?
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead
“The perfect husband! Perhaps that was because he was an American. You always heard that Americans made perfect husbands.”
😂😂
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Thanks for the tag, @Sparklemn 😊
1. Hiking, watching football, baking
2. Answering for Wednesday, I‘ll say happy, because it was my husband‘s birthday and we got to go to a Rick Springfield concert featuring the Hooters! Woohoo
3. Giant‘s Bread for #LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead
“Don‘t you think a woman can be poor and happy?”
“Certainly, given the necessary qualifications.”
“Which are—what? Love and trust?”
“No, you idiotic child. A sense of humor, a tough hide and the valuable quality of being sufficient unto oneself.”
#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead
“You want to be able to live in the house of your forefathers, and to marry the girl you love, and to grow immensely rich, and to be a great composer. I dare say you might manage to do one of those four things if you give your whole mind to it.
But it‘s not likely you‘ll have everything, you know. Life isn‘t like a penny novelette.” 🔥🔥🔥
Happy August, everyone! Time flies. This is just another advertisement for the upcoming Mary Westmacott Buddy Read! #LMWBR
We will read all six, one per month, starting with Giants Bread in Sept. On the 3rd Saturday of each month, I will post discussion questions. Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!
repost for @CSeydel:
In 1930 Agatha Christie published her first non-mystery novel under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. From 1930-1956, she released six of these novels, which tell deeply emotional stories of the transformative, even destructive, power of love.
I‘m hosting a #buddyread of these novels, one per month. Please share this post, and comment if you want to be on the tag list!
original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2605126
Interesting book about finding happiness and making sure of what you want to work for in life. This was a longer Agatha Christie read, and I managed. Although the story kept me Interested enough through questioning what it was about, it won‘t stick around for me to remember. Could not get over that the woman‘s conversations were always about the main male character. Feel so bad for the two woman either way. Though I loved Josephine
#AgathaChristie
I‘m on a mission to read Agatha Christie‘s works in publication order! 😅This book was published under her pseudonym and it really does read like a book written by another author. But the trademark excellent writing is still here along with a very interesting story. 4/5⭐️
Cozy morning #audiowalk in winter foggy wonderland ... Agatha Christie is always good companion 👍
@MinDea #TricksyTails #LetsMakeTricksySmile
1. I have no animals so I am sharing a loaf of bread I made. 😍
2. iPhone
3. Nuts in cookies.
4. Just ready to start AFTER ANNA by Lisa Scottoline. Finished THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simone Lelic - it was a bit confusing and dark, but kept my interest.
5. Favorite sport is Football.