FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT

Kicking off #WinterGames & #20in4 #readathon behind as usual, but at least I got my tree finished! Couldn‘t quite fit the angel in the picture but the hubby is thrilled to finally have his train working🚂Still working on my games #bujo but I‘ll get there eventually🫣Starting my reading with the #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub read for Nov/Dec. Good luck everyone! #TeamEvergreen 1pt

Clwojick, Andrew65

Andrew65 Best of luck 😁 1w

34 likes1 comment

batsy

Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT

pick

Another lovely treat from Noel Streatfeild aka Susan Scarlett. There's a loving family, a dashing romantic interest, department store intrigue, & intrepid dogs. I adored Scissors ? & his commitment to tail-thumping as a sign that he's listening as his lovelorn human drones on about a girl. I needed David to be a bit more mysterious & angsty, though ? And Dulcie! Oh my. Felt bad about the double standards for women but she was a great "villain"!

batsy #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub @Aimeesue @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @CatLass007 @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @julieclair @Kimzey @kwmg40 @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @Tamra @Teresereading @willaful 2w

Jess_Read_This Good point about needing David to be a bit more angsty! I thought we might see more from him when we learn about his design work and wanting to be separate from the company. But one elevator stop later and he‘s slicing meats in the basement to get a girl 😂 2w

kwmg40 I love the story as it is but I can also see how an angsty David could enhance it! 2w

See All 19 Comments

Tamra Dulcie made for a fun villain! 2w

Aimeesue Great review! I actually felt a bit sad for Dulcie - so alone and reeking of desperation. Not to excuse her interfering behavior of course, but yikes, what a way to live. 😕 2w

quietjenn I've quite the soft spot for angsty boys, so I would've been ok with that 😉 2w

batsy @Jess_Read_This Hahaha exactly! 2w

batsy @kwmg40 It's just me and my fave trope getting in the way 😂 2w

batsy @Tamra She was a character that was fun to hate but yes @Aimeesue that's what made feel somewhat sad for her, too. To be so disliked... 2w

batsy @quietjenn You get it 😉 2w

jlhammar Oh, Dulcie 😂 Good point about the double standards! 2w

Ruthiella I was hoping that Mrs. Janet would somehow turn Dulcie around…but alas no. 2w

julieclair Great review! And yes, @Ruthiella , I was hoping the same thing, and a bit disappointed when it didn‘t happen. 2w

batsy @jlhammar It just made me a bit sad! And guilty that I was enjoying hating on Dulcie 😅 2w

batsy @Ruthiella @julieclair I know! I was kind of hoping it would work. 2w

willaful @batsy It's okay -- she was named Dulcie, we're supposed to hate her. 😂 2w

LeahBergen Great review! And I‘m ashamed to admit that I very much enjoyed hating on Dulcie. 😂 She felt like the most loathed characters in my old childhood favourites (if that makes sense). She‘s a “Nellie Olsen”. 😆 2w

batsy @willaful 😂 2w

batsy @LeahBergen Oh yes, I totally get it! Nellie Olsen is a perfect example 😆 2w

75 likes2 stack adds19 comments

julieclair

Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT

pick

Reading this book was like getting a warm and cozy hug from a favorite aunt. Sweet, heartwarming, perfect!

Another lovely #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub pick!

@LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @Lizpixie @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @batsy @Tamra @Teresereading @kwmg40 @Cathythoughts @CatLass007 @jlhammar @Ruthiella @willaful @Sparklemn @MrsK

Ruthiella It really was quite warm and cozy! It even ends on Christmas Day! 😂 PS I love the background yarn chose to set off the book cover. 😍 2w

CarolynM Nice review. Definitely a feel good read!🥰 2w

Jess_Read_This Lovely review! It did feel like a warm hug of a book! 2w

See All 9 Comments

kwmg40 I totally agree with you! 2w

Tamra Perfect description! 2w

Aimeesue Yes! 2w

quietjenn So much so. 2w

jlhammar Exactly! Great way to put it. 2w

LeahBergen That‘s just how I felt about it, too! 🥰 2w

38 likes1 stack add9 comments

Jess_Read_This

Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT

pick

So glad for the lovely #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub members that tagged me in all their lovely reviews. I immediately got hustling to participate and enjoyed the book immensely. I love reading books that make me smile while reading. The wholesomely sweet Carson family charmed me. Just the right amount of light suspense in a jealous cousin, young romance, and a happy Christmas ending was what I needed.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Teresereading, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, CatLass007, jlhammar, Ruthiella, julieclair, willaful

Tamra So glad you joined in! 💙 2w

quietjenn It really was a lovely one. Glad you thought so too. 2w

Ruthiella The Christmas ending turned out to be well timed for us! I think S. Scarlett is going to be a sure thing in the future. 😀 2w

See All 8 Comments

Lizpixie I‘ve just bought my own copy so looks like I‘ll be joining for this one at least!💙 2w

batsy Lovely review! That's great that there's a Christmas ending... Still hoping go squeeze it in before the month is out 🙂 2w

LeahBergen The Christmas ending was just what I needed! 😊 2w

CarolynM Lovely review 🙂 Susan Scarlett writes wonderful families! Hope you enjoy this sweet story @Lizpixie 2w

jlhammar Great review! I agree, so enjoyable and that ending was perfect timing. 2w

46 likes8 comments

LeahBergen

Murder While You Work | Susan Scarlett

Here it is, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub : our 2024 reading schedule!

Thanks for all the speedy voting and my apologies if I‘ve missed tagging someone.

Anyone on Litsy is welcome to read along with us any month and join in on the discussion!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Teresereading, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, CatLass007, jlhammar, Ruthiella, julieclair, willaful

batsy Fun! Another year to look forward to! Thank you so much for compiling it ❤️ 3w

CatLass007 Please add me to your tag list. Thank you. 3w

Kimzey Thanks for creating the graphic, @LeahBergen ! So much to look forward to in 2024! 📚📚🎉 3w

See All 39 Comments

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘m looking forward to continuing reading these lovely books with our wonderful group🥰 3w

Jess_Read_This What a terrific line up for 2024! Looking forward to reading with everyone. Leah, thank you for organizing, prompting, and tagging the group. I sure appreciate the extra work you do for the group! 3w

jlhammar Thanks, Leah! Looks like we've got some wonderful reads ahead. Can't wait to order these beauties! 📚 3w

elkeOriginal Wahoo! Looking forward to furrowing my middlebrow with you all in 2024! 3w

kwmg40 Great line up! I'm looking forward to reading these. 3w

Tamra 😃 thank you for the summary Leah! (edited) 3w

Ruthiella Thank you Leah! This will be fun! 🤩 3w

erzascarletbookgasm Thanks Leah! Fun line up for the year! But if I do not join in for the month, means I couldn‘t get hold of the book..I‘ll look forward to seeing everyone‘s posts then. 3w

julieclair Thank you Leah! I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful group. Lots of excellent reading ahead! 3w

rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal 😂 3w

rubyslippersreads Thanks for organizing this, @LeahBergen 😊 Looking forward to a new year of FM reading! 3w

quietjenn Hooray! Looking forward to another fab year of FMB reading with you all! And thanks so much Leah for keeping us organized and in good shape! 3w

LeahBergen @batsy @Kimzey @CarolynM @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @kwmg40 @Tamra @Ruthiella @erzascarletbookgasm @julieclair @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn No problem, everyone! We‘re going to have a fabulous reading year! ❤️❤️ 3w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal No Botox for you then! 😆 3w

LeahBergen @CatLass007 Will do! 😊 3w

Gissy I‘m still reading the books assigned for 2023 but these editions are so pretty with great stories that I will continue acquiring the books and read them but slowly. I‘m a terrible slow reader🤷🏽‍♀️ 3w

Kimzey @Gissy I‘m behind on our 2023 reading too! I read faster with audiobooks, LOL. 3w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 🤣🤣🤣 3w

Aimeesue I was really trying to cut down on all the spam, but if one must indulge, one must. 😄 3w

CatLass007 Wow! You‘ve added me already. Thanks for working so quickly. 3w

LeahBergen @Gissy It‘s nice to have a good stockpile of books to read. 😆 3w

LeahBergen @Kimzey Oh, well. At least you know you have nice reads to look forward to. 😊 3w

LeahBergen @Aimeesue We shall all partake of the spam together. 😆 3w

LeahBergen @CatLass007 No problem. I hope you enjoy reading with us! 3w

Kimzey @LeahBergen Yes, definitely lots more to look forward to! And I‘m loving my growing collection of Furrowed Middlebrow books! 3w

CatLass007 I get Botox injections to prevent migraines. I‘ve always considered the fact that I can‘t scowl like Worf, the only disadvantage of the treatments. Now I can‘t furrow my middle brow along with the members of this group.😣 3w

Gissy @LeahBergen Yes! And I can‘t resist those beautiful vintage covers. I have my tbr journal ready for decoration to write down all these reading challenges for 2024 but also including books from reading challenges that I couldn‘t complete this year...stacks of books 😳📚📚📚📚love them😃and there is no such a thing as “book shopping ban” for me. I know it is not going to work☺️ 3w

LeahBergen @CatLass007 😆😆 You must furrow it in your imagination. 3w

LeahBergen @Gissy 😂😂 Book shopping bans don‘t work for me either! 3w

CatLass007 Hahaha! 3w

CarolynM I assumed I‘d have some of these already, but I‘ve just had a look at my shelves and the only one I have is a hardback Anna and her daughters. Looks like it‘s a FMB Christmas for me😆 2w

elkeOriginal @LeahBergen I am updating my list of what we have read together and I remember Nothing to Report and Somewhere in England were ‘unofficial‘ in the earliest days. Was Late Mrs Prioleau also an early unofficial read - or did I just read it in my own? Thanks for any insight. After that I kept good track, I think…🤦🏼‍♀️ 2w

elkeOriginal @CarolynM A hardcover sounds fun! 2w

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh dear. An FMB Christmas sounds simply awful. 😆 My copy of Anna is an old hardback, too! 2w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I scrolled back (way back 🤣) to the first post I made about what we had read from the beginning. I‘ll tag you in it! 😘 2w

elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Thanks! 2w

54 likes39 comments

erzascarletbookgasm

The Fledgeling | Frances Faviel

Hi #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub folks. Here are my picks ⬆️. Please cast your votes for November 2024 read. ❤️

I hope I got everyone in the list. Please add if I left out anyone Leah. @LeahBergen

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, catebutler, CarolynM, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

batsy I liked Thalia and this one sounds similar wrt personal family dynamics and angst, so I'm all for it 😁

The Fledgeling

Jess_Read_This Both sound terrific and I‘ll be happy to read either! My vote due to smiling when I read the blurb goes to

Harlequin House

CarolynM I‘m voting for

Harlequin House

See All 18 Comments

kwmg40 Both sound good but I‘ll vote for

Harlequin House

jlhammar Lovely graphic. Not feeling very decisive this morning, both sound so good. Hmmm, I look forward to reading more Faviell, but I haven't tried Sharp yet so I'll vote for

Harlequin House

Kimzey My vote goes to….

Harlequin House

Tamra I‘ll go with 🙂

The Fledgeling

elkeOriginal I vote Harlequin because I own it! 3w

quietjenn Just checked the first paragraph of both and will vote for the one that made me laugh 😅

Harlequin House

rubyslippersreads Like @elkeOriginal I‘ll vote for the one I own:

Harlequin House

elkeOriginal @quietjenn I like that method! 3w

catebutler Both sound so fun! But I will vote for

Harlequin House

quietjenn @elkeOriginal I like to use it in circumstances like this, when I'm keen on both options! 3w

Ruthiella I‘m going to let my favorite cover decide. I vote for

Harlequin House

LeahBergen Like @elkeOriginal and @rubyslippersreads , I‘ll vote for the one that I own:

Harlequin House

willaful @Jhammar oh my goodness, you are in for such a treat. She has so many fantastic books. I'm “the library still had a bunch of them“ years old. 😂

Harlequin House

julieclair @quietjenn ‘s comment above was a tie breaker for me. I‘ll go with

39 likes18 comments

Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT

I loved Scissors and Keith Prowse, but of course, Nicky and Sadie‘s favorite character was Penny. 😹

We all loathed Dulcie, though.

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

@quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @batsy @Tamra @Cathythoughts @jlhammar @Ruthiella

SheReadsAndWrites Oh my goodness - those faces!!! We have had weiner dogs for years and I miss them. 😊🐾❤️ 3w

elkeOriginal Only hatred of Dulcie can bring dogs & cats together! 3w

Tamra Loved to hate Dulcie! 😆 3w

See All 11 Comments

Ruthiella Adorable! Were it not for Scissors, there would be no story. ❤️🐶 3w

Aimeesue Awwww, sausage dog puppies! ❤️ 3w

LeahBergen Love this! 😂 3w

jlhammar This is great 😂 3w

elkeOriginal @Ruthiella Good point that Scissors was THE most important character! 3w

CarolynM Perfect review😸🐶 3w

rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @elkeOriginal Maybe the book should have been titled Scissors, since he‘s much more important to the story than the department store. 3w

elkeOriginal @rubyslippersreads Agreed! With a portrait of him on the cover 🐾 3w

60 likes1 stack add11 comments

elkeOriginal

Peace, Perfect Peace | Josephine Kamm

Here are my picks for the vote on our Sept 2024 #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read. Both are WWII tales described as poignant and humorous/hilarious - I am trying to make up for my dark war choice for the last #PersephoneClub read!
Spam is an autobiography. I posted the back cover summary to help and will tag in comments.

elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @batsy @catebutler @elkeOriginal @tamra @kimzey @jess_read_this @Sparklemn @MrsK @jlhammar 3w

elkeOriginal Tag for:

Spam Tomorrow

(edited) 3w

CarolynM Yet again I want to read both. Coin-toss and it‘s

Spam Tomorrow

See All 34 Comments

catebutler Coin toss for me too!

Peace, Perfect Peace

Tamra Did you choose “On the Other Side?” If so, I thank you. I wouldn‘t have discovered it otherwise. I‘m still thinking about it and I referenced it in class last week. I really believe it humanizes war and that is so important. ❤️ 3w

Ruthiella I‘m going with this one because I love the title!

Spam Tomorrow

Tamra Oh jeeze, this is impossible to choose. Either sound good! I‘m going with Spam Tomorrow only because my state has the Spam museum and a Hormel plant. 😆 @jlhammar (We‘ve always passed by on the interstate, but someday we‘ll stop to visit just to say we have.) 3w

Pogue @Tamra when my son and I drove through we HAD to stop at the spam museum. 3w

elkeOriginal @Tamra I did choose On the Other Side and am so glad you were touched by it and could reference it in class! 3w

jlhammar I haven‘t been to the Spam museum. Someday! 😆 Hmmm, really want to read both, but I‘ll vote for the one I already own

Peace, Perfect Peace

elkeOriginal @Tamra I am not sure I could not stop at the Spam Museum! 3w

rubyslippersreads I own both, but I‘ll vote for Spam (not to eat, just to read. 😂) 3w

elkeOriginal This looks like another close race! 3w

batsy This was going to be one of my choices for January before I went with two other options , so my vote is for

Peace, Perfect Peace

LeahBergen Oh, man! Another difficult choice where I own both books. I‘ll go for

Spam Tomorrow

elkeOriginal Well, @LeahBergen - the problem is you own ALL THE BOOKS😉 3w

Jess_Read_This

Spam Tomorrow

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I aspire to it, anyway 😆 3w

Kimzey I‘ll vote for Spam! 3w

quietjenn This is a tough one, but I‘ll go with Spam Tomorrow. 3w

Tamra @Pogue 😜 Was it everything and all that?? 3w

Tamra @elkeOriginal it hasn‘t been enough of a magnet (yet) to get us off the interstate. 😉 3w

Pogue @Tamra from what I remember it had the history of spam, WW II, production, Monty Python, wild variety, and a gift shop. Oh and when we went it was free. 3w

Tamra @Pogue free samples??? The last time I tried Spam it was so salty I couldn‘t eat more than one or two bites - and salt is my thing! 3w

Pogue @Tamra I don‘t remember if there were free samples, the museum was free. That is why we stopped. Oh and I forgot about the cookbooks. Spam cookbooks. 3w

jlhammar Oh, and I loved our last #PersephoneClub read so thank you! 3w

elkeOriginal @jlhammar That is good to hear! 3w

elkeOriginal @julieclair I did not tag you on this post - apologies! Will update the list I use to include you right now! 3w

julieclair Thank you, @elkeOriginal ! Great choices, and I've added both to my TBR, but I'm giving the edge to

Peace, Perfect Peace

kwmg40 Please add me to the tag list too, thanks! I'd like to vote for

Spam Tomorrow

elkeOriginal @kwmg40 Gotcha! Hopefully @LeahBergen will give us the full updated tag list when the choices are all final & announced too - I fear I haven‘t noted all the newbies myself 🙁 3w

kwmg40 @elkeOriginal Thank you! 3w

elkeOriginal @kwmg40 and welcome! 3w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I‘ll go through our recent posts and (try to) tag everyone. 😆 3w

29 likes34 comments

elkeOriginal

Spam Tomorrow | VERILY. ANDERSON

First step in my posting for our September #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read vote is to post the back cover for this title since Litsy has very few words for a description!

elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @batsy @catebutler @elkeOriginal @Tamra @Kimzey @Jess_Read_This @Sparklemn @MrsK @jlhammar 3w

22 likes2 stack adds1 comment

Jess_Read_This

The Secret of Greylands | Annie Haynes

My picks for #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub May 2024 are a DSP published Golden Age Mystery by Annie Haynes and (I think Cate and I had Elizabeth Fair on the brain for 2024!) “Bramton Wick. I‘ll tag that book in the comments. Both are written by authors I‘ve been meaning to read for awhile now. Litsy doesn‘t have blurbs for either- I‘ve linked them below for plot descriptions 😄

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Jess_Read_This Second Choice Tag: no blurb though. Will post link below.

Bramton Wick

(edited) 3w

LeahBergen Hey everyone! Jessica asked to throw in a DSP golden age mystery by a woman to see if we‘d be interested in that sort of thing. We DO only have a finite amount of Furrowed Middlebrows to choose from going forward! What do you all think? 3w

Jess_Read_This Greylands plot described if everyone agrees to it: https://www.deanstreetpress.co.uk/pages/book_page/91 3w

See All 36 Comments

LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This It‘s such a great cover, too! I‘m still deciding. 😆 3w

Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen I‘m really trying not to be biased but that plot dramatically has me intrigued 😂 3w

Jess_Read_This Bramton Plot/Review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2021/05/28/bramton-wick-elizabeth-fair-1952/ 3w

Ruthiella I‘m down for a mystery! Though by my math, it will take us 13 years to read the FMB books left at 6 per year. 😆

The Secret of Greylands

(edited) 3w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella 13 years?? 😆😆 How many have we read together so far? 🤔 3w

catebutler @Jess_Read_This Great minds!! 🥰 3w

catebutler And this is so hard, both sound absolutely intriguing! So, on this one, I‘m going to say I‘m happy with whatever the vote is. And if Greylands isn‘t picked I will definitely be adding it to my TBR. 3w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I guess it seemed like we had fewer to read because I had already read a bunch when we started. 😆 3w

Jess_Read_This @catebutler I‘m having trouble deciding too. Both are high on my want to read list! 3w

quietjenn I've read the Fair, so am willing to branch out a bit and vote for Greylands. 3w

Tamra Ooooooo Greylands is intriguing! 🥺 That‘s my pick. 3w

Ruthiella @LeahBergen As a group, we‘ve read 19, starting with

Nothing to Report

CarolynM I‘m always interested in golden age mysteries, but in this case I‘m going to vote for

Bramton Wick

jlhammar I‘m torn! Very tempted by the golden age mystery with gothic vibes, but I‘ll throw my vote in for the domestic comedy

Bramton Wick

Tamra @jlhammar I‘m just going to download both 😂 3w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella That‘s pretty impressive! 3w

LeahBergen I can see myself buying Greylands very soon but I‘ll be good and vote for the one I already own!

Bramton Wick

rubyslippersreads I‘m in favor of branching out to mysteries by women authors, so I‘ll pick Greylands. 3w

elkeOriginal I already own Bramton so must vote for it. That is your own fault @Jess_Read_This 😉 3w

julieclair Both sound really good, but for me, a slight edge goes to

The Secret of Greylands

batsy No objections at all to adding the Golden Age mysteries! And this one sounds so intriguing so my vote goes to it

The Secret of Greylands

Kimzey I am completely torn. I‘ll vote for Bramton Wick, but also love golden age mysteries. So, would be happy with either choice. 3w

erzascarletbookgasm

Bramton Wick

erzascarletbookgasm I love a golden age mystery but voting for the other one just because I own a copy.. 3w

kwmg40 Could you please add me to the tag list? Thanks! Both sound good, but I'll give my vote to

The Secret of Greylands

Aimeesue I need more "deliciously malicious humour" in my life, so Brampton Wick it is!

Bramton Wick

Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen could you double check my math? It looks like Greylands finished out ahead by one? Cate and I skipped voting because we were happy to read either one 😂 (edited) 3w

LeahBergen No problem! I‘ll do another count before I create our reading schedule post. 👍 3w

LeahBergen I‘ve counted twice and have it as a 7-7 tie. 😆 You can vote yourself to break the tie or else I‘ll do a coin toss. Which do you prefer? 3w

Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen 🤣Glad you double counted! Coin toss please! Let‘s have fate decide! 3w

LeahBergen Tails it is and Greylands wins! Just so you know how my day is going … I had to do the coin toss twice, too, as I fumbled and dropped it the first time. 😆😆 3w

Jess_Read_This @LeahBergen lol!! Our days must have been similar since I couldn‘t even do basic math correctly 😂 3w

LeahBergen Just a usual sort of day in my world! 😆 3w

35 likes36 comments

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