Librarybelle

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is discussion day for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ! Zeke had his visit with the specialist today with a medical procedure to determine things tomorrow, so I will post at some point during the day—the specialist is over an hour away from me, and he has to be there early morning with a pickup time in the evening.

I will tag everyone to let you know the questions have been posted!

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

CatLass007 Thank you. Prayers for you and Zeke. 8h

tpixie Prayers & good wishes for Zeke 🦄🦋 Safe travels 🚗 7h

Librarybelle Thank you, @CatLass007 @tpixie ! 7h

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Sace I‘ll be thinking of you and Zeke! 6h

julieclair Prayers for you and Zeke. Hope you get some answers. 🙏 5h

julieclair As usual, I have not yet finished the book. 🙄 I‘ll jump in once I complete it. 💙 5h

Librarybelle Thank you, @Sace @julieclair ! 5h

tpixie @Librarybelle yes, I‘m behind as well. 5h

32 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Poirot Investigates: Hercule Poirot Investigates | Agatha Christie

We‘re staying in 1924 with May‘s #ChristiesCapers . This first short story collection by Christie of course features Poirot. Discussion on May 25th!

All are welcome. Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from the tag list.

I will post the story titles in the comments. This one should be the same in all countries, but just in case, our discussion will focus on the listed short stories. #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, AnishaInkspill

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1d

kspenmoll I‘m all set! 1d

Librarybelle Short stories are: The Adventure of The Western Star; The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor; The Adventure of the Cheap Flat; The Mystery of Hunter‘s Lodge; The Million Dollar Bond Robbery; The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb; The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan; The Kidnapped Prime Minister; The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim; The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman; The Case of the Missing Will; The Veiled Lady; The Lost Mine; and The Chocolate Box 1d

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Librarybelle Yay, @kspenmoll ! 1d

Aims42 Thank you for the tag!! Hoping to get back to it and participating again 😍 1d

Sace I‘ll be doing the audio book for this. End of the school year teacher brain = can‘t focus so short stories are perfect right now. 1d

Librarybelle Yay, @Aims42 ! 1d

Librarybelle @Sace I hope the audio is good! 1d

kimrenee I would love to be added to the list 5h

Librarybelle Of course, @kimrenee ! Welcome! 5h

36 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Morgan Is My Name | Sophie Keetch

I realized I never posted the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead title for May! This is the first in a trilogy that features Morgan Le Fay from the Arthurian legend.

Read at your own pace throughout May. I‘ll post periodic check ins during the month, and discussion will take place on May 31st.

Please 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

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1d

Deblovestoread Looking forward to this one. 1d

Librarybelle @Deblovestoread Me too! 1d

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dabbe Thank you! I adore the Arthurian legends. 1d

Sargar114 This looks so interesting. Put it on hold for the library. Don‘t know if it‘ll come in time, but still want to read 1d

Librarybelle I‘m looking forward to it, @dabbe ! 1d

Librarybelle @Sargar114 I hope it comes in soon! 1d

CatLass007 I look forward to it! And right now both this and the second book are free on Audible. 1d

Librarybelle Good to know, @CatLass007 ! 1d

AllDebooks Looking forward to this one. I didn't realise it was a series. 😊 21h

Jerdencon I just requested it so hoping to join in! 19h

Librarybelle Yay, @AllDebooks @Jerdencon ! 18h

tpixie Ooh fun! I lived reading about Arthur as a child. Morgan will be fun to read about! Sygne Pike has King Arthur series I want to read about & there‘s a king Arthur with a female lead twist that Marie Benedict loved as a girl that I also want to read

The Mists of Avalon

julieclair Looking forward to this one! Thanks for the Audible tip, @CatLass007 ! 💙 5h

Librarybelle Hooray, @julieclair ! 5h

CatLass007 @julieclair Anytime, friend. 4h

42 likes16 comments

Librarybelle

Rapture and Melancholy: The Diaries of Edna St. Vincent Millay | Edna St. Vincent Millay

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I started this book not knowing anything about Millay, with a very fleeting knowledge of her work. Her diary entries are filled with joys and criticisms, some very mean spirited and cruel, as well as a vulnerable soul who fought demons and ill health. A great look at her life. A good choice for #SundayBuddyRead .

TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie I learned so much. 2d

Librarybelle #LitsyAToZ #LetterR @Texreader 2d

61 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

Time for our #ChristiesCapers discussion! I have 5 questions posted as spoilers; you can find them by searching my feed, the book‘s feed, or by the group‘s hashtags. Jump in whenever into the discussion!

Our next Christie is the short story collection Poirot Investigates featuring, you guessed it, more Poirot! I‘ll post the official notice tomorrow!

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Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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5. Let‘s think about the ending. Were you satisfied with the conclusion, especially the “happily ever after”? Were you surprised by the identity of the “villain”? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

willaful I wasn't surprised, because I'd read it before. :-) It also shows Christie's talent for misleading... she'd use the same method again even more effectively later.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the HEA because of the history of South Africa and the gender essentialism, but from a story standpoint, it's fine. 2d

suvata The ending was sweet, with Anne getting her happy ending, but it felt a bit too neat for me. I liked her romantic wrap-up, though it was predictable. The villain‘s reveal—the Colonel—surprised me, though I caught some hints. I wanted a bigger showdown. 1d

TheAromaofBooks The first time I read this, I was completely surprised by the villain. I love that Christie gives us other, more serious takes on the “unreliable narrator“ trope, but here it is done so well because he's just so friendly and likable (in his way). I love that it's not a cheat - he never says anything in his journals that aren't strictly true. Rereading, it's fun to see places where he bends his narration a little. I actually have a soft spot for ⬇ 17h

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) Sir Eustace and totally would have read another book about him 😂

While I do think the ending is too tidy, I also don't mind because I'm a big HEA girl and like to see my fiction tidied up nicely in the end! 17h

MariaW I agree with @TheAromaofBooks. It was a nice to have to narrators, one being an unreliable one. He definitely brought in a lot of humour and I was quite disappointed when he ended up being the villain. But it was a nice move to not hold any grudges against Anne and accept a deserved defeat. I assumed there would be jappy ending for Anne the moment she admitted being interested in the man with the brown suit. Regarding the problemic points like (edited) 11h

MariaW gender and the historical background, I think there have been other novels in which they could be felt more. It felt irksome only a few times. But I had the check out where and what the situation of Rhodesia was because this something we never learnt in school. 11h

10 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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4. The Man in the Brown Suit received mixed reviews when it was first published in 1924, with some more negative reviews stating how they missed this being a Poirot novel. Others commented on the change in tone into a more thriller plot line as the novel progressed. Think about the progression of the story for you--would you identify this as a thriller story? An adventure story? A mystery? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

willaful I think it's maybe too lighthearted to classify as a thriller, though it does have its moments. I'd probably call it an adventurous mystery? 2d

suvata I would call more of a cozy mystery. It was definitely more lighthearted than her other books. 1d

MariaW It was definitely fast-paced like a thriller, but I agree with @willaful it is not shocking/thrilling enough to be a thriller. 11h

8 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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3. We also meet Colonel Race in this novel. Race appears in later books--Cards on the Table, Death on the Nile, and Sparkling Cyanide--when he works alongside his friend Poirot. Interesting we meet him without Poirot! What did you think of Race? Why do you think Christie decided to make him a recurring character in her novels? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

willaful Can't waste a perfectly good Colonel. 😂 2d

suvata @willaful 🤣😂🤣😂 2d

suvata I think Christie brings Race back because he‘s so adaptable, slotting into any story, unlike Poirot with his brainy quirks or Miss Marple‘s village life. His adventurous vibe and cool-headed charm let him hop from story to story because he‘s a steady and likable character, but he never hogs the spotlight. (edited) 2d

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willaful @suvata makes sense! 2d

TheAromaofBooks @suvata - I totally agree!! Race is such a versatile character. He brings a pile of life experiences, government connections, and a canny brain to the table, all wrapped in a cloak of “strong and silent type“ that keeps him from being painted into a quirky corner. I like that it also gives us this feeling that all Christie's characters coexist 😂 17h

MariaW I was already wondering why my version of the ebook was marked as „Colonel Race #1“. I kept on wondering how he would get away as the villian and why Christie would write more novels about a master criminal. 🙈 Of course I was proved wrong. He is somewhat portrayed as a stereotype British nobleman being entangled in the secret service and because being so taciturn taken as the villian. But again I felt for it. 🙈 11h

8 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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2. Anne Beddingfield tells her story, with the help of diaries from Sir Eustace Pedler. What did you think of this book? Compare Anne to the other detectives we have met, Poirot and Tommy & Tuppence. How does Anne's detection skills compare/contrast with the other detectives we have met? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

willaful She's somewhat similar to Tuppence, in having very strong trust in her own instincts and impulses, but she also thinks things through.

The book didn't age that well for me. The South African parts are uncomfortable to read, and the primary relationship is 😬. That aside, it's never been a favorite of mine but the humor and cheerfulness make it rather fun to revisit.

2d

suvata Anne is gutsy chasing clues on a whim, nothing like Poirot, who‘s all brainy and precise—he‘d totally roll his eyes at her. She‘s more like Tuppence, super bold and jumping in headfirst, but Anne‘s flying solo and kinda winging it. Her detective game is more luck than skill, nowhere near Poirot‘s genius or Tommy and Tuppence‘s teamwork. Still, she‘s got heart and makes it work! I love the way this story flowed. 2d

suvata As far as it “aging well“ is considered, it‘s really important to take into consideration the time period in which it was written. In 1924 this would‘ve been one of the few novels that had a female lead character, and I think it represents how many people thought at the time. When I go back and read older books, I have to also consider them a history lesson. I think Christy was truly a feminist at heart. (edited) 2d

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TheAromaofBooks Like @willaful and @suvata said, I think Anne's detecting is way more based on luck than skill. But I think she was a very forward-looking heroine for her time - her independence, willingness to just head off an international journey on a whim, the way she manipulated the newspaper guy into paying her for an article, etc. She definitely makes some dumb moves, but that makes her feel more like a “regular“ person vs Poirot's genius. 17h

TheAromaofBooks While aspects of this story haven't aged well, I also think some of the “me Tarzan you Jane“ aspects of romance are a bit tongue-in-cheek. I also loved Suzanne, who is married but still capering off to wherever she pleases (and sending obnoxiously long telegrams just to drive her husband crazy). 17h

MariaW I can only agree with what has been weitten here before. Compared to Tuppence Anne does definitely do more beginner‘s mistakes. I enjoyed her sharp exchange of words with Eustace and him drawing to the only conclusion of marrying her. 😂😂😂 (edited) 11h

8 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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1. This 4th novel by Christie was inspired by her adventures with her first husband Archie while traveling the British Empire to promote the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. If you have not seen Travels with Agatha Christie & Sir David Suchet, I highly recommend it! You can see how Christie gained inspiration for this book from her travels. Link in comments.

Was this your first time reading this book? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Librarybelle https://www.britbox.com/us/season/Travels_With_Agatha_Christie_and_Sir_David_Suc... 3d

suvata According to Goodreads, I read this book a long time ago. I was surprised to see that because I didn‘t remember any of it. I‘m almost done (only about 2 hours left). So far, I am enjoying it more than the first three. 😀 3d

Librarybelle Glad you‘re enjoying it so far, @suvata ! 3d

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willaful I've read it at least once before, though it was never a big favorite.

I saw an article about Christie surfing recently, so it was interesting to see Anne do it in this. 2d

suvata @willaful yeah the surfing part kinda took me by surprise, but in a fun way 2d

willaful @suvata https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2021/on-surfing-agatha-christies-love-of-the...
2d

suvata @willaful interesting article. Thanks for sharing. 2d

TheAromaofBooks This is actually one of my favorite Christie novels, and one I've read time and again. I love Anne and I honestly love Sir Eustace. Parts of this book are completely ridiculous, but I just roll with it haha I love the humor and just the overall “we're having fun“ vibe of this book - it's a romp and doesn't take itself too seriously. 17h

MariaW @willaful Thanks for the article. And the thanks for the link to Britbox, @Librarybelle. Unfortunately, I cannot use it because it‘s not available in Switzerland. It was the first tine that I‘ve read this Christie book and I enjoyed it very much because it was completely different compared to the Poirot & Marple ones. 11h

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Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

So sorry for the late reminder, but tomorrow (Sunday) is our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! I will post questions mid- to late morning. I‘ve seen some great reviews, so I am looking forward to the discussion. #AgathaChristieClubR3

BarbaraJean I'm behind on my reading (just starting today!) but am looking forward to joining the discussion in a few days! 3d

Librarybelle Sounds good, @BarbaraJean ! Join when you can! 3d

MaleficentBookDragon I am also very behind on my reading this month so I‘ll be joining the conversation late (again). But I am loving reading AG from book one! 3d

Librarybelle No worries, @MaleficentBookDragon ! 3d

44 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

His Last Bow | Arthur Conan Doyle

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Overall, a good collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. Some are better than others, but they each lend for great discussion between the #NoPlaceLikeHolmes group!

Cuilin, dabbe

dabbe Kind of a hodgepodge grouping, this one. Looking forward to tomorrow's discussion! 😍 4d

61 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

I Didn't Do It | Jaime Lynn Hendricks

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Murder 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

Texreader

Susanita This is my dream mystery scenario (to read, not to live). 4d

Librarybelle @Susanita It was a fun (to read) scenario! 4d

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Librarybelle

Judgment in Death | J. D. Robb

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I 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

Texreader, StayCurious, LiseWorks

LiseWorks Absolutely 6d

StayCurious So glad you‘re still with us! 6d

64 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery | Rachel Ekstrom Courage

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I 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. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ There is a glimmer of the witty banter from the show, and it makes me laugh out loud in parts. Fans of the show will also pick up on allusions to episodes. Note that given how the series ends, this book takes place before the series ending, so it‘s not a continuation but feels more like a nostalgic look at the characters. I do wish Stan made an appearance—that would have made for some interesting situations! I‘m craving cheesecake now! 1w

Librarybelle #PublishedIn2025 #52BookClub25 1w

Librarybelle And thanks to #NetGalley for an advanced reader‘s copy! 1w

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Mollyanna I love the Golden Girls and my hold on this book just came in. So glad to hear it was a good read. 1w

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy, @Mollyanna ! 1w

Trashcanman How‘s Zeke? 1w

Librarybelle @Trashcanman He‘s doing well today, George. Thanks for asking! 1w

MemoirsForMe Omg Dorothy! 😉 I must read this. I love those Golden Girls. 👵🏻🙌🏻 1w

lil1inblue Fellow Dorothy here! 🤩 I cannot wait to read this book. 1w

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy, @MemoirsForMe @lil1inblue ! 1w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

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

DebinHawaii

Librarybelle Zeke is doing better on this new food. He likes it, his belly still grumbles but not as bad, and I could take him off some of his medications. It seems to me he cannot eat chicken. I inadvertently gave him yummies last night with chicken as a main ingredient, and he was sick overnight into this morning, but is also begging for food. I almost lost him last week, again, because he refused his highly priced prescribed food and rather starve himself. 2w

Librarybelle I also noticed last week his refusal of chicken-based yummies he used to love. It made me wonder if this all stems to a chicken issue. We‘ll find out more in less than 2 weeks when we go to an internal medicine specialist. He has to go off of his steroids next week in anticipation for the visit, so crossing fingers he will be well! Thanks for the continued well wishes! 2w

MemoirsForMe Always nice to see pix of your boys! Oh my! So sorry about Zeke‘s issues with chicken. Sounds like you‘re getting to the bottom of it. Hang in there. 🐈❤️ 2w

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Librarybelle Thanks, @MemoirsForMe ! It‘s just a guess at this point, but it seems like more than a coincidence. 2w

Leftcoastzen I think you are on to something, I had a cat that had issues with chicken. I replaced with a food based on a less common single animal protein and it worked! 2w

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen It‘ll be interesting to see what the specialist says and how any test results they perform come back. This is good to hear! 2w

shortsarahrose My sister with the cat with IBD has her on a grain free diet with rabbit as the primary protein. She was on a special kidney and IBD formula for a bit, but that made her 💩 issues worse. Sounds like the food switch is a good place to start with Zeke. Hope the internal medicine appointment goes well and he continues to improve! 2w

Mimi28 Best wishes to you and all of your cats 🫶🏽😊🩷 2w

dabbe 🖤🐾🐾🐾🐾🖤

Extra 💙🩵💙 for Zeke and his mamma! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @shortsarahrose ! I‘ve thought about your sister and kitty these last couple of weeks. I thought lamb was a good place to start—I had pet rabbits when I was growing up, so I‘m not sure if I could make that jump without thinking of them, though I know that is a highly recommended diet option. 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Mimi28 and @dabbe ! 2w

shortsarahrose Very understandable! Lamb definitely seems like a good option. 2w

ShelleyBooksie Glad Zeke is back to eating!! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @ShelleyBooksie ! 2w

48 likes14 comments

Librarybelle

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne: The captivating 1930s-set mystery of family secrets, lies and the darkest deception | Emily Critchley

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This 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. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Gillian is entranced by the crumbling home and the old money of the Claybourne and wishes desperately to become friends with all of Violet‘s sisters. However, something horrific occurs one day that changes the lives of those involved forever and haunts Gillian. This is a slow building novel, almost too slow in the beginning, but once the reader realizes the manipulations taking place, it makes sense. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 2w

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ It is creepy, gothic, snd unputdownable. Nathalie Buscombe‘s voice narration is stunning, and as things are revealed, her choice of tone can be quite chilling at times. So many red herrings and shocks in this one. Thanks to Libro.FM‘s advanced librarian‘s copy program for this one! #LitsyAToZ #LetterU @Texreader 2w

Librarybelle #52BookClub25 #CharactersNameInTheTitle 2w

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sarahbarnes Stacking! 2w

Read-n-Bloom Sounds great! 2w

Texreader Excellent review!! But probably more than I can handle. 😳 2w

Librarybelle I kept saying wow while listening to this, @Texreader ! 😂 2w

Reggie Great review! Stacked! And the cover looks sooo pretty compared to what you say it‘s about. How funny. 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Reggie ! And yes…the cover hides what is in this. The UK cover is in blues, and I think that better fits it. 2w

63 likes7 stack adds9 comments

Librarybelle

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Lies | Misty Simon

so-so

Jax 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! 😂

56 likes

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 19: The Quest of the Missing Map | Carolyn Keene

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

Ruthiella This is the first QUEST! So exciting! 2w

Librarybelle @Ruthiella Yay! 😁 2w

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2w

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Sace Looking forward to it!! 2w

Librarybelle Oh, thanks @Liz_M ! 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @Sace ! 2w

BarkingMadRead Can‘t wait!! 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 2w

lauraisntwilder I've been so busy lately I haven't read the last two -- and they're the last ones I own. My library system doesn't have any this far into the series, so I think I'm going to bow out. I still hope to read 17 & 18 this month. 🤞 Thank you SO MUCH for doing this. I've really enjoyed it! 1w

Librarybelle Of course, @lauraisntwilder ! Thanks for taking part! 1w

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Librarybelle

Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery | Rachel Ekstrom Courage

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

Mimi28 Sorry I am so behind on #litsylove I will write soon. I hope you are well 🫶🏽😊🩷🙏🏽🤗 2w

TheSpineView I wish I didn't procrastinate. Thanks for playing! 2w

Librarybelle @Mimi28 I‘m really behind! I think I owe you a letter, so no worries. Life has been chaotic, to say the least. Hope you are feeling better! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @TheSpineView ! 2w

dabbe 🪤 + 🍰 = 😋! 2w

40 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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!

robinb Nancy Drew, a hot mess?! Oh, the horror! 😂 2w

Librarybelle @robinb 😂 2w

36 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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6. 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

DebinHawaii I‘m pretty sure I didn‘t read this in my youth as I remembered nothing about it. I pulled out a lot of favorites in my review especially the Austin Powers vibe, but still go back to the “spa” pool of boiling water (just why?) 🤨 & Ned disarming the “beamer” but saying NASA had better check it—it just made me laugh & roll my eyes! 👀 But I guess Nancy needs a man who has random talents for disarming things like her Dad & his bombs! 😂 (edited) 2w

DebinHawaii I remain disappointed there were no sharks with laser beams attached to their heads. A miss by the author in my mind! 😂 2w

DGRachel @DebinHawaii Sharks! 🤣🤣🤣 The boiling water thing - I finished the book and turned to my mom to demand those two hours of my life back, giving her a list of the weirdest things, including Nancy and Ned nearly being boiled like lobsters, and she just stared at me like I‘d lost my mind. Even she couldn‘t believe everything that was shoved into 177 pages. 2w

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CogsOfEncouragement My favorite line from this mystery is after Nancy's friends get the leopard into the garage, and Bess runs off. She comes back with a tranquilizer pill in a piece of meat which they throw into the garage and the big cat happily eats.

George says: Bess, you're the heroine of the occasion!

I will certainly be working this into my everyday lingo (and no one will get the reference). 2w

MariaW How can the pool and the near death experience be atypical for a ND story? I remember coming across at least one in each novel… 🤔🤔🤔 I cannot say I have a favourite adventure, but the a list if weird ones: the car accident, the near plane crash and the stolen / rental car. 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 2w

Ruthiella I loved how Ned and Nancy stealthily hide on the top of the van to sneak in to the mansion compound. 👍 2w

dabbe Observations and Suspension of Disbelief:
1. Dad, will you buy me a house on Merritt Island next to dangerous animals?
2. Almost a #NNK when Clumsy fingers throws oranges at her.
3. Best Hannah line: “I suppose [The Resardos] won't show up until dinner is ready.“
4. The first time I recall someone NOT giving Nancy someone's address, phone #, hotel # ... (the postman won't give Nancy the Webster's address).
5. The maritime history lesson ⬇️
2w

dabbe we get from Nancy and her dad. They must have taken a course at some point. 🙄
6. Bud the pilot with his 70s lingo, fearing his girlfriend would think he “fazed her out.“
7. And of course the I-expect-you-to-die-Mr.-Bond aspect of the boiling water so that Fortin could “dispose of intruders in case his animals didn't get them.“

Nice. 2w

DGRachel @dabbe I was shocked when that guy wouldn‘t given Nancy the name and address! What? Privacy policies? In a Nancy Drew book? But she‘s so clearly trustworthy! 🤣🤣🤣 2w

dabbe @DGRachel IKR? 🤣🤩😍 2w

Roary47 @DGRachel @dabbe At least there was a girl near her that happened to know the owners. 🤣🤣 2w

dabbe @Roary47 Convenience is important in any ND mystery, right? 🤣😍🤣 1w

kwmg40 Like @CogsOfEncouragement, I loved it when Bess showed up with the spiked piece of meat! 1w

Librarybelle I loved that line, @CogsOfEncouragement ! Thanks for taking the wild ride this time! Let‘s hope the story line for next month is a bit more less “out there!” @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe @Roary47 @kwmg40 1w

Ruthiella @Librarybelle If there‘s anything less than a meteor in subsequent books, I‘m going to be disappointed! 😂 (edited) 1w

Librarybelle @Ruthiella 😂 So true! 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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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

Bookwormjillk I agree. I didn't like any of them except I was glad Hannah was getting more in on the action. 2w

BarkingMadRead I don‘t understand the whole drama with the staff at the house. They ever actually did anything but creep around. How did the owner not know they were shady?!? 2w

bookandbedandtea @BarkingMadRead I was wondering the same thing! If you were paying people to oversee your business and "keep" your house surely you'd notice if all they were actually doing was sneaking around. ? 2w

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DebinHawaii Yes, the Billingtons seemed wildly out of touch & a little dumb. The secondary characters were all pretty much caricatures, especially the bad guys. 2w

DGRachel I was surprised by just how unpleasant the Resardos were. I kept thinking they couldn‘t possibly be the bad guys because they were SO obvious. 2w

CogsOfEncouragement So many of the scenes with the Resardos seemed like first drafts to me. Just not good.

I laughed when Ned and Nancy are in a position that allowed them to overhear what was being said in the moss covered mansion and the bad guys were good enough to rehash everything they did in one conversation. 2w

MariaW Far too many bad guys for my liking. How is a secret supposed to secret like this? Especially if half of the group are as subtle as a brick. And Fortin as the mastermind (like a Dr No) was a very flat character. 2w

Sace I was kind of surprised the Resardos *weren‘t* the bad guys. 2w

Ruthiella But weren‘t they kind of bad? I thought they abetted? 2w

Roary47 I always struggle with all the characters, but have to say Ned‘s mom talking to Nancy to convince her to talk to Mr Drew about buying the house next door. What Mom would say that to their kids significant other. 🤣 2w

kwmg40 @Roary47 I found that hard to believe too! 1w

Librarybelle I know, @BarkingMadRead ! That made no sense! And, I totally agree, @Roary47 ! @Bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @MariaW @Sace @Ruthiella @kwmg40 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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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

Librarybelle Kennedy Space Center: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Oranges: https://www.halegroves.com/blog/varieties-of-florida-oranges/?srsltid=AfmBOoqxz-... 2w

Bookwormjillk I liked the parts about the orange varieties too! Who knew? 2w

BarkingMadRead The varieties were fun, who knew they had different textures and shapes? Not this girl. 2w

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DebinHawaii Learning about the oranges was fun. I was interested in the Pineapple oranges especially. 2w

DGRachel The orange varieties were my favorite part! Totally irrelevant fun fact, I used to work at the Disney-MGM Studios when the movie Armageddon was new and they had Making Of attraction. Oh the KSC trivia I used to know…🤣🤣 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Wanting Nancy to save a space mission was a good idea. This chapter book needed some more edits though. 2w

MariaW I thought there has been a lot of background information in the this, not only the Space Center and the oranges, but the Real Eight Museum as well. Unfortunately, it has been closed ever since. 2w

dabbe Thanks for the extra information! 😍 2w

kwmg40 I had really enjoyed my visit to Kennedy Space Center many years ago and hoped that more of that action had happened there. 1w

Librarybelle There seemed to be a lot of trivia tidbits in this one. I think the only type of orange available where I live is navel. I‘d love to try other varieties! @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @MariaW @dabbe @kwmg40 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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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

Bookwormjillk There were some very strange elements! I didn't understand the car crash that started the book, was offended on behalf of the bad guy when Nancy expected him and his wife to wait on her, thought the I'll keep killer animals in my yard defense system was weird, and the whole space laser thing was very Austin Powers. 2w

BarkingMadRead @Bookwormjillk omg yes! So very Austin Powers! So many bizarre elements. And who would have large cats and not have a proper yard for them?!? Obviously they will climb the fence 🙄 2w

Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead right? I am not an expert but a main feature of a security system is that it should not wander away from your property. 2w

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bookandbedandtea @Bookwormjillk Yes, what was up with that car crash? I expected it to be relevant later. 2w

bookandbedandtea @BarkingMadRead Good comparison- it was Austin Powers-esque! 😂 2w

DebinHawaii There was so much over-the-top in it. It was just missing sharks with laser beams attached to their heads! 😂 Besides the 🍊💥& odd Dr. Evil style villainry, my favorite was Ned being able to disarm the laser.🙄 2w

DGRachel There was so much weirdness in this one and so much of it felt disconnected. I‘d totally forgotten about the car crash! All of the attacks on NASA were just bizarre and actually, the lack of security at KSC is what irritated me the most. 😂 @Bookwormjillk I snort-laughed at your security system comment. You definitely don‘t want it to wander off. 🤣🤣 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Yes, these books are often guilty of throwing crazy stuff in to sprinkle in peril that is completely unlinked to what is going on in the mystery. The car crash at the beginning and Mr. Drew's plane having to make a crash landing definitely go in this category. @bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Not only is it a bad security system, but no WAY would Wilcox from Animal Control think this was super duper A-Okay groovy. @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead 2w

BarkingMadRead @CogsOfEncouragement 💯💯 2w

MariaW Why on earth would oranges be delivered to NASA first place? As a healthy snack for the crew? Because back then NASA as an employer wanted its staff to eat healthily? Or did they use the juice as a natural diluting agent/thinner? 🍊💥🍊💥 (edited) 2w

Ruthiella Agree with everyone. This was a bit 🍌👖. All the non sequitur events, the car crash, the alligator, the stolen rental, and why keep a pool of boiling water at all times, just in case? 🤣 (edited) 2w

dabbe All I kept thinking and couldn't get out of my mind were the crates of oranges being delivered--they reminded me of the crates of oranges delivered to Gatsby's mansion the day of his big party. And there were firework explosives later on! 🤣

And who knew Dave played guitar? They also did find time to attend church again, too. 2w

Ruthiella @dabbe I noticed that too! They always attended church. ⛪️ 2w

bookandbedandtea @CogsOfEncouragement Good points! 👏🏻 2w

DGRachel @Ruthiella The alligator! All I could think of was if that gator really meant to attack Bess, she‘d be dead. The gator coming out of the water with its jaws open felt like a scene from a bad movie. 2w

Roary47 Sooo bizarre! I keep trying to remind myself these were written more for a younger audience that wouldn‘t pick up on the crazy and impossible things going on. 2w

kwmg40 I agree with the other comments here. There were so many gratuitous scares that had nothing to do with the story, like the crash landing of Carson Drew's plane. 1w

Librarybelle So bizarre, and how could I forget about the alligator and the random car crash?!? @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead @bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe @Roary47 @kwmg40 1w

Ruthiella OMG I totally forgot about Carson‘s plane having to crash land! 😂 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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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

Librarybelle Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystery_at_the_Moss-Covered_Mansion 2w

bookandbedandtea I can't comment on it as I didn't read it but the description has me thinking of getting ahold of a copy. 2w

DebinHawaii Wow! After reading the detailed description of the original it seems pretty crazy too. And it looks like there is a knockout for the #NNK 🤕 2w

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DGRachel Looking at the synopsis, I am jealous of anyone who read that one instead of the hot mess express of 1971. It looks like a lot more fun! 2w

Sace Now I want to track down the earlier edition. 2w

MariaW I agree with @Sace and @DGRachel. This version sounds definitely more likely than the exploding oranges. 🤦‍♀️ 2w

DGRachel Did I just order a used copy from a rare book dealer online? Yes. Yes, I did. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2w

Ruthiella Whew! 😅 Just reading the Wikipedia synopsis was a lot! Would the climate of River Heights support moss growth? Ivy seems more likely. 😂 2w

Ruthiella @DGRachel It‘s an investment! 👍 2w

dabbe @DGRachel 🤣🤩🤣 2w

Librarybelle I was amazed by the detailed synopsis on Wikipedia, but it helped to show that maybe the original was a bit better than the revised. At least, there were no explosive oranges! 😂 @bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @Sace @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

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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

Bookwormjillk I read the NASA one. I'm a NASA buff but I think I might have liked the 1941 one better. 2w

BarkingMadRead I have the NASA one. It was fine 🤷🏻‍♀️ sooooo much going on 2w

bookandbedandtea I read the NASA one. It had some wild details but the nostalgia kicks in so I always enjoy the ride when rereading these. 2w

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DebinHawaii I read the 1971 NASA one. Pretty much🍌👖 I was going to try to find & read the original version online, but ran out of time. 2w

DGRachel 1971 here and I just don‘t even have words for all of the shenanigans. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2w

CogsOfEncouragement 1971 NASA. It seemed a bit choppy to me. The writing just wasn't great. 2w

Sace I had the explosive oranges edition. While I ended up liking it, it didn‘t grab me as much as others. Nothing stood out as particularly eye-roll worthy. 2w

MariaW I did read the 1971 NASA one as well. There was a lot of touristy information in that one. Seemed like they had to fill the pages. 🤦‍♀️ 2w

Ruthiella Explosive oranges for me! 🧨 🍊💥 2w

dabbe Adding my explosive 🧨🍊🍊🍊 to the group! 2w

Roary47 💥🍊 2w

kwmg40 I had read the 1971 version. I had initially been excited about the story being set at the Kennedy Space Center (I had visited it many years ago) but not all that much ended up happening there. 1w

Librarybelle It seems like the 1971 was the easiest one to get! I think I‘m enjoying these so much thanks to everyone‘s comments. I laugh so much reading them, so thank you!! @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead @bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @Sace @MariaW @Ruthiella @dabbe @Roary47 @kwmg40 1w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

so-so

I 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!

CogsOfEncouragement Starting chapter eight now. 🔍 2w

dabbe At 62%. Hopefully, I'll be ready on Tuesday! 🤩 2w

DebinHawaii Just posted my review too. This one was pretty 🍌👖 with the plot! 2w

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Ruthiella Yes, the mansion wasn‘t really the focus…then again, this one was all over the place! 😅 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe ! 2w

Librarybelle It was all over the place and just seemed like maybe the revision author took a dartboard and determined the plot elements based on the dart throws. I know these are not the most credible storylines—so great for young readers and their imaginations—but sometimes they‘re ridiculous. However, I enjoy the ride! 😂 @DebinHawaii @Ruthiella 2w

TheAromaofBooks I loved the part where an airplane had a crash landing that was wrapped up in three paragraphs and had nothing to do with the rest of the story 😂 2w

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks OMG, yes! And it‘s kind of written off like not a big deal. Papa Drew was onboard anyhow, so I‘m sure he would have helped if need be. 😂 2w

TheAromaofBooks I guess when every chapter needs a cliffhanger, some of them are bound to fizzle out 😂 But I was totally waiting for Mr. Drew to take over for the pilot or something haha “I happened to take a course in safely landing passenger airplanes with stuck landing gear just last month!“ 😆 (edited) 2w

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks 😂 2w

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Librarybelle

Playing Under the Piano: A Memoir from Highclere to Hollywood | HUGH. BONNEVILLE

pick

I 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

Texreader, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2w

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Librarybelle

Falling | T.J. Newman

pick

My 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. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Very thought provoking and very timely, given today‘s political climate and unconscionable actions. But, I digress…who would have thought a thriller could conjure so much?!? This is also a book about choices. What would you choose—crashing a plane or saving your family??? There are a few graphic parts, and I had to put everything else on hold this morning just to finish. Really good. I requested her second book from the library alresdy! 3w

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Librarybelle

The River Knows Your Name: A Novel | Kelly Mustian

pick

This 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.

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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

Jerdencon Looking forward to this discussion! 1mo

CatLass007 I‘m looking forward to this and a couple of other Kate Quinn books for #AuthorAMonth. 1mo

DebinHawaii Yay! I‘m excited to read this one for this, #AuthorAMonth & #AuldLangSpine 🎉 1mo

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Prairiegirl_reading I will do my best! I‘m looking forward to it. 😄 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @Jerdencon @CatLass007 @DebinHawaii @Prairiegirl_reading ! 1mo

mcctrish Getting it out of my TBR 🎉🎉🎉🎉 1mo

Sace I‘ve never read this author so I‘m excited about this! 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @mcctrish @Sace ! 1mo

tpixie Yay! Next up on audio! After

The Paris Express

1mo

Librarybelle @tpixie Yay! I actually started The Paris Express and had to return it to the library without finishing it. Waiting for it to come back to me! 1mo

Deblovestoread I started on audio yesterday. So far it‘s good 💜 1mo

tpixie @Librarybelle I hate when that happens! 🚂 hopefully you will get it again soon! I‘m listening thru Libby, or I‘d mail you my book! 4w

tpixie @Deblovestoread great to hear! 4w

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 4w

Librarybelle That‘s great, @Deblovestoread ! 4w

Librarybelle @tpixie Thanks! I won‘t have too long of a wait, so that‘s good. 4w

tpixie @Librarybelle 🩵 🚂 🩵 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

#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!

BarkingMadRead Started this today! 1mo

bookandbedandtea I'm sure she can! 😉 1mo

Librarybelle Awesome, @BarkingMadRead ! 1mo

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Librarybelle @bookandbedandtea She‘s like the Harlem Globetrotters…it‘s kind of a guarantee she‘ll solve the case! 😂 1mo

Ruthiella I have confidence in Nancy! 😂 1mo

Sace Nancy will solve it, but will her noggin go unknocked? 1mo

Librarybelle @Ruthiella 😂 1mo

Librarybelle @Sace Will we add to our noggin count??? 1mo

dabbe Who predicts a #nancynogginknockout? 🤩🤣🤩 1mo

Librarybelle @dabbe 😂 1mo

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

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.

Librarybelle Tagging those who left comments on my previous post: @Bookwormjillk @dabbe @Deblovestoread @JenReadsAlot @Eggbeater @Prairiegirl_reading @Leftcoastzen @Tamra @TheBookHippie @ncsufoxes @DrSabrinaMoldenReads 1mo

Aims42 I LOVE this idea!!! 🤩👊🏻♥️💙🤍 1mo

Librarybelle @Aims42 Thanks! 1mo

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ncsufoxes Love this! I‘m always down for reading resistance. Everyone has to fight the whitewashing of history. 1mo

Bookwormjillk Love it! 1mo

ncsufoxes Love this! I‘m always down for reading resistance. Everyone has to fight the whitewashing of history. 1mo

Librarybelle It‘s so important to keep the voices alive, @Bookwormjillk @ncsufoxes ! 1mo

TheBookHippie Love!!!! 1mo

lil1inblue 🙌 🙌 🙌 1mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 1mo

Mollyanna Love it! Definitely going to peruse by shelves for selections. 1mo

Librarybelle Yay! Thanks, @TheBookHippie @lil1inblue @Mollyanna ! 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Liz_M ! 1mo

Eggbeater I'm in! Thank you for including me. 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @Eggbeater ! 1mo

Leftcoastzen 👍👏🙌 1mo

dabbe Please add me to the bibliography list. What a fabulous idea, m'dear! I'm looking for a book! ♥️👊🏻♥️ 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Leftcoastzen @dabbe ! 1mo

JenReadsAlot I'm totally in!! 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @JenReadsAlot ! 1mo

DebinHawaii Would love to be added to the bibliography list. I‘m reading this one for #SheSaid in April

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower

1mo

Librarybelle Sounds good, @DebinHawaii ! 1mo

julieclair Please add me to the bibliography list, and thanks for starting this. So very important. 3w

Librarybelle Of course, @julieclair ! 3w

MallenNC This is a great idea. I want to take part. 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @MallenNC ! 3w

56 likes26 comments

Librarybelle

The Mill on the Floss | George Eliot

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

BarkingMadRead

BarkingMadRead Hugs to Zeke! 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @BarkingMadRead ! 1mo

tpixie Glad to hear he‘s doing better these last few days! 🐱💛 Good luck with feeding Zeke. 💛🐈‍⬛💛 1mo

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Librarybelle Thanks, @tpixie ! 1mo

Ruthiella Glad Zeke is doing better. 😻 1mo

Librarybelle Thank you, @Ruthiella ! 1mo

dabbe Keep getting better, Zeke! And please eat your food! 🐾🖤🙏🏻🖤🐾 1mo

Librarybelle @dabbe Thank you! 1mo

Leftcoastzen Oh dear Zeke ! Feel better & eat your better food !😻 1mo

58 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story | Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Company

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 ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ …that tells a full picture of history, not a sanitized version of a certain point of view. History is made of layers, and up until fairly recently, most of the stories we know come from the winners or those with the loudest voice in the room. The last 20-25 years has seen an increase in the stories hidden for decades, because they were of individuals who were not of a certain demographic. The news is out; you cannot remove these people from ⬇️ 1mo

Librarybelle ⬆️ …existence again. I want to read these #RealHistory titles to keep the memory of those silenced voices alive. Feel free to join if you wish. This is more of a read what you wish each month, and perhaps I‘ll collect a bibliography of titles read. History is so important. The silenced voices are important. Books are important. My choice for April is this book way too long on my shelf. I‘m passed due reading it. 1mo

Bookwormjillk Reading is political! 1mo

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dabbe I'll start looking at my completely disorganized bookshelves. #beyondangryindeed ♥️👊🏻💙 1mo

dabbe @Bookwormjillk This should be a hashtag! #readingispolitical ♥️👊🏻💙 1mo

Librarybelle I like the hashtag idea, @dabbe ! @Bookwormjillk 1mo

Deblovestoread Great idea! I need to finish this book. 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Deblovestoread ! 1mo

JenReadsAlot Great book! I'll find others to read as well. I'm just disgusted by this. 1mo

Eggbeater I love this idea, and that book was incredible. 1mo

Librarybelle It‘s a terrible time, @JenReadsAlot . I think this‘ll be a good read. 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Eggbeater ! 1mo

Prairiegirl_reading @Librarybelle I like this # idea too! @dabbe @Bookwormjillk 1mo

Leftcoastzen I have this one close to top of my TBR 1mo

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen This felt like the right moment to read it! 1mo

Librarybelle @Prairiegirl_reading 😁 1mo

Tamra So long this has been staring at me from my shelf. But, I did watch the documentary and I‘m hoping for more! 1mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I too like the hashtag! @dabbe 1mo

TheBookHippie I have read this. It‘s very good. I think we should make a hashtag and I‘m going to go to my shelf. FYI our poet this month was political I‘m told! 1mo

Librarybelle @Tamra I‘ve yet to see the documentary! 1mo

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie I‘ve not read anything by Millay, so I‘m looking forward to it! I‘m bad at making catchy hashtags! I used #RealHistory , but I‘m open to anything. 😁 1mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle @dabbe is the expert 😂 1mo

Librarybelle Thoughts, @dabbe ??? What makes a good hashtag for this? @TheBookHippie and I would like to know! 😂 1mo

dabbe @TheBookHippie @Librarybelle #realhistory is fantastic! 🤩 Maybe #honesthistory or #hh would, too. 🤔 1mo

ncsufoxes A few weeks ago I pulled this book back off my shelf. I‘ve read about a 1/4 of it & haven‘t gotten back to it. It‘s one I need to get to but right I feel like there are too many important books to consume right now. All of this right now is so infuriating & well the only way to put is f—-ed up. (edited) 1mo

Librarybelle @dabbe @TheBookHippie I‘m good with either #RealHistory or #HonestHistory ! 1mo

Librarybelle @ncsufoxes It totally is. Ugh! 1mo

DrSabrinaMoldenReads This tells the story of my history and ancestors. 1mo

Bookwormjillk Glad to see this has taken off! Great idea and I love the hashtags. 1mo

Librarybelle @DrSabrinaMoldenReads ❤️❤️❤️ I think this is a very important read! 1mo

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk 😁 1mo

bookandbedandtea I love this idea while hating that it's necessary. I'm eager to see the books everyone reads. 1mo

Librarybelle @bookandbedandtea Me too. It‘s awful we have to do this. 1mo

DebinHawaii I love this idea! I have been trying to read more non-fiction & need to get to this book in particular. 1mo

Librarybelle @DebinHawaii This will be my push to read it! 1mo

staci.reads @Librarybelle That book is SO powerful and important! That and Caste are maybe the 2 best books on race that I've read. 1mo

staci.reads @Bookwormjillk damn straight! 1mo

Librarybelle @staci.reads I‘m looking forward to reading it, and I also have Caste on my shelf! 1mo

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Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

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

Aims42 I‘m planning on reading this one! I started March‘s but I got distracted and never finished it 😂 1mo

mrp27 This will be another first for me. 1mo

TheAromaofBooks This is one of my very favorite Christie novels!! It's so over-the-top and funny; I love it! 1mo

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Librarybelle That‘s so cool, @TheAromaofBooks ! 1mo

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy, @Aims42 @mrp27 ! 1mo

Teresereading Please add me 4w

Librarybelle Will do, @Teresereading ! Welcome! 4w

46 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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, Lkempf

CatLass007 Oh goodness. It‘s the end of the month already. I had to start this one twice but once I started it the second time I enjoyed it. It sounds like you didn‘t enjoy it so much. How are the kitties? And how are you? (edited) 1mo

Deblovestoread I tried to read this last year and fully intended to try again for LC but it never happened. Sorry! 1mo

tpixie Sadly I didn‘t get to it either, but it looks very interesting. I just put too much in my plate- I‘ve been doing heavy research into Barbara Newhall Follett (still only 1/4 way thru 600 pages of letters ) before reading

The Story She Left Behind: A Novel

1mo

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Karisa I tried but couldn‘t get into it either. It sounded like it would be something I‘d like too😬 1mo

Librarybelle @CatLass007 Maybe it‘s the timing right now, but I just did not connect with it. Oh well! Zeke is okay at the moment, but he‘s refusing the food he needs to eat for his GI issues. Sigh…I‘m tired but hanging in there. Thanks for asking! 1mo

Librarybelle I‘m really looking forward to next month‘s, @Deblovestoread @tpixie @Karisa ! 1mo

CatLass007 ❤️ You are so appreciated!! 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks @CatLass007 ! ❤️ 1mo

CatLass007 Lots of prayers and good thoughts going out to you. 1mo

Librarybelle @CatLass007 ❤️❤️❤️ 1mo

julieclair I enjoyed this and was glad I read it. I never would have picked it up on my own. Sending healing hugs to Zeke and to you. Hang in there. 💙 1mo

Librarybelle So glad you enjoyed, @julieclair ! And thank you! 1mo

41 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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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

Cuilin Same as I said in another post, too much telling. It could have been better. I think Smith had an agenda to write Livia as a likable character. We could‘ve sympathized with her though, even if Livia had been written as cold and calculating as she was still a woman in a man‘s world trying to survive. 1mo

julieclair I listened on audio, and almost gave up because I was having trouble following all the political twists and turns, and couldn‘t flip back through the pages to reread passages. I finally decided to just concentrate on Livia‘s narrative, knowing that she was helping her husband(s) navigate a rotating cast of friends and enemies. Once I did that, I really enjoyed the book. 1mo

Pogue I thought the book was written for upper middle grade. The language was simple and while the topic was interesting I would have not said this book was written for adults. 4w

7 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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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

Cuilin I love Ancient Rome and I‘m relearning Latin on Duolingo so this was a perfect read for me. I found it all very believable. However the style took some time to get use to. There was a lot of telling and not showing which I hate in a novel. 1mo

CatLass007 I‘m afraid I don‘t know much history about Rome. What I learned, I learned in English class from studying the play Julius Caesar. And I can‘t help remembering the episode of M*A*S*H where radar was trying to impress a new nurse and he kept saying that the fall of the Roman Empire was caused from within. 1mo

julieclair My knowledge of Ancient Rome is sketchy at best, some enjoyed learning a bit more of its history through this book. I would like to read more from this time period. 1mo

Pogue I love history and when I was in school I spent a lot of time with history books. I am not obsessed with Roman history but I do know who the major players are. 4w

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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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

Cuilin I think this novel took a very different approach to Livia and posits a thesis that she was not as cold and calculating as we have been led to believe. 1mo

CatLass007 It doesn‘t seem like it was very different than that it is now. Women who are ambitious, intelligent, or have any so-called “masculine” characteristics are considered cold and calculating. Women had few legal rights back then but they‘re taking away women‘s rights right now. Did I mention that I have a cat named Tiberius? 1mo

julieclair Good points, @Cuilin and @CatLass007 . Because she was intelligent and ambitious, she has been considered cold and calculating. But maybe she was loving and loyal and good. We‘ll never know. 1mo

Pogue I think that for a long time only men wrote and studied history, and they only look at how men are affected by women. The view is narrow and not supporting of women. I think that Livia, like all women, are complicated and are more than what they seem to be. And that history short changes women. 4w

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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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

Cuilin Yes, I took Latin and ancient Roman civilization classes in secondary school. I think she did a good job setting the time period. 1mo

CatLass007 I was not familiar with Livia. I think that may have been part of why I enjoyed this book. 1mo

julieclair I had never heard of Livia, and really enjoyed seeing Roman history through a woman‘s eyes. Thanks for the History Hit link - very interesting! 1mo

Pogue Yes, I knew who she was. I also think that she was not all that history makes her out to be. 4w

7 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

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).

TheBookHippie, Chrissyreadit, AllDebooks

TheBookHippie Naps are good. 1mo

Prairiegirl_reading I hope you have a restful evening! 1mo

Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛Yay! nap and weighted blanket! And i‘m curious to hear how that book is. 1mo

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Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Naps get me through most days! 😂 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Prairiegirl_reading ! 1mo

Librarybelle @Chrissyreadit I‘m not connecting with the book. Ancient Rome is not one of my favorite subject areas, though I learned a lot about its history during high school Latin class. I‘m also not connecting with the writing style. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo

Chrissyreadit @Librarybelle Ancient Rome was pretty brutal…. 1mo

AllDebooks I didn't get around to this one. 1mo

Cuilin I read it, it‘s ok. I was hoping for something else, more engaging and gritty but it‘s fine. 1mo

63 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

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…

TheAromaofBooks

julieclair So pretty! 1mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo

46 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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, AnishaInkspill

Bookwormjillk I just started this morning. I‘ll be back in a few days! 1mo

kspenmoll I am reading now, hoping to catch up by tomorrow! 1mo

Cuilin I just started yesterday. I‘m so behind in all my reading goals for March. 😑 1mo

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MallenNC I‘m excited for the April book. I‘ve never heard of this one. 1mo

BarbaraJean I skipped this month since it was a re-read, but I‘m excited to read The Man in the Brown Suit in April! 1mo

mrp27 Hope to finish the last few pages today! 1mo

kelli7990 I‘m excited to read next month‘s story. 1mo

40 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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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

MariaW I think Hastings is portrayed well as an unstable character. He still has the chance to grow and to evolve compared to Poirot who is already a stable and grown character. Maybe Christie wanted to „kill off“ Hasting to set up a more „good cop - bad cop“ thing with Giraud, but realized in the end it did not work. Poirot seems to be someboy who likes to be teaching things to others and helping them to grow. He needs a sidekick that is open for that.. 1mo

MariaW and otherwise she must have had to create another „new“ character in the next Poirot novel. I pretty sure she did not know yet at that time where she was heading or wanted to head with Poirot. 1mo

MallenNC I hadn‘t read this one before or many of the Poirot novels we will be reading so I didn‘t realize that Hastings wasn‘t in all the books. He‘s been written into a lot of the TV versions, I think, so this is new to me. I agree that I‘m not sure Christie had a full sense of what she wanted to do with her characters early on. 1mo

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kspenmoll I am glad i read this because I had no idea Hastings went off & was not with Poirot in all the books! I have not read her books in any order, nor have I read all of them! I am so glad you are having us read in publication order Jess! (edited) 1mo

dabbe In the Poirot novels I have read before #ChristiesCapers, Hastings wasn't in any of them! So, yes, imagine my surprise with the first two. I am now wondering why Christie puts Hastings on the back burner, unlike Watson, who chronicles most of the Holmes stories. The POV is definitely going to have to change if Hastings isn't there. 1mo

suvata I have always thought that Christie wrote the most interesting characters. Some of them are exaggerated, but they are always believable prototypes of people you would know or hear about. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I really liked the Hastings character. I liked that he was always wondering what Poirot was doing but seemed to trust him. 1mo

mrp27 The couple of Christie books I read before didn‘t have Hastings so I was mostly unfamiliar with him. But I liked him as a character because I could relate to him trying to learn to use his gray cells. Will be interesting going forward to see how his absence may or may not change how I feel about the books. 3w

ferskner I'm a Hastings fan! I remember in the first two rounds of Agatha Christie Club that a lot of people didn't like him, but I think he's a perfect foil for Poirot and just entertaining! 3w

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Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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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

Librarybelle https://www.calaisxxl.com/en/inspirations/lhistoire-des-bourgeois-de-calais/

https://sites.hertford.ox.ac.uk/bridge/calais-englands-first-colony/ 1mo

MariaW I was wondering about that as well. It seemed strange to be able to go to and fro without any problems back then. Just thinking about how much time it takes today. 🙈 I am looking forward to the British/French comments here as well. 😊 1mo

MallenNC As an American, I only know about the English connections to Calais from watching historical adaptations and I know those aren‘t always completely accurate. Thanks for sharing the links! 1mo

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kspenmoll Thanks! 1mo

dabbe From some of my other readings about early English history, I know that Calais is the closest French town to England, only 21 miles away, and on a clear day, one can see the White Cliffs of Dover from Calais. Many wars, sieges, and battling for the town have taken place over the centuries. 1mo

suvata @dabbe that‘s very interesting 1mo

mrp27 Thanks for links, should be interesting. 3w

13 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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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

MariaW Again, because the dispute between Giraud and Poirot reminded me so much of The Mystery of the Yellow Room, I thought Giraud might have something to do with the murder. This was definitely a red herring for me. I think the mystery is quite difficult to solve without the knowledge of the crime that happened years prior. The moment Poirot unearthed that one, I was finally able to understand half of the mystery. I did not see the end coming though. 1mo

MallenNC I had a hard time following at first, and I definitely wasn‘t solving the mystery ahead of the book this time. 1mo

kspenmoll I had no clue at all -the end was a total surprise. I did not think Jack did it, but all the red herrings, etc. had me confused! (edited) 1mo

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dabbe I don't know why, but STYLES fell flat for me. This one had much more wit, movements, and yes, I was totally surprised by the #whodunit. 1mo

suvata I was totally baffled with this one. Couldn‘t figure out who it was until it was revealed. I haven‘t read STYLES in many years. I am, however, going back and reading the first two books in order so I will be caught up by the time we discuss The Man in the Brown Suit. 1mo

mrp27 I was totally lost in this one but I knew immediately the girl on the train would be involved somehow. 3w

ferskner I find this one a bit messy and I don't love that you have to know the prior crime in order to solve it. That's probably personal preference, though! 3w

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Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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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

MariaW Giraud is supposed to portray the modern day police work with their fancy methods whilst Poirot is portrayed (or is branded by Giraud) as a representative of the „old“ police work. Giraud feels so superior to Poirot that he behaves very patronizing. Poirot on the other hand tries to be polite as he always is and waits. But even he cannot refrain from giving some sideswipes due to Giraud‘s impolite behaviour. 1mo

MariaW But in the end both of them think they are the best in their profession. 1mo

MallenNC What stood out to me was how Poirot would ask a seemingly weird or unnecessary question and other people in the book would think that was silly, but it would turn out to be important. That was showing the detective work happening in his mind and only he knew how the pieces were connecting. It was kind of fun to see both approaches 1mo

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kspenmoll Poirot‘s methods I am familiar with from other books & movies, etc. Giraud seems to be a caricature of the new police man, methods. 1mo

dabbe One can pretty well be assured that if there is an OFFICIAL working for the police, he/she/they will not solve the crime. I saw more of a parallel between Giraud and Holmes. It seems Christie is parodying Holmes a bit since Holmes always carries a magnifying glass, plops down on the floor at a moment's notice, knows everything about cigar/cigarette ashes, etc. Poirot is more like Mycroft, Holmes's brother, who likes to solve crimes from his chair. 1mo

suvata @MallenNC if you‘re old enough to remember the old Colombo TV show, he used a similar technique. He was pretty laid-back and asked questions that people thought were odd, but it all pulled together in the end. I love old detective novels. 1mo

mrp27 I liked the addition of Giraud even though he can be annoying. I liked the different methods and approach they used. Both characters are arrogant but Poirot is elegant about it. 3w

ferskner @dabbe, that's exactly what I said for question 2! (Well not exactly, but same idea.) We're always on the same page 😊 @Librarybelle I think Poirot and Giraud share a very healthy ego! 😂 3w

14 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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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

MariaW I haven‘t read any Sherlock Holmes stories yet and know only the movies, but Poirot explaining everything to Hastings reminds me a lot of Sherlock and Watson. But I an pretty sure Watson wouldn‘t have fallen in love this easily, he seems more the thoughful and prudent type compared to Hastings who is more impulsive with his love interests and with drawing conclusions. 1mo

MallenNC That‘s interesting. I have read some Holmes stories but I much prefer to watch the adaptations. I guess I can see some parallels between the Holmes and Watson and Poirot and Hastings characters. 1mo

kspenmoll I have only read a few Holmes stories but he has Watson & Poirot has Hastings as foils. Agree with @MariaW That Hasting is impulsive, brash & seems to be in love with the idea of love…Watson was an MD right? Married? 1mo

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dabbe Funny! I just mentioned this is your 1st question, not having looked at this one! 🤩I see a lot of parallels in the relationship between SH & Watson and HP & Hastings. Watson is quite the lady's man, falling in love and marrying the client in just the second story of the canon! Hastings falls in love in the 2nd Poirot novel as well! Holmes is always pushing Watson to think beyond what's there--just like Poirot with his gray cells. 1mo

suvata I have always thought there was a huge resemblance between Sherlock and Poirot. I used to think that Sherlock‘s capers were a little more sophisticated than HP‘s but now that I am reading Christie again I may have to rethink that. Great now I‘m going to have to re-read Sherlock Holmes. 1mo

mrp27 I‘ve never read any Sherlock Holmes or been much of a fan so I don‘t know it well enough to begin to compare. 3w

ferskner That's really interesting because I feel like this book is commenting negatively on Holmes! I read Poirot's comments about not having to find random physical evidence and tie it to some obscure "impossible to know unless you're the detective" fact and relying on putting together the mystery based on understanding and thinking through human nature. I know Christie was a Holmes fan but Poirot's methods to me are very different from Holmes' methods. 3w

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