I‘m still trying to figure out how to juggle everything with Zeke‘s needs and appointments with contract work (thank goodness I don‘t have a set work schedule), house chores, and not to mention down time!
But, I managed to finish 12 books in June! I‘ve not handed out many 5 stars this year, but I had two excellent reads in June—This Is Not a Game and The Accidental Favorite. Loved them; right reads at the right time.
Great discussion so far for The Chelsea Girls! Our next #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is Kent‘s historical fiction account of the last woman set to be executed in Iceland.
Read at your own pace. Discussion on July 31st. I will post periodic check-ins throughout the month. All are welcome to join! I know several are planning to join in for the discussion!
#LittenDetectives : We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion!
What could be the secret in the old attic? How will Nancy discover the secret? Will she have a head injury this time? Will Ned continue to sulk that he is second to a good mystery in Nancy‘s eyes?!? Let‘s find out!
Discussion July 15th!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze
It‘s been over 25 years since I last read this, and I feel like this is a good document to read on the 4th.
Anyone wish to join me reading this on the 4th? If so, we could post comments throughout our reading, but make it very lowkey.
Great discussion so far about Chimneys! Please feel free to join the discussion whenever.
July‘s #ChristiesCapers returns us to Hercule Poirot. Considered to be one of the best mysteries of all time, I think one can argue that we truly see Christie‘s writing genius in this.
Discussion will take place on July 27th. All are welcome! 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, Teresereading, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 7 questions posted as spoilers; you can find these on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.
I think this is my favorite of Davis‘s I‘ve read so far. Hope you enjoyed it too!
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf7. McCarthyism plays a massive role in this novel. Do you think McCarthyism made romantic and friendly relationships difficult? Why or why not? If so, what were the complications and the consequences of having a relationship? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Link in comments to a PBS American Experience page on Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism
6. “Maxine‘s bravery in the square, as well as now, with the major, astonished Hazel. She wished she were that brash. But she wouldn‘t dare question an authority figure. Always the understudy, in life as well as in art.” How does Hazel transform throughout the novel, and does the word “understudy,” which she considers to have negative connotations, change in meaning as well? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
5. How do Hazel and Maxine subvert or conform to 1950s expectations and gender roles? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
4. What did you think of Charlie and his desire to join the FBI? How do you think his relationship with his father shaped his ambitions? Were you rooting for him and Hazel? Why or why not? ~from Reading Group Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
3. When Maxine flubs her lines on opening night, her career doesn‘t suffer, but Hazel‘s does. Why do you think that is? How would you have reacted in Hazel‘s situation? Do you think she has a right to be bitter about the success of Wartime Sonata‘s revival, or should she be grateful? ~from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
2. If Maxine had not made the tragic choice she did, do you think she and Hazel would have renewed their friendship? If you were in Hazel‘s shoes, would you forgive Maxine? Why or why not? ~ from Reading Group Guides #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
1. I enjoy Davis's works because she focuses each story on a landmark in New York City. For this novel, we visit the Hotel Chelsea.
Have you visited the Hotel Chelsea? Do you want to visit after reading this book?
Links in comments to an interview in which Davis details her reasons to feature the Hotel Chelsea, as well as the history of the hotel from the hotel's website. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
The #ChristiesCapers discussion for this month is posted! You can find the 5 questions either on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.
Next month we revisit Poirot and dive into one of Christie‘s best novels and ranked as one of the best mysteries of all time: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Official post 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, Teresereading, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill5. Though Herzoslovakia is fictional, the 1925 publication of this novel, and the placement of the country in Eastern Europe, alludes to the unrest in the Balkan region of Europe. Christie also introduces some of her experiences during the Grand Tour in Africa in this novel--think, for instance, the novel's opening in Africa.
Wikipedia article on the Balkans' history below. How aware were you of this? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
4. We'd be very remiss to talk about Herzoslovakia, Christie's fictional Eastern European country that will later appear in two Poirot stories. In prior discussions, we discussed the casual racism found in the books; this one is no exception. Christie barely discusses the country itself, but we the reader get a sense that the people from Herzoslovakia are suspect, to say the least. Any comments? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristeClubR3
More ⬇ ⬇ ⬇
3. Speaking of main characters, Anthony Cade is the true main character in this novel and presents a less-than-serious approach to the story. While some reviewers call this a thriller (see question 1), reviewers also comment on the levity in the book, considering this more humorous than Christie's previous five books. Do you agree/disagree? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
2. Christie moves away from Poirot again to introduce Inspector or Superintendent Battle, who will appear in four other works. What do you think of Battle? Why do you think Christie chose to introduce another non-Poirot main character? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
1. The Secret of Chimneys has been categorized by reviewers as another work that is more thriller than traditional mystery (think Poirot). Overall, what did you think of the book? Would you agree/disagree that this is more thriller than traditional? This is the sixth book we have read...how did it measure up to the past five books? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
so-soPromising premise, but I think the audio made me less inclined to fully appreciate it.
May receives a letter from her missing sister June with a return address from the Kinima Theosophical Society. May rushes to the Society and becomes enamored with Rex, the leader of The Colony. What follows is a gothic-esque novel that takes May through the rituals of a cult as she tries to find out the whereabouts of her sister. Set in 1930s California. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Happy #5JoysFriday day!
1. My boys…always! Recent photos, including Zeke well enough to jump on top of the kitchen cabinets.
2. Zeke‘s bloodwork came back looking very good, and the specialist is pleased by the amount of weight he has gained.
3. Bunny in my backyard
4. Litsy
5. Air conditioning
pickBeautifully descriptive vignettes of summer time on an island. While Sophia drove me crazy with her frequent crying and protestations, this shows a loving bond between grandmother and granddaughter. A nice escape and perfect for #MidsummerSolace #Naturalitsy #LitSolace #192025 #1972
Sorry…couldn‘t help myself. If you‘re part of this horrible heatwave, you can understand this…
“Man, it‘s a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun…”
My area is at a 100+ degree heat index today, and communities I used to work in are without power until at least mid-week, according to the electrical company. I lost power for about 20 minutes last night, and that worried me. #TuesdayTunes
https://youtu.be/6Whgn_iE5uc
pickI‘ve seen mixed reviews of this one throughout the Internet, but I absolutely loved this! Perhaps another “right book at the right time” choice for me…
Told from multiple perspectives, the story begins with a near-disastrous incident and a choice made that shows the cracks in a family. Littlewood beautifully layers each perspective, and as the narrative unfolds, the reader really sees what is behind the behaviors and attitudes of each family ⬇️⬇️
pickThis was the exact book I needed right now, full of snarky humor with so many mentions of mystery and crime characters. I loved every minute of it. Two sleuths, a granddaughter and her grandmother, have an IRL locked room-style murder on their hands, when a snowstorm isolates their hostess‘s house from the outside world, leaving a killer to target the guests one by one. While there is a lot of humor, there are somber moments, and you can see ⬇️⬇️
We‘re a week away from our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! I‘ve seen some good reviews posted so far; this one does get mixed reviews by Christie lovers. I like this one and plan to reread it this week to have it fresh in my mind for next Sunday.
Discussion questions will be posted by 12pm US East Coast time on the 29th! #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, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
As we approach our June 30th discussion of The Chelsea Girls for #LiteraryCrew , July‘s #BuddyRead is right around the corner!
Burial Rites is one of my favorite books, and I thrilled the group voted to read this one this year. It‘s dark, compassionate, slow burning, and hauntingly beautiful.
Read at your own pace. Discussion July 31st. All are welcome to join. Let me know if you would like to be added 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
pickLight pick. This retelling of Cinderella combines folk/fairy tales from different cultures, and I enjoyed reading the intro from this 10th anniversary edition to hear the reasons for Lo‘s decisions on the structure of the novel. I didn‘t quite click with the writing style, but the last few chapters flew by for me, so worthy of a pick rating. #SundayBuddyRead #LitsyAToZ #LetterA #52BookClub25 #AFairyTaleRetelling
so-soThe first in a series set on Cape Cod, this one had a lot going on…and not all in a good way. Lots of nonessential info that could not even be described as red herrings. I‘d say more, but it may be considered spoilerish. Let‘s just say it‘s confusing. #Xander #CatsOfLitsy
What is the secret in the old attic? Never fear…Nancy will figure it out! Discussion of this 21st in the series will take place July 15th.
All are welcome to join. Please comment if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list. #NancyDrewBR
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze
I was able to post the #NancyDrewBR discussion points earlier than I anticipated! You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.
Next month, we find out The Secret in the Old Attic, which has slightly different story lines depending upon the version you read, but nothing drastic. Official post tomorrow!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze5. I have to bring up Ned for his own discussion point; Ned seemed to me to be a little tired of Nancy always having a mystery. He seems game to help, but I kinda feel like he would also just like to have a regular date without Nancy sleuthing... 😂
Thinking of our other regulars, it did not seem like we saw a lot of George and Bess this time, and Hannah and Carson did not appear as much, or at least in the 1972 edition. #NancyDrewBR
4. Nancy's adventurous episodes are not as dramatic as in prior stories, but she still has troubles! I would have been so upset over the stealing of the hair piece, even if it was fake! Any thoughts on the “dangers“ this time around? #NancyDrewBR
3. The other piece to this story line involved finding a missing prince...who happened to be in River Heights! This leads me to think of the secondary characters in this one. Any standouts, for good or bad? Personally, I'm glad the gang left Francis/Michael/fake prince to find his own way off the island. What a horrible person! #NancyDrewBR
2. Did you have a jewel box with a secret compartment? What would you hide in it?
I found this interesting talk about the history of jewelry boxes. Link in the comments! #NancyDrewBR
1. Here we go! Once again, the 1943 and the 1972 editions are fairly similar, so everyone read the same story line. Yay!
Mildred Benson wrote the original 1943 story, and Priscilla Baker-Carr wrote the 1972 revision.
Overall, what did you think of the story? Thinking of a few of our more recent adventures with Nancy, how did this compare? #NancyDrewBR
so-soI actually finished a #RiseUpReads before the end of the month!
I listened to this one, and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read it. The voice actress made the main character sound very immature at times, or else I am way too old to appreciate the tone used. However, I enjoyed the family story, the growth of the MC, and the relationship side of the story. It also made me really hungry for falafel!
Another stress-filled and at times horrifying week, but a moment to recognize joys:
1. My boys…always! They so hate me taking photos of them! 😂
2. Author event last Saturday and a signed book. Craig Johnson is a hoot!
3. Air conditioning, and it‘s not even sultry yet here!
4. Zeke has more good days than bad…hooray!
5. Litsy
#5JoysFriday
pickNot as many nail biting moments in this one, and thankfully no really odd episodes that make no sense. Nancy is charged with identifying the clue in the jewel box (hello title) and finding a lost prince. I really disliked the character Francis, and Ned continues to show a tad impatience with Nancy‘s sleuthing…
#NancyDrewBR
I‘m starting my library copy tonight, so here‘s a quick reminder that our next #NancyDrewBR discussion will be Sunday! Questions will be posted by lunchtime US East Coast time.
Looking forward to the discussion, #LittenDetectives !
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair
“The place looked like a vampire‘s lair designed by Henry VIII.”
I‘m inhaling this book—with gem statements like the quote above, I think this is going to be an absolutely fun read. And, I adore Mimi.
This is also giving me Richard Osman vibes for character, wit, and fun back stories.
pickLaced with suspense, this is based on a true story…the photo at the back of the book shows the aftermath of the event described. Donoghue tells the story from the perspective of multiple characters, before real and fictional characters, including an anarchist with a deadly plot in mind. And, the train engine is a character—don‘t worry, the train‘s perspective actually adds depth to the story. Fast read! #SebastianKitty #Zeke #Xander #CatsOfLitsy
panCannell is not the author for me. Years ago, I tried reading one of her mysteries and had to bail because I did not connect with it. For this one, I probably should have bailed after the first half hour, but yet I persevered.
Cannell uses really long passages of dialogue and character‘s internal thoughts to convey the story. But, though set in the early 1900s, the language felt at times anachronistic. And, much of the forward motion had…
@Bookwormjillk , your post inspired me to pick up some Milano cookies at the grocery store this morning. My grocery store had them on a super buy, so I bought three kinds.
Perfect cookie for reading! 😂
Thanks for the inspiration, Jill!
so-soI really struggled with this one (and so did my IRL book club). The characters, especially Sarah‘s twin sister Emily, are unlikeable. Cozy mysteries are not typically known for strong plot lines, but this one seemed even more scattered than most. I liked RahRah the cat! I don‘t plan to continue with the series. #Vladimir #CatsOfLitsy #LitsyAToZ #LetterO #HasShortChapters #52BookClub25
#5JoysFriday
1. My boys…always!
2. Zeke continues to show no adverse reactions to chemo.
3. Last weekend‘s birthday weekend, filled with books and my parents, who made my day feel special.
4. IRL book club
5. Catching up on the drama in Virgin River on Netflix.
so-soSadly, I was a bit underwhelmed with this one. The premise is interesting—female journalist in WWI era stumbles upon a dead body, and she is determined to find out whodunit. While I appreciate the historical facts placed into the narrative, it leaves the flow of the story a bit disjointed. I may consider reading book two at some point, but am not in a hurry to pick it up.
Thank you for the lovely birthday wishes! Special thanks to @MemoirsForMe , @TheSpineView , and @dabbe for the lovely cards! And Donna, I laughed so hard when I saw the change purse! It‘s so true!! 😂
My #birthdayhaul yesterday consists of books in series I‘m currently reading, new to me authors, and an ARC that the bookstore employees gave me since it was my birthday shopping day.
I am so happy to be part of such a wonderful community! ❤️
To say my reading has been erratic and at times nonexistent the last few months is an understatement, and yet I persevere and start more books! 😂
Gaskell‘s writing is amazing, and thanks to #HashtagBrigade I can finally move Wives and Daughters to the “currently reading” stack.
#Zeke , #SebastianKitty , and #Xander are resting after food (and the first pill of the day for Zeke). #CatsOfLitsy
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
