Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 20: The Clue in the Jewel Box | Carolyn Keene

We‘re up to number 20, #LittenDetectives ! Our next #NancyDrewBR features jewels and a lost prince. Will Nancy be able to decipher the clue in the jewel box? And, more importantly, will Nancy suffer more head knocks? Let‘s just hope there are no exploding oranges! 😂

Discussion on June 15th! All are welcome to join. 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, 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

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 1d

BarkingMadRead 🤣🤣🤣 so many head knocks! 1d

Ruthiella A lost prince! Sounds like a good one! 1d

25 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

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#5JoysFriday

1. My boys…always. Recent pictures, and yes that‘s Sebastian sitting and washing in the water fountain bowl! 🙄
2. Xander‘s cardiology visit went well. His new meds are working! Progress has been made on additional issues found during his prior visit.
3. Organizing my thoughts for #14Books14Weeks
4. The latest Anthony Horowitz arrived!
5. Baking cranberry white chocolate chip muffins for my mom for Mother‘s Day

DebinHawaii

Aims42 So glad to hear the boys are doing well 😻 And YAY for the new Anthony Horowitz book arriving 🥳 2d

Librarybelle Thanks, @Aims42 ! 2d

Bookwormjillk Cat in the bowl is cracking me up. 2d

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Aims42 @Bookwormjillk 😹 same! “If I fits, I sits” 2d

JenReadsAlot That cat in the water dish 🤣 and I made white chocolate chip crasin cookies for mother's day! 2d

ravenlee Hooray for good medical news! 2d

Librarybelle Sebastian loves to sit in the clean fountain bowl! Drives me nuts! 😂 @Bookwormjillk @Aims42 @JenReadsAlot 2d

Librarybelle @JenReadsAlot My mom loves those muffins, and thankfully I still had some cranberries in the freezer! 2d

Librarybelle Thanks, @ravenlee ! 2d

Ruthiella Cats are so weird! 😂 Any new surface! 2d

kspenmoll So happy the kitties are thriving! They will sit in anything! Love it! Muffins sound delish. 2d

dabbe 💙💚💙 2d

Librarybelle @Ruthiella He is so silly! 2d

Librarybelle Thanks, @kspenmoll ! Holding steady at the moment, which is the most I can ask for at this time! 2d

Librarybelle @dabbe ❤️ 2d

ShelleyBooksie So glad that Xanders cardio visit went well!!! 1d

Librarybelle Thank you, @ShelleyBooksie ! 1d

49 likes17 comments

Librarybelle

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It‘s not a book stack picture, but it‘s my list for #14Books14Weeks ! Maybe this is the year I finally continue with both of these series…they‘ve been listed so many times for so many challenges, one of these days I‘ll get to them! 😂

My reading has been so spotty lately, and my attention span is rather limited, I‘m hoping Gamache and Brunetti are just what I need.

Liz_M

Liz_M A virtual stack is still a stack! I hope these provide the pleasant distraction you need! 2d

KadaGul @Librarybelle The picture 🖼️ alone brings serenity and motivation to read 📖. Good Luck 🍀 2d

Librarybelle Thanks, @Liz_M @KadaGul ! 2d

Susanita I like to think Gamache and Brunetti would be friends in person. 2d

Librarybelle Me too, @Susanita ! 2d

43 likes5 comments

Librarybelle

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

It‘s time for our next #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives ! I have 5 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Our next caper is The Clue in the Jewel Box. More details tomorrow!

CogsOfEncouragement Thank you for hosting! It continues to be a blast for me to read this series and hear what other readers think. I appreciate your time in looking up differences in the rewrites, and the other info you pass along. ✌🏼❤️🔍📚 2d

Librarybelle You‘re so welcome, @CogsOfEncouragement ! And thank you for participating!! ❤️ 2d

Ruthiella Looking forward to it! 👍 1d

39 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

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5. As for the other characters, we of course have Bess and George and their significant others trying to solve the mysteries. We're also introduced to the Smiths and Mrs. Chatham and Trixie. I was not a fan of Mrs. Chatham! Thoughs?

There's one point where Carson loses his normal calm composure when searching for Nancy! And, Hannah throwing the Browns off the correct map by disguising the coordinates! #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk Go Hannah! I loved that part.

I was not a Mrs. Chatham fan either, and Trixie seemed like a bit much. 3d

DGRachel I didn‘t like Mrs Chatham in the beginning. Her treatment of Trixie was abhorrent. I came to dislike her less towards the end though, when she quit being so horrid to everyone. I love when Carson acts more like a caring father and worries about Nancy! Isn‘t this the one where Ned says something like “enough mysteries for a bit, pay attention to me”? I was like “girl, push him off the boat”. 🤣🤣 3d

CogsOfEncouragement @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel Too bad the update for 1969 didn‘t portray “the widow‘s” grief better. She just came off as a really bad mom. I thought the time Trixie was missing because she saw a Sea Captain walking by and decided to join him was maybe the most far-fetched element in this one. lol They all acted like of course a sea captain was taking a little stroll right here. And I was feeling Ned saved ND a little too much maybe. ⬇️ 2d

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CogsOfEncouragement For the purpose of this girl power series I prefer they keep Ned as a supporting character and ND ultimately saves herself. George or Bess can save her, of course. He seemed to get her out of her scrapes too consistently in this one, like she couldn‘t have done it (or survived for that matter) without him. That isn‘t what this series is about. 2d

Bookwormjillk @CogsOfEncouragement 100% agree on Ned. 2d

BarkingMadRead I was not a fan of Mrs C but Trixie was a hoot! Hannah was so stealthy, she‘s been hanging with Nancy for far too long 🤣 1d

Ruthiella Poor Trixie! With a mother like Mrs. Chatham, she‘s gonna need a lot of therapy later in life. 😱 1d

Librarybelle That‘s a good point, @CogsOfEncouragement ! Ned seemed to be there a bit too much. But yes, @DGRachel , Ned tells Nancy to pay more attention to him. I had to roll my eyes at that. If he has that much of a problem with Nancy solving mysteries, then maybe he needs to go elsewhere. And Nancy, find a different guy!!😂 @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead @Ruthiella 22h

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Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

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4. Nancy sure ran into lots of issues in this one! I have a headache thinking of the number of times she slams her head and/or is rendered unconscious. And, to a degree, the “Browns“ best her by tricking her into following “clues.“

What did you think of the criminal element in this story? The Browns seemed especially relentless to catch Nancy unawares.

Should Nancy receive medical care for her head? #NNK 😂

NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk Nancy should be in some sort of long term traumatic head injury study at this point.

I couldn't believe Nancy got tricked twice! I think our Nancy is smarter than that so I blame the head injuries. 3d

DGRachel I agree with @Bookwormjillk - Nancy surely has to have CTE by now. I liked that she fell for the misdirects and wasn‘t perfect. The books feel a little more realistic when that happens. 3d

CogsOfEncouragement @Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel LOL! So true! Nancy did seem too trusting, to me, in this one a couple times for the seasoned detective she has become. I appreciated the foreshadowing in Ch XVII “If I had a little more time, though, I could be more selective with the crew.” We all knew what THAT meant. lol 2d

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DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement Yes! That comment had all kinds of Treasure Island vibes (or at least the Muppet movie version 🤣🤣) 2d

BarkingMadRead Those Browns are a bit much! 1d

Ruthiella I have to say, when Nancy was almost drowned at the end, it felt pretty scary. The bad guys were pretty bad. 😬 1d

Librarybelle That was nerve wracking, @Ruthiella ! I had flashbacks to when she almost went down with the sinking boat many books ago. Nancy seemed to slip up a few times, which does show she has flaws. She‘s not perfect. Gasp! @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @BarkingMadRead 22h

Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle she‘s not perfect but her hair is 🤣 22h

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk So true! 😂 22h

11 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

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3. While we are talking about elements to the story, think about the other aspects--haunted house, kidnapping, missing relatives, etc. How did these add or detract from the story line? To me, they seemed more plausible than exploding oranges! Any element that was your favorite? #NancyDrewBR

DGRachel While this one had so much happening, none of it seemed too much or distracting. I might feel differently if this hadn‘t followed the exploding oranges book though. 🤣🤣 My favorite elements were the two #NNK. It felt like a gift for having survived the last book! 3d

CogsOfEncouragement @DGRachel Agreed. This seemed on par for the classic ND peril. Trixie managing a #NNK was a good twist too. One fav detail is in Ch XII “Where are the guards?” … “Oh, they got better jobs and left.” LOL What?!? lol 2d

BarkingMadRead There was quite a bit of kidnapping and knockouts! A much better storyline though! 1d

Ruthiella Well, I will say that the coincidences in this one were pretty hard to swallow. Everyone Nancy met was somehow connected to the old captain and his twin sons! 😅 1d

Librarybelle Yes, @Ruthiella ! It seemed so nicely tied together. That was hilarious, @CogsOfEncouragement …the guards got better jobs so left. Not the best choice for guards!!😂 @DGRachel @BarkingMadRead 22h

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Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

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2. In this episode, we have a possibly haunted ship cottage, a treasure map, missing relatives, a shifty couple who love to kidnap people, and a small island. So much to unpack! First, the treasure map. I would have loved to see the actual map! What did you think of this element of the story?

Link below to Library of Congress's blog featuring some maps in their collection. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle https://blogs.loc.gov/maps/2023/09/lost-at-sea-the-treasure-maps-of-the-library-... 3d

Bookwormjillk This was my favorite part. I love a good treasure map. 3d

DGRachel I thought it was clever - both the original being torn in just the right way, and then all of the sleight of hand with good copies and fakes. 3d

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CogsOfEncouragement @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel Agreed. This was entertaining. The twists of who really had a correct map - or a map at all - and how that was revealed to the reader was fun. (edited) 2d

BarkingMadRead I love a treasure map trope! I wish there was a drawing of the map! 1d

Sace I‘m a sucker for treasure map tropes. 1d

Ruthiella It was a fun plot. And I loved how Nancy (and Hannah!) outwitted the baddies with false copies of it. 😅 1d

Librarybelle So much fun! It was convenient too that Nancy happened to have old paper for Hannah to use to trick the Browns. @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement @BarkingMadRead @Sace @Ruthiella 22h

12 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

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1. Thankfully, there are no notable differences between versions of this book! Our friend Mildred Wirt Benson again wrote the story, with the original appearing in 1942 and the revised in 1969. I can find no substantial changes in the 1969 edition, so perhaps the revision focused on updating the text from 1942 to 1969 vernacular.

What did you think of the book overall? Personally, I thought it was way better than the last one! #NancyDrewBR

Bookwormjillk This one seemed more “Classic Nancy“ which I prefer. 3d

DGRachel The writing quality was better than last month‘s 1971 hot mess. I really noticed the difference comparing the two versions of that book and the writing here was on par with the 1940s books. It was such a relief to read this one after last month‘s debacle! 3d

CogsOfEncouragement This was a fun one. All the peril I‘ve come to expect and a treasure chest too! 2d

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CogsOfEncouragement @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel We finally have mention of ND‘s continuing education. Art school provided some skills she used over and over. I don‘t remember if she stays in art school or if it will be mentioned again in any way. I‘ll be paying attention for that. 2d

BarkingMadRead Way way better than the last one! 1d

Sace I liked this one way better than the last couple of books. It felt way more focused and straightforward. 1d

Ruthiella I thought this was pretty good. But it is the first time (I think) where we have perspective from characters who are not Nancy while Nancy is not in the scene. Like when Carson and Ned are searching for Nancy. 1d

Librarybelle That‘s a good point, @Ruthiella , and I liked to see this other perspective. And yes, @CogsOfEncouragement , we see Nancy‘s continuing education. I‘m also wondering too if it continues, as I cannot remember. @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel @BarkingMadRead @Sace 22h

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Librarybelle

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

pick

So much better than the last one! Thank goodness for no exploding oranges or exotic animals! Nancy and the gang are embroiled in a treasure hunt of sorts, with adventures that feature spooky houses, shifty people, and kidnapping galore. Fun, breezy read. #NancyDrewBR

So sorry for the late reminder, but discussion is Thursday in the AM US East Coast time!

BarkingMadRead So much better! 3d

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead Thank goodness! 😂 3d

Librarybelle #LitsyAToZ #LetterQ @Texreader 3d

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DGRachel Definitely better than the last one! 3d

JenlovesJT47 I‘m actually halfway done for once, will finish it tomorrow. Definitely liking it better than the last 3 or 4. 3d

Librarybelle @DGRachel It was not a chore to read! 3d

Librarybelle Yay, @JenlovesJT47 ! 3d

Ruthiella Yes, this one is getting back to the vibe of some of the earlier books. 3d

Sace I‘m finishing up this evening and yes, it‘s better than the exploding oranges! And there was a Nancy Noggin Knock Out! 3d

Sace @Ruthiella totally agree! 3d

Librarybelle Yes! It felt like some of the earlier ones! @Ruthiella @Sace 3d

54 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Caramel Crush | Jenn McKinlay

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Angie really annoyed me in this one! But, I don‘t think I‘d get along with Angie in real life, so props to Mel! 😂

Mel owes a former college friend a favor, and she is on the hunt for the real murderer. Lots of cupcakes, some shady business, and a real humdinger of a cliffhanger. Glad to see this series has picked up again! #LitsyAToZ #LetterC

Texreader

59 likes

Librarybelle

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

“‘Why not take Nancy? She‘s had a lot of experience meeting strange people.‘”

That‘s such an understatement! 😂

#NancyDrewBR

Ruthiella 😂😂😂 4d

44 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools | Mary Annette Pember

This book…what an impact, and I‘ve barely reached the 25% mark of it. Here, Pember discusses the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and the graveyard of children who lost their lives there.

I was raised not far from the Army War College and drove by that cemetery thousands of times, before it became the “main gate” to the college after 9/11. Prior to 9/11, civilians could easily go onto the campus & drive around. A branch of my bank was there! ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ I would enter the campus from the gate that contained the cemetery. It‘s haunting and left such an impact on me that I wrote about the school for my undergraduate thesis. This was before the horrifying stories and realities of the schools were finally unearthed. My thesis would be a lot stronger today with today‘s sources, condemning the machinations of these schools. I have become so passionate against the schools and telling the stories. ⬇️ 7d

Librarybelle ⬆️I highly recommend this book, told from a citizen of the Ojibwe tribe. It‘s a personal history of her mother‘s trauma at a school (not Carlisle, but one of the dozens of others in the US) and the overall history. I think I may have to buy a copy of this… (edited) 7d

Read-n-Bloom This sounds really interesting. 4d

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Read-n-Bloom I added to my to read list. Thank you for sharing. 4d

Librarybelle You‘re welcome, @Read-n-Bloom ! 4d

Read-n-Bloom 🙂🌷 3d

50 likes2 stack adds6 comments

Librarybelle

Vanilla Beaned | Jenn McKinlay

pick

This one was so much better than the last couple I read in the series! The mystery and the solution seemed a little flimsy to me, but Mel and Angie in Vegas was a fun location for them. And, I‘m now craving cupcakes! 😂

64 likes

Librarybelle

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I‘ve missed sharing a #5JoysFriday the last few weeks because…well…life has been chaotic and not the greatest. But, I want to take a moment this morning to reflect on the good this past week:

1. My boys…always. They‘re my kids. I‘d do anything for them.
2. Fabulous mystery book event this past Saturday. So much fun to be around books!
3. Receiving my #SundayBuddyRead supplemental book from @TheBookHippie …yay book mail!
4. Aardvark Book Club ⬇️

DebinHawaii

Librarybelle ⬆️ sent me the wrong book. Customer service was so amazing! I get to keep the book sent in error, and they‘re sending me the one I really wanted. So wonderful! 1w

Librarybelle 5. A new pope, and one who embraces much of the same progressive mindset as Pope Francis. I‘m Catholic and do not talk much about my faith on here, but it had me worried the ideology would move back to a more conservative structure. I wanted to cry in relief when I saw who was voted. He also had some not positive words for what‘s going on in the US right now; definite sigh of relief. 1w

Bookwormjillk The Pope, same!!!

And 😻 😻 😻 😻 😻 to your kitties. 1w

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Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Thank you! 1w

TheBookHippie I was 😭😭😭😭😭 over the pope. Relief. 1w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Such good news! 1w

Aims42 The new pope sounds like a good fit for what the world needs to hear right now 🥰💛🧡🩷 1w

Librarybelle Agreed, @Aims42 ! 1w

dabbe 💚🐾💜🐾💚🐾💜🐾💚 1w

kspenmoll Wonderful choice for Pope-enjoy learning about him. Always, your babies! 1w

Librarybelle @kspenmoll 😁❤️ 7d

Sace I watched the pope announcement live and I whooped with joy. 6d

Librarybelle @Sace 😁 6d

DebinHawaii Wonderful list of joys! I‘m not Catholic but the new Pope is a sigh of relief in the world. 💛💛💛 6d

Librarybelle It definitely is, @DebinHawaii ! 5d

62 likes15 comments

Librarybelle

Early Poems | Edna St. Vincent Millay

I was about to post this before I got the phone call about Zeke‘s biopsy results. I‘m so excited to read this, @TheBookHippie ! Thank you!! #SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie Yay!!!! It arrived!!! 2w

58 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

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We received not so good news today—Zeke‘s recent medical procedure showed signs of small cell lymphoma. However, the report was inconclusive, as others cells may indicate that he has a severe case of IBD. I had to order yet another test that will definitely prove what he has. But, the cells do show signs of lymphoma. More meds, shots, vet visits, etc in our future.

I‘m devastated. Cherish every moment you have with your fur babies! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I appreciate so much the support from everyone. The kind thoughts, remarks, and check ins really warm my heart. Please continue thinking of Zeke. ❤️ #catsoflitsy #Zeke 2w

kspenmoll Oh Jess I am so so sorry you & Zeke are going through this uncertainty with his health. Love to you & Zeke. We all love our animal babies- they are family & home . 2w

Bookwormjillk I‘m so sorry to hear that. Thinking of you and Zeke. 2w

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Read4life Jess, I‘m so sorry you guys are going through this. Hugs and positive thoughts to you and Zeke. 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @kspenmoll @Bookwormjillk ❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @Read4life ❤️ 2w

AmyG I am so sorry. That just sucks. 2w

Susanita 😢 2w

AllDebooks That is tough news. I'm so sorry. Sending love to you both x 2w

ShelleyBooksie I'm so sorry to hear this. Big hugs ♡ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @AmyG @Susanita @AllDebooks @ShelleyBooksie ❤️ 2w

Rome753 Sorry to hear 2w

JenReadsAlot Frankie and I are sending you big hugs ❤️ 2w

Billypar I'm so sorry! I wish Zeke the best with these health issues 💙 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @Rome753 @JenReadsAlot @Billypar ❤️ 2w

monalyisha I totally understand. He still seems so fuzzy, and attentive, and in love with you! I know I don‘t have to tell you to hold him close. 💓 2w

Mollyanna I am so sorry. My best to Zeke. They steal our hearts, those fur babies. My prayers for you and Zeke. 🐾💕🐾 2w

Prairiegirl_reading I‘m so sorry!! That‘s a heartbreaker. 😢 2w

willaful Poor sweet boy. I'm so sorry. 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @monalyisha @Mollyanna @Prairiegirl_reading @willaful ❤️ 2w

Mimi28 Best wishes and prayers to you and Zeke 😻😻🩷🙏🏽🫶🏽 2w

S3V3N Praying for Zeke. 2w

rubyslippersreads Sending you and Zeke lots of healing purrs from Nicky, Sadie, and me. 😽 2w

shortsarahrose That really sucks. Keeping you and Zeke in my thoughts. 💜 2w

Eggbeater I know this pain. It is the hardest part of pet ownership. Love on him all you can. Zeke is lucky to have someone who loves him so much. 2w

quietjenn Sending love 💙 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @Mimi28 @S3V3N @rubyslippersreads @shortsarahrose @Eggbeater @quietjenn ❤️ 2w

Ruthiella Definitely cherish the time you have. ❤️ 2w

Tamra 😘 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @Ruthiella @Tamra ❤️ 2w

MaureenMc Sending 💗💗💗 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @MaureenMc ❤️ 2w

DaveGreen7777 Hope things get better for Zeke and for you soon! 💖 2w

DogMomIrene I know how hard this not knowing is. Years ago, it took some time to diagnose my cat. You are fortunate to have one another. Hold him close ❤️🐾 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @DaveGreen7777 @DogMomIrene ❤️ 2w

NatalieR I‘m sorry you guys are going through this and all of the uncertainty. Sending healing vibes. You guys are lucky to have each other. ❤️🐾 1w

Librarybelle Thank you @NatalieR ❤️ 1w

BkClubCare {{{hugs}}} 1w

Librarybelle Thank you @BkClubCare ❤️ 1w

CoverToCoverGirl So sad to hear this. This past weekend I too had my dear Amber to the vet. She‘s 19 years old and this is her first serious visit to the vet for health reasons. She seems to have rallied for now after some subcutaneous fluids, a round of antibiotics and a thorough check up. I have promised myself to just enjoy each day that remains but it‘s hard. Lots of tears. My thoughts are certainly with you and your beloved Zeke. 💙💙💙 Many hugs. 1w

Librarybelle Oh my, @CoverToCoverGirl ! Thinking of you and Amber. Yes…so many tears. And thank you. ❤️ 1w

Powered_By_Plants 🙏 so sad to read about Zeke 🥺, so hard when it‘s our furbabies . Hope your all ok ❤️ 1w

Librarybelle Thank you @Powered_By_Plants …we‘re managing new routines (and so hate medicines 😂) and just awaiting news for the next course of action. ❤️ 1w

Powered_By_Plants Bless you guys 💕, not always easy administering it! Hope he is managing ok , he is such a handsome boy 😊 (edited) 1w

Librarybelle @Powered_By_Plants Some days are better than others to give him medicine. 😂 1w

Sace I‘m so sorry to hear this. I will be thinking of you and Zeke. 6d

Librarybelle Thank you @Sace ❤️ 6d

DebinHawaii Sending you positive thoughts & strength for Zeke. 💛🐱💛 6d

Librarybelle Thank you @DebinHawaii ❤️ 5d

Bookwomble ❤️‍🩹 4d

Librarybelle Thank you @Bookwomble ❤️ 4d

RaeLovesToRead Sending love to Zeke 💕 4d

Librarybelle Thank you @RaeLovesToRead ❤️ 4d

64 likes53 comments

Librarybelle

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#RantTime

With the proposed elimination of library, museum, humanities programs, and PBS funding, among other entities, it is imperative that voices are raised against these measures. My lifeblood is all about humanities—I‘m a librarian, after all—and it is terrifying that my skills are considered to be unimportant to the government. I‘d rant more, but I‘ll save that for another day.

Please contact your representatives. See link below. ⬇️

Librarybelle https://action.everylibrary.org/budget2026imls?_gl=1*4wbl53*_gcl_au*MjQ1ODMyODcy.... 2w

Librarybelle Hopefully the link works! It looks really odd copying and pasting it. But, it does appear on Every Library‘s main page: https://www.everylibrary.org 2w

Lcsmcat It works and I signed. 2w

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Librarybelle @Lcsmcat Thanks! 2w

Jess Thanks for sharing. Signed. 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @Jess ! Thanks! 2w

Ruthiella I signed this previously. Thanks for sharing! 2w

Anna40 Thanks for sharing! Signed it 2w

59 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Bring Me Back | B A Paris

so-so

I liked The Therapist more!

12 years ago Layla disappeared. Finn is haunted by this, as he was also accused of murdering. Now, he‘s set to marry her sister. But, what one could say is an odd event occurs which has Finn wondering if Layla has come back. The premise is good, but the characters are very unlikeable. They really deserve each other. 😂 I was also a bit annoyed by the past chapters in part 1, as Finn used “you,” addressing Layla. So-so.

52 likes

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Posting my May #BookSpinBingo list now before viewing the reveal post!

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2w

44 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

I am beyond touched by the many well wishes, good thoughts, and check ins regarding Zeke. And, the patience and understanding from my various #BuddyRead groups means so much to me.

Zeke spent a second day at the specialist today, going through a medical procedure to retrieve cells for further testing. The procedure showed evidence of issues. We‘ll find out in a couple of weeks an official diagnosis.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Anyone who has gone through diagnostics with an animal knows how long the process is and how incredibly frustrating and draining it is. However, we‘ll have a definitive diagnosis soon, which will lead to a long term care plan. Thanks everyone! #Zeke #CatsOfLitsy 2w

Leftcoastzen Hugs to you , so challenging 😥 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Leftcoastzen ! ❤️ 2w

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Bookwormjillk It is so hard. Thinking of you and Zeke. 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Bookwormjillk ! ❤️ 2w

Trashcanman Wishing him and you the absolute best, always. ❤️ 2w

Ruthiella Zeke! ❤️❤️❤️ 2w

bookandbedandtea Sending love to you and Zeke 🩷 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Trashcanman @Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea ! ❤️❤️❤️ 2w

Aims42 Keeping you and Zeke in my prayers 💕🙏💕 2w

quietjenn Sending love to you and Zeke. ❤️ 2w

dabbe Oh, that sweet boy Sending you love. 💙🩵💙 2w

KathyWheeler Sending you and Zeke good wishes. He‘s a beautiful boy. 2w

Gissy I hope nothing is serious. Soon recovery to Zeke❤️ 2w

TheLudicReader 😿❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Aims42 @quietjenn @dabbe @KathyWheeler @Gissy @TheLudicReader ! ❤️ 2w

Meshell1313 Sending good healing vibes! ❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you @Meshell1313 ! ❤️ 2w

DogMomIrene Hang in there little man! More help is on the way❤️🐾 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @DogMomIrene ! ❤️ 2w

JessClark78 ❤️🐾 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @JessClark78 ! ❤️ 2w

kwmg40 Sending good wishes to you! 2w

MemoirsForMe Healing hugs and ❤️ to Zeke and you! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @kwmg40 @MemoirsForMe ! ❤️ 2w

NatalieR Wishing all the best to you and Zeke. ❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @NatalieR ! ❤️ 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

It‘s time for the #LiteraryCrew monthly book discussion! I have 7 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag. Stop by and answer whenever!

May‘s book is Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch!

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

tpixie Thanks! 3w

Karisa Thank you! I loved this book 😊 2w

Librarybelle Of course, @tpixie ! 2w

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Librarybelle So glad you loved this, @Karisa ! 2w

DebinHawaii I got to the party late (I finished the book on time but got too busy to get to the discussion until today) but I wanted to say I really loved this one! 💛💛💛 2w

Librarybelle No worries, @DebinHawaii ! Thanks for joining us! 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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7. Discuss the murder mystery. Were you expecting it to play a larger role in the story? Were you surprised by who the victim and who the perpetrator were? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CatLass007 I definitely didn‘t see any of that coming. Quinn‘s characters often go through all kinds of trauma but in the end things generally work out for the best. The ways in which they all work out are often unexpected. 2w

Sace I was very surprised by the ending! It added to the enjoyment. 2w

Karisa I was relieved that none of my favorite characters had died 😅 It kept the book moving forward but wasn‘t really the most important part. I liked seeing the author pull that off. So clever! 2w

mcctrish The ending was surprising @Karisa I was getting a bit stressed about who was killed and who would kill 2w

DebinHawaii I agree, the end somewhat surprised me. I confess I was having a dark couple of days while listening & I asked Google if any of the women died in the book & AI said two died! I was so mad & upset I had to dig deeper & learned they didn‘t die & it was men & Grace‘s spy partner but Sydney‘s husband was a surprise still. I needed a happy ending! 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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6. Food plays a significant part in the story. Discuss the symbolic meaning of the Briar Club‘s communal meals and how they foster a sense of belonging. ~from Plainfield Area Public Library #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Karisa Food does bring people together. Grace was wonderful for realizing it and taking a chance on her housemates. 2w

mcctrish A communal table makes people feel like they belong, eating together nourished their bellies and their souls 2w

DebinHawaii The food was one of my favorite parts. I loved how it brought them together & how it wasn‘t just feeding them, it fed & improved their lives in so many ways. I listened to the audiobook but I‘m going to go back & look up some of the recipes (& I enjoyed the music to eat by for each dish too!) 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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5. Examine the themes of secrecy, deception, and truth-telling in the novel. How do the characters‘ hidden pasts and double lives affect their relationships? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon I think they all had their own baggage that they brought which affected how they interacted with each other and their views. 3w

CatLass007 I think the saddest example of secret-keeping was Fliss. She had so much negative self talk. When she was finally able to be honest with her husband it was so uplifting. 2w

mcctrish @CatLass007 her mantra of ‘bad mother‘ broke my heart. The secrets all stem from women having no power in a patriarchal society and coming together in their little Briar Club tribe was so positive 2w

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CatLass007 @mcctrish It broke my heart too. But I think the women in her family who didn‘t work outside the home and had baby after baby also contributed to the way she felt about herself. Granted, they too were victims of a patriarchal society but all they passed on to Fliss was their ugly attitudes. The found family of the Briar Club was a powerful force in the lives of these women. They empowered Fliss to actually communicate her needs to her (cont)⬇️ 2w

CatLass007 husband, who turned out to be so understanding and supportive. Here was a man who was not afraid of a strong, intelligent woman. They are still few and far between. 2w

DebinHawaii Yes, we definitely all have a story & a pile of baggage to go with it & I think Quinn did a good job in revealing it & showing the impact. At the end, I still disliked Arlene but I also felt sorry for her, she became more human. And yes, I was happy to see the positive journey of Fliss—I‘d have been mad if she didn‘t get a “happy” & fufilling ending. 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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4. Discuss the role Grace March plays in bringing the women together. What does her character represent in terms of female empowerment and community building? ~from Plainfield Area Public Libry Reading Guide

mcctrish I started to wonder about Grace just after the 100 page mark when I committed to reading - I LOVED The Americans and I was curious if there was a connection. That said, her desire for found family and seeing who everyone was and nudging them towards their paths was such a matriarchal role. She was a favourite 2w

DebinHawaii Grace was one of my favorites too @mcctrish I love how she brought everyone together & connected all these dissimilar women & the men too. She mentored & drove positive change for everyone & I liked the air of mystery about her. She cared so much about Pete & Lina too. 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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3. Briarwood house itself narrates some of the chapters. How does the house‘s perspective shape the reader‘s understanding of the events and characters? Did you enjoy hearing from an inanimate object? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon Honestly when I first read that the house was talking I was a little put off and found it gimmicky but in the end it didn‘t bother me too much. 3w

CatLass007 I love a good fantasy! This slight fantastical aspect gave insight into all the characters effect on one another and their environment. (edited) 2w

Sace I loved the house‘s pov! 2w

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Karisa @Sace I enjoyed it too. Cranky but loveable place 2w

mcctrish The house kept me reading ❤️❤️ 2w

DebinHawaii I thought the house narrating really helped the story along & tied it together. I loved it. 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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2. The point of view rotates among the women of the boarding home. Frequently
when we get to a new point of view we find that the truth differs from the
perceptions that others have. Why do you think Quinn chose to tell the story in
this way and what is she trying to say with it? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon I think it helped keep the suspense going this way. 3w

CatLass007 I enjoyed getting the perspectives of each boarder. It‘s a rare talent to be able to write something so difficult so well. Julia Quinn is a new “must read” author for me. And since I listened to the audiobook, I appreciated the narrator‘s ability to give each character her own distinctive voice. 2w

Karisa I liked the rotating POV‘s. Usually I get connected to one character and don‘t want to move onto another. But somehow she really made it work. 2w

mcctrish I‘m agree with @Jerdencon and the suspense but I do have to add that it‘s a lot of characters to keep moving between and their stories. I wonder if we needed them all. I appreciated getting back to Fliss and understanding her more and her Post Partum Depression. I guess it helped illustrate how giving women no power in society can look different (edited) 2w

DebinHawaii The audio book really brought this to life & an interview with the author & narrator at the end talked about making the women from different backgrounds made it easier to narrate. I think she also did the multiple POVs to show that what we think we know about people, particularly living in such close quarters may not be true or all their is about them & I think that‘s true—people are onions with many layers & nuances. 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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1. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Red Scare and McCarthyism. How do
these historical events impact the lives and choices of the characters? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Information about the Red Scare and McCarthyism linked in comments.

Librarybelle History Channel info on the Red Scare and McCarthyism: https://www.history.com/articles/red-scare 3w

Jerdencon I found the time period very interesting because even though I had heard about the red scares I never knew much about the specifics. Always like to learn something new when reading. 3w

CatLass007 There were a lot of “witch hunts” during that time. This is the first time I‘ve read a book that references it. There were a couple of episodes of MASH that brought home just what a frightening time it was. Loyalty oaths and naming names. Lives were ruined. The TV show Babylon 5 had seasons where a different type of McCarthyism was rampant. I don‘t think it affected some of the members of the Briar Club much at all. But for others the (cont)⬇️ 3w

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CatLass007 events were catastrophic. And the paranoia about anyone who was even remotely different was sheer insanity. 2w

Karisa @CatLass007 Sounds familiar to some of the things happening today! It is scary stuff! 2w

Karisa @Jerdencon I like to learn something new while reading too. I think I‘d only heard mentions here and there to the Red Scare and McCarthyism before. I know that Marvelous Mrs. Maisel mentions it 😊 2w

CatLass007 @Jerdencon @karisa I just saw this article in which a judge compares deportation threats to the Red Scare: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/judge-release-mohsen-mahdawi-columbia-student-e5... 2w

Karisa @CatLass007 It‘s so sad how many lives are being hurt 2w

mcctrish @Karisa I thought it was a very timely read with current political events ( Marvellous Mrs Maisel is the BEST) 2w

Karisa @mcctrish Unfortunately, yes! At least Canada didn‘t go to the Sith (I‘ve watched and re-watched every episode soooo many times! Love!) 2w

DebinHawaii Sorry, I‘m so late but I really learned a lot from reading the book, googling more details & the author‘s notes at the end. I knew a little about the red scare but not that much. I agree with @CatLass007 that certain Briar Club members were affected much more than others. 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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!

CatLass007 Thank you. Prayers for you and Zeke. 3w

tpixie Prayers & good wishes for Zeke 🦄🦋 Safe travels 🚗 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @CatLass007 @tpixie ! 3w

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Sace I‘ll be thinking of you and Zeke! 3w

julieclair Prayers for you and Zeke. Hope you get some answers. 🙏 3w

julieclair As usual, I have not yet finished the book. 🙄 I‘ll jump in once I complete it. 💙 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Sace @julieclair ! 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle yes, I‘m behind as well. 3w

Sargar114 @julieclair same, same. About halfway through. 3w

DebinHawaii Sending positive thoughts & prayers to Zeke & to you. 💜 I‘m almost done with the book & hope to finish tonight. 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @DebinHawaii ! 3w

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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 3w

kspenmoll I‘m all set! 3w

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 3w

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Librarybelle Yay, @kspenmoll ! 3w

Aims42 Thank you for the tag!! Hoping to get back to it and participating again 😍 3w

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. 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @Aims42 ! 3w

Librarybelle @Sace I hope the audio is good! 3w

kimrenee I would love to be added to the list 3w

Librarybelle Of course, @kimrenee ! Welcome! 3w

kimrenee Thank you so much 2w

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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 3w

Deblovestoread Looking forward to this one. 3w

Librarybelle @Deblovestoread Me too! 3w

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dabbe Thank you! I adore the Arthurian legends. 3w

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 3w

Librarybelle I‘m looking forward to it, @dabbe ! 3w

Librarybelle @Sargar114 I hope it comes in soon! 3w

CatLass007 I look forward to it! And right now both this and the second book are free on Audible. 3w

Librarybelle Good to know, @CatLass007 ! 3w

AllDebooks Looking forward to this one. I didn't realise it was a series. 😊 3w

Jerdencon I just requested it so hoping to join in! 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @AllDebooks @Jerdencon ! 3w

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 ! 💙 3w

Librarybelle Hooray, @julieclair ! 3w

CatLass007 @julieclair Anytime, friend. 3w

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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. 3w

Librarybelle #LitsyAToZ #LetterR @Texreader 3w

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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. 3w

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. 3w

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 ⬇ 3w

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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! 3w

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) 3w

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. 3w

MallenNC I had a little trouble following/keeping all the characters straight so I was definitely surprised by the ending. 2w

BarbaraJean I wasn't satisfied with the HEA ending (because it didn't end with the love interest I was rooting for!), but otherwise, learning the conclusion of the mystery was satisfying for me. The villain completely surprised me!! I had lots of theories based on how the book was put together--Christie did some nice misdirection and I fell for it. 1w

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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? 3w

suvata I would call more of a cozy mystery. It was definitely more lighthearted than her other books. 3w

MariaW It was definitely fast-paced like a thriller, but I agree with @willaful it is not shocking/thrilling enough to be a thriller. 3w

MallenNC @suvata This one felt like a cozy to me too. Especially the amateur sleuth putting herself in dangerous situations. I was surprised that it wasn‘t a typical detective story— I didn‘t read the description before starting. 2w

BarbaraJean This one is really hard for me to classify. It doesn't feel like a thriller because as others have said, it's a bit too lighthearted. But the various imprisonments and threats keep it from feeling cozy to me! Mystery-adventure feels the closest. 1w

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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. 😂 3w

suvata @willaful 🤣😂🤣😂 3w

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) 3w

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willaful @suvata makes sense! 3w

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 😂 3w

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 fell for it. 🙈 (edited) 3w

MallenNC I thought he was a fun character and I‘m interested to see him with Poirot. I haven‘t read the ones he‘s in. 2w

BarbaraJean Race was fascinating to me. I really liked his character, and having read the later books where he works with Poirot, I spent a lot of time wondering how in the world he could be innocent! (I‘m with you on that @MariaW!) He‘s so much in the background here and there are so many little hints about his background that aren‘t fleshed out—it makes sense that Christie brought him back to develop his character a little more! ⬇ 1w

BarbaraJean I agree with @suvata and @TheAromaofBooks—he‘s really versatile, and his calm-but-adventurous demeanor make him easy to add into other stories. 1w

dabbe Is it wrong that I really somehow wanted Race to be Harry? 😍 4d

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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.

3w

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. 3w

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) 3w

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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. 3w

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). 3w

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) 3w

MallenNC Anne was an interesting character for me. I loved that she was looking for adventure but like a cozy mystery MC, she put herself in dangerous situations without much thought. 2w

BarbaraJean I really liked Anne as the narrator, and pretty much hated Sir Eustace. I loved Anne—she felt like a less-naive Tuppence. She‘s SO different from Poirot or Marple. She gets right in the thick of it, which I like a lot. But overall, I had a really hard time with the sexism—especially from Sir Eustace—and the racism/colonialism of the South African parts. I understand the context of the time, but for me, it really didn‘t age well. 1w

8 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

This post contains spoilers

show me

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... 3w

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. 😀 3w

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

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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. 3w

suvata @willaful yeah the surfing part kinda took me by surprise, but in a fun way 3w

willaful @suvata https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2021/on-surfing-agatha-christies-love-of-the...
3w

suvata @willaful interesting article. Thanks for sharing. 3w

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. 3w

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. 3w

MallenNC I was slow finishing this one so I‘m chiming in late. It was my first time reading this one. I enjoyed it but it was so different from other Christies I‘ve read. 2w

BarbaraJean Late to the discussion, but yes--this was my first time reading this one. @willaful That surfing article is fascinating! The surfing surprised me--but it fit for Anne, and I loved that she gave it a try! 1w

8 likes11 comments

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! 3w

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

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! 3w

Librarybelle No worries, @MaleficentBookDragon ! 3w

44 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

His Last Bow | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

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! 😍 3w

63 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

I Didn't Do It | Jaime Lynn Hendricks

pick

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). 3w

Librarybelle @Susanita It was a fun (to read) scenario! 3w

62 likes3 stack adds2 comments

Librarybelle

Judgment in Death | J. D. Robb

pick

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 4w

StayCurious So glad you‘re still with us! 3w

65 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

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

pick

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! 1mo

Librarybelle #PublishedIn2025 #52BookClub25 1mo

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

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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. 1mo

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy, @Mollyanna ! 1mo

Trashcanman How‘s Zeke? 1mo

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

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

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

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

74 likes1 stack add10 comments

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. 1mo

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! 1mo

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. 🐈❤️ 1mo

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Librarybelle Thanks, @MemoirsForMe ! It‘s just a guess at this point, but it seems like more than a coincidence. 1mo

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! 1mo

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! 1mo

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! 1mo

Mimi28 Best wishes to you and all of your cats 🫶🏽😊🩷 1mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🐾🐾🐾🖤

Extra 💙🩵💙 for Zeke and his mamma! 1mo

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. 1mo

Librarybelle Thank you, @Mimi28 and @dabbe ! 1mo

shortsarahrose Very understandable! Lamb definitely seems like a good option. 1mo

ShelleyBooksie Glad Zeke is back to eating!! 1mo

Librarybelle Thank you, @ShelleyBooksie ! 1mo

48 likes14 comments

Librarybelle

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

pick

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. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 1mo

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 1mo

Librarybelle #52BookClub25 #CharactersNameInTheTitle 1mo

See All 9 Comments

sarahbarnes Stacking! 1mo

Read-n-Bloom Sounds great! 1mo

Texreader Excellent review!! But probably more than I can handle. 😳 1mo

Librarybelle I kept saying wow while listening to this, @Texreader ! 😂 1mo

Reggie Great review! Stacked! And the cover looks sooo pretty compared to what you say it‘s about. How funny. 1mo

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. 1mo

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! 1mo

Librarybelle @Ruthiella Yay! 😁 1mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 1mo

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Sace Looking forward to it!! 1mo

Librarybelle Oh, thanks @Liz_M ! 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @Sace ! 1mo

BarkingMadRead Can‘t wait!! 1mo

Librarybelle Yay, @BarkingMadRead ! 1mo

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! 1mo

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

35 likes10 comments

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 🫶🏽😊🩷🙏🏽🤗 1mo

TheSpineView I wish I didn't procrastinate. Thanks for playing! 1mo

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! 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @TheSpineView ! 1mo

dabbe 🪤 + 🍰 = 😋! 1mo

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!

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, AmandaBlaze, julieclair

robinb Nancy Drew, a hot mess?! Oh, the horror! 😂 1mo

Librarybelle @robinb 😂 1mo

36 likes2 comments

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Librarybelle

Joined September 2016