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elkeOriginal

elkeOriginal

Joined June 2016

More books. Please and thank you.
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Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon
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Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
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Dark Lord's Daughter by Patricia C Wrede
review
elkeOriginal
Anna and Her Daughters | D.E. Stevenson
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This month‘s #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read was a gentle, comfy DE Stevenson read about Jane and her sisters. It very much was a 2 parter where the 1st half was a nice resettling of the fam to a cottage in Scotland & everyone finding their way. Part 2 was a rushed fairly hot mess. A year abroad covered in a few paragraphs! Anyhoo, loved our MC and just wanted the best for her. Many characters fell quickly into happy endings. Cute but not her best.

elkeOriginal And as @Aimeesue noted a reference in this to Miss Buncle, I laughed at the at least 2 references to DE‘s famous cousin Robert Louis! 2w
Ruthiella I think it‘s a law that all Scottish writers have to reference RLS in their novels, whether they are related or not! 😂 Beautiful old edition you have there! 😍 2w
See All 16 Comments
jlhammar You all have me very excited to read more of her work! Lovely edition. 2w
Leftcoastzen Nice edition! 2w
elkeOriginal @jlhammar Must reads are Miss Buncle‘s Book along with the Mrs Tim series. SO good! Thankfully she wrote tons and I have many more yet to read 📚 2w
elkeOriginal @Leftcoastzen One of my lockdown coping methods was ordering vintage DE Stevenson books because she is so cozy in tough times. 2w
Leftcoastzen That was a good plan! 👏😄 2w
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue I also noticed a reference to a hotel that features in Mrs Tim Gets a Job and a reference to Celia‘s House. I liked the frequent RLS references, too! 😆 2w
LeahBergen @Ruthiella He‘s quoted a lot in O. Douglas books, too. 😆 2w
LeahBergen I like your edition, too. 😍 2w
batsy I just started and I'm liking Jane quite a bit. Love that edition 😍 2w
quietjenn Such fun Easter eggs. I noticed some of them, but not all of them. Love you edition. 2w
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen I thought that might be the Mrs Tim hotel! But was too lazy to check. That was my fave Mrs Tim book. (edited) 2w
CarolynM Great review. I thought the 2 line dismissal of year long world trip was really odd🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w
elkeOriginal @CarolynM SO weird! Especially when the book started on page 1 with a detailed description of 1 dinner 🙁 2w
39 likes1 stack add16 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Amazing thriller in the Dublin Murder Squad series (this is no. 4)
Had me SO deeply invested that for the last 100 pages I had 3 versions going (audio, ebook, physical book) so I had access to it wherever I was.
I could not not find out wtf was happening asap.

#dublinmurdersquad

Ruthiella My favorite of the Dublin Murder Squad series. 2w
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella It was brutal though. So many feelings from this one! 2w
29 likes2 comments
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elkeOriginal
Exit Interview: A Memoir | Kristi Coulter
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An intense book about a smart, ambitious woman‘s experience working at Amazon corp from 2006-2018. She is drily witty & brutally honest.
The fact that a woman THIS accomplished could not get promoted made me want to tear my hair out.
The men who need a good kick in the 🍒 enraged me. The harshness of ‘femaling‘ in that environment!
But it is just as much about her—her smarts, ambition, and lovely husband. But no wonder AMZ drove her to drink…

29 likes1 stack add
review
elkeOriginal
Thornhedge | T. Kingfisher
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Let‘s turn the tale of Sleeping Beauty on its head!
With a main character (who can turn into a toad) and her mild magic and a kind knight wondering what the thornhedge is hiding, see why the story isn‘t what you always thought—learn why Toadling the changeling is protecting the world FROM the sleeping girl in the tower…
And yes, @rubyslippersreads - you would like this!
For anyone who likes a fairy tale retelling, this novella is a treat. 🐸

LiteraryinLawrence Oooh, cool premise! 1mo
31 likes1 comment
blurb
elkeOriginal
Thornhedge | T. Kingfisher
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Cute chapter illustrations 🐸

rubyslippersreads This sounds like something I‘d enjoy. 🐸 1mo
28 likes1 comment
review
elkeOriginal
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This left me unsettled. Not cozy, by any means!
Told through text msgs, emails, & interview transcripts (as is Hallett‘s MO) it is a riveting read about true crime authors investigating a mysterious cult-ish crime that has taken on mythic qualities in pop culture. Love the way we learn info via the messaging format & the story is enthralling. I have mixed feelings RE: the ending…maybe because I didn‘t expect to feel disquieted by the ethics posed…

Texreader Excellent review. Sounds intriguing 1mo
batsy An intriguing review! Been meaning to give this author a try. 1mo
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Book 3 in the #DublinMurderSquad series by #TanaFrench was another engaging mystery. LOVE how she takes a character from previous book to be the narrator in the next. Keeps the series fresh and interesting.
Faithful Place tackles Frank‘s backstory. I didn‘t love him in Likeness but this did an excellent job of showing us who he really is and care about him.
Also fun to be introduced here to the narrator of the next in the series😉

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elkeOriginal
The Likeness: A Novel | Tana French
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This was a cracking good read!
Intense & with fascinating characters.

On to book 3 in the #DublinMurderSquad!
#TanaFrench

erzascarletbookgasm Book 3 is my favourite! ❤️ Hope you‘ll enjoy. 2mo
elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm I am loving book 3 SO much more than I expected! Had a good power outage yesterday so my only option was to read ALLLLL day & night 🤩 2mo
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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elkeOriginal
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LeahBergen I wish! 😩 2mo
Tamra @LeahBergen me too! 2mo
CarolynM Wouldn‘t it be wonderful? Oh well…😔 2mo
Caryl Sigh. I read the descriptions of all the lovely events. What a treat it would be to attend! 1mo
28 likes5 comments
review
elkeOriginal
In the Woods | Tana French
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Wow. Read this on recommendation of a friend who said bk 2 after this in the series changed her life. I loved this. So atmospheric & riveting. With an unreliable narrator—that snuck up on me! She delves into detectives‘ psyches/history as much as the suspects while investigating current crime possibly connected to a historical case. The characters feel REAL. French‘s writing shows where others just tell.
I am SO part of the #TanaFrench cult now.

review
elkeOriginal
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Not my favorite #Gamache and plot was pandemic-related (and madness of crowds regarding support for terrible ideas/people) so not what I was in the mood for. But I am one step/book closer to being caught up now that bk 17 is in the rear view! This cover is beyond gorgeous.

review
elkeOriginal
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Progress in the #Gamache series - finished bk 16! Very much enjoyed this mystery set in Paris instead of Three Pines. Change of scenery (a break from the Pines residents) plus lots of Gamache backstory + of course descriptions of Parisian food! A personal crime leads to corporate espionage (which gets complicated). Was engaging and one of the fastest reads in the series for me.
Plus I love how much we see Reine-Marie and her investigative input!

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elkeOriginal
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Book 8 in the #WaywardChildren series (read in order for the best experience!) delivers a twist to an already fantastic (literally) portal fantasy series. More Doors, yes, but also amazing magical-world backstory to propel the series forward. Antsy‘s adventure and the revelations regarding the Shop Where the Lost Things Go make this one of the best installments to date. I can hardly wait to see what is next.
Speaking of…book 9 pubs this week 🙌🏻

32 likes1 stack add
review
elkeOriginal
Murder While You Work | Susan Scarlett
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A rollicking read for our first #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub book of 2024! The MCs have meet-cute in the very first pages, we get to know Judy‘s situation at her billet (where she is discouraged from staying by everyone) and meet interesting characters in the wartime factory town. The Who of the dunnit is not in doubt but the How + Why are riveting. The investigation is engaging and the real danger palpable.
Different vibe for a S.Scarlett bk but 👍🏻

Tamra I‘m loving it - so fun and yes a different vibe. 😄 3mo
batsy So glad to see that you liked it! It sounds fun and I'm hoping to start it soon. 3mo
See All 13 Comments
Ruthiella I‘m about halfway through and Clara is TERRIFYING! 😱 3mo
elkeOriginal @batsy I had seen negative reviews so was worried but I quickly became entranced and tore through it! 3mo
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella SO terrifying. And that kid was worrying too 😬 3mo
jlhammar Can't wait to dive in! Sounds great. 3mo
julieclair Looking forward to it! Sounds fun. 3mo
LeahBergen I‘m only a couple of chapters in so far but I‘m loving it! 3mo
quietjenn Yes! I've been trying to pace myself, to help with some of the tension. 3mo
LeahBergen Great review! I couldn‘t put it down either! 3mo
CarolynM Great review! 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm I look forward to read this! 3mo
39 likes13 comments
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elkeOriginal
Murder While You Work | Susan Scarlett
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Just posting the summary for our next #Furrowedmiddlebrowclub read since Litsy has no info. I have read that this is Susan Scarlett‘s only foray into mystery - that plus the wartime factory setting make this different from our previous Scarlett reads set in department stores and clothing shops! Loading ebook now…

25 likes3 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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This was a complete #blameitonLitsy! After putting a library hold that said I would def not get it before xmas, it popped up yesterday and I zipped right through it. Novella told via group chats and police reports reveals a local theatre group‘s existing dramas boiling under the small town surface long before the body shows up. I actually laughed out loud more than a few times. Quick, funny, xmasy, told in a delightful format. Thumbs up.

31 likes2 stack adds
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elkeOriginal
Pocket Full of Rye | Agatha Christie
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An enjoyable #MissMarple though I always wish for more of her - she did not show up until after the 100 page mark! It is as expected - big house, deaths, suspects, and though I have no clue, she solves it no problem. What WAS a nice surprise was how proof came to light in the last pages. Gave me all the warm feels from justice being served to a baddie.
Thumbs up again, #AgathaChristie.

jlhammar I know, I always want more Marple! Christie gives us a bit more of her in later books (or at least that seems to be the case, still have two left). 4mo
32 likes1 comment
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elkeOriginal
Peace, Perfect Peace | Josephine Kamm
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Here are my picks for the vote on our Sept 2024 #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read. Both are WWII tales described as poignant and humorous/hilarious - I am trying to make up for my dark war choice for the last #PersephoneClub read!
Spam is an autobiography. I posted the back cover summary to help and will tag in comments.

elkeOriginal Tag for: (edited) 4mo
CarolynM Yet again I want to read both. Coin-toss and it‘s 4mo
See All 34 Comments
catebutler Coin toss for me too! 4mo
Tamra Did you choose “On the Other Side?” If so, I thank you. I wouldn‘t have discovered it otherwise. I‘m still thinking about it and I referenced it in class last week. I really believe it humanizes war and that is so important. ❤️ 4mo
Ruthiella I‘m going with this one because I love the title! 4mo
Tamra Oh jeeze, this is impossible to choose. Either sound good! I‘m going with Spam Tomorrow only because my state has the Spam museum and a Hormel plant. 😆 @jlhammar (We‘ve always passed by on the interstate, but someday we‘ll stop to visit just to say we have.) 4mo
Pogue @Tamra when my son and I drove through we HAD to stop at the spam museum. 4mo
elkeOriginal @Tamra I did choose On the Other Side and am so glad you were touched by it and could reference it in class! 4mo
jlhammar I haven‘t been to the Spam museum. Someday! 😆 Hmmm, really want to read both, but I‘ll vote for the one I already own 4mo
elkeOriginal @Tamra I am not sure I could not stop at the Spam Museum! 4mo
rubyslippersreads I own both, but I‘ll vote for Spam (not to eat, just to read. 😂) 4mo
elkeOriginal This looks like another close race! 4mo
batsy This was going to be one of my choices for January before I went with two other options , so my vote is for 4mo
LeahBergen Oh, man! Another difficult choice where I own both books. I‘ll go for 4mo
elkeOriginal Well, @LeahBergen - the problem is you own ALL THE BOOKS😉 4mo
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I aspire to it, anyway 😆 4mo
Kimzey I‘ll vote for Spam! 4mo
quietjenn This is a tough one, but I‘ll go with Spam Tomorrow. 4mo
Tamra @Pogue 😜 Was it everything and all that?? 4mo
Tamra @elkeOriginal it hasn‘t been enough of a magnet (yet) to get us off the interstate. 😉 4mo
Pogue @Tamra from what I remember it had the history of spam, WW II, production, Monty Python, wild variety, and a gift shop. Oh and when we went it was free. 4mo
Tamra @Pogue free samples??? The last time I tried Spam it was so salty I couldn‘t eat more than one or two bites - and salt is my thing! 4mo
Pogue @Tamra I don‘t remember if there were free samples, the museum was free. That is why we stopped. Oh and I forgot about the cookbooks. Spam cookbooks. 4mo
jlhammar Oh, and I loved our last #PersephoneClub read so thank you! 4mo
elkeOriginal @jlhammar That is good to hear! 4mo
elkeOriginal @julieclair I did not tag you on this post - apologies! Will update the list I use to include you right now! 4mo
julieclair Thank you, @elkeOriginal ! Great choices, and I've added both to my TBR, but I'm giving the edge to 4mo
kwmg40 Please add me to the tag list too, thanks! I'd like to vote for 4mo
elkeOriginal @kwmg40 Gotcha! Hopefully @LeahBergen will give us the full updated tag list when the choices are all final & announced too - I fear I haven‘t noted all the newbies myself 🙁 4mo
kwmg40 @elkeOriginal Thank you! 4mo
elkeOriginal @kwmg40 and welcome! 4mo
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I‘ll go through our recent posts and (try to) tag everyone. 😆 4mo
30 likes34 comments
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elkeOriginal
Spam Tomorrow | VERILY. ANDERSON
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First step in my posting for our September #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub read vote is to post the back cover for this title since Litsy has very few words for a description!

22 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
elkeOriginal
Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT
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Such a fast and fun lighthearted read for this month‘s #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub! Beth‘s foray into dept store worklife is a delight - from warm fuzzy family homelife to frantic sales days and mild dramas throughout. Her junky cousin plays the villain trying to annoy everyone but especially interfere in Beth‘s love story - but happiness prevails after (more than) a few misunderstandings. As it should.

Ruthiella Great review! This one really does read fast. I‘m at 60% and will probably finish tonight, unless something else intervenes! 5mo
rubyslippersreads ❤️ your glass slipper! 5mo
See All 11 Comments
Tamra I‘m really enjoying the romp! 5mo
LeahBergen Lovely review! I‘ll be starting it in a day or two. 5mo
jlhammar It really is fun so far! Look forward to reading a bit more this evening. 5mo
elkeOriginal @rubyslippersreads I have many in different colors! So glad you like it😉 5mo
CarolynM Great review. I‘m enjoying this book so much🙂 5mo
LeahBergen The glass slipper certainly fits the Cinderella theme of this story! 👏 4mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen HA! Love how you found meaning where I had not 😆 4mo
LeahBergen 😆😆 4mo
33 likes11 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Babbacombe's | SUSAN. SCARLETT
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Such a fast and fun lighthearted read for this month‘s #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub! Beth‘s foray into dept store worklife is a delight - from warm fuzzy family homelife to frantic sales days and mild dramas throughout. Her junky cousin plays the villain but happiness prevails after (more than) a few misunderstandings. As it should.

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elkeOriginal
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Most of the #Persephone books I have read are set in Britain and between #PersephoneClub and #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub I feel we have read a good number of WW2 novels set in the UK. So I was interested to see Persephone published this title of a German woman‘s letters during the war and am excited to dive in with the group read. Afterward, maybe I will finally tackle the fatty in this pic that is a British staple of the war as well: Few Eggs 🥚🍊

jlhammar Really excited for this one! It's in my stack for the week ahead. 6mo
See All 10 Comments
quietjenn I feel the same, for similar reasons! I made it about halfway through Eggs, may need to give it another go soon. It's good, but it's a *lot*! 6mo
LeahBergen I‘m really enjoying reading about the German point of view in this one. 👍 6mo
CarolynM Hoping to get started soon🙂 6mo
Cathythoughts I hope to start soon too X 6mo
rubyslippersreads I have Few Eggs, but haven‘t read it yet. 🥚🍊 6mo
elkeOriginal @quietjenn Eggs is such a chunkster! Plus all that detail. Feels like the definition of ‘a lot‘ 🫣 (edited) 6mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Even the preface had me hooked - author has such an interesting background! 6mo
34 likes10 comments
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elkeOriginal
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Totally enjoyable book to dip in & out of with amusingly written but informative short pieces on various cursed objects worldwide. I loved the atmospheric illustrations and the way it was organized by types of objects. Whether you want to believe or not, this is a fun romp with historical info, slightly wacky characters (real people are often more outlandish than fictional!), and a light-hearted tone even when subject matter gets dark. Enjoyable.

FlowerFairy Purchased this one Friday. 😁 12mo
elkeOriginal @FlowerFairy Well done! 12mo
28 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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elkeOriginal
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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This #persephoneclub read was astonishing. SO ahead if its time! A brilliant portrayal of a 1920s family where ‘home-maker‘ is flipped on its head with father taking the role on. The result = previously unhappy parents finding utter fulfillment in the role reversal. Absolutely beautifully written showing so many viewpoints (even Stephen!) of their now flourishing family life. Imagine the sadness/bitterness if they continued as they were!

elkeOriginal It was SO sad how much pressure they felt from society. Heart-breaking. 13mo
Tamra So glad you enjoyed it! It really was ahead of its time. 13mo
See All 9 Comments
Cathythoughts Great review! X ❤️ 13mo
jlhammar It really is remarkable. So glad I read this one. Wonderful review! 13mo
LeahBergen Wonderful review! I was so invested in this family (and NEED them all to have that “happily ever after” 😆). 13mo
LeahBergen And I love that spoon! 13mo
elkeOriginal And I love how so many of their illnesses were disappeared once the stressors of their previous life were adjusted. Proving society‘s role requirements were just not right for this family. 13mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Agreed! Stephen‘s reactions brought tears to my eyes. I love this family! 13mo
33 likes9 comments
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elkeOriginal
Home Maker the (Revised) | Dorothy Canfield, Mark J Madigan
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Best. Description. Ever.

Oh, bebe Stephen you are a big little character!

#persephonebookclub #persephone #persephoneclub
#impofdarkness

LeahBergen 😆😆 So good. 13mo
jlhammar 😂 Love it! 13mo
29 likes2 comments
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elkeOriginal
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Book 12 in the #ThreePines series was fantastic! So much backstory of characters old & new + enjoyable uncovering of township lore. Don‘t want to give away any spoilers but know this gets us back into the cleanup of Surete corruption as well as some really engaging #Gamache backstory. New characters, exploration of 3 Pines history, insight into our recurring old friends, all excellent. Kept me up WAY past my bedtime on a work night!

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elkeOriginal
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A village with a rash of poison pen letters that lead to death. The narrator is rehabbing in the country and quickly becomes embroiled in the community of interesting characters and tries his hand at sussing out the culprit.
Most enjoyable was the humor peppered throughout - some LOL comments, for sure!
But while this IS a Miss Marple, fair warning she plays a small part. She sweeps in to put the final pieces together. As we need her to!

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elkeOriginal
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I have seen several reviews that this is a ‘least favorite‘ in the #Gamache series but I found it just as riveting as usual. My suggestion is to read the historical note at the end first though! Knowing the real origin of a major plot point helps tons IMO. Otherwise one might think Penny jumped the shark😉 Trigger warning for offscreen death of a child. Fascinating puzzle, historical, Gamache & team growing in new roles. Book 11 = well worth it.

Julsmarshall Ooh, thanks for the tip-this is my next #Gamache! 1y
35 likes1 comment
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elkeOriginal
Clothes-Pegs | Noel Streatfeild, Susan Scarlett
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This self-described bit of ‘frothy fun‘ was an enjoyable light read with the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub. A vivid view of a 1930s era clothing shop as well as the delightful home life of the Brown family. I have to admit Annabel the MC was basically the least interesting character so it was not unputdownable for me. I was also not smitten by the male lead. I AM glad to have read my first Susan Scarlett and look forward to more!

Tamra He did have some off putting ways of talking to Annabel. 😒 1y
jlhammar Great review! It seems like we all appreciated the Brown family scenes. Yeah, the whole “Uncle David“ thing, calling Annabel kid and little idiot and what not just did not strike me as the makings of a wonderful marriage. 1y
See All 19 Comments
batsy Yes, Annabel and David were the weakest characters in this, somehow. It felt like Streatfeild enjoyed writing about the others more 😁 1y
LeahBergen Lovely review! And I‘ll echo @batsy here: I, too, think Streatfeild always likes her supporting cast better than her stars. 😆 I‘ve definitely noticed this in all her children‘s books that I‘ve read, too! 1y
Jess_Read_This @jlhammar I wonder since we all loved the family scenes best if we‘d love the Shoes series the best then. I haven‘t read them yet and was going to try for a few this year to compare. 1y
Jess_Read_This Nice review! I agree on the supporting cast! 1y
Ruthiella You see that with Dickens too - it‘s the side characters who really shine. OTOH, I would have wholeheartedly lapped the romance up if I‘d read this 30 years ago! 1y
quietjenn Yes, compared to some others, Anabel is a bit milquetoast. And you DSP/FMB pile totally made my me go 😲 1y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella Oh, that‘s such a good point about Dickens! 1y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This Exactly! The family scenes are just the coziest. I try to read one or two of her children‘s books every year. Last year‘s reads were The Growing Summer and White Boots. 😊 They‘re perfect if you‘re sick with a cold or feeling a bit fragile. 😆 1y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I can see you‘re a bit of a middlebrow stockpiler (like myself)! 🤣 1y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘m still reading it, so I‘m ignoring the comments above…but I just want to say, what a great pile of DSP books! 😻 1y
Cathythoughts Nice review! Nice stack too 🥰 1y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I‘ve never read her before. I might get one for my granddaughter, she‘s 9. 👍🏻💕 1y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s a perfect age for her children‘s books. 😊 1y
CarolynM Lovely review. The family really were the stars of the show🥰 1y
erzascarletbookgasm Nice review! My first Susan Scarlett too. 1y
shawnmooney Great review! I'm drawn to characters who struggle to break out of their meekness, so I loved Annabel. I can't wait to read more by Susan Scarlett and her alter-ego Noel Streatfeild! 14mo
37 likes19 comments
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elkeOriginal
Clothes-Pegs | Noel Streatfeild, Susan Scarlett
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I ‘may‘ have gone a tad overboard immediately buying a stack of new Susan Scarlet novels when Dean Street Press pubbed them a few months ago…so am VERY glad the #FurrowedMiddlebrowclub is nudging me to pick up my first one and read Clothes-Pegs this month.
Thanks, team!

(at least I only bought 6 of the 12? Such self control!🤦🏼‍♀️)

Tamra A beautiful sight! 1y
Ruthiella Your self restraint is admirable! 😆 1y
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella I thought so! 😉😆 1y
See All 10 Comments
jlhammar And they look so lovely together! 1y
LeahBergen I ordered a bunch back then, too. 😆 1y
Jess_Read_This Looks like a Susan Scarlett card game! Pick a Scarlett, any Scarlett,… ❤️ 1y
quietjenn But how striking they look! 1y
erzascarletbookgasm These covers are gorgeous. Who can resist? 😁 1y
batsy Yes, these are pretty irresistible aren't they? 😍 1y
Kimzey Wow! 📚So much to look forward to! 1y
29 likes10 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Book 3 in this series was even better than its predecessors! Small town witches in the British countryside routinely harassed by WWII dogfights overhead find themselves pulled directly into the war effort while searching for a traitor in their midst. Evil Nazi warlock from book 2 reappears, Faye deals with a ghostly airman, and tries to access her mum‘s destroyed notes to learn what she needs to know. Magic abounds, ending was gorgeous.

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elkeOriginal
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October choices for #PersephoneClub voting!

Since Litsy has no descriptions for these, thanks to my predecessors who posted the catalog link/pages inspiring me to plop the descriptions in the image for you! Get out your 🔍

After loving Milton Place, I wanted to read de Waal‘s Exiles Return. Paired with On the Other Side you have the choice between the exile story in post WWII Vienna or the German wartime experience in Hamburg via letters. Vote!

LeahBergen Ooo! Good picks! I‘m definitely going to choose The Exiles Return as I immediately ordered it after our reading of Milton Place. 👏👏 1y
LeahBergen Okay, @Gissy , it‘s your turn. You can now post your two suggestions for us to vote on for our December 2023 Persephone book! 👏👏 1y
See All 20 Comments
willaful I'm going to sit this one out, I think. 1y
Gissy @LeahBergen I have to suggest two titles? I‘m new in this Persephone club world. I‘m lost😬🤣 1y
LeahBergen @Gissy 😆 Yes! There are a lot to choose from, too. @Aimeesue shared the link to the Persephone catalogue on her post; you can start by looking through that. Also check my previous post as to the six we read last year so you don‘t suggest one of those. I‘m looking forward to your picks! 😊 1y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen @Gissy If you need help you could also renominate one that lost a close vote! Since the runner-up clearly had fans? Like between Miss Ranskill and Home-Maker? Leah can confirm who lost that one? 1y
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Good idea! Yes, @Gissy , you could nominate Miss Ranskill Comes Home as it was beaten out by The Home-maker. I noticed you voted for that one, too! 1y
LeahBergen @andrew61 @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @willaful What do you all choose for this one? 😊 1y
andrew61 I would pick Letters to my children, thanks. 1y
willaful I think I need to drop out of the club -- I didn't realize what a time commitment it was going to be. I would love to still sit in and read along some but I don't think I can be an official member. :-( 1y
LeahBergen @willaful That‘s absolutely fine and no worries! Feel free to read along with any (or all) selections that interest you as they come up. I‘ll tag you when I post the 2023 reading list. 😊 1y
elkeOriginal I honestly could not choose between these two so thanks to the group for making the decision for me 😉 1y
23 likes20 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Strange Journey | MAUD. CAIRNES
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Pickpick

An absolutely wonderful body swap novel from 1930s Britain! An aristocratic Lady & a middle class housewife find themselves swapping consciousness with each other at random times. Comedy ensues with interesting insights RE: thinking the grass is always greener for others. Instantly a favorite of 2022 and one that checks all the boxes for an excellent read: eye-opener that will stick with me, made me both chuckle and tear up. (+ pretty cover😉)

elkeOriginal I also think @LeahBergen would enjoy it! 1y
elkeOriginal And while not technically #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub - I think you would all love this one too! 1y
LeahBergen Yes! I have this one waiting on my shelves! 👏👏 1y
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elkeOriginal @LeahBergen HA! I knew you would. It is the best! 1y
quietjenn I really enjoyed this one too! 1y
batsy Sounds good! 1y
jlhammar Sounds fantastic! Adore that cover. 1y
33 likes7 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

I love McGuire‘s Wayward Children series and have had my eye on this Hugo-nominated urban fantasy series for a bit. Even though most reviews say it doesn‘t get great until a few books in, I enjoyed this as is! Might be the fae fiefdoms being set in my native SF Bay Area, but I thought the world set-up totally fantastic & intriguing. Toby is complicated and situations can get dark. I look forward to tearing through the series now that I am hooked!

review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

I usually like my fiction pure fantasy or pure realism, but this novel convinced me a mix could win me over. I loved the alternating narrators + timeline jumps to flush out the story—the writing held together perfectly. A few times I was worried if/how it could be brought together but the ending was beautifully done. The characters reveal themselves subtly so we feel like we know them—and most importantly, like them. The nature-based magic was A+

review
elkeOriginal
Milton Place | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

Apologies for being slow to finish this #PersephoneClub pick! A lovely if melancholy portrait of an English country house past its prime and the people connected to it who are jolted to life by a foreign visitor. The writing was beautiful, the descriptions of the house and grounds eloquent, and Waal brilliantly portrays complex characters subtly and perfectly. I hoped for a happy ending though I knew that was unrealistic…

#Persephone

Tamra Great review! It‘s going to be quite awhile before I finish, so you aren‘t alone by any means. 😅 1y
rubyslippersreads @Tamra I haven‘t even started. 😔 1y
Tamra @rubyslippersreads so glad not to be the only one! 1y
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LeahBergen Great review! I enjoyed this one so much that I ordered her other Persephone novel. Oops. 😆 1y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen I have that one too and now am looking forward to reading it even more! 1y
sisilia Same here @LeahBergen 🤭 1y
Jess_Read_This Nice review! Do you think I ought to get a copy and read it? 1y
elkeOriginal @Jess_Read_This I am afraid that yes, you need to seriously add this to your TBR. 😁 1y
CarolynM Great review. I am so looking forward to everyone finishing so we can discuss some plot points @LeahBergen 1y
LeahBergen @CarolynM Me, too! I‘ve been dying to hear what everyone thought of THAT sexual relationship. It took me completely by surprise. 😮 1y
CarolynM @LeahBergen I know!!! I‘m having to restrain myself from vomiting out all my thoughts right now! So much to say!! 1y
elkeOriginal @CarolynM @LeahBergen I felt shock like I have never had before when that happened! And the ENDING. A kick in the gut. 1y
elkeOriginal @CarolynM @LeahBergen Make a new post all locked up as a spoiler so we can talk about all the things! 1y
36 likes14 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

Perfect read for the season! Grisly dark fairy tales from all over the world. Beautifully illustrated (just look at the shiny gold accents on the cover!) - and at just over 100 pages it is a delightful dip-in-dip-out of 14 quick tales.
SO dark and every one of them properly grim.
Love that each has the country of origin listed for each tale and the art reflects it.
FUN!

LeahBergen This sounds fab! 1y
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review
elkeOriginal
A Closed and Common Orbit | Becky Chambers
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Pickpick

The 2nd in the Wayfarers series has often been recommended and I am glad I finally gave it the attention it deserved.
Two separate storylines alternate throughout: Pepper‘s origin story as well as Sidra‘s struggles with her new life.
And while I admit at first I dipped in and out, powering through the last half in one go paid off.
Holy smokes the ending is beautiful and perfect and everything reading should be - it brought tears to my eyes 💕

Ruthiella Yeah. This one made me cry too! ❤️ 1y
32 likes1 comment
blurb
elkeOriginal
Milton Place | Elisabeth de Waal
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Brilliant description of Nazi banners ‘like long gashes of blood crawling with spiders.‘

Whoa. Powerful and surprising visual kicked me in the gut - amazing to be surprised by something I assumed I was familiar with. Excellent writing.

#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen This section was powerfully written. 1y
CarolynM That line caught my eye too. 1y
26 likes2 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Shades of Milk and Honey | Mary Robinette Kowal
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Pickpick

This book has tempted me over the years and turned out to be a delight. Regency romance with magic. Cool magic system and characters that will remind you of various Jane Austen characters - many of the the annoying ones 🤦🏼‍♀️
This was her debut novel so I am looking forward to it getting even better and have already ordered book 2…though it does wrap up nicely enough to standalone.

blurb
elkeOriginal
Milton Place | Elisabeth de Waal
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Started my #PersephoneClub pick and before I knew it, it was past my bedtime 🤦🏼‍♀️
So far it is very engaging - love the writing and the characters are so well drawn. I can‘t believe she only had 2 novels published posthumously. Glad #PersephoneBooks has both available for us now. Bless them for unearthing gems written by women at risk of being forgotten!

Cathythoughts I find it very engaging too, Looking forward to getting back into it this week 👍🏻❤️ 1y
Tamra Yes! I was immediately taken in! 😊 1y
quietjenn Looking forward to sinking into it when I get back home! 1y
LeahBergen I‘m just past the halfway mark. 👍 1y
34 likes4 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Long Way Home | Louise Penny
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Pickpick

Not my favorite, but was very atmospheric and introspective. Because it centered on Clara and Peter and the art world again, I was not terribly invested but glad I read it so I can keep on keeping on in my #Gamache reading! Book 10 = done.
Enjoyed my time spent with Gamache, Reine-Marie, and Beauvoir.
I found Ruth more interesting this time with depth she usually hides behind being a caricature. 🦆
#ThreePines

review
elkeOriginal
Happy-Go-Lucky | David Sedaris
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Pickpick

If you like David Sedaris, you will enjoy this book of essays. He covers some heavy issues, but also made me physically laugh-out-loud. Not always comfortable reads, but always worth it. Plus we see a good amount of sister Amy. And this cover! 🤦🏼‍♀️😆

rubyslippersreads That cover is triggering my coulrophobia. 1y
elkeOriginal @rubyslippersreads No doubt! It is terrifying. 1y
35 likes2 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

Wowza. The last 100 pages are a wild tense ride! Loved this one (even though the interesting murder plot is almost incidental) because it brings SO much together from the previous long arc storylines for a very intense journey toward resolution. Stunning. Kind of exhausting too - but that may be my fault for reading 9 #Gamache books within 2 months🤦🏼‍♀️😆
Interestingly it felt finale-ish, though we know it isn‘t. Plenty more #ThreePines TK!

Bookwormjillk This is my favorite from the series 1y
30 likes1 comment
review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

This has zero #ThreePines connection and that was refreshing. Just Gamache & Beauvoir at a mysterious monastery in the far backwoods, where some serious real world issues rear their head. Lots of darkness vs light and many secrets to unearth. Extremely engaging from the murder mystery to the developments in the relationship between G & B. Heavy but necessary stuff - and propels me immediately into the next book in the series!
#Gamache #whodunnit

LeahBergen I‘ve been to the real abbey that this fictional place is based upon ( The Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac). And they really do make chocolates and all sorts of other tasty things. I spent way too much in their little shop. ? 2y
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Shut up! I definitely want the chocolates. The creepy murdery monks, less so 😉 2y
LeahBergen 😆😆 And I went in autumn and the foliage was crazy beautiful. 2y
25 likes4 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Mehso-so

An autobiographical novel of a London friend group who bonded during WWII & find a house to let in the countryside post-war, it is an interesting look at trying to live an unrealistic dream. Full of detail of living in a certain time gone by but I found it simply a series of disjointed characterless anecdotes. Story-less. Choppy. When the rats have more character than the narrator‘s husband, I struggle to care. Was odd. Abrupt end. Unsatisfying.

elkeOriginal Was also disturbed/saddened by how both childbirth and her miscarriage are glossed over. Sign of the times, I am sure, but when such life events are barely covered but other daily bits are described in detail, I am left feeling disconnected 😒 2y
CarolynM I was disturbed by her saying she felt excited by early labour! Not how I remember the experience at all😳🥴 2y
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batsy Those rats are pretty unforgettable 😂😱 2y
Tamra Yikes, the rats!! 🐀🐀 2y
Ruthiella Yes, what she decided to emphasize and what she opted not to show was interesting. I‘d forgotten about the creepy rats at the end! 😱 2y
LeahBergen Oh, those rats! 😬 2y
jlhammar Okay, you all have me a little afraid to finish! I haven't encountered the rats yet. Eek! 2y
MrsK Maybe I look at things differently, but I saw this as a relationship between Ruth and the house. The events that impacted this relationship were what I feel she emphasized. 2y
rubyslippersreads I‘m almost done, but it‘s dragging. Not looking forward to the rats, though. 2y
elkeOriginal @rubyslippersreads @jlhammar HA - pretend I said geese instead of rats! Sorry to ‘spoil‘ the rat plotline 🤦🏼‍♀️ 2y
elkeOriginal @MrsK I can see it is primarily about her relationship with the house - that is what made the ending emotional. But even with that in mind re: other characters, I found her rendition of events disjointed. For me, it felt like she went from one event to the next so abruptly it was startling and affected my ability to enjoy it. Maybe if it was written more in diary format I would not have been wanting transitions in the text the way I did… (edited) 2y
MrsK @elkeOriginal you‘re right…there were several times when I felt the narrative jumped back and/or forth which was jarring 😕 2y
Jess_Read_This I think I‘ve mentally blocked out the rats. My recurrent book amnesia saves me again! 2y
33 likes14 comments
review
elkeOriginal
Trick of the Light | Louise Penny
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Pickpick

Book 7 in the #Gamache series is back in #ThreePines when a dead body appears literally in Clara‘s backyard. This installment focusses on the Montreal art scene - which is quite dramatic! Fallout in the characters‘ personal lives from events in the previous 2 books continue and connect to the current mystery. Addiction and forgiveness are both dealt with in interesting ways. Another excellent Gamache book! And onto the next…
#whodunnit

review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

OMG. Book 6 in the #Gamache series is brilliant and heartbreaking. Penny wove together several plots even interweaving thoughts and conversations seamlessly as Gamache remembers a recent traumatic event in the midst of a current mystery. It contains both tales of personal history for Gamache/Beauvoir as well as Quebec historical events. Magnificent.
This was so damn good I worry nothing can match it - and yet I have already opened the next one!

jlhammar I was just thinking about getting back to this series and this one (book 6) is next up for me! I'll take that as a sign. 2y
elkeOriginal @jlhammar OMG you won‘t regret it - it is incredible. It made me cry though so be sure you are in the mood for feeling things! 2y
28 likes2 comments
review
elkeOriginal
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Pickpick

I was in the mood for a quick something different and this little book of odd, speculative fiction fit the bill perfectly. As with all books of short stories, some rise to the top and the best is the one that reveals more about the cat from her bestselling novel All the Birds in the Sky 😸

32 likes1 comment
blurb
elkeOriginal
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If anyone in the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub is also a user of #StoryGraph, I set up a public reading challenge as a place to track my reads. It feels good to see them all in one place & log the ones I own - plus browse all the ones I want! Feel free to search by the words shown above and ‘join‘ - there is no social aspect. Just check off books one read at a time 😉
I will add new titles as they come out once I see their order on the back page. Enjoy!

Ruthiella Thanks! I think I need to consider making the leap from Goodreads to StoryGraph…I just haven‘t found the time. 2y
Kimzey I‘m a Goodreads user. What are the features of Storygraph? 2y
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella This year I have used both to see how I feel but on Jan 1 am going to cut away from GR. Storygraph is giving me what I need. Love the tracking and graphs! 2y
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elkeOriginal @Kimzey I have been using both but find myself loving the more nuanced review system in SG plus the amazing graphs it makes of my reading. And the reading challenges like this one I created are a great tracking tool for a series or author - shows the books and your % read of the list. SG is more about recommendations based on what you read and seeing your reading stats. Very little social tho has a cool bookgroup feature. Perfect for list-makers. 2y
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella They make importing your GR read list pretty easy! I was pleasantly surprised. 2y
Kimzey @elkeOriginal I‘m definitely a list maker. I‘ll check it out! Thanks! 2y
quietjenn This is cool! I've not played around much with Storygraph, but I'm inspired to delve into a little more. 2y
LeahBergen I‘ll check it out! 2y
CarolynM I set up StoryGraph but I haven‘t worked it out properly yet. I‘ll have to devote some time to it soon. 2y
elkeOriginal @CarolynM @quietjenn I hope you like it! Feel free to message me over there if you need any tips 😁 2y
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