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Innocence of Father Brown
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
17 posts | 23 read | 19 to read
In 1911, G. K. Chesterton published this first collection of twelve short stories featuring Father Brown, a priest-turned-detective who combines philosophical and spiritual reasoning with scientific observation to solve crimes. In doing so, Chesterton laid the foundation for future fictional detectives, such as Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Ellery Queen, and Nero Wolfe. Unlike other writers of his time, who concocted outlandish crimes and intricate puzzles for the protagonist to solve, Chesterton pioneered the cozy mystery, narrowing the scope of the investigation to limited time, limited space, and a limited number of suspects, with all the clues revealed to the reader as well as to the detective. Chesterton is highly regarded as a biting social commentator, and his humorous and insightful comparisons leave readers reeling. These tales are short, easy reads with strong plots, all connected by the clever detective with an above-average understanding of human nature.
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TheSpineView
The Innocence of Father Brown | Gilbert Keith Chesterton
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58 likes1 stack add
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dodgygothbint
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Mehso-so

Overall I rather enjoyed these short stories, although not without reservation. The character of Father Brown can be really frustrating, making smug statements without explaining them, and the casual racial stereotyping of a book written in 1911 is grating. The plots are ridiculous, but good fun, though, and the descriptive passages are amazing! I like the verbose, rather Victorian style of prose too. ⭐⭐⭐

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dodgygothbint
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My copies of the books for January and February's Classic Crime Club at Bromley House Library have arrived! I'd better get reading...

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Laura317
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Thanks to @Libby1 I have Father Brown stories to read!

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Libby1
The Innocence of Father Brown | Gilbert Keith Chesterton
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Pickpick

Great fun. This book is a collection of short stories where Father Brown solves mysteries in the most clever way.

There were some unfortunate occurrences of of casual racism from some of the characters, which, unfortunately, were of their time.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this, @SerialReader !

#SerialReader

Laura317 Love the tv series. I didn‘t realize it was based on a book! 5y
Libby1 @Laura317 - This book and its sequel, The Wisdom if Father Brown, are both on Serial Reader. I used to watch the television series when my son‘s nap time permitted, so I have fond memories of it. I can‘t believe it came out so long ago because my son is 9 now! I hope you‘re having a good day. ❤️ 5y
Laura317 @Libby1 I will check them out on serial reader. And yes, I‘ve had a great day. 💕 5y
Libby1 I‘m glad, @Laura317 . I‘m still praying. ❤️ 5y
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thea-block
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
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“Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.”

This wisdom exemplifies Father Brown‘s character well. It is easier to understand something/someone when one is meek and humble, aware of one‘s right position, willing to learn from others. Being in the small place can teach you great things.

At the beach reading this classic in detective fiction -reminds me some of Sherlock!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

thea-block I also love Chesterton‘s choice to keep the confessions Father Brown hears a secret, showing that what matters most is justice on the other side. 6y
Libby1 This is a great review. I finished this tonight and I would concur! 5y
thea-block Thank you @Libby1 - Have you ever read other Chesterton works, or anything by his contemporaries? How did you find Father Brown? (edited) 5y
Libby1 Hi, @thea-block . I really enjoyed reading this. I had only previously read The Napoleon of Notting Hill and found it to be sharply clever, humorous, and sad. Have you read that book? I‘ve long wanted to read more Chesterton as I enjoy many quotes of his that are shared, and find his outlook on life and faith to be fascinating. ❤️ 5y
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Sarah83
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Mehso-so

So the next one is finished.
Twelve stories with father Brown and Flambeau. Well I must say it's about half I liked and half I thought they were a bit dumb. At all I like Chesterton's writing and the relationship between the two main characters is quite a great idea.
I will go on reading, after I finished some other books of #tbrbingo.

@Bambolina_81 what about you?

Sarah83 @scripturient when do we start Stefan Bollmann? 😁 7y
Bambolina_81 @sarah83 Sorry I've been a little slow with this one. A good friend of mine passed away and it's been a little difficult to concentrate. I did enjoy these but agree that maybe reading them in one go got a little tedious maybe. Perhaps next time we just pick a story at a time rather than a whole book! 🤔 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 so sorry for your loss. 😪 Sounds like a good idea. Or maybe we read a story a week next time. 😏 Do you want to wait with another buddy read? 7y
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Bambolina_81 @sarah83 do you mind if we wait a little while just until I get my head back together ? ❤️ 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 absolutely. Don't mind. Will you tell me, if you are in the mood again? 7y
Bambolina_81 @sarah83 absolutely! 😊😘 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 great. Hope you are feeling better pretty soon. 😘 7y
35 likes7 comments
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Sarah83
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So I finished the next short stories. How far are you, @Bambolina_81 ? Did you already read the two stories with the two brothers? I liked them both pretty much. 🤗

Bambolina_81 @sarah83 I did. I just love how FB interacts with the other characters and that he uses his common sense to work out the mysteries. I love him! 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 he is really great. 😍 7y
Sarah83 Should we read the other book by time as well? I have only two stories left in this episode. 🤗 @Bambolina_81 7y
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Sarah83
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My last crime was a Christmas crime, a happy, cozy, English middle class crime, a crime, which could be found at Charles Dickens. #bookishreferences

@Bambolina_81 it's my fourth story. 😉

Bambolina_81 I am wayyy behind. Just read the second last night which I thought was really good! I love the settings of these stories 😊 7y
Louise I really enjoyed the Father Brown series on Netflix. I'll bet these stories are wonderful to read as well! 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 the first one is still my favourite. 😍 7y
Sarah83 @Louise I haven't started this series yet, because I wanted to read the books first. 😉 7y
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Sarah83
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Nach einer kleinen Shoppingtour wieder zuhause. 😍
Erstmal lesen... 🤗

I'm back at home after a little shopping trip. 😍
Now it's 'reading time' 🤗

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Sarah83
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Lasset den Urlaub beginnen. 🤗

Holiday starts right now. 🤗

@Bambolina_81 I start the third chapter today.

Bambolina_81 Oh dear, I think I'm behind now but will try and catch up tonight 😊 7y
JaclynW Oh my! I'm in love with your cup! Where did you get it? 7y
Sarah83 After that I will wait. I'm excited about how you like the second chapter... 7y
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Sarah83 @JaclynW it was a birthday present,but I think she shopped it at Amazon. 7y
ju.ca.no awsome mug😊 I wish you a great time during your holiday😊 7y
Izai.Amorim Schönen Urlaub wünsche ich Dir! 7y
Sarah83 @ju.ca.no thank you so much. Hope I have a lot of reading time. 😉 7y
Sarah83 @Izai.Amorim danke dir. Morgen ne Lesung, Sonntag zwei. 🤗😍 7y
ju.ca.no @Sarah83 my fingers are crossed🤞🏼 7y
Sarah83 @ju.ca.no me too. 😍 But instead there are many bookish events as well. 😉 7y
ju.ca.no @Sarah83 ah cool, which ones? 7y
Sarah83 @ju.ca.no this year the lit.ruhr takes place the first time. I watch performances by Nick Hornby, Donna Leon and Deon Meyer and I visit the Frankfurt book fair. 😍 7y
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Sarah83
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
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@Bambolina_81 did you start it yesterday?

Bambolina_81 I did! How about you? I read the first story "The Blue Cross" and it was very different from the TV series. 7y
Sarah83 No. 😑 I finished the tagged one in one sitting yesterday, so I will start Father Brown later on. I haven't seen the TV-series yet, so I can't compare it. 😉 7y
Bambolina_81 @Sarah83 I love the TV series but it's totally different. I'm looking forward to the next story, I'll wait for you before I start the second one though 😊 7y
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Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 you talk of the new series broadcasted by BBC? I saw the Dvd-sets, but I wanted to read the books first. 😉 7y
Bambolina_81 Yes, the ones with Mark Williams. He's great but doesn't look at all like described in the stories 😊 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 it is often, that the actors doesn't look like they are described within the books. 😆 7y
Sarah83 @Bambolina_81 so, I read the first one and I really liked it. I start with the next one directly. 🤗 7y
29 likes7 comments
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GoneFishing
The Innocence of Father Brown | Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.

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HotCocoaReads
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
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Pickpick

I just finished this delightful book of stories anout Father Brown--a short priest who carries an 🌂--and his sidekick Flambeau--tall and who once was a criminal Father Brown sought--who solve mysteries together. Interesting, perhaps a bit far-fetched, but fun to read for sure! Chesterton was a contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Have you heard of this series?

zsuzsanna_reads It's a great series. There's also a BBC TV show based on it. 8y
HotCocoaReads Do you know if it's still running? @zsuzsanna_reads I'd love to watch it. 8y
zsuzsanna_reads They had 3 series so far with a 4th coming. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pmw4m 8y
zsuzsanna_reads Not sure where you are based, I know it was on Netflix at some point. 8y
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HotCocoaReads
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
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Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.

charl08 Beautiful cover. 8y
lynneamch Wise words and pretty pic. Though I'm embarrassed to say that when I saw the umbrella, I read the first word as *humidity*. 😦 8y
HotCocoaReads @lynnemarch 😂 humidity, that too! 8y
HotCocoaReads Thanks! I was excited to get a set of these, all in different colors! @charl08 8y
zsuzsanna_reads I love Father Brown so much! 8y
13 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Melli
The Innocence of Father Brown | Gilbert Keith Chesterton
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Technically I'm listening to the audio version from overdrive and doing just a little crochet before bed!

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Momo_mama
Innocence of Father Brown | G K Chesterton
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Quirky priest and mystery. What could be more amusing? "When whosever shall lose his head the same shall save it." "I DO want to threaten you," said Father Brown in a voice like a rolling drum. "I want to threaten you with the worm that dieth not and the fire that is not quenched."

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