furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

pick

I don't know that I've ever been so glad to finish a book! The end was satisfying and I loved Elinor throughout (and Maxine! And Mory!) but this was super stressful reading! 😵‍💫 Langley Moore has created an absolutely diabolical character in Mrs Bankes. Despite the tension, this was really good.
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella Awesome! Would the end be so satisfying if the beginning hadn‘t got under our skin the way it did? 🤔 1w

LeahBergen You made it through! 😆😆 1w

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella No, I think we definitely have to go through all the trauma to properly enjoy the ending. 😱 1w

bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen I feel so relieved! What an uncomfortable story. 😬😁 1w

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Sace

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

I have to agree with Miss MacFarren and Joss. Antonia should be kept far away from animals. Like others, this book is kind of stressing me out 🤣

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

bookandbedandtea The birds and then the dog! This book is TOTALLY stressing me out! 🫣 2w

LeahBergen I know!!! 😬😬 2w

Sace @bookandbedandtea the…dog? I haven‘t gotten there yet, but I‘m getting the impression I am going to be upset. 2w

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Ruthiella It totally stressed me out too. Hang in there. 😥👍 2w

bookandbedandtea @Sace I'm so sorry! I had just read that part, and, being quite upset myself, I wasn't thinking of being careful about spoilers. Again, I'm sorry to have mentioned it. But, yes, brace yourself. 2w

Sace @bookandbedandtea no worries at all! I had already seen some comments so I suspected something anyway. 1w

51 likes6 comments

kwmg40

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

so-so

Finally finished January's #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub selection. The story was cleverly constructed but I found the huge portion of the book that was Aunt Addie's novel really dragged.

#BookSpinBingo #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#52bookclub25 (Includes a diary entry)
#gottacatchemall (Oricorio: a book with romance) @PuddleJumper

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2w

LeahBergen That seemed to be a common opinion of the group! 😆 2w

Ruthiella Yes, this was a wee bit of a chore to read. 😅 2w

kwmg40 @LeahBergen @Ruthiella Despite the tedium of reading the book-within-the-book, I'm willing to read more by Eleanor Farjeon. I did like other aspects of the novel. 1w

37 likes4 comments

Sace

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

Image from Google.
I am really enjoying this one. Harriet is a busybody who really doesn‘t help anyone 🤣

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

bookandbedandtea Harriet is so annoying! Elinor needs better friends. 2w

51 likes1 comment

bookandbedandtea

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

Y'all! Mrs Bankes hasn't even moved in yet (although a bunch of her stuff has been sent) and I. Am. Stressing. Out!

(Picture is of the only botanical print in my house 😉🌼)
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

LeahBergen Right? This book gave me anxiety 😆😆 2w

bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen I read a few more chapters this evening then had to give myself a break. Guess I'll be reading this a little at a time. 🫣 2w

28 likes2 comments

CarolynM

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

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What to do when someone tramples all over your clearly set boundaries, breaks every promise they‘ve ever made and flagrantly lies whenever convenient, all with a smile on their face? No, not a politician, a thoroughly unsatisfactory tenant! Miss MacFarren‘s response, supremely well supported by the remarkable Maxine, is a delicious revenge. I felt a little sorry for Joss, but he was so easy to manipulate! And Jimjams😢
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

LeahBergen Haha! Great review! And I love the photo - don‘t let her in to your lovely home to muck up your things! 😆😆 2w

Leftcoastzen Beautiful flowers!💐 2w

Ruthiella Beautiful picture! 😍 For a good portion of the book, I was so stressed on Elinor‘s behalf. 🫣 2w

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JenlovesJT47 How long do we have to read this one? I haven‘t started it yet 😳 2w

quietjenn What a pretty picture. 2w

Centique Wow those flowers! 😍 2w

CarolynM @LeahBergen Thank you. And there is no way I‘d have her through my garden gate, let alone in my house! Ugh! 😆 2w

CarolynM @Leftcoastzen @Centique Thank you - they are a sweet gift from a friend😊 2w

CarolynM @Ruthiella Thank you 😊 I was a bit tense in the early stages, then I got cross, but once Maxine got started I was just laughing😆 2w

CarolynM @JenlovesJT47 There‘s no time limit, you can read it any time you like. We will be starting a new Furrowed Middlebrow book in May, but no worries if you are only just getting around to this one then, or even later 🙂 2w

CarolynM @quietjenn Thank you 😊 2w

TrishB You have a very belated birthday book ready to collect! I‘m not sure if you get notification so just letting you know 😘 2w

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Ruthiella

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

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Be free my little friends!

Oh Jimjams. I had flashbacks to Mr. Jones in “Murder While You Work” 😱🐶💔

Quiet, middle aged Miss MacFarren takes in a lodger to make ends meet. Mrs. Banks comes with great references…but something‘s not right. Should have listened to your gut instinct Elinor MacFarren! This is a kind of domestic horror (the housekeeping kind-no blood or guts) with a little romance & film satire tossed in.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

LeahBergen Oh, Jimjams! And those starving little birds! I could‘ve killed that woman!!! Wasn‘t she FOUL? 3w

LeahBergen And you are so right … the domestic/housekeeping “horror” was so anxiety-inducing that I thought I might need some meds! 🤣🤣 It was like my worst nightmare. 🤣🤣 3w

Ruthiella @LeahBergen She did not suffer enough! 😠 I‘m not sure the psychology was right. I‘ve known children responsible enough to care for pets! 😱 3w

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LeahBergen @Ruthiella Exactly! Me, too. 😠 3w

quietjenn I am still pretty early in the book, but yes! I keep wanting to yell "There is a housing shortage! You can be choosy! If you take an instant dislike, there is a reason!' 3w

Ruthiella @quietjenn You‘re gonna do a lot of shouting! 😂 3w

CarolynM I love your photo and opening line 🤣 What a horror Tonia was! But I loved Maxine😆 2w

Ruthiella @CarolynM Thanks! 😊 Maxine was delightful! 2w

69 likes8 comments

LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

pick

Middle-aged spinster, Miss MacFarren, is reduced to taking in a lodger at the end of WWII. Mrs. Bankes comes highly recommended and seems perfect but problems arise on the very first day. To save her beautiful house filled with antiques, Miss MacFarren must find a way to somehow rid herself of this horrible tenant and a course of “domestic warfare” begins. I loved it and think it‘s now my favourite book by this author!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

TheBookHippie Oh I love the Stafford dogs! 3w

ShelleyBooksie Love those bookends!! 3w

Tamra Cute! 😍 3w

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Ruthiella I found the start unbearably tense… the damage 😱the poor birds 😱 Mrs. Manders 😱! But, at the 30% mark, relief (and romance) is in the air. I hope (suspect) the comeuppance will be satisfying! 😆 3w

rubyslippersreads Gog and Magog! 3w

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie @ShelleyBooksie @Tamra Thanks! 😄 3w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was so anxious at the start! 😬😆 3w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Pretty close! 😆 3w

CarolynM Lovely review and fantastic photo😍 I‘m about 50 pages in and I agree it feels a bit tense so far @Ruthiella 3w

MemoirsForMe Stunning bookends! 😍 3w

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I can‘t wait to hear if it gives you “tchotchke anxiety”, too. 😂 3w

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Thanks!😊 3w

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LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

As someone who collects (odd) antiques myself … this book is giving me anxiety.

Miss MacFarren, please get rid of the “bull in a china shop” lodger. I fear for the safety of your Gallé cats! ??

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Leftcoastzen What quirky cats ! 1mo

Ruthiella Those are quite quirky!😹Thanks for the research. I‘m also quite worried about the lodger… It doesn‘t bode well. 🙀 1mo

quietjenn I think the cats are a little worried too 😹 1mo

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Cathythoughts A bull in a china shop lodger …. Oh no 😳😂 1mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella They are quirky! I had to look them up and couldn‘t believe how “modern” they looked for the era. They are circa 1900 but look almost 1980s. 😆😆 1mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella And yes, the lodger has me biting my fingernails! 1mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn 😂😂 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s seriously making me anxious! She‘s broken all sorts of things, got cigarette burns on others, and now she‘s using the expensive cats as doorstops! 😂😂 (edited) 1mo

CarolynM Those cats give me the creeps🥺 Looking forward to starting the book, though🙂 4w

LeahBergen @CarolynM I had to look them up after the description of them in the book! 😆 4w

elkeOriginal Lodger 😬 but cats🥰 3d

70 likes11 comments

Ruthiella

The Annotated Archy and Mehitabel | Don Marquis

#weekendreads

📕Still reading the tagged for the poetry prompt for #OffMyShelf

📗Encyclopedia Brown is this month‘s #EBBR

📘Not at Home is for #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

📙Das Achte Leben I pulled down on a whim. It‘s gonna take me a few months to finish but it‘ll work for #ChunksterChallenge2025 and #AllergictoChunksters

rachelsbrittain

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