Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

so-so

I feel like this would have been better titled as “The NASA Caper” or “The Mystery of the Exploding Oranges” for the revised edition. The moss—covered mansion portion was rather contrived. I was very offended when someone questioned Nancy‘s ability of helping, as she‘s a girl. 🙄

Not the greatest, in my opinion. Discussion on Tuesday!

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

CogsOfEncouragement Starting chapter eight now. 🔍 1d

dabbe At 62%. Hopefully, I'll be ready on Tuesday! 🤩 1d

DebinHawaii Just posted my review too. This one was pretty 🍌👖 with the plot! 1d

See All 8 Comments

Ruthiella Yes, the mansion wasn‘t really the focus…then again, this one was all over the place! 😅 1d

Librarybelle Yay, @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe ! 20h

Librarybelle It was all over the place and just seemed like maybe the revision author took a dartboard and determined the plot elements based on the dart throws. I know these are not the most credible storylines—so great for young readers and their imaginations—but sometimes they‘re ridiculous. However, I enjoy the ride! 😂 @DebinHawaii @Ruthiella 20h

TheAromaofBooks I loved the part where an airplane had a crash landing that was wrapped up in three paragraphs and had nothing to do with the rest of the story 😂 9h

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks OMG, yes! And it‘s kind of written off like not a big deal. Papa Drew was onboard anyhow, so I‘m sure he would have helped if need be. 😂 8h

67 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Playing Under the Piano: A Memoir from Highclere to Hollywood | HUGH. BONNEVILLE

pick

I picked this up solely because it fit with a #BookChain2025 prompt! I know Bonneville from his work in Downton Abbey and Notting Hill, so I was interested to read a bit more about his journey. There‘s humor laced with stories on various sets and theater productions. Not recognizing Leonardo DiCaprio was hilarious! #LitsyAToZ #LetterP

Texreader, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1d

60 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Falling | T.J. Newman

pick

My local bookstore asks me to contribute reviews for their newsletter and handed me this one. I wasn‘t sure what to expect when I opened the book, but from page one…wow. Just wow. This is an adrenaline-filled rollercoaster ride, filled with terror and red herrings and so many surprises. Underneath it all is a statement regarding first impressions and the way we tend to not think how our blasé look at world events impacts others. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ Very thought provoking and very timely, given today‘s political climate and unconscionable actions. But, I digress…who would have thought a thriller could conjure so much?!? This is also a book about choices. What would you choose—crashing a plane or saving your family??? There are a few graphic parts, and I had to put everything else on hold this morning just to finish. Really good. I requested her second book from the library alresdy! 7d

66 likes3 stack adds1 comment

Librarybelle

The River Knows Your Name: A Novel | Kelly Mustian

pick

This slowly revealing novel has themes of loss and regret and the power of love. It‘s beautifully written, and I greatly enjoyed the 1934 timeline. There‘s also a really horrible villain in the novel. In 1971, Nell discovers a photo of her mother from 1934, which starts a journey to learn more about her mother, herself, and her sister Evie. The audio was superb. Recommended.

66 likes1 stack add

Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead features the latest the Kate Quinn. Read at your own pace, and discussion will take place on April 30th!

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

Jerdencon Looking forward to this discussion! 2w

CatLass007 I‘m looking forward to this and a couple of other Kate Quinn books for #AuthorAMonth. 2w

DebinHawaii Yay! I‘m excited to read this one for this, #AuthorAMonth & #AuldLangSpine 🎉 2w

See All 17 Comments

Prairiegirl_reading I will do my best! I‘m looking forward to it. 😄 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @Jerdencon @CatLass007 @DebinHawaii @Prairiegirl_reading ! 2w

mcctrish Getting it out of my TBR 🎉🎉🎉🎉 2w

Sace I‘ve never read this author so I‘m excited about this! 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @mcctrish @Sace ! 2w

tpixie Yay! Next up on audio! After

The Paris Express

Librarybelle @tpixie Yay! I actually started The Paris Express and had to return it to the library without finishing it. Waiting for it to come back to me! 2w

Deblovestoread I started on audio yesterday. So far it‘s good 💜 2w

tpixie @Librarybelle I hate when that happens! 🚂 hopefully you will get it again soon! I‘m listening thru Libby, or I‘d mail you my book! 2w

tpixie @Deblovestoread great to hear! 2w

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2w

Librarybelle That‘s great, @Deblovestoread ! 2w

Librarybelle @tpixie Thanks! I won‘t have too long of a wait, so that‘s good. 2w

tpixie @Librarybelle 🩵 🚂 🩵 2w

60 likes1 stack add17 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

#LittenDetectives : We are two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion! Will Nancy be able to solve the mystery of the moss-covered mansion? What talent will we learn she possesses this time? Discussion on the 15th!

BarkingMadRead Started this today! 2w

bookandbedandtea I'm sure she can! 😉 2w

Librarybelle Awesome, @BarkingMadRead ! 2w

See All 10 Comments

Librarybelle @bookandbedandtea She‘s like the Harlem Globetrotters…it‘s kind of a guarantee she‘ll solve the case! 😂 2w

Ruthiella I have confidence in Nancy! 😂 2w

Sace Nancy will solve it, but will her noggin go unknocked? 2w

Librarybelle @Ruthiella 😂 2w

Librarybelle @Sace Will we add to our noggin count??? 2w

dabbe Who predicts a #nancynogginknockout? 🤩🤣🤩 2w

Librarybelle @dabbe 😂 2w

46 likes10 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

There were so many positive comments left on my post last night that I think it‘s worth making this official.

This is very low key—no tag list, so feel free to participate how often you would like. I am reading one nonfiction a month that looks beyond the history found in schools.

If you would like to participate, post your book and thoughts each month, using #RealHistory and/or #HonestHistory . I‘ll make a bibliography for those interested.

Librarybelle Tagging those who left comments on my previous post: @Bookwormjillk @dabbe @Deblovestoread @JenReadsAlot @Eggbeater @Prairiegirl_reading @Leftcoastzen @Tamra @TheBookHippie @ncsufoxes @DrSabrinaMoldenReads 2w

Aims42 I LOVE this idea!!! 🤩👊🏻♥️💙🤍 2w

Librarybelle @Aims42 Thanks! 2w

See All 26 Comments

ncsufoxes Love this! I‘m always down for reading resistance. Everyone has to fight the whitewashing of history. 2w

Bookwormjillk Love it! 2w

ncsufoxes Love this! I‘m always down for reading resistance. Everyone has to fight the whitewashing of history. 2w

Librarybelle It‘s so important to keep the voices alive, @Bookwormjillk @ncsufoxes ! 2w

TheBookHippie Love!!!! 2w

lil1inblue 🙌 🙌 🙌 2w

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2w

Mollyanna Love it! Definitely going to peruse by shelves for selections. 2w

Librarybelle Yay! Thanks, @TheBookHippie @lil1inblue @Mollyanna ! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Liz_M ! 2w

Eggbeater I'm in! Thank you for including me. 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @Eggbeater ! 2w

Leftcoastzen 👍👏🙌 2w

dabbe Please add me to the bibliography list. What a fabulous idea, m'dear! I'm looking for a book! ♥️👊🏻♥️ 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Leftcoastzen @dabbe ! 2w

JenReadsAlot I'm totally in!! 2w

Librarybelle Yay, @JenReadsAlot ! 2w

DebinHawaii Would love to be added to the bibliography list. I‘m reading this one for #SheSaid in April

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower

Librarybelle Sounds good, @DebinHawaii ! 2w

julieclair Please add me to the bibliography list, and thanks for starting this. So very important. 1w

Librarybelle Of course, @julieclair ! 1w

MallenNC This is a great idea. I want to take part. 6d

Librarybelle Yay, @MallenNC ! 6d

56 likes26 comments

Librarybelle

The Mill on the Floss | George Eliot

New day, new month, new #HashtagBrigade book.

I‘ve fallen behind on so many reads and have found myself reaching for quick reads or books where I really don‘t have to think. Maybe this will be the month to get back on track.

#Zeke has had a good few days, which is nice. He‘s more active recently, and his only issue is not eating the food best for his issue (we see a specialist the end of this month for an official diagnosis). #CatsOfLitsy

BarkingMadRead

BarkingMadRead Hugs to Zeke! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @BarkingMadRead ! 2w

tpixie Glad to hear he‘s doing better these last few days! 🐱💛 Good luck with feeding Zeke. 💛🐈‍⬛💛 2w

See All 9 Comments

Librarybelle Thanks, @tpixie ! 2w

Ruthiella Glad Zeke is doing better. 😻 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Ruthiella ! 2w

dabbe Keep getting better, Zeke! And please eat your food! 🐾🖤🙏🏻🖤🐾 2w

Librarybelle @dabbe Thank you! 2w

Leftcoastzen Oh dear Zeke ! Feel better & eat your better food !😻 2w

57 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story | Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Company

Fair warning…this may be a bit political. Though, as @TheBookHippie recently posted, reading is political.

I am beyond angry. Today‘s loss of IMLS, and the recent news of the future changes at the Smithsonian, are terrifying. Imagine a world without the services you rely on at the library or visiting a museum that provides a sanitized, incorrect history. In the US, that‘s what we will soon see.

So, I plan to read one nonfiction title a month ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ …that tells a full picture of history, not a sanitized version of a certain point of view. History is made of layers, and up until fairly recently, most of the stories we know come from the winners or those with the loudest voice in the room. The last 20-25 years has seen an increase in the stories hidden for decades, because they were of individuals who were not of a certain demographic. The news is out; you cannot remove these people from ⬇️ 2w

Librarybelle ⬆️ …existence again. I want to read these #RealHistory titles to keep the memory of those silenced voices alive. Feel free to join if you wish. This is more of a read what you wish each month, and perhaps I‘ll collect a bibliography of titles read. History is so important. The silenced voices are important. Books are important. My choice for April is this book way too long on my shelf. I‘m passed due reading it. 2w

Bookwormjillk Reading is political! 2w

See All 38 Comments

dabbe I'll start looking at my completely disorganized bookshelves. #beyondangryindeed ♥️👊🏻💙 2w

dabbe @Bookwormjillk This should be a hashtag! #readingispolitical ♥️👊🏻💙 2w

Librarybelle I like the hashtag idea, @dabbe ! @Bookwormjillk 2w

Deblovestoread Great idea! I need to finish this book. 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Deblovestoread ! 2w

JenReadsAlot Great book! I'll find others to read as well. I'm just disgusted by this. 2w

Eggbeater I love this idea, and that book was incredible. 2w

Librarybelle It‘s a terrible time, @JenReadsAlot . I think this‘ll be a good read. 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Eggbeater ! 2w

Prairiegirl_reading @Librarybelle I like this # idea too! @dabbe @Bookwormjillk 2w

Leftcoastzen I have this one close to top of my TBR 2w

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen This felt like the right moment to read it! 2w

Librarybelle @Prairiegirl_reading 😁 2w

Tamra So long this has been staring at me from my shelf. But, I did watch the documentary and I‘m hoping for more! 2w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I too like the hashtag! @dabbe 2w

TheBookHippie I have read this. It‘s very good. I think we should make a hashtag and I‘m going to go to my shelf. FYI our poet this month was political I‘m told! 2w

Librarybelle @Tamra I‘ve yet to see the documentary! 2w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie I‘ve not read anything by Millay, so I‘m looking forward to it! I‘m bad at making catchy hashtags! I used #RealHistory , but I‘m open to anything. 😁 2w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle @dabbe is the expert 😂 2w

Librarybelle Thoughts, @dabbe ??? What makes a good hashtag for this? @TheBookHippie and I would like to know! 😂 2w

dabbe @TheBookHippie @Librarybelle #realhistory is fantastic! 🤩 Maybe #honesthistory or #hh would, too. 🤔 2w

ncsufoxes A few weeks ago I pulled this book back off my shelf. I‘ve read about a 1/4 of it & haven‘t gotten back to it. It‘s one I need to get to but right I feel like there are too many important books to consume right now. All of this right now is so infuriating & well the only way to put is f—-ed up. (edited) 2w

Librarybelle @dabbe @TheBookHippie I‘m good with either #RealHistory or #HonestHistory ! 2w

Librarybelle @ncsufoxes It totally is. Ugh! 2w

DrSabrinaMoldenReads This tells the story of my history and ancestors. 2w

Bookwormjillk Glad to see this has taken off! Great idea and I love the hashtags. 2w

Librarybelle @DrSabrinaMoldenReads ❤️❤️❤️ I think this is a very important read! 2w

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk 😁 2w

bookandbedandtea I love this idea while hating that it's necessary. I'm eager to see the books everyone reads. 2w

Librarybelle @bookandbedandtea Me too. It‘s awful we have to do this. 2w

DebinHawaii I love this idea! I have been trying to read more non-fiction & need to get to this book in particular. 2w

Librarybelle @DebinHawaii This will be my push to read it! 2w

staci.reads @Librarybelle That book is SO powerful and important! That and Caste are maybe the 2 best books on race that I've read. 2w

staci.reads @Bookwormjillk damn straight! 2w

Librarybelle @staci.reads I‘m looking forward to reading it, and I also have Caste on my shelf! 2w

68 likes2 stack adds38 comments

Librarybelle

The Man in the Brown Suit | Agatha Christie

Great discussion so far for The Murder on the Links! Our next #ChristiesCapers introduces Colonel Race, who appears in a few other books later in Christie‘s canon. Discussion on April 27th.

All are welcome to attend. Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list. #AgathaChristieClubR3

janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill

Aims42 I‘m planning on reading this one! I started March‘s but I got distracted and never finished it 😂 2w

mrp27 This will be another first for me. 2w

TheAromaofBooks This is one of my very favorite Christie novels!! It's so over-the-top and funny; I love it! 2w

See All 8 Comments

Librarybelle That‘s so cool, @TheAromaofBooks ! 2w

Librarybelle Hope you enjoy, @Aims42 @mrp27 ! 2w

Teresereading Please add me 2w

Librarybelle Will do, @Teresereading ! Welcome! 2w

44 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! And sorry everyone…I really fizzled out on this. I also really struggled with the book‘s writing, so there are only 4 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month‘s #BuddyRead is The Briar Club. Reminder will be posted tomorrow!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Deblovestoread, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

CatLass007 Oh goodness. It‘s the end of the month already. I had to start this one twice but once I started it the second time I enjoyed it. It sounds like you didn‘t enjoy it so much. How are the kitties? And how are you? (edited) 2w

Deblovestoread I tried to read this last year and fully intended to try again for LC but it never happened. Sorry! 2w

tpixie Sadly I didn‘t get to it either, but it looks very interesting. I just put too much in my plate- I‘ve been doing heavy research into Barbara Newhall Follett (still only 1/4 way thru 600 pages of letters ) before reading

The Story She Left Behind: A Novel

See All 12 Comments

Karisa I tried but couldn‘t get into it either. It sounded like it would be something I‘d like too😬 2w

Librarybelle @CatLass007 Maybe it‘s the timing right now, but I just did not connect with it. Oh well! Zeke is okay at the moment, but he‘s refusing the food he needs to eat for his GI issues. Sigh…I‘m tired but hanging in there. Thanks for asking! 2w

Librarybelle I‘m really looking forward to next month‘s, @Deblovestoread @tpixie @Karisa ! 2w

CatLass007 ❤️ You are so appreciated!! 2w

Librarybelle Thanks @CatLass007 ! ❤️ 2w

CatLass007 Lots of prayers and good thoughts going out to you. 2w

Librarybelle @CatLass007 ❤️❤️❤️ 2w

julieclair I enjoyed this and was glad I read it. I never would have picked it up on my own. Sending healing hugs to Zeke and to you. Hang in there. 💙 2w

Librarybelle So glad you enjoyed, @julieclair ! And thank you! 2w

41 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

This post contains spoilers

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4. Admittedly, I struggled with the writing style in this novel. I just could not connect with the narrative. Any comments on the writing or the style of the novel? Did you the first person narrative enhanced or took away from the telling of Livia's story? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin Same as I said in another post, too much telling. It could have been better. I think Smith had an agenda to write Livia as a likable character. We could‘ve sympathized with her though, even if Livia had been written as cold and calculating as she was still a woman in a man‘s world trying to survive. 2w

julieclair I listened on audio, and almost gave up because I was having trouble following all the political twists and turns, and couldn‘t flip back through the pages to reread passages. I finally decided to just concentrate on Livia‘s narrative, knowing that she was helping her husband(s) navigate a rotating cast of friends and enemies. Once I did that, I really enjoyed the book. 2w

Pogue I thought the book was written for upper middle grade. The language was simple and while the topic was interesting I would have not said this book was written for adults. 2w

7 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

This post contains spoilers

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3. Moving away from the characters, let's look at the bigger picture discussed--the Roman Empire post-assassination. How familiar were you with events prior to the novel? How does the novel portray the events?

Quick reference guide from the History Channel:

https://www.history.com/articles/julius-caesar-assassination-fall-roman-republic

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I love Ancient Rome and I‘m relearning Latin on Duolingo so this was a perfect read for me. I found it all very believable. However the style took some time to get use to. There was a lot of telling and not showing which I hate in a novel. 2w

CatLass007 I‘m afraid I don‘t know much history about Rome. What I learned, I learned in English class from studying the play Julius Caesar. And I can‘t help remembering the episode of M*A*S*H where radar was trying to impress a new nurse and he kept saying that the fall of the Roman Empire was caused from within. 2w

julieclair My knowledge of Ancient Rome is sketchy at best, some enjoyed learning a bit more of its history through this book. I would like to read more from this time period. 2w

Pogue I love history and when I was in school I spent a lot of time with history books. I am not obsessed with Roman history but I do know who the major players are. 2w

7 likes1 stack add4 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

This post contains spoilers

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2. Now that we have some additional facts about Livia, what did you think of her? History considers her to be cold, calculating, heartless, and ruthless. Is that a fair assessment? Think about the men in her circle. How does this novel portray them, and if you are familiar with them, is their portrayal in the novel fair? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I think this novel took a very different approach to Livia and posits a thesis that she was not as cold and calculating as we have been led to believe. 2w

CatLass007 It doesn‘t seem like it was very different than that it is now. Women who are ambitious, intelligent, or have any so-called “masculine” characteristics are considered cold and calculating. Women had few legal rights back then but they‘re taking away women‘s rights right now. Did I mention that I have a cat named Tiberius? 2w

julieclair Good points, @Cuilin and @CatLass007 . Because she was intelligent and ambitious, she has been considered cold and calculating. But maybe she was loving and loyal and good. We‘ll never know. 2w

Pogue I think that for a long time only men wrote and studied history, and they only look at how men are affected by women. The view is narrow and not supporting of women. I think that Livia, like all women, are complicated and are more than what they seem to be. And that history short changes women. 2w

7 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

This post contains spoilers

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1. Smith allows us to go inside the thoughts of Livia as she becomes involved with the most powerful men in Rome. Were you familiar with Livia before reading this book?

History Hit did 10 facts about her: https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-livia-drusilla/

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin Yes, I took Latin and ancient Roman civilization classes in secondary school. I think she did a good job setting the time period. 2w

CatLass007 I was not familiar with Livia. I think that may have been part of why I enjoyed this book. 2w

julieclair I had never heard of Livia, and really enjoyed seeing Roman history through a woman‘s eyes. Thanks for the History Hit link - very interesting! 2w

Pogue Yes, I knew who she was. I also think that she was not all that history makes her out to be. 2w

7 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Sunday evening chores are done early, and Zeke and the others are resting, so I can sneak in a #hyggehour tonight. Reading this month‘s #LiteraryCrew title—I know, discussion is tomorrow and I barely put a dent into the book! Current candle is Yankee Candle Black Cherry. My mood is exhausted and stressed; hopefully my weighted blanket will help (and I may have to take a nap).

TheBookHippie, Chrissyreadit, AllDebooks

TheBookHippie Naps are good. 2w

Prairiegirl_reading I hope you have a restful evening! 2w

Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛Yay! nap and weighted blanket! And i‘m curious to hear how that book is. 2w

See All 9 Comments

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Naps get me through most days! 😂 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Prairiegirl_reading ! 2w

Librarybelle @Chrissyreadit I‘m not connecting with the book. Ancient Rome is not one of my favorite subject areas, though I learned a lot about its history during high school Latin class. I‘m also not connecting with the writing style. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

Chrissyreadit @Librarybelle Ancient Rome was pretty brutal…. 2w

AllDebooks I didn't get around to this one. 2w

Cuilin I read it, it‘s ok. I was hoping for something else, more engaging and gritty but it‘s fine. 2w

62 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

It was wonderful to take some time and plan out my April #BookSpinBingo list. Hopefully, I can tackle it! The last two months have not been good for sticking to reading lists…

TheAromaofBooks

julieclair So pretty! 2w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2w

46 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

It‘s time for the #ChristiesCapers discussion! I have 6 questions posted as spoilers; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.

Next up is The Man in the Brown Suit, the first appearance of Colonel Race in the novels. The official post will appear tomorrow!

#AgathaChristieClubR3

Bookwormjillk I just started this morning. I‘ll be back in a few days! 2w

kspenmoll I am reading now, hoping to catch up by tomorrow! 2w

Cuilin I just started yesterday. I‘m so behind in all my reading goals for March. 😑 2w

See All 7 Comments

MallenNC I‘m excited for the April book. I‘ve never heard of this one. 2w

BarbaraJean I skipped this month since it was a re-read, but I‘m excited to read The Man in the Brown Suit in April! 2w

mrp27 Hope to finish the last few pages today! 2w

kelli7990 I‘m excited to read next month‘s story. 2w

39 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

This post contains spoilers

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6. We've discussed Poirot and Giraud and touched on characters during our mystery discussion, but let's think about the characters now. Christie purposely has Hastings ride off to Argentina in the end in order to let Poirot stand on his own for future stories (though Hastings does come back, as we will see). What did you think of the cast of characters? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MariaW I think Hastings is portrayed well as an unstable character. He still has the chance to grow and to evolve compared to Poirot who is already a stable and grown character. Maybe Christie wanted to „kill off“ Hasting to set up a more „good cop - bad cop“ thing with Giraud, but realized in the end it did not work. Poirot seems to be someboy who likes to be teaching things to others and helping them to grow. He needs a sidekick that is open for that.. 2w

MariaW and otherwise she must have had to create another „new“ character in the next Poirot novel. I pretty sure she did not know yet at that time where she was heading or wanted to head with Poirot. 2w

MallenNC I hadn‘t read this one before or many of the Poirot novels we will be reading so I didn‘t realize that Hastings wasn‘t in all the books. He‘s been written into a lot of the TV versions, I think, so this is new to me. I agree that I‘m not sure Christie had a full sense of what she wanted to do with her characters early on. 2w

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kspenmoll I am glad i read this because I had no idea Hastings went off & was not with Poirot in all the books! I have not read her books in any order, nor have I read all of them! I am so glad you are having us read in publication order Jess! (edited) 2w

dabbe In the Poirot novels I have read before #ChristiesCapers, Hastings wasn't in any of them! So, yes, imagine my surprise with the first two. I am now wondering why Christie puts Hastings on the back burner, unlike Watson, who chronicles most of the Holmes stories. The POV is definitely going to have to change if Hastings isn't there. 2w

suvata I have always thought that Christie wrote the most interesting characters. Some of them are exaggerated, but they are always believable prototypes of people you would know or hear about. 2w

Bookwormjillk I really liked the Hastings character. I liked that he was always wondering what Poirot was doing but seemed to trust him. 2w

mrp27 The couple of Christie books I read before didn‘t have Hastings so I was mostly unfamiliar with him. But I liked him as a character because I could relate to him trying to learn to use his gray cells. Will be interesting going forward to see how his absence may or may not change how I feel about the books. 1w

ferskner I'm a Hastings fan! I remember in the first two rounds of Agatha Christie Club that a lot of people didn't like him, but I think he's a perfect foil for Poirot and just entertaining! 1w

13 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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5. This novel takes place in France, but the region surrounding Calais has a very deep history with England. I'm sure our UK friends could talk about this better than I can! But, to give a small bit of history as to why British citizens would be living in Calais, I have a couple of links in the comments for more of a history between to the two regions.

Any thoughts on setting? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Librarybelle https://www.calaisxxl.com/en/inspirations/lhistoire-des-bourgeois-de-calais/

https://sites.hertford.ox.ac.uk/bridge/calais-englands-first-colony/ 2w

MariaW I was wondering about that as well. It seemed strange to be able to go to and fro without any problems back then. Just thinking about how much time it takes today. 🙈 I am looking forward to the British/French comments here as well. 😊 2w

MallenNC As an American, I only know about the English connections to Calais from watching historical adaptations and I know those aren‘t always completely accurate. Thanks for sharing the links! 2w

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kspenmoll Thanks! 2w

dabbe From some of my other readings about early English history, I know that Calais is the closest French town to England, only 21 miles away, and on a clear day, one can see the White Cliffs of Dover from Calais. Many wars, sieges, and battling for the town have taken place over the centuries. 2w

suvata @dabbe that‘s very interesting 2w

mrp27 Thanks for links, should be interesting. 1w

13 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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4. Let's think of the mystery itself. How does it compare with the prior two novels we read, especially Styles? Were you surprised by the ending? Did you figure everything out before Poirot made the big reveal? Any red herrings trip you up? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MariaW Again, because the dispute between Giraud and Poirot reminded me so much of The Mystery of the Yellow Room, I thought Giraud might have something to do with the murder. This was definitely a red herring for me. I think the mystery is quite difficult to solve without the knowledge of the crime that happened years prior. The moment Poirot unearthed that one, I was finally able to understand half of the mystery. I did not see the end coming though. 2w

MallenNC I had a hard time following at first, and I definitely wasn‘t solving the mystery ahead of the book this time. 2w

kspenmoll I had no clue at all -the end was a total surprise. I did not think Jack did it, but all the red herrings, etc. had me confused! (edited) 2w

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dabbe I don't know why, but STYLES fell flat for me. This one had much more wit, movements, and yes, I was totally surprised by the #whodunit. 2w

suvata I was totally baffled with this one. Couldn‘t figure out who it was until it was revealed. I haven‘t read STYLES in many years. I am, however, going back and reading the first two books in order so I will be caught up by the time we discuss The Man in the Brown Suit. 2w

mrp27 I was totally lost in this one but I knew immediately the girl on the train would be involved somehow. 1w

ferskner I find this one a bit messy and I don't love that you have to know the prior crime in order to solve it. That's probably personal preference, though! 1w

13 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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3. Poirot meets not exactly a rival but definitely competition in the detective from the Paris Surete, Giraud. In the novel, Poirot outlines his methods of deduction--not needing to traipse around the world in search of clues but really just use the grey little cells--whereas we first meet Giraud lying in the grave. What are similarities and differences between Poirot and Giraud? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MariaW Giraud is supposed to portray the modern day police work with their fancy methods whilst Poirot is portrayed (or is branded by Giraud) as a representative of the „old“ police work. Giraud feels so superior to Poirot that he behaves very patronizing. Poirot on the other hand tries to be polite as he always is and waits. But even he cannot refrain from giving some sideswipes due to Giraud‘s impolite behaviour. 2w

MariaW But in the end both of them think they are the best in their profession. 2w

MallenNC What stood out to me was how Poirot would ask a seemingly weird or unnecessary question and other people in the book would think that was silly, but it would turn out to be important. That was showing the detective work happening in his mind and only he knew how the pieces were connecting. It was kind of fun to see both approaches 2w

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kspenmoll Poirot‘s methods I am familiar with from other books & movies, etc. Giraud seems to be a caricature of the new police man, methods. 2w

dabbe One can pretty well be assured that if there is an OFFICIAL working for the police, he/she/they will not solve the crime. I saw more of a parallel between Giraud and Holmes. It seems Christie is parodying Holmes a bit since Holmes always carries a magnifying glass, plops down on the floor at a moment's notice, knows everything about cigar/cigarette ashes, etc. Poirot is more like Mycroft, Holmes's brother, who likes to solve crimes from his chair. 2w

suvata @MallenNC if you‘re old enough to remember the old Colombo TV show, he used a similar technique. He was pretty laid-back and asked questions that people thought were odd, but it all pulled together in the end. I love old detective novels. 2w

mrp27 I liked the addition of Giraud even though he can be annoying. I liked the different methods and approach they used. Both characters are arrogant but Poirot is elegant about it. 1w

ferskner @dabbe, that's exactly what I said for question 2! (Well not exactly, but same idea.) We're always on the same page 😊 @Librarybelle I think Poirot and Giraud share a very healthy ego! 😂 1w

14 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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2. Some reviewers draw comparisons between this novel and the stories of Sherlock Holmes. What do you think? Are there any instances in the novel that reminded you of Holmes? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

MariaW I haven‘t read any Sherlock Holmes stories yet and know only the movies, but Poirot explaining everything to Hastings reminds me a lot of Sherlock and Watson. But I an pretty sure Watson wouldn‘t have fallen in love this easily, he seems more the thoughful and prudent type compared to Hastings who is more impulsive with his love interests and with drawing conclusions. 2w

MallenNC That‘s interesting. I have read some Holmes stories but I much prefer to watch the adaptations. I guess I can see some parallels between the Holmes and Watson and Poirot and Hastings characters. 2w

kspenmoll I have only read a few Holmes stories but he has Watson & Poirot has Hastings as foils. Agree with @MariaW That Hasting is impulsive, brash & seems to be in love with the idea of love…Watson was an MD right? Married? 2w

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dabbe Funny! I just mentioned this is your 1st question, not having looked at this one! 🤩I see a lot of parallels in the relationship between SH & Watson and HP & Hastings. Watson is quite the lady's man, falling in love and marrying the client in just the second story of the canon! Hastings falls in love in the 2nd Poirot novel as well! Holmes is always pushing Watson to think beyond what's there--just like Poirot with his gray cells. 2w

suvata I have always thought there was a huge resemblance between Sherlock and Poirot. I used to think that Sherlock‘s capers were a little more sophisticated than HP‘s but now that I am reading Christie again I may have to rethink that. Great now I‘m going to have to re-read Sherlock Holmes. 2w

mrp27 I‘ve never read any Sherlock Holmes or been much of a fan so I don‘t know it well enough to begin to compare. 1w

ferskner That's really interesting because I feel like this book is commenting negatively on Holmes! I read Poirot's comments about not having to find random physical evidence and tie it to some obscure "impossible to know unless you're the detective" fact and relying on putting together the mystery based on understanding and thinking through human nature. I know Christie was a Holmes fan but Poirot's methods to me are very different from Holmes' methods. 1w

13 likes7 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery | Agatha Christie

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1. The Murder on the Links marks the 2nd Hercule Poirot mystery. Fun facts:

*According to the AC official website, the game show Jeopardy indicates this is the first time the phrase “the scene of the crime“ is used anywhere.
*Christie enjoyed French mysteries, especially Gaston Leroux's works, and this is somewhat in homage to them.

What did you think of this Poirot adventure? How does it compare to Styles? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

kspenmoll I should finish this by tomorrow & will join in the discussion then! 2w

MariaW I liked this one very much, even though Hastings sometimes behaves like a leaf in the wind regarding his romantical approaches. In general Poirot colliding with Giraud reminded me a lot of Thy mystery of the Yellow Room by Leroux and I was somewhat expecting him to have somthing to do with the crime.

The Mystery of the Yellow Room

(edited) 2w

MallenNC I enjoyed this one. It was a little hard to follow at times so at the end I went back and listened to parts of it again. I enjoyed having Richard Armitage narrate this one but I did laugh at his note at the beginning apologizing that he only had so many French accents to offer. 2w

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MallenNC Also I think it is going to be fun to read Christie in publication order. It was fun to see how she reminded readers of what had happened in the first Poirot book, just like the series we read now. I had never thought of her doing that since I have read her work in very random order. 2w

Deblovestoread I haven‘t read any Leroux but am now curious. I enjoyed this. Hastings is a hoot. 2w

dabbe I thoroughly enjoyed this one, especially Poirot's “little gray cells!“ His and Hastings' relationship reminds me of Holmes and Watson, and I love the witticisms and friendly barbing that goes on between the two. I didn't see Hastings falling into a romance, though. It'll be interesting to see if this carries through to the next Poirot as I don't remember Hastings having many women like Watson. 2w

kelli7990 I liked this story. 2w

suvata @MariaW I am definitely going to have to check out Leroux. 2w

suvata @dabbe I have to agree with the “little gray cells“ idea that kept coming up in the book. I think that is a phrase. I will start using in my real life. 2w

dabbe @suvata 🎯♥️🎯 2w

Bookwormjillk Ohhhh the scene of the scene of the crime 2w

Morr_Books I feel like it may be a bit much to say I liked it more than The Mysterious Affair at Styles, since that novel was kinda genre-defining, but I thought we got to experience more of her intriguing Poirot character and the humor/banter that comes with him. 2w

mrp27 I liked this one more than Styles even though it was a bit convoluted in the end. 1w

ferskner Jumping in so late! I liked this one but it's not one of my favorites. The mystery feels messier than a lot of her other books, and Poirot even seems to think it's all over the place. But still, enjoyable! 1w

15 likes14 comments

Librarybelle

The Therapist | B A Paris

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This was a perfect combo of creepy and suspense (too much creepy, and I have nightmares, so this worked well). I never quite warmed to Alice, and I‘d be petrified of some things happening to her, but the suspense and surprises kept the narrative quickly moving, and I gasped at a few of the reveals. The audio narration was good and enjoyable. I‘d read another by Paris!

SilversReviews This was good. Most of hers are good. 2w

55 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

The Grand Design: A Novel of Dorothy Draper | Joy Callaway

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Callaway has a great way of describing the Greenbrier and its landscape—I‘ve never been there, yet I could envision everything. Dorothy Draper and her talent comes to life in this novel. I loved the language, the writing style, and the story. Won‘t say more until the #SundayBuddyRead discussion! #52BookClub25 #300To400PagesLong

TheBookHippie

AmyG Same. And yes….I loved the design part and googling the Greenbriar. 2w

Librarybelle @AmyG Yes! 2w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Thanks for the tag, @DebinHawaii !

#5JoysFriday

1. My boys…always!
2. Zeke was above the kitchen cabinets for the first time in weeks (a sign he was feeling perky thanks to medicine)
3. Opening Day for baseball!
4. Book mail, especially Jane Austen-related book mail
5. Litsy

KadaGul How is Zeke doing? 2w

TheBookHippie Yay Zeke! Hope you got good news. 2w

Librarybelle @KadaGul @TheBookHippie His ultrasound results came back yesterday—while he does not have any large tumors, he definitely has GI issues and his lymph nodes around his stomach and intestine are enlarged. It could be related to his chronic pancreatitis, or it could be early signs of cancer. Today, I scheduled him to see a specialist at the end of April, who will hopefully be able to do an endoscopic biopsy of those areas to rule out cancer. 2w

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TheBookHippie @Librarybelle poor pet!!! 2w

kspenmoll Oh I am so glad he is healing!!! 2w

Librarybelle @kspenmoll He‘s having good days and bad days. He‘ll be on steroids for awhile until we determine whether or not he has cancer. At least the steroids are helping him at the moment! 2w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie ❤️ 2w

BooksandCoffee4Me @Librarybelle oh, I hope he will be ok! 2w

BooksandCoffee4Me Baseball, yes! Who‘s your team? Dodgers here - I‘m born and raised in LA. 💙🤍 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @BooksandCoffee4Me ! I‘m a Phillies fan! I‘m less than 3 hours away from Philly, plus gotta love the Phanatic. 😂 2w

DebinHawaii Lovely joys! 💛💛💛 I‘ll keep thinking positive healing thoughts for Zeke. 💜💜💜 2w

56 likes11 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Several of you have asked me about Zeke and how he is doing. Lots has happened this week, and the news could be better…

Zeke had an ultrasound on Wednesday. The results came back today. No large tumors, which is good news. However, he shows signs of chronic pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel. The most concerning are his lymph nodes around the stomach and intestine. They are enlarged—these could be related to his GI issues or ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ early signs of cancer. I now have to set up a consultation with an internal medicine specialist and discuss either a more focused ultrasound and/or an endoscopic biopsy of the lymph nodes and possibly the intestine. Everyone place that offers this that works with my vet is a drive. But, we‘ll get through this. Honestly, I‘m tired and stressed and had to break down and cry all Tuesday night. It‘s a lot, but it could be worse. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I‘m still processing this latest development. But, I know we‘re one step closer to finding out a solid diagnosis. Please continue sending special thoughts for Zeke. He‘s a trooper! #catsoflitsy #Zeke #notbookrelated #nbr 3w

BooksandCoffee4Me Oh, I‘m so sorry! He‘s beauty and I will pray for him. 3w

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Librarybelle Thank you, @BooksandCoffee4Me ! 3w

NatalieR This is a lot to process and a very stressful situation. I feel for you and am sending healing vibes to Zeke. ❤️‍🩹 3w

Bookwormjillk Aw, thinking of you and Zeke 3w

Elizabeth2 You‘re such a good pet parent. Hope you get answers soon, and for the best possible outcome. ❤️🐾 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @NatalieR @Bookwormjillk @Elizabeth2 ! 3w

shortsarahrose That‘s a lot to process. I hope for the best for you and Zeke 💜 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @shortsarahrose ! 3w

Ruthiella ❤️❤️❤️ 3w

Reggie Sending all the good thoughts for you and Zeke. 3w

Leftcoastzen My thoughts and healing wishes for you and Zeke ! 3w

dabbe Zeke is the luckiest boy to have you for his momma. Holding you and your boys (especially the Zekemeister) in my thoughts. Please keep us updated. 🖤🐾🐾🐾🐾🖤 (paws for all those boys! 🤗) 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Ruthiella @Reggie @Leftcoastzen @dabbe ! 3w

JessClark78 🖤🐾 2w

MaureenMc 💗💗💗 2w

Mimi28 Hugs and prayers to you and all of your pets. 🫶🏽😊🩷🤗🙏🏽😻 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Mimi28 @MaureenMc @JessClark78 ! 2w

CoverToCoverGirl Hugs to you and your fur babies from me and my 4 fur babies. 💙 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @CoverToCoverGirl ! 2w

DebinHawaii Zeke and you are in my thoughts & prayers. 💜💜💜 2w

63 likes22 comments

Librarybelle

A Jane Austen Year | Jane Austen\'s House curators

So excited my copy arrived!!! I‘ve paged through, and it is gorgeous.

If you are unaware, this year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen‘s birth. Jane Austen‘s House in Chawton put together a book that chronicles everything Austen each month of the year. Perfect for any Austen fan!

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 3w

ferskner Oh dang, take my money Chawton House! 3w

Leftcoastzen Wow , nice ! 3w

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MaureenMc 😻 I‘ve been enjoying their podcast. 3w

Librarybelle @dabbe @ferskner @Leftcoastzen It‘s swoon worthy! 😂 3w

Librarybelle @MaureenMc I still need to listen to it! 3w

AnneCecilie I so wants to get my hands on this one 3w

Librarybelle @AnneCecilie I got my copy through Blackwell‘s! 3w

AnneCecilie I‘m not in the UK, but hope to get it from either a bookstore close to me or online, but I‘m not a fan of online buying. 3w

Librarybelle @AnneCecilie Understandable. I‘m in the US, and it was cheaper to order it directly from there than to try and order it from a store here. 3w

Trashcanman There was an author born on February 7th 1812. I do the opposite of celebrating. 3w

Librarybelle @Trashcanman 😂 I had to look up who was born on that day, and I agree! So not a fan. 😂 3w

Trashcanman @Librarybelle 😂 I hope you have a wonderful day. 🤗 3w

Librarybelle You too, @Trashcanman ! 3w

DebinHawaii Lovely! I am coveting this one! 😍 2w

Librarybelle @DebinHawaii 😊 2w

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

I apologize—I should have posted this sooner! Zeke is going through another rough patch & has an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday. I picked up more meds for him from the vet today. I‘m not as consistent keeping up with everything else. 😂

April‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is by the amazing Kate Quinn! Read at your own pace; discussion on April 30th. All are welcome to join. 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

mcctrish I‘ve got it and this is the kick in the pants I need to start it ( poor Zeke ) 3w

Librarybelle @mcctrish I‘m really excited about this one! And thanks! 3w

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Deblovestoread Looking forward to this one. Sending pets to Zeke. Hope things improve. 3w

Librarybelle @Deblovestoread Thank you! And yes…I really liked her The Diamond Eye, so I have high expectations for this one. 3w

kspenmoll I am in! 3w

kspenmoll Hang in there with Zeke. We all understand. Love to you & Zeke. 🩷🩷 3w

Karisa Oooh, I‘ve been looking forward to this one! Snagged it on sale awhile back. Hope your lovey is feeling better soon 💗 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @kspenmoll @Karisa ! 3w

dabbe Sending 🖤🐾🖤 to you and Zeke! 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe ! 3w

TheBookHippie Poor Zeke. 3w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Thanks! He did have a better day today, even before his new round of meds I gave him tonight. It‘ll be good to know what is going on with him. 3w

Prairiegirl_reading I hope everything is ok with Zeke! I‘ve got this one so I‘ll get on it! 3w

AllDebooks Oh Zeke, stay well furbaby. ❤️🐾❤️ 3w

BethM Ohh I‘m going to read this one! 3w

Sace I hope they can get to the bottom of what‘s ailing Zeke. Glad to hear he had a better day. I‘m looking forward to reading this book. 3w

Mollyanna Poor Zeke. I hope the vet can help him feel better. Looking forward to this one. 3w

tpixie Thanks! Hugs 🤗 to you and wishing for Good health for Zeke! ❤️‍🩹 3w

Librarybelle Thanks everyone! @Prairiegirl_reading @AllDebooks @Sace @Mollyanna @tpixie 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @BethM ! So happy you can join in for this one. I‘ll add you to the April tag list! 3w

CatLass007 I‘m so sorry that Zeke is still ailing. It‘s hard when it‘s our fur babies or our biological babies to be sick. We feel worse emotionally than they do because we‘re completely helpless. I hope today is a better day for both of you. 3w

PurpleyPumpkin Aww so sorry to hear about Zeke! Hopefully, he‘s feeling better. Given all that you‘re going through, it‘s amazing that you‘re still posting anything! Thanks for all you do!☺️ 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @CatLass007 @PurpleyPumpkin ! 3w

BookwormAHN Poor Zeke 💗 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @BookwormAHN ! 3w

Jerdencon Ohh A just red this for ITL book club so I‘ll def join. Hope Zeke feels better soon ❤️ 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Jerdencon ! 3w

DebinHawaii Wishing Zeke the best, always.🐱💛 Please add me to the list for this one. I‘m also reading it for #AuthorAMonth & my #AuldLangSpine list. 🤗 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @DebinHawaii , for your continued thoughts about Zeke! I‘ll add you to the tag list for April! 2w

Sargar114 I‘m sorry to hear about Zeke, but I have this one and should be joining this month. Positive thoughts your way! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Sargar114 ! 2w

59 likes32 comments

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Thanks for the tag, @DebinHawaii and @TheSpineView !

#5JoysFriday

1. My boys…always. Pictures from this week.
2. Xander‘s bloodwork came back normal.
3. Zeke finished his medication, but he‘s having some GI issues again. He goes for an ultrasound next week. Partial joy for a few days without meds!
4. IRL book club was hilarious this week!
5. So many library holds arrived! #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime

Aims42 🥰💛🧡🩷 3w

ShelleyBooksie Handsome boys! 3w

DebinHawaii Wonderful joys! 💛💛💛 Love those sweet furry boys! 😻 3w

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dabbe 🩵💙🩵 3w

Leftcoastzen Sweet boys ! 😻😻😻😻I had a boy on an IBS food years ago , it helped.wasn‘t perfect though. 3w

TheSpineView YW!❤️🐾❤️ 3w

Librarybelle Thanks @Aims42 @ShelleyBooksie @DebinHawaii @dabbe ! 3w

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen Talking with my vet today, she thinks Zeke has moved beyond just pancreatitis, and she wants to do the ultrasound to rule out lymphoma—how scary that both lymphoma and IBS or IBD have such similar symptoms. Zeke is also adjusting to his new food. Poor guy! 3w

Librarybelle @TheSpineView 😁❤️ 3w

dabbe @Librarybelle The poor Zekemeister! What a tough little man. 🖤🐾🖤 Holding good thoughts that he'll soon be as good as new. 🤞🏻 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe ! 3w

Leftcoastzen Poor guy! I‘m hopeful for the best for Zeke. 😻 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Leftcoastzen ! 3w

shortsarahrose My sister‘s cat has also had some GI issues and had to get an ultrasound. She was so pitiful with her shaved belly! They think it is IBD, so her cat started a special food plus probiotics and is now starting a low dose steroid. I hope Zeke‘s ultrasound goes well and you‘re able to find a treatment that helps. 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @shortsarahrose ! I keep thinking of the shaved belly he‘ll have next week. But, hopefully we‘ll get answers and find the best treatment finally for him. 3w

Texreader Always good to hear your cat updates but so hoping Zeke does well. ♥️🐈‍⬛♥️🐈♥️♥️♥️ 3w

TheBookHippie Poor thing. Hope answers are easy! Winnie is gluten free these past few years and much better since -but figuring that out was 😵‍💫 and switching her food was zero fun. So sending love! 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Texreader @TheBookHippie ! This has been very stressful, but I know we‘ll eventually get the answers we need. 3w

kspenmoll So sorry about Zeke! I am hoping for the best. Sending love from me, Poe & Em. 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @kspenmoll ! 3w

MemoirsForMe Hug those boys for me! 😻 3w

Librarybelle Will do, @MemoirsForMe ! 3w

63 likes22 comments

Librarybelle

The Murder on the Links | Agatha Christie

We have less than two weeks to go before our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! I‘ve seen some good reviews and comments on rereading so far on Litsy, so this should make a good discussion on the 30th! Anything to share with the others? #AgathaChristieClubR3

janeycanuck, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Laughterhp, Sace, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill

suvata Can you add me to your list? I really would love to join in with you on this. 4w

Librarybelle Of course, @suvata ! Welcome! 4w

Morr_Books I just started this and love the beginning so far. The first scene was very intriguing and amusing. 4w

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Librarybelle Yay, @Morr_Books ! 3w

TheAromaofBooks Possibly the most unbelievable romance of all time 😂 but a fun mystery nonetheless!! 3w

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks 😂 3w

PurpleyPumpkin Could I be added to your list? I started down this path (reading AC books in pub order) with an earlier Litsy book club but didn‘t quite make it all the way through. And I wasn‘t great at following through on my own!🤪 3w

Librarybelle Of course, @PurpleyPumpkin ! 3w

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

Check in time for #LiteraryCrew ! We‘re less than two weeks away from our next #BuddyRead discussion. Any comments to share?

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

Cuilin Just started. 4w

Prairiegirl_reading I wasn‘t able to get this one. Please tag me for next time. 😊 4w

Librarybelle Will do, @Prairiegirl_reading ! 4w

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Sace I won‘t be reading this one but I‘m in for the next one. Please keep the tags coming 😁 4w

Librarybelle Will do, @Sace ! 4w

tpixie I haven‘t gotten to it yet but I want to! 4w

Librarybelle I did not start it yet either, @tpixie ! 4w

tpixie @Librarybelle 🩵💙🩵 4w

Pogue Finished it last night. 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @Pogue ! 3w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

#RantTime

It was not really reported in the news today, but DOGE made its way to the IMLS office this morning. Changes in leadership this morning has also greatly concerned libraries and museums, given the rhetoric used by the newly appointed director.

As a former public librarian, and one with a library degree, I am absolutely devastated. Libraries are for everyone. Librarians are not to censor, pass judgment, or hide truths. We have a code ⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️ that we uphold, a bill of rights for libraries. I am concerned for my friends and former colleagues who still work in public libraries and what they may have to do, and more specifically, what dangers they have to face. Libraries are not the enemy. And, librarians do not promote pornography to children. I‘m including links to some cites for more info and to contact your local representatives. Some of these links have been shared before, ⬇️ 4w

Librarybelle ⬆️ while others are updated information on this rapidly evolving story. Sorry—I know this does not impact non-US Littens, but please think of us. Here are the links: 4w

Librarybelle https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/promo/68H 4w

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Librarybelle https://www.everylibrary.org/statementsonderlingimls 4w

Librarybelle https://5calls.org/issue/institute-museum-library-services-imls-ala/ 4w

Deblovestoread 💔💔💔 4w

Aims42 Thank you for sharing this! I‘m off Facebook now so I don‘t get these updates, I appreciate you sharing all these links too!! 4w

Librarybelle @Aims42 You‘re welcome! 4w

shortsarahrose Thank you for posting this. I‘ve been so angry about this. I work in an academic library/archive, and we received a small IMLS grant for implementing digital preservation practices in our archive. I‘ve contacted my senators and congresswoman (though they are all Republicans who probably won‘t care 🙃) 4w

Librarybelle Of course, @shortsarahrose ! I don‘t think many understand how much the grants funded through IMLS help with services in all libraries. Take that away, or put restrictions on it, and that hinders so much in a 21st-century library. 4w

Bette Thank you for the info and links. I just wrote to my senator but will be writing again and also sharing these with friends. (I‘m a retired, but not retiring, librarian) 4w

Librarybelle You‘re welcome, @Bette ! 4w

Leftcoastzen So sick of these idiots! Our libraries & museums are national treasures! 😡 4w

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen They are treasures! 4w

dabbe #ranttime Atticus Finch stated that the courts “are our great equalizers.“ So are our libraries! Reading is knowledge. They want to take that away from us so that they can continue perpetuating their evil scams. How, how, how, could anyone have voted for this asshole? It's a question I ask myself hundreds of times a day.

I've been writing and will continue to do so. Thanks for this. 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 4w

Librarybelle Of course, @dabbe ! 4w

Hooked_on_books Thanks for posting this. Libraries are so important! 4w

Librarybelle You‘re welcome, @Hooked_on_books ! 4w

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Librarybelle

A Lovely Lie | Jaime Lynn Hendricks

pick

OMG…this was good! Hilary Huber as the voice narrator for the audio edition is superb. Told in parallel narratives in the form of flashbacks, two best friends are invoked in a fatal accident in 1999. Over twenty years later, what really happened that night is finally coming to light. Great twists and surprises that found me making excuses to keep the audio running. I‘d definitely read more by Hendricks! #LitsyAToZ #LetterL

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Librarybelle

Homicide in Hardcover | Kate Carlisle

This was a reread for me, and I forgot how much I enjoyed this when I read it several years ago—I reread it for my IRL book club, and the other members were not as enthusiastic. Still a pick for me!

Hopefully this propels me to continue with the series. #LitsyAToZ #LetterH #52BookClub25 #HasAnEpigraph

Texreader

KathyWheeler I really enjoyed this series until the last few books. 4w

Librarybelle @KathyWheeler Sometimes series go on for way too long. 4w

KathyWheeler @Librarybelle you‘re right. For me it just got tiring hearing her fawn over Derek all the time. 4w

Librarybelle @KathyWheeler I had to sit the Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke to the side…it just got so repetitive and absurd for me. Though, the recipes sounded delicious! 4w

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Librarybelle

Death of a Smuggler | M. C. Beaton

pick

I had to set every book aside to devour this one in 24 hours! The latest Hamish Macbeth, this one looks at smuggling of whisky and sex trafficking in Scotland. As always with a Hamish Macbeth, the quirky characters of Lochdubh help Hamish investigate. The reader pretty much guesses the culprit early on, but it‘s fun to see the twists Hamish‘s investigation takes. I read these purely for escape, and this did not disappoint!

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 18: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion | Carolyn Keene

The April #NancyDrewBR book takes us to a moss-covered mansion (who knew?!?). The versions vary—the 1971 version starts with explosive oranges!

Discussion takes place on April 15th. All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to added or removed from the tag list!

BarkingMadRead 🍊 💥 1mo

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead 😂 1mo

Ruthiella No doubt, Carson has in the meantime taught Nancy how to defuse explosive oranges. 🍊 😜 1mo

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Librarybelle He‘d be an expert! Who would have thought…a very niche skill set…defusing explosive oranges! 😂 @Ruthiella 1mo

Sace Oh this should be fun! I‘ll be reading the explosive oranges version. 1mo

Librarybelle Let‘s hope this lives up to our expectations, @Sace ! 😂 1mo

Sace I‘m hoping someone read the version prior to 1969. I‘d love to know how that plot went since I highly doubt the space program was that central to the plot. (edited) 2d

Librarybelle @Sace Yes! It is a very different plot, snd I think the mansion plays a bigger role in the story. 2d

Sace If the earlier version did have more pirates and conquistadores then I would like to track down a copy and read it. 2d

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

Good morning #LittenDetectives ! I have 6 questions/comments posted as spoilers for today‘s #NancyDrewBR discussion; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Different plot lines between the story versions! It‘ll be interesting to see how they compare!

Our next books, also with different plot lines, is The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion. Official post tomorrow!

Ruthiella Can‘t wait to see what Nancy and co get up to in the next one! 😃 1mo

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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6. I almost forgot to ask about the mystery! We thought about the setting and the characters, but let's now think about the mystery or the mysteries.

I thought it was pretty ingenious how the crooks hid all of the stones and gems throughout the brass-bound trunk, including behind the lettering on the trunk (1976).

It did seem implausible that the FBI would completely believe Nancy in the 1976 version. #NancyDrewBR

DGRachel I did like the hidden gems but I wonder how it wasn‘t more obvious. False bottoms? Easy hiding place. Under lining? Didn‘t it look bumpy? 1mo

Ruthiella @DGRachel I agree. The hiding places in the trunk were odd. 1mo

Ruthiella The mystery was a little tired for me. Jewel thieves again? 🥱 1mo

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DebinHawaii The 1940‘s trunk had the jewels in the brass bindings & the scheme was blackmailing luggage firms in financial difficulty to make trunks for smuggling which seems pretty niche. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Like the FBI in 1976, I was surprised the Argentinian authorities in 1940 believed Nancy. (edited) 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii
Yes, that trunk lining was definitely bumpy. I mean, this is Nancy Drew we are talking about. You expect me to believe she had to search this trunk more than once? Puh-lease.

I did think that leaving the bracelet which Nelda was accused of stealing to be found in the clasp at the very end WAS a nice twist though. 1mo

dabbe I got all “wrapped“ up in the paper lining. WTH? I had to research antique trunks just to see what they were talking about. And then drying the sheets under the bed but then, who cares? Let the villains see we've ransacked their trunk. 😳 And no call from dad ever? Only Ned?
And Carson's comment at the end: “We'll dub it the finger-language gang heist.“ I can think of a certain kind of finger for sure. 🤣 1mo

DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement I agree about that last find/twist. That was good. 1mo

DGRachel @dabbe 🤣🤣🤣 1mo

MariaW First the jewels and then stolen govermental papers all in go seemed a bit too much for me, especially ending up on boat cruise starting in Europe. Why not take a cruise ship from South Africa right away? 1mo

kwmg40 I actually liked the mystery aspect of this installment. The twists kept me reading to the end. 1mo

Librarybelle I missed having Carson and Hannah in this one, @dabbe ! And interesting that the Argentinian authorities also believed Nancy in the 1940 edition, @DebinHawaii . @DGRachel @Ruthiella @CogsOfEncouragement @MariaW @kwmg40 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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5. Each version introduces its own slate of secondary characters. Personally, the two guys who throw Nancy and Nelda overboard in the 1976 version were awful!

Think about the secondary characters you meet in this book. Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea In the 76 version, Rod is as useful, admiring, & accommodating as anyone could possibly be! Young Bobby stands out as quite the obnoxious brat. I also took note of the young men our girls spent time with, especially "Tubby." I was interested that Bess wasn't chided for her weight this time but a point was made about this chubby youth. ? 1mo

DGRachel That little boy was so rotten. I did like the way most of the ship‘s crew was suspicious and ended up just being inept or infatuated with Nancy. 😂 1mo

DGRachel @bookandbedandtea Fat-shaming must be a plot checklist item handed out to all the ghostwriters. I did think that if it had to be someone, at least it wasn‘t Bess. 1mo

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bookandbedandtea In the 1940 version there are a million characters so few of them stand out. Mrs Joslin was unnecessarily nasty and Doris chose an unusual disguise but, overall, there was no depth to any of the secondary characters. Nancy and Carson seemed off in this one too. Nancy came off as more of a busy body than a sleuth and Carson was more indifferent than I'm used to. 1mo

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I had that impression too! That a point about weight had to be made so, if we give Bess a break, someone else has to take the heat. So annoying! 1mo

Ruthiella For me, Rod Havelock is the stand out character in the 70s version. He‘s the Ned Nickerson here - ready to help Nancy at a moment‘s notice. All the other pursers were probably pissed at having to pick up his slack. 😆 1mo

DebinHawaii That little boy Bobby in 1976–so annoying! Also skateboarding on the ship as many times as it rocked about seems a bit crazy! There were too many characters in 1940, why I liked 1976 slightly better but standout for why bother was the blind woman Nancy kept “rescuing”—it added nothing to the plot. And Nancy‘s chaperone in Buenos Aries, Mrs. Purdy seemed to know or be related to every random character. 🙄 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement I thought the Bobby character could have been used better, I kinda liked that he was the reason the stickers were off the trunk. I thought this could have been charmingly cheeky if they hadn't made us hate him already. There could have been harmless childishness he was involved in as an unattended, bored kid on a ship that was just funny rather than how the character was written. 1mo

dabbe I wanted to give Bobby a major kick in the arse! I missed our regular players in this one. Couldn't there have been a way for Ned, Burt, and Dave to be on the cruise, too? No, wait. They're hard-working college students. It's the girls who get to live in luxury and cruise all over the world--even dating cute men on board. What a life! 1mo

Bookwormjillk @bookandbedandtea I agree, too many characters and none of them had depth. I also agree there was something off about the usuals. And what happened to the cat? 1mo

bookandbedandtea @Bookwormjillk The whole thing about the cat was weird. First, it's not ok to anonymously give someone a cat! And then there was no reason, plot- wise, for the cat to exist. It went on the cruise, was reunited with Mrs Purdy, and then was never mentioned again. 🤷‍♀️ Speaking of the usuals- Bess and George both felt a little out of character to me too. 1mo

MariaW Did anyone realize that in the 1976 version the ND group was silently wangling the boys‘ group out of the other teenage girls, even though they had their boyfriends at home? And why was Nelda, as tge captain‘s niece, put into a cabin with three strangers when there was an empty cabin available right next to it? (edited) 1mo

Librarybelle I picked up on both of those, @MariaW . Bobby was terrible! And, interesting that there were a lot of characters in the 1940 edition…I would think that would make the book harder for kids to read, to remember the characters??? @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @Bookwormjillk 4w

DGRachel @MariaW I totally didn‘t catch that about the empty room! But yes. Now that‘s going to bother me, too! 😂 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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4. Nancy faints in this one (I think in both 1940 and 1976)! We also find George in the infirmary (at least in 1976) and a meteor (also 1976) rocks the ship. I read the 1976, and it just seemed more convoluted than other story lines (but I am still secretly miffed we don't know why Nancy visited the Netherlands).

What did you think of the adventures in this book? Any standouts? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea The 1976 version has the meteor (🤣), the attempted mugging of the ship's captain, a young boy in desperate need of supervision, the girl's stateroom being searched, and Nancy and Nelda being thrown overboard. It was wildly action packed! 1mo

DGRachel I think we all know how I feel about the meteor. 🤣🤣 I did rather enjoy the girls getting locked in the hold. Nancy and Nelda getting thrown overboard was wild. A lot happened and I think maybe too much. 1mo

DGRachel Also, I remember thinking “Nancy Drew doesn‘t faint!” Little me was offended. 🤣🤣 1mo

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Ruthiella @DGRachel I loved the meteor if only because it still LITERALLY makes me laugh until my eyes water. 😂 It was so bizarre! I feel like, so far this is the title most likely to have been written by an actual 10 year old. 😆 1mo

DebinHawaii As crazy as the meteor was in 76 & how convoluted the plot was, I found 40 even more so (which could be because I read it last) but there was no meteor at least. @DGRachel in 1940 Nancy got a serious knock on the head #NNK while locked in a store then while trying to escape after, passed out for several hours until 3AM, before she makes her way back to where she is staying & then pretty much just gets on with her day. The noggin is tough! 😂🤕😂 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement This is another one that felt convoluted to me. Bits of peril sprinkled haphazardly through the story like in a couple other mysteries we've already read. When Chapter One had Nancy almost fall in the ocean for no good reason before the ship set sail I was afraid that was going to be the case.

The meteor? What? Just...what?

Being thrown overboard? Swimming in freezing open water, but then not needing much rest? Huh? 1mo

dabbe @Ruthiella Maybe it was Bobby. 🤔🤣🤩 1mo

dabbe WTH was the meteor even there for? Just to shake things up? And afterwards they pretty much dust themselves off and go about their business.

And, you can't even tell us why they're on this cruise but you devote time to a meteor? 😳 1mo

bookandbedandtea @dabbe Right!? A couple lines about what they were doing in Europe (we know they had been in Switzerland where Nancy did some swimsuit shopping but I don't think anything else was mentioned) would have been appreciated! 1mo

Bookwormjillk In the 1940 version Nancy got struck by lightning pretty early on too. Or maybe a tree branch hit her when it got struck by lightning? I wasn‘t really sure. 1mo

Sace @Ruthiella ME TOO! It‘s probably the number one reason that this was a pick for me. 🤣 1mo

Sace Have we all forgotten the dead rat between the trunks (1976)?What was that all about? There‘s was definitely a lot of random “peril”, but it made me laugh. 1mo

MariaW I wanted to check the unlikely event of meteor hitting a ship and it actually happened, once in 1648 and another time in 1908. 🙈 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19080429.2.37 What are the odds? A likely event to happen to Nancy Drew! 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 1mo

kwmg40 The meteor was definitely bewildering. What really made me laugh were the cartoonish illustrations of the girls in peril in my 1976 edition. 1mo

Librarybelle OMG the dead rat, @Sace ! I think I said “eww” out loud. The meteor is the most bizarre episode I think we saw, though it‘s odd that Nancy is struck by lightning or a tree branch struck by lightning in the 1940 edition, @Bookwormjillk ! @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @MariaW @kwmg40 4w

Ruthiella @MariaW Thanks for doing the research. 😃 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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3. In the 1940 edition, Nancy travels to South America. She has to travel somewhere, and with World War II happening, I suppose South America it is!

1940s South America not only became a refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe, it later became a refuge for former Nazis fleeing captivity.

And, nations like the US saw an opportunity to capitalize on partnerships. Link in comments to a documentary from the 1940s! #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Link to the documentary: https://youtu.be/d8Lo1mkqdi8?si=kwvLI4xspMbxwfog 1mo

bookandbedandtea I thought the reason behind Nancy's journey to Argentina was bizarre- her dad had to go "west" (later revealed to be Salt Lake City) for a period of time and, rather than leave Nancy at home with Hannah, he arranged for Nancy, Bess, and George to go on a months long trip to South America?? I mean, fun! But also, weird! 1mo

DGRachel @bookandbedandtea That is bizarre! It‘s not like he hasn‘t traveled before and left Nancy with Hannah. He usually lets her go gallivanting all over the US with just Bess and George. 1mo

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Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea So funny. It‘s like the authors don‘t even attempt at continuity of character! It would have been so easy to think up some other pretext for the trip. Like maybe the house needed to be fumigated…😂 1mo

DebinHawaii It was wacky the reasons for the trip in 1940 & I found Carson especially annoying in this book as he seemed flippant with Nancy & not especially worried about her more about the case. Also Nancy & team are accused in NYC of stealing a bracelet & Nancy plays the “I‘m Carson Drew‘s daughter” card with the plainclothes detectives & they know him & back off. Nepotism at its finest! 😆 1mo

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella Good idea! 🐜 I had thought it would be easier for Nancy & Co to be invited by Mrs Purdy or for them to already be friends with some of the girls from the school. The explanation this author chose seemed clunky and overly complicated. @DGRachel Yes, he travels all the time and has never felt the need to send Nancy away while he does so which made this choice feel strange. 1mo

bookandbedandtea @DebinHawaii I agree. Carson was not the affectionate and concerned father we're used to. Ned was pretty annoying too. How many times did he discourage Nancy from thinking of mysteries and try to focus her on other things? He wasn't in it much but he definitely wasn't the supportive boyfriend we usually see. 1mo

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella @DGRachel @bookandbedandtea Maybe he was worried he wouldn‘t make it back from the “wilds” of the west! 🙄😂 1mo

Bookwormjillk It seemed like it took FOREVER for the girls to get on the boat. And Nancy was all sorts of annoying losing her passport and almost missing the boat following someone. I usually like Nancy but thought she was pretty unlikable in this one. 1mo

Sace @bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @DGRachel even more annoying the end of the last book had an audience member tell Nancy that he needed her help in solving the mystery of the Brass-bound trunk. Why couldn‘t they have continued that for this book? Though I‘m not sure if that was the ending for the original ending on the Tapping heels. 1mo

Ruthiella @Sace You‘re right! I‘d totally forgotten. Yes! Why not use that segue way? 🤨 1mo

Sace @Ruthiella I‘d be interested to know if Mildred Wirt Benson was still involved at this point and how much power the editor had. If she wrote the segue, why not let her use it? 1mo

MariaW In the 1976 version there was no explanation whatsoever why they might have travelled Europe, that annoyed me pretty much. 1mo

bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella @sace Yes! I had totally forgotten that the last book had someone offering Nancy this mystey! I wonder what story that writer intended and how that would have played out. 🤔 1mo

Sace @bookandbedandtea while the next mystery is always hinted at in the final lines, I don‘t recall it being as concrete as an actual client making the request. That‘s usually at the beginning of each book. I was very disappointed that the segue didn‘t pan out. 1mo

Librarybelle @Sace Mildred Benson is still writing the books at this point. I saw that in the edition I read in an acknowledgement section. What an odd reason to go to South America! @bookandbedandtea @DGRachel @Ruthiella @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MariaW 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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2. In the 1976 edition, Nancy uncovers part of the mystery by observing suspects use sign language. She refers to this as “finger language,“ and the casualness of this speaks to the struggles the deaf community have faced to fully recognize sign language as a legitimate form of communication. It was not until 1965 that American Sign Language garnered recognition!

A link to ASL history from Gallaudet University is in the comments. #NancyDrewBR

Librarybelle Link: https://gallaudet.edu/museum/exhibits/history-through-deaf-eyes/awareness-access...

I would also recommend the book True Biz by Sara Novic; it's a fictional account centered on a school for the deaf, but it really also shows the discrimination and the struggles the community has faced. A great book! 1mo

DGRachel The dismissiveness of finger language really upset me. That coupled with that stupid meteor brought me centimeters from bailing on this one. 1mo

Ruthiella I third the recommendation of

True Biz: From the author of the Women�s Prize longlisted GIRL AT WAR

1mo

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DebinHawaii It was interesting to me that that the 1940 version had a blind young woman with a guide dog on the ship that of course Nancy helped by holding her up when the ship rocked to stop her from falling & then pleading with customs in Buenos Aries to let her in the country because she was a talented musician & wouldn‘t be a burden & then again in the city from being hit by a car when “street urchins” unfastened her service dog‘s leash. ⬇️ 1mo

DebinHawaii Both portrayals (blind and deaf) were not great. 🙁 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement The decision to us the term finger language is so confusing to me. Even if they were thinking “this is a kids book, they won't understand“ - a sentence is all it would have taken to explain the proper term. I was in elementary school in the late '70s and I clearly remember reading a book about Helen Keller. It had a chart in the back with the ASL letters of the alphabet which I enjoyed learning. I feel like most kids knew about this. 1mo

dabbe I also read into it that it was so difficult to do that even Nancy (who of course learned sign language) couldn't remember any letters except her name. NANCY couldn't remember? OUR Nancy? C'mon, man! Cringeworthy, indeed. 1mo

Bookwormjillk I liked True Biz too. Great book. 1mo

Sace @CogsOfEncouragement I agree! It also annoyed me that sign language was presented as if the only thing that existed was the alphabet and that to communicate one would have to spell every word out. 1mo

Sace @dabbe AND she lost a ping pong match!!! C‘mon! Who wrote this!? 🤣 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement @Sace I was on the edge of my seat to see how they were going to write that part! lol When she didn‘t win the match I figured they decided to show she is a good sport when she loses. ha! 1mo

dabbe @Sace Thank the lord she was an “expert swimmer“ and could survive being overthrown into the ocean! 🤣 1mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Good point! Sherlock could use a few more of those lessons sometimes. 🤣 1mo

MariaW I agree with @Sace. How long mist have those conversiontion between the two culprits taken when spelling out every single word. 🙈 1mo

kwmg40 @Sace Yes, the fact that Nancy lost at both ping-pong and shuffleboard was definitely the most implausible aspect of this book! 😆 1mo

Librarybelle Wow, @DebinHawaii ! That‘s very interesting about those portrayals in the 1940 edition. It did seem weird for 1976 that the only sign language used was the alphabet, though I suppose the culprits (and Nancy) only felt they needed to know just the alphabet??? Admittedly, I know the alphabet and very few words in sign language. @DGRachel @Ruthiella @CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe @Bookwormjillk @Sace @MariaW @kwmg40 4w

dabbe @Sace IKR? 🤩 4w

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Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

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1. This month's book has differing plot lines between the original and the revised. In 1940, Nancy and friends travel to South America as part of a tour group and help out a friend of Carson Drew with a mystery. In 1976, Nancy and friends return to NYC from the Netherlands and befriend a young woman recently accused of stealing a diamond bracelet in Johannesburg. Both mysteries, of course, have a brass-bound trunk! Which did you read? #NancyDrewBR

bookandbedandtea I read both versions and liked the '76 a little better. The 1940 version feels like a string of random events and people; I never felt like it formed a cohesive story. 1mo

DGRachel I had the 1976 version. I think I need to check my local used bookstore to see if they have any of the original versions. 1mo

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I read the original version via a link @DebinHawaii provided: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20210625 1mo

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Bookwormjillk I‘m still only about halfway through the 1940 version. I‘ll check back when I finish hopefully later today. 1mo

Ruthiella I read the 1976 version as evidenced, I think, by the use of a kid riding a skateboard. I know skateboarding is far older than the‘70s, but it became quite popular in that decade. I remember, I was alive then and a kid myself. 😆 1mo

DebinHawaii I started with the 1976 version as those are what my library carries & @bookandbedandtea mentioned I was poking around & found the 1940 version & decided to read it too, mainly because I wanted to see the differences & go to South America. Neither was great but I liked the latter one a little better too. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement I read the 1976 version this time. 1mo

dabbe I've been reading the ones I grew up with--the 1970s versions. 1mo

Sace I read the 1976 version. 1mo

MariaW I also read the 1976 version. Thanks for the tip, @bookandbedandtea 1mo

kwmg40 I'd read the 1976 version. 1mo

BarkingMadRead I have the 1940 version 1mo

16 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

Nancy Drew 17: Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk | Carolyn Keene

so-so

Like @Ruthiella , I want to know why Nancy was on a ship going from the Netherlands to NYC! This one is not a favorite of mine—not only did I catch a few editing errors, but one of the adventure sequences seemed more convoluted than usual.

One thing, though: Nancy does not know how to speak Dutch, so I think there is finally one thing Nancy cannot do!

#LittenDetectives : Discussion on Saturday! #NancyDrewBR

rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, lauraisntwilder, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, Pageturner1, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze, julieclair

Ruthiella She‘s also a little pushy again, waking up the ship captain and getting him out of bed! 😆 1mo

Bookwormjillk I just started the earlier version last night. Hopefully that one makes more sense 🤞 1mo

Librarybelle @Ruthiella Yes! And he obliges! 😂 1mo

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Librarybelle I hope so, @Bookwormjillk ! 1mo

Marctgore Hello, I'm a professional illustrator, animator, and promoter with a focus on creating manga art, line art animations, 2D animated videos, and book trailers. Many successful authors have used these techniques to elevate their works, and I would be happy to offer some suggestions to increase the popularity and success of your book because it is truly unique and captivating. 1mo

BarkingMadRead 🤣🤣🤣 looks like Marcy is making the rounds of all the buddy reads 1mo

71 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

Rapture and Melancholy: The Diaries of Edna St. Vincent Millay | Edna St. Vincent Millay

I was a little worried I could not find a reasonably priced used copy of this, but thankfully I could! My library didn‘t have it, but I found a copy for less than 10.00 plus free shipping. Hooray! #SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie Yayyyyyyyy♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ (edited) 1mo

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie I started The Grand Design last night and love the writing so far. I didn‘t want to stop reading! 1mo

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I‘m really enjoying it. 1mo

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AmyG Me three. The writing really takes you back to that time. 1mo

Librarybelle @AmyG The writing does. It is very engaging! 1mo

kspenmoll I am waiting to find it- 1mo

mollyrotondo My library didn‘t have it either surprisingly. I had to order it. It should be arriving today! 4w

Librarybelle I was glad I could order it from a bookstore, @mollyrotondo . I‘m now ready for April! 4w

64 likes8 comments

Librarybelle

Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder | Terrie Farley Moran, Jessica Fletcher

pick

This might be my year to read more Murder, She Wrote books (such good comfort reading). A fitness guy is found dead in his gym, and Jessica has to clear a friend‘s name. My one quibble: I‘m not sure why authors are insistent that librarians will give away library card info (address, books out, etc.). That‘s a privacy issue! And even Jessica Fletcher would not get that from my lips. 😂

KathyWheeler That is such an annoying thing to me! Agatha Raisin is also always getting personal info from librarians. In all my years as a librarian, I never did and never would have done that. 1mo

Librarybelle @KathyWheeler Yes! Agatha Raisin is another one who seems to find the librarians willing to break privacy! It irks me every time. I also never did and never would have provided personal info. Sigh… 1mo

62 likes2 comments

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Joined September 2016