pickI‘m all for rich-people-behaving badly books, especially those involving secrets and suspense. I enjoyed this one—the people are horrible, they each have secrets, and there‘s someone who wants to cause harm. Add in the locked room trope, and you get the suspense element. The audio was really good, with multiple voice narrators portraying the multiple perspectives. Great distraction listen; I‘ve already checked out another audio by the author!
Katherine…I almost cried when I picked this up today! Thank you for lovely books, notebook, pins, and of course the kitty toys. The boys are already playing with them!
Littens are the best, and I so appreciate your friendship, Katherine. Thank you, and please hi to Em and Poe from me.
I know I still have so many thank you and notes to write to several generous friends—perhaps I should start writing when Zeke has me up during the night! 😂
so-soI picked this up because the premise sounded like a good suspense story—federal agents tracking down a killer or killers who copy the style of H.H. Holmes (who was depicted in Erik Larson‘s The Devil in the White City). But…I was bored. And the writing style was not to my taste. A joke about Hotel California was told twice to describe two separate inns. I was also a bit lost by some of the side storylines (random ghosts) and realized that ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion title for October features magical realism with a bit of thriller elements.
Read at your own pace throughout the month. I‘ll post periodic check-ins; discussion on October 31st.
All are welcome! Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list.
The form is now open to make suggestions for titles for 2026! Link in comments below. I cannot wait to see your suggestions!
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, IriDas, Lkempf
My October #BookSpinBingo list! I‘m too tired to list exact titles, but I have plenty of books on my tbr that fit the listed categories. 😂
The #192030 Challenge is now live on The Storygraph! Link in comments.
The challenge runs January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2030. Read one book originally published in each year from 1920 through 2030.
The group's official hashtag is #192030 . Feel free to tag any book you are using for the challenge with the hashtag so others have some recommendations for the journey.
If you would like to be added to the tag list, comment below!
mabell, Maggie4483, Daisey, Kitta, BarkingMadRead, TheBookHippie, BarbaraJean, Amiable, Lizpixie, AnneCecilie, Gissy, Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick, Suet624, llwheeler, Deblovestoread, triplem80, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, kwmg40, Mollyanna, dabbe, tdrosebud, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair, AllDebooks
It's time for the #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 10 questions posted as spoilers; you can find these on my feed, the book's feed or by searching for the group's hashtag.
Next month, we are reading a book that seems perfect for this time of year: The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova. Official post tomorrow!
Also, it's time to think about 2026. Use the URL in the comments to offer suggestions for next year through October 31st!
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, IriDas, Lkempf10. Why do you think that the author chose the quotation by Scott Joplin as the
novel‘s epigraph? What does it signify? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
9. Many of the characters struggle for what they believe is right. Are they
successful? How are these struggles tied in to the notion of identity or
societal definitions of identity? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
8. The notion of value is prominent in the book. What do each of the characters
value? What consequences does this have for them? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
7. Why do you think that Mother and Tateh end up together? What draws them
together? How would this relationship have been viewed in the early 1900s?
How would it be viewed today? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
6. Does Coalhouse Walker, Jr. obtain justice? What does he sacrifice in the
process? How do his actions affect those around him? How does this scenario
relate to the justice system and civil rights struggles in today‘s society? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
5. When Evelyn Nesbit meets The Little Girl in the Pinafore, she is tied with
rope to her father‘s wrist so she won‘t be stolen. How does the author make
connections between Evelyn, The Little Girl, and Mameh? Why is Evelyn
drawn to Tateh and The Little Girl? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
4. While the characters represent different classes and races, they share much in
common. Discuss some of these commonalities. How are the characters different? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
3. The quest for freedom and peace is a key theme of Ragtime. How does the
author use Harry Houdini to illuminate the complexity of this quest? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
2. Why did the author choose the title Ragtime for this novel? ~adapted from Reading Guide
The Library of Congress has a nice description of ragtime music. Link in the comments!
#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
1. Describe the narrator of the story. Can we be certain of who it is, or does the
point of view shift throughout the story? How does Doctorow‘s method of narration relate to historical texts? ~from Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
October‘s #ChristiesCapers reacquaints us with Superintendent Battle of Chimneys fame. Discussion October 26th!
All are welcome to join; please let me know if you with your be added/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, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill
My brain is completely fried from last week, and I did not allow myself a lot of planning time for the discussion. My apologies, but there are 4 questions posted as spoilers that can be found on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #ChristiesCapers or #AgathaChristieClubR3 .
Next month, we look at The Seven Dials Mystery which reintroduces us to characters we met in The Secret of Chimneys. Official post tomorrow!
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill4. We explored Poirot, settings, & plot...now, let's visit the characters. Christie plays on the American millionaire (we'll see that too in Orient Express), and we also run into jewel thieves &, of course, people with secrets. Plus, Katherine Grey serves as a sounding board for Poirot. Any characters you wish to discuss with the group?
This is the first time Poirot's valet George is mentioned in the books! #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
3. The setting: the blue train. Christie uses travel in her mysteries quite a lot, and this will not be Poirot's only encounter with a mystery on a train (I'm looking at you, Orient Express). What do you think of the plot and the setting?
Incidentally, this marks the first time St. Mary Mead is mentioned in a Christie novel, which we will visit soon as the home of Miss Marple!
#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
2. In the first question, we compared the novel to prior Poirot novels, but I want to dive a little deeper into Poirot. In The Big Four, Poirot had a persona of an action hero. In this one, he's back to the Poirot we know. We're also experiencing Poirot without the aid of Hastings. Do you miss Hastings in this one? What can we glean from Poirot's character without the help of Hastings? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
1. This is our 6th book featuring Poirot (5th novel plus a collection of short stories). What did you think of this one? How does it compare to the prior Poirot novels we read?
A few facts:
*Christie hated this novel though it was well received by critics.
*The idea came from her 1923 short story The Plymouth Express.
*She was writing this as she grieved her mother's passing & was divorcing her husband.
#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3
I‘ve waited until the last minute to remind everyone, but our next #ChristiesCapers discussion is tomorrow! I know many have finished already, so hooray (and yes, this is MUCH better than The Big Four).
Questions will be posted before 12pm US East Coast time. #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, Sparklemn, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill
pickLet‘s just say Frances Perkins would be horrified by what is happening today…
What a remarkable woman and a remarkable book. Though at times very slow, the narrative takes the reader through Perkins‘ push to get social security for all older Americans. Her struggles and perseverance speaks to her commitment to a better life for laborers and the less fortunate. And her private struggles!
Great choice for #SundayBuddyRead , @TheBookHippie !
Wow! 9 years! It‘s hard to believe so much time has passed, and I am thankful for every moment. Litsy has become such a huge part of my life, and I am grateful for the special connections I have made, the books and rich discussions, and the sense of community. Thank you for being an amazingly supportive place.
Happy Litsyversary to my fellow Sept 26th Littens!
pickIt‘s always a treat to pick up a book by Ware—perfect escapism, even if you kind of guess how things are going to go. I found I wanted to yell at Lo sometimes to be smart. Seriously, how many times can you keep second guessing yourself over a bad decision and yet still make bad decisions?!?
Fast paced and a good read for this time of year. #Zeke #CatsOfLitsy
pickLate night finish of this audiobook. While I‘m still not a fan of Angie, this story was a good one overall. There‘s a big plot advancement in this one, so it shows good progression of the characters. I do wish I could visit Fairytale Cupcakes and sample the cupcakes!
Special thoughts, please. My dad had a stroke tonight right before I left my parents‘ house after visiting for a few hours. Good news is we convinced him to go to the hospital quickly and thus helped make sure he started receiving treatment/monitoring right away.
My dad has a history the consists of a heart attack and two bouts of colon cancer. I so hate hospitals.
Please keep us in your thoughts. 2025 is the worst year ever. #NotBookRelated
I think we all need a laugh, and this one hit me. Found on social media.
Yesterday, not very far from me, 3 officers were killed and 2 wounded while trying to serve a warrant. It even made national news. The details slowly leaking out are absolutely scary.
Such dark times. I‘ll be here with my cats and my house (not apartment) filled with books. And I‘ll manage! 😂 #NotBookRelated
What could the clue in the old album mean?!?
October‘s #NancyDrewBR title is the 24th in the series…hard to believe we are up to 24! Discussion on October 15th.
All are welcome to join. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list.
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze
so-soAt times over dramatic and at other times so many obstacles thrown into the narratives, this first in a projected quartet was just okay for me. I was also a little confused why the voice of a secondary character became a point of view for just a few chapters. Perhaps this is just not the book for me!
With the #192025 challenge drawing to a close, it‘s time to think about #192030 challenge—read one book originally published for each year from 1920 to 2030, starting January 1st and running through 2030.
The only rule is to select a book by original publication! You can make the challenge fit your needs in other way, including different authors, genres, or fiction or nonfiction.
Tagging those who initially expressed interest! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
We‘re two weeks away from the next #LiteraryCrew discussion! Discussion on the 30th.
As we prepare for our next discussion, start thinking about titles for next year. I‘ll post a Google form soon to submit suggestions for our voting round. Everyone came with a great list of titles this year; can‘t wait to see next year‘s suggestions!
We‘re less than two weeks away from our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! To anyone who has started it, how is it going? #AgathaChristieClubR3
janeycanuck, suvata, Aims42, MallenNC, Soscha, Cuilin, kspenmoll, BarbaraJean, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, MariaW, elkeOriginal, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, mrp27, Larkken, Suet624, Cailey_Mac, Deblovestoread, ferskner, Marmie7, MaleficentBookDragon, majkia, Bookwormjillk, StayCurious, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, BookNook, AnishaInkspill
It‘s been a day…month…year! Today is Zeke‘s 14th Gotcha Anniversary but it was unexpectedly spent with the roofers deciding to do my roof today (I knew they were coming this week, but not TODAY) which meant a day of noise and hiding (cats hid, I hovered especially by Xander who cannot have too many scares due to his heart).
A bright spot was my #SundayBuddyRead envelope in my mailbox. I‘m looking forward to another year of good reading!! ❤️ Yay!!
pickGhosts, pirates, a bad-smelling perfume, an abandoned home, and a missing Carson Drew. Sounds like a case for Nancy! A fun read with Nancy and her friends. I commented earlier on the abruptness of Ned‘s arrival. And hooray for Bess for showing she can be extra strong in a difficult situation! #NancyDrewBR
Better late than never! It‘s been a morning here. Zeke has been unwell the last couple of days, and then the roofers came without notice to replace my roof today. Yay for a non-leaky roof, but I was not prepared for the minimal notice I received about them coming today (and neither were the cats). My apologies.
I have 6 questions posted as spoilers for our discussion. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching #NancyDrewBR .
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, peanutnine, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze6. I think young me would have been terrified for Nancy and her friends in a cave that floods during high tide! Adult me knows they're going to get out, but young me probably would have had nightmares!
The perfume that acted as poison was a good touch, in my opinion. And thankfully, no exploding oranges.
What did you think of Nancy's adventures in this one? #NancyDrewBR
5. Before we go to the adventures and dangers, we have to talk about the side characters! Bess and her determination to get George out of the water was amazing! Go Bess!
I felt bad for everyone who had been swindled by the villains and hope that restitution comes to them (I finished this really late last night and cannot remember if Carson found all of the stolen money).
I also missed Hannah in this one! #NancyDrewBR
4. Let's look at the story line now. I've seen some in the group comment on this story line seems more plausible, and I agree. We'll talk about the dangers and the adventures in a later question.
Abandoned homes. Haunted caves. Shysters peddling Mon Coeur. It was interesting to me how all of these elements were tied up in the end. #NancyDrewBR
3. One thing that struck me with this was the various foods served at the cafe. Food plays a big role throughout the series, as we've commented on in the past, but this time really stood out for me. Fish pudding and salmon meringue especially.
Has anyone ever tried these? I'm including a recipe for fish pudding. I lead a fairly sheltered food life, so I was not aware of either dish prior to this book! #NancyDrewBR
2. Nancy, in part, is on the case of the tolling bell in the haunted cave. We hear discussion about the Paul Revere bells, which are indeed noteworthy.
Had you heard of Revere bells? Link in the comments to a Wikipedia post about them for a little background information. #NancyDrewBR
1. Nancy and her friends are on vacay! But, with a little bit of work and sleuthing thrown in. The 1946 and the 1973 versions are pretty similar--the 1946 version is titled “The Mystery or the Tolling Bell“ versus the 1973 version that is just “Mystery of the Tolling Bell.“
What did you think of this story overall? How does it compare to the prior 22 books? #NancyDrewBR
“At the steering wheel was Ned Nickerson, a friend of Nancy‘s who was staying nearby to sell insurance to parents of two college friends.”
Seriously?!? Can I roll my eyes that Ned happens to be in the same small town as Nancy and her friends??? It was lovely when he was in South America and not brooding over Nancy‘s mystery-loving personality. 😂
#NancyDrewBR
I picked this up from the library today—it sounds so good—and notice the end paper and the message on the page edges. I already have very high hopes for this one. Now, just to find the time to actually read it…😂
pickIt was enjoyable to visit an older title by Krentz. The hours flew by quickly for this audio. Paranormal energy, books that give off special vibes—definitely a good distraction listen.
The September #ChristiesCapers is the sixth book featuring Hercule Poirot. Let‘s hop on the blue train and solve the mystery using our little gray cells.
Discussion on September 28th. All are welcome! Please let me know if you wish to be added/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, Teresereading, Laughterhp, RainyDayReading, Skygoddess1, Morr_Books, PathfinderNicole, dabbe, tdrosebud, MaGoose, ElizaMarie, bcncookbookclub, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, kimrenee, AnishaInkspill
We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion! What special talent will Nancy show off this time??? Can she discover the mystery of the tolling bell? Discussion on the 15th!
rubyslippersreads, DebinHawaii, DGRachel, BarkingMadRead, Jennifer3, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, JenlovesJT47, MariaW, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Born.A.Reader, Bookwormjillk, Read4life, StayCurious, bookandbedandtea, Laughterhp, Sace, Bren912, kwmg40, CSeydel, Ruthiella, dabbe, Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures, Enchanted_Bibliophile, Allylu, TheAromaofBooks, Charityann, Roary47, KristiAhlers, PageShifter, AmandaBlaze
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
