Librarybelle

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 🥰💛🧡🩷 12h

ShelleyBooksie Handsome boys! 12h

DebinHawaii Wonderful joys! 💛💛💛 Love those sweet furry boys! 😻 11h

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dabbe 🩵💙🩵 11h

Leftcoastzen Sweet boys ! 😻😻😻😻I had a boy on an IBS food years ago , it helped.wasn‘t perfect though. 11h

TheSpineView YW!❤️🐾❤️ 11h

Librarybelle Thanks @Aims42 @ShelleyBooksie @DebinHawaii @dabbe ! 11h

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! 10h

Librarybelle @TheSpineView 😁❤️ 10h

dabbe @Librarybelle The poor Zekemeister! What a tough little man. 🖤🐾🖤 Holding good thoughts that he'll soon be as good as new. 🤞🏻 10h

Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe ! 10h

Leftcoastzen Poor guy! I‘m hopeful for the best for Zeke. 😻 10h

Librarybelle Thank you, @Leftcoastzen ! 10h

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. 9h

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. 9h

Texreader Always good to hear your cat updates but so hoping Zeke does well. ♥️🐈‍⬛♥️🐈♥️♥️♥️ 8h

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! 2h

Librarybelle Thank you, @Texreader @TheBookHippie ! This has been very stressful, but I know we‘ll eventually get the answers we need. 48m

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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. 2d

Librarybelle Of course, @suvata ! Welcome! 2d

Morr_Books I just started this and love the beginning so far. The first scene was very intriguing and amusing. 18h

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Librarybelle Yay, @Morr_Books ! 16h

TheAromaofBooks Possibly the most unbelievable romance of all time 😂 but a fun mystery nonetheless!! 14h

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks 😂 13h

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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. 2d

Prairiegirl_reading I wasn‘t able to get this one. Please tag me for next time. 😊 2d

Librarybelle Will do, @Prairiegirl_reading ! 2d

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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 😁 1d

Librarybelle Will do, @Sace ! 1d

tpixie I haven‘t gotten to it yet but I want to! 1d

Librarybelle I did not start it yet either, @tpixie ! 1d

tpixie @Librarybelle 🩵💙🩵 1d

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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, ⬇️ 2d

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: 2d

Librarybelle https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/promo/68H 2d

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Librarybelle https://www.everylibrary.org/statementsonderlingimls 2d

Librarybelle https://5calls.org/issue/institute-museum-library-services-imls-ala/ 2d

Deblovestoread 💔💔💔 2d

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!! 2d

Librarybelle @Aims42 You‘re welcome! 2d

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 🙃) 2d

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. 2d

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) 2d

Librarybelle You‘re welcome, @Bette ! 2d

Leftcoastzen So sick of these idiots! Our libraries & museums are national treasures! 😡 2d

Librarybelle @Leftcoastzen They are treasures! 2d

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. 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 1d

Librarybelle Of course, @dabbe ! 1d

Hooked_on_books Thanks for posting this. Libraries are so important! 1d

Librarybelle You‘re welcome, @Hooked_on_books ! 1d

49 likes18 comments

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. 2d

Librarybelle @KathyWheeler Sometimes series go on for way too long. 2d

KathyWheeler @Librarybelle you‘re right. For me it just got tiring hearing her fawn over Derek all the time. 2d

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! 2d

63 likes4 comments

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!

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

BarkingMadRead 🍊 💥 6d

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead 😂 6d

Ruthiella No doubt, Carson has in the meantime taught Nancy how to defuse explosive oranges. 🍊 😜 5d

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Librarybelle He‘d be an expert! Who would have thought…a very niche skill set…defusing explosive oranges! 😂 @Ruthiella 5d

Sace Oh this should be fun! I‘ll be reading the explosive oranges version. 5d

Librarybelle Let‘s hope this lives up to our expectations, @Sace ! 😂 5d

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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! 😃 7d

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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? 7d

Ruthiella @DGRachel I agree. The hiding places in the trunk were odd. 7d

Ruthiella The mystery was a little tired for me. Jewel thieves again? 🥱 7d

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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) 7d

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. 7d

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. 🤣 7d

DGRachel @CogsOfEncouragement I agree about that last find/twist. That was good. 7d

DGRachel @dabbe 🤣🤣🤣 7d

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? 6d

kwmg40 I actually liked the mystery aspect of this installment. The twists kept me reading to the end. 6d

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 2d

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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. ? 7d

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. 😂 7d

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. 7d

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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. 7d

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! 7d

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. 😆 7d

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. 🙄 7d

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. 7d

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! 7d

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? 7d

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. 6d

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) 6d

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 2d

DGRachel @MariaW I totally didn‘t catch that about the empty room! But yes. Now that‘s going to bother me, too! 😂 1d

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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! 7d

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. 7d

DGRachel Also, I remember thinking “Nancy Drew doesn‘t faint!” Little me was offended. 🤣🤣 7d

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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. 😆 7d

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! 😂🤕😂 7d

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? 7d

dabbe @Ruthiella Maybe it was Bobby. 🤔🤣🤩 7d

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? 😳 7d

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! 7d

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. 7d

Sace @Ruthiella ME TOO! It‘s probably the number one reason that this was a pick for me. 🤣 6d

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. 6d

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) 6d

kwmg40 The meteor was definitely bewildering. What really made me laugh were the cartoonish illustrations of the girls in peril in my 1976 edition. 6d

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 2d

Ruthiella @MariaW Thanks for doing the research. 😃 1d

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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 1w

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! 7d

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. 7d

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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…😂 7d

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! 😆 7d

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. 7d

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. 7d

DebinHawaii @Ruthiella @DGRachel @bookandbedandtea Maybe he was worried he wouldn‘t make it back from the “wilds” of the west! 🙄😂 7d

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. 7d

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. 6d

Ruthiella @Sace You‘re right! I‘d totally forgotten. Yes! Why not use that segue way? 🤨 6d

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? 6d

MariaW In the 1976 version there was no explanation whatsoever why they might have travelled Europe, that annoyed me pretty much. 6d

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. 🤔 6d

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. 6d

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 2d

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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! 1w

DGRachel The dismissiveness of finger language really upset me. That coupled with that stupid meteor brought me centimeters from bailing on this one. 7d

Ruthiella I third the recommendation of

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

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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. ⬇️ 7d

DebinHawaii Both portrayals (blind and deaf) were not great. 🙁 7d

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. 7d

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. 7d

Bookwormjillk I liked True Biz too. Great book. 7d

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. 6d

Sace @dabbe AND she lost a ping pong match!!! C‘mon! Who wrote this!? 🤣 6d

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! 6d

dabbe @Sace Thank the lord she was an “expert swimmer“ and could survive being overthrown into the ocean! 🤣 6d

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Good point! Sherlock could use a few more of those lessons sometimes. 🤣 6d

MariaW I agree with @Sace. How long mist have those conversiontion between the two culprits taken when spelling out every single word. 🙈 6d

kwmg40 @Sace Yes, the fact that Nancy lost at both ping-pong and shuffleboard was definitely the most implausible aspect of this book! 😆 6d

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 2d

dabbe @Sace IKR? 🤩 1d

15 likes17 comments

Librarybelle

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

This post contains spoilers

show me

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. 7d

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. 7d

bookandbedandtea @DGRachel I read the original version via a link @DebinHawaii provided: https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20210625 7d

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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. 7d

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. 😆 7d

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. 7d

CogsOfEncouragement I read the 1976 version this time. 7d

dabbe I've been reading the ones I grew up with--the 1970s versions. 7d

Sace I read the 1976 version. 6d

MariaW I also read the 1976 version. Thanks for the tip, @bookandbedandtea 6d

kwmg40 I'd read the 1976 version. 6d

BarkingMadRead I have the 1940 version 5d

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! 😆 1w

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

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

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Librarybelle I hope so, @Bookwormjillk ! 1w

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. 1w

BarkingMadRead 🤣🤣🤣 looks like Marcy is making the rounds of all the buddy reads 5d

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) 1w

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

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

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

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

kspenmoll I am waiting to find it- 1w

mollyrotondo My library didn‘t have it either surprisingly. I had to order it. It should be arriving today! 3d

Librarybelle I was glad I could order it from a bookstore, @mollyrotondo . I‘m now ready for April! 2d

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. 1w

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… 1w

61 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret | Benjamin Stevenson

pick

A super quick fun addition to the series! Good twists in the mystery, with lots of humor and some big red herrings. The audio narration is so good. I cannot say much without giving away the plot line, but this takes place near Christmas, and Ernest has just a few days to solve the murder before his ex-wife has to spend Christmas in jail.

CogsOfEncouragement Such a fun series! 1w

Librarybelle @CogsOfEncouragement It is! And very smart! 1w

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Librarybelle

A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor | Darci Hannah

I attended a cozy mystery event sponsored by Kensington publishing and hosted by my local mystery bookshop. It‘s always fabulous hanging out with cozy mystery authors, and I splurged on this hardcover. A cozy mystery with food and ghosts and adult beverages? Ummm…yes please!

Now, to find the time to read it! 😂 #bookhaul

BethM Ohh fun! I‘m always jealous when I see the emails that they‘re never near me. 2w

Librarybelle @BethM My local bookstore was a last minute add-on for this season‘s tour. It was a very abbreviated day (only a couple of hours) but fun all the same! 2w

MemoirsForMe Wow! What a cool event! 2w

Librarybelle @MemoirsForMe It was fun! 2w

51 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

Slowly, so very slowly, catching up on buddy reads and other books. I finished this one tonight, and maybe the third time is the charm—I appreciated Tommy and Tuppence a bit more with this reading than I did the prior two times. Perhaps I needed an off-the-wall pair of unlikely detectives.

It just goes to show how you can have a different reading experience each time you reread a book. #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Aims42 100% agree that reading books at different times can have widely different results. There are many books that I know if I would‘ve read them when I was younger, I wouldn‘t appreciate as much as I do now 🥰 2w

Librarybelle @Aims42 Yes! 2w

MariaW Still onto that one 🙈 2w

Librarybelle @MariaW 😁 2w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

#5JoysFriday

1. My boys…always. A Monday night photo that has us hanging on the bed together.
2. Xander is 100% back to normal and had a good annual checkup.
3. Zeke transitioned without issue to his new food sensitivity diet food.
4. We‘re now down to one medication from 5 for Zeke!
5. My library added April releases to the catalog, and I loaded my hold list.

My life has been sick cats and so many medicines! The joys of returning to normalcy!

DebinHawaii

Deblovestoread Yay! So happy to hear kitties are doing well! God job momma! 2w

JenReadsAlot Good to hear! 2w

Bookwomble 💖😺💖 2w

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Librarybelle Thank you! I think I need to sleep for weeks because of the last month of craziness! 😂 @Deblovestoread @JenReadsAlot @Bookwomble 2w

Bookwormjillk Glad you're starting to return to normal! 2w

Aims42 Way to go, Zeke!!! 🥳🤩🥰 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Bookwormjillk @Aims42 ! 2w

rubyslippersreads Glad your boys are healthy. My cat Sadie is currently wearing an “Elizabethan ruff” to keep her from scratching an eye infection, and she‘s not happy. 😾 2w

Librarybelle Oh no, @rubyslippersreads ! I bet she‘s not happy. Hopefully she‘s not in the ruff for very long. 2w

Mimi28 So glad to hear things are getting back to normal for you and the cats 🐈🫶🏽😊🩷😻😻🤗 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Mimi28 ! 2w

CatLass007 I‘m so glad that the boys are feeling better and it sounds like so are you! I count at least three and possibly four cats on the bed with you. Are all your cats male? I have two male and two female. 2w

Librarybelle @CatLass007 All 4 of my cats are males. And, they certainly act like boys at times! 😂 2w

CatLass007 😹 2w

dabbe Yay for #z&z! 💚🩶💚 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @dabbe ! 2w

mcctrish Sounds like the BEST week 2w

Librarybelle Thanks, @mcctrish ! 2w

ShelleyBooksie Yay! So glad both kitties are feeling better!! 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @ShelleyBooksie ! 2w

DebinHawaii So happy your boys are feeling better& things are getting back to normal! 💛💛💛 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @DebinHawaii ! 2w

MemoirsForMe Yay to a normal day for a change! 😸 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @MemoirsForMe ! 2w

DogMomIrene So happy the boys are doing so well! Reducing those meds down to one is amazing! 4d

Librarybelle @DogMomIrene Yes! And tomorrow is the last day for the last med for Zeke! 4d

DogMomIrene @Librarybelle 🙌🏼❤️🐾 4d

61 likes27 comments

Librarybelle

New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock: The start of a BRAND NEW feel-good series from bestseller Hannah Lynn for 2023 | Hannah Lynn

pick

I was not sure what to expect when I started listening to this (thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC opportunity), but this story is more somber than the cover suggests. It‘s very contemplative but yet also offers hope for new beginnings (hence the title). The audio narration is engaging, and I enjoyed listening to this while doing household chores and preparing kitty medicine. #52BookClub25 #AuthorsLastNameIsAlsoAFirstName #LitsyAToZ #LetterN

Texreader

58 likes

Librarybelle

The Bell Jar | Sylvia Plath

pick

This has been on my tbr forever, and I am so glad the #HashtagBrigade read it, though I‘m pretty late finishing the book for the group.

This is a hard story to rate, as Esther‘s story is parts disturbing and hard to read. Knowing Plath‘s state of mind too adds to backstory of this mental health novel. It‘s not supposed to make one comfortable. Glad I read it! #192025 #1963 #LitsyAToZ #LetterB

BarkingMadRead, Texreader

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

Life has been so difficult lately, even more complicated with the horribleness in the world. But, at least in my tiny little part of my world, things may be getting better. May…every time I think we‘re good, we‘re not.

Thank you to everyone who expressed love and support the last few days for myself and Zeke and Xander.

Xander is back 100%; his not so good blood results are still in the back of my mind.

Zeke is slowly recovering…again. ⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ He had 5 medications over the weekend, and he is going through a food change to a more food sensitive diet. I see improvement, but I‘ve also seen it before. If he is still bad, more tests and procedures are on the horizon. Sleep has been nonexistent, as both Zeke and Xander want fed at all hours of the night. But, I have my boys. We‘re working through it. I am slowly reading again, and for my buddy reads, I have to play major catch up! ⬇️ 3w

CatLass007 Is Xander the top kitty and is Zeke the bottom kitty? I can‘t imagine how difficult it must be to have two cats sick at the same time. Personally, because it‘s so emotionally draining to have a sick cat, I‘d rather be sick myself, and the cat be healthy. 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️ I‘m just hoping we are all finally back on the mend and can move forward with our regular routines. My cats are my reading buddies, and I know how many of you are proud pet parents. And, sometimes, with how crappy everything is right now, you just need to see cats or dogs in the feed to put a smile on your face! #NotBookRelated #CatsOfLitsy #Zeke #Xander 3w

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Librarybelle @CatLass007 Yes, Xander is the top kitty, and Zeke is the bottom. Xander also has a heart condition from birth, so his sudden illness made things even more complicated. He responded so well to the antibiotics that I sincerely hope he had an infection rather than the vet‘s thoughts that he has an autoimmune disease or even cancer. Personally, I think he ate something he should not have and got sick. Zeke has episodes of pancreatitis; this was bad. 3w

Bookwormjillk I hope they continue to improve! 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Bookwormjillk ! 3w

Catsandbooks Sending love and healing thoughts to you and your kitties! ❤️ 3w

CatLass007 I‘m glad they‘re doing better. I hope their health continues to improve. I also hope that you are able to get more sleep. Hugs. 3w

LeahBergen Sending love to you and your boys!! ❤️❤️❤️ 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Catsandbooks @LeahBergen ! 3w

Librarybelle @CatLass007 I hope they continue to improve too, @CatLass007 . Thank you! ❤️ 3w

JenReadsAlot Frankie and I send healing thoughts to you and the boys ❤️ 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @JenReadsAlot ! 3w

dabbe #zandz Keep getting better, you two, and love up your mamma! 🖤🐾🐾🖤 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe ! 3w

kspenmoll Yay for your fur babies!!!! 3w

DebinHawaii Glad to hear they are doing better! 💛😻💛😻💛 3w

ShelleyBooksie Glad.to hear Xander is feeling better. Sending healing vibes to Zeke ♡♡♡ 3w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @kspenmoll @DebinHawaii @ShelleyBooksie ! 3w

kwmg40 Sending good wishes to you, Zeke and Xander! 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @kwmg40 ! 3w

Mollyanna So happy to hear that Zeke and Xander are doing better. Now mama may be able to breath a little easier and take care of herself too! 💕🐾💕 3w

TieDyeDude Cats are so good at hiding pain until it is really bad; such jerks. Glad they are on the mend ❤ 3w

Deblovestoread Glad to hear there is improvement. 🤞 for continued healing. 💙 2w

StayCurious So sorry to hear things have been tough lately. Sending good thoughts for you and your fur babies 💕 2w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @Mollyanna @TieDyeDude @Deblovestoread @StayCurious ! 2w

Leftcoastzen To hear they are doing better lifts my heart ! Hugs to you ! In dark times I hold my kitties tight! They keep me going! Hope things keep improving!😻😻 2w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @Leftcoastzen ! My kitties are my world, so I completely understand! ❤️ 2w

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2w

Mimi28 Glad the cats are better 😊😻 I hope you can finally get some sleep 😴 2w

bookandbedandtea I'm so glad to hear your kitty boys are improving. 🐾❤️ 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Ruthiella @Mimi28 @bookandbedandtea ! 2w

Chrissyreadit ❤️ I hope everyone can get the rest and recuperation needed 🐈‍⬛🐈😻 2w

Librarybelle Thank you, @Chrissyreadit ! 2w

MemoirsForMe Awww…thanks for posting these sweet photos. Your furry boys always lift our spirits! Glad they are healing and getting better.❤️🙏🏻❤️ 2w

Reggie I‘m glad they‘re better. 2w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @MemoirsForMe @Reggie ! 2w

73 likes37 comments

Librarybelle

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

We‘re two weeks away from our next #NancyDrewBR discussion, #LittenDetectives ! It‘s kind of fun that it takes place on the Ides of March! 😂

Whether you‘re going to South America or The Netherlands with Nancy, the title suggests there‘s a brass-bound trunk, and Nancy has to solve its mystery. What secret does it hold? Will Nancy have to fly a plane or steer an ocean liner? I guess we‘ll find out!

BarkingMadRead I can‘t wait I to find out where I‘ll be traveling this time 🤣 3w

Librarybelle @BarkingMadRead 😂 3w

Ruthiella Looking forward to the next adventure! 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @Ruthiella ! 3w

52 likes4 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

We‘re going to Ancient Rome in this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead !

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

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 3w

julieclair Looking forward to this! 3w

Sargar114 Won‘t be making this one, but I‘m pretty sure I have next months. Happy reading everyone! 3w

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Librarybelle Awesome, @julieclair ! 3w

Librarybelle Thanks for letting me know, @Sargar114 ! 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle Yay! It‘s on Kindle unlimited! 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @tpixie ! 3w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

#5JoysFriday

1. My boys…always!
2. Medications. Between Xander and Zeke, I have a small pet pharmacy at my house.
3. Vet care. I visited the vet 3 times this week (Xander twice and Zeke once). They cut me a break with the most recent visit. And, my vet truly cares.
4. My parents. They brought me a meal and have helped me pick up medications and cover the costs of one of the visits.
5. Litsy. It has been my saving grace this week.

DebinHawaii

Librarybelle #RantTime In some ways, I feel like a narcissist, as I tend to focus on my personal woes rather than the troubles going on globally. This week was the case, and I was horrified when I finally caught up on the news. I‘m sorry, but a bully session in the White House is not “good television.” And really, should good television even be made in the Oval Office. While I am absolutely scared over Xander‘s blood results, which indicated a value of the ⬇️ 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️ white blood cell count to be low and may be something as simple as an infection (and thus his abrupt dissent into illness) or something like an autoimmune disease or cancer, I am just as horrified as so many rights are stripped away and the false claims of the evils of vaccinations are spread like wildfire. You cannot change facts. You just cannot. Science is not political. End of story. There‘s a lot more I could say, ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ but I think lack of sleep has cut into my usual reserve on posting my thoughts. I‘ll just end with this: History repeats itself. End of rant. 3w

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kspenmoll Science is not political. Truth. So sorry snout what you are going through with your fur babies. Happy your patents are nurturing you. Hugs! 🥰 3w

CBee @Librarybelle I‘ve ventured back into the news a bit this last week or two as well. I agree with you 100% and am absolutely horrified. So very sorry you‘ve been dealing with kitty illnesses as well ♥️ 3w

ShelleyBooksie Beautiful cats ♡ 3w

Aims42 With you 💯 on the news and the shameful visit at the Oval Office. What an embarrassment to the US 😖 This is not how our allies should be treated. And stupid Vance, “have you ever said thank you?” What a gaslighting thing to say!? UGH. Okay, I have to be done because there is so much to be said but you said it best: History repeats itself. Glad your kitties are getting the help they need, and so are you! 💛🧡🩷 3w

Luke-XVX Sending positive thoughts for your cats. I‘ll always stop on my daily walk to say hello to a neighbourhood cat. They bring so much joy 3w

Susanita Take care of yourself and your handsome kitties. ❤️‍🩹🙀🫂 3w

Librarybelle Thanks so much for the well wishes for my kitties. The last couple of weeks have been rough, and this week was terrible. Let‘s hope next week is better! @kspenmoll @CBee @ShelleyBooksie @Aims42 @Luke-XVX @Susanita 3w

BookNAround I hope your handsome boys have a better week health wise! 3w

dabbe Those boys are sooooo lucky to have you for their mamma! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 that the medicines kick in and that Z&Z start to feel better asap. 💚🩶💚

And rant away anytime. We're here for you. Just when you think things can't get worse in this country, they do. Biggest bunch of arses ever! And what we must look like on the world stage. 😔 That's why we have to keep ranting and resist! 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 #ranttime 3w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @BookNAround and @dabbe ! ❤️ 3w

61 likes13 comments

Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

Thanks for your patience, everyone, for the #LiteraryCrew discussion questions! I posted 6 questions as spoilers. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Our next book is I Am Livia by Phyllis T Smith. A reminder will be posted tomorrow!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, DrSabrinaMoldenReads, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, willaful, AnishaInkspill, Lkempf

PurpleyPumpkin Thanks for your posts @Librarybelle! I wasn‘t able to read this one but should be able to join in for March‘s pick. 3w

Karisa Thanks, @Librarybelle and hope your cats are feeling better. We have 3 ourselves and it‘s so awful when they are sick. I hope you enjoyed Villette too. 3w

Librarybelle No worries, @PurpleyPumpkin ! 3w

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Librarybelle @Karisa Thank you! Xander is feeling much better at the moment. Zeke is doing okay overall but is currently going through a slow moment—he got a few meds tonight, so he may be feeling it. I didn‘t get a chance to get far in the book, but definitely plan to read it! Love the Brontes! 3w

julieclair Poor sweet kitties! Hoping things are looking up. 😻 3w

Librarybelle Thanks, @julieclair ! Xander is doing really well. Zeke is doing okay—better in some aspects but still some issues. At least he‘s well enough so far I‘ve not had to take him to an emergency clinic, since my vet is closed over the weekend. 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle 🍀 🐾 🍀 🐾 🍀 🐾 thanks for hosting this month. I did buy The book, but with all the caretaking I had to do this month. I did not read it. I will look forward to reading your questions once I do read it!! 3w

Librarybelle @tpixie No worries! I didn‘t spend time with this either because of the kitties. I will finish it, though! 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle 🍀 🐈‍⬛🍀 3w

45 likes9 comments

Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

This post contains spoilers

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6. The conclusion of Villette is famously ambiguous (it was made purposefully so by Brontë). Do you find it a happy ending? A sad one? ~from Penguin Random House Reader's Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Karisa I read that her father urged her to leave the readers with a little hope. I was frustrated by the ending but at least that showed I cared about Lucy. (edited) 3w

Sace Just finished this one today and I‘m very frustrated by the ending. It‘s the second ambiguous ending I‘ve had this week. Grrrr. 2w

Librarybelle I‘ll get to finish it one of these days, but it looks like the consensus is it‘s a very frustrating ending. @Karisa @Sace 2w

7 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

This post contains spoilers

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5. Explore the theme of education in Villette: What is the role of education in Lucy Snowe‘s own life? ~from Penguin Random House Reader's Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Karisa Education is central to Lucy‘s livelihood and mental life. Maybe that‘s why I connected to this one too being a teacher myself. 3w

6 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

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4. Virginia Woolf felt that Villette was Brontë‘s “finest novel,” and speaking about Brontë, wrote that “All her force, and it is the more tremendous for being constricted, goes into the assertion, ‘I love,‘ ‘I hate,‘ ‘I suffer.‘ ” What do you think Woolf means? Do you find this observation interesting, appealing, or moving? ~from Penguin Random House Reader's Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Karisa I think Woolf meant this novel delved often into feelings. It spent time letting us realize Lucy‘s internal struggles and not rushing to move from plot point to plot point without letting the reader consider Lucy‘s internal struggles. 3w

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Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

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3. Writing to her publisher, Charlotte Brontë had this to say about Villette‘s protagonist: “I consider that [Lucy Snowe] is both morbid and weak at times; her character sets up no pretensions to unmixed strength, and anybody living her life would necessarily become morbid.” What do you think of this appraisal? Do her “unheroic” qualities make her more sympathetic or less? ~from Penguin Random House reader's guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I think unmixed strength is appropriate. To be so young and alone during those times must‘ve been incredibly lonely and confusing and you may test the world by behaving in different ways. 3w

Karisa It made Lucy more human to me. She contains multitudes. 3w

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Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

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2. Discuss the character of Lucy Snowe. Do you find her to be an admirable heroine? What qualities do you like in her, or dislike? How do you think you would behave in her circumstances? ~from Penguin Random House Reader's Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I like her. I really felt for her during the times of loneliness, waiting on letters from those who barely cared. (edited) 3w

Karisa I enjoyed the novel. I felt like I understood Lucy. I was rooting for her too @Cuilin All except for liking M. Paul so much. He was odd to me. I didn‘t get the attraction 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

Jerdencon I liked her too - I felt bad for her at times too. 3w

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Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

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1. Villette is considered Charlotte Bronte's most autobiographical novel. It's said that Lucy Snowe has some of Bronte's characteristics, and Monsieur Paul resembles Monsieur Heger, who one can argue Charlotte Bronte was fascinated by (or perhaps in love with). A link to an article about the Bronte sisters in Brussels is in the comments (hopefully it is not behind a paywall).

What did you think about the novel? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Librarybelle https://www.brusselstimes.com/225635/when-the-bronte-sisters-strolled-the-boulev... 3w

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Librarybelle

Villette | Charlotte Bront�

#LiteraryCrew : My apologies, but I‘ll be late posting the discussion questions. Some of you know I have two sick kitties, and Zeke took another turn for the worse overnight. My energy is pretty much focused on administering various medications to cats, probably having to make my third vet visit this week, and trying not to fall asleep (I have not had a sound sleep in a couple of weeks).

Hopefully I‘ll post later today! So sorry! #BuddyRead

Bookwormjillk Get well soon kitties and I hope you can get some sleep soon. Be careful driving! 3w

Aims42 Sending prayers for your sick kitties 🙏 And for you too 🩷🩷🩷 3w

Mollyanna Take care of yourself and those poor kitties. 💕 3w

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CatLass007 Sweet kitties. I have you and your babies in my prayers. And yes, you most definitely need to be careful driving. 3w

Cuilin Please prioritize your cats and sleep. We‘ll be here when you‘re ready. 💗 3w

willaful Poor little kitties! I hope you're all better soon. 3w

dabbe Absolutely no worries about us. You take care of your Z-babies and try to get some sleep if you can. 🖤🐾🐾🖤 Holding pawsitive paws for Zeke to feel better asap. 3w

DaveGreen7777 Hope your kitties feel better soon! 🙏 3w

Jerdencon No rush! Hope the kitties feel better soon! 3w

DogMomIrene Hoping the kitties feel better soon! ❤️🐾🐾 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, everyone! Zeke made the trip today and is on even more meds. He started to eat as soon as we got home, so maybe this time he‘ll be fine. Xander is recovering very well. His blood work came back with a low white cell count which has me freaked out—it could be an infection or something extremely serious. The abruptness of his illness, and the quickness he responded to meds, gives me hope that it‘s just an infection. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 3w

Librarybelle ⬆️⬆️⬆️ He doesn‘t need cancer on top of heart disease. I appreciate your kinds words and thoughts. ❤️❤️❤️ @Bookwormjillk @Aims42 @Mollyanna @CatLass007 @Cuilin @willaful @dabbe @DaveGreen7777 @Jerdencon @DogMomIrene 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle I hope your cats are continuing to do better and that you get sleep! I would bet if he responded to the antibiotics fast it was related to an infection 3w

Librarybelle @tpixie Xander is back to normal. I‘m still crossing my fingers it was just an infection. Poor guy will probably go through a couple more tests just to be sure. Zeke is okay overall, not completely recovered, but at the moment he‘s holding steady. Thanks! 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle glad they are on the mend! ❤️‍🩹 3w

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Librarybelle

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

Get ready to use your little grey cells—our next #ChristiesCapers book is the second Hercule Poirot novel.

Discussion will take place on March 30th! Please let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from the tag list. #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, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 4w

MaGoose Please add me. I'd like to join in. Thanks ☺️ 4w

Librarybelle Welcome, @MaGoose ! 😁 4w

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dabbe I'm almost done with THE SECOND ADVERSARY! I have no idea how I let myself get behind! 🤩 4w

kelli7990 I would like to join. 4w

Librarybelle @dabbe No worries! I‘m still way behind on Shardlake—not as fast of a read as Christie, but still very enjoyable. I‘m so glad I‘m reading them! 4w

Librarybelle Welcome, @kelli7990 ! 😁 4w

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Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

My March #BookSpinBingo list! Lots of buddy read titles, and I‘m hoping to get to my reread of the Jane Austen mystery series.

#NotBookRelated , but I am so over 2025, not only globally but in my own little world. Zeke had a setback of sorts, so I‘m waiting for next care instructions, and beginning last night, Xander has been ill. It was so abrupt! We have a visit soon to the vet. He‘s also not taken his full dose of heart meds, so I‘m worried.

TheAromaofBooks

Librarybelle Creating my book spin list has served as a good distraction! 4w

dabbe Oh, the poor Zekemeister and Xandermeister! Sending 🤗🤗🤗 and hoping for a good report from the vet. 🖤🐾🐾🖤 4w

TheBookHippie Oh noooooo. Sending you so much light!!! 4w

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Librarybelle Thank you, @dabbe and @TheBookHippie ! I really appreciate it! ❤️ 4w

PurpleyPumpkin Aww I‘m sorry to hear that your fur babies are having a rough time. Hope they feel better soon. 💜 4w

Mollyanna Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this. I hope they get well soon. Sending healing thoughts to you and Zeke and Xander 💕 4w

Librarybelle Thank you so much, @PurpleyPumpkin and @Mollyanna ! I‘ve got a new food sensitivity diet food for Zeke, and Xander was checked to make sure he is not in heart failure (he‘s not, just living with his usual heart issues). Let‘s hope everyone now bounces back. @dabbe @TheBookHippie 4w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle Oh I hope it gets better… 4w

Librarybelle Me too, @TheBookHippie . I almost cried when the x-rays came back tonight that Xander was not going into heart failure. Not sure what happened, but at least it was not life threatening. Zeke, the picky eater, will have to learn to eat special food to keep his tummy happy—such a boy! ❤️ 4w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle Miss Winifred has now lived past her lifespan -so I get it, she has so much anxiety and separation anxiety from me it‘s difficult. She‘s so stubborn she‘ll hold her breath or upset herself so much she can‘t breathe. But all her tests are fine!! 😵‍💫🤦🏻‍♀️ I thought she was sick. Nope. Stubborn. 😫 4w

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie I had to give Sebastian calming supplements because his separation anxiety was through the roof. He was abandoned by his first family and left to live on the streets in my tiny town. I think he was the happiest of all of the cats when I transitioned to a work from home lifestyle. Pets are our family! 4w

TheBookHippie @Librarybelle I have permission to take her to read with the kids I still read with- she is really good with them. Thankfully I‘m on sabbatical this year… she can‘t be left alone ever so it‘s tricky. I‘m glad you get to be home now. It‘s so less stressful. 4w

Librarybelle It‘s good you can be with her too, @TheBookHippie ! 4w

dabbe @Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Love and light to you both and to your precious babies. They are our solace. You're both such good mammas! 🖤🐾🐾🐾🖤 4w

TheBookHippie @dabbe ♥️ 4w

Librarybelle @dabbe ❤️❤️❤️ 4w

Julsmarshall Sending love and healing vibes. So glad you get to be home with them. They bring so much joy to us, don‘t they? 4w

Librarybelle They certainly do, @Julsmarshall . Thank you! ❤️ 4w

TheAromaofBooks Great list!!! I hope your little guys are feeling better!! It's so stressful when they're unwell and you don't know the best way to help them!! 4w

Mollyanna Good news! Yay! Hopefully Zeke gets used to his new food. They are our family. 4w

Librarybelle Thanks, @TheAromaofBooks and @Mollyanna . Xander is still a little slow this morning, so I‘m hoping he‘ll be back to normal soon, and so far, Zeke is eating his special diet food. Pets are definitely our family! ❤️ 4w

MemoirsForMe Sending healing hugs to your furry kids and hope they‘re feeling better. ❤️🐈 3w

Librarybelle Thank you, @MemoirsForMe ! Zeke is doing better for the most part, and Xander and I just made a second vet visit today. Hoping he feels better soon! (edited) 3w

DogMomIrene Hoping the babies continue improving! I gave one of our lick mats to a neighbor who had a sick picky eater cat. She said it really did help. Her guy seemed to like the soothing texture of the mat and lapped up the food. Not sure if you‘ve tried one with Zeke.❤️🐈 3w

Librarybelle @DogMomIrene I‘ve not tried a mat. He will not eat any type of wet food. Hard food is easier to get him to try something new, but he can be stubborn. My other cats are willing to try just about anything! Thanks! 3w

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Librarybelle

Know Your Newlywed | Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor

pick

Was this a cheesy story? A bit, yes. Was it also a good, fun distraction? Also, yes.

I read a review of this story somewhere and was happy to see it available through the Libby app. Two people meet through a dating app and are both obsessed with a newlywed game show. When the show gets a reboot, they decide to pose as newlyweds to fulfill a dream of being on the show. What could possibly go wrong???

#52BookClub25 #AudiobookHasMultipleNarrators

Kerrbearlib Sounds great! Stacked! 4w

Librariana Interesting premise! 4w

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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

Next month, we read the second Hercule Poirot novel, Murder on the Links. I‘ll post the official image tomorrow! #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, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill

Aims42 Putting in my hold at the library 👍 I am loving these discussions!! Thank you again for organizing!! 4w

MallenNC This one was fun! I had read it before and remembered not liking it but decided to read it again anyway. This time I enjoyed it! Thanks for leading us. 😊 4w

Morr_Books Just finished this morning. So close to being on time yet so far away. I'll check out the discussion questions and hopefully will be on rime for the next Christie 4w

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Librarybelle You are welcome, @Aims42 @MallenNC !! 4w

Librarybelle No worries, @Morr_Books ! I think the discussions are great on Litsy, as you can join in whenever you can. No pressure to be on time! 4w

kspenmoll Thanks for the list! 3w

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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6. Christie served as a nurse during World War I, and we'll see her interest in poisons (we saw that in Styles last month) and medical situations throughout her canon of works. How does she bring in her knowledge of medicine into this novel?

More info on her work as a nurse (and will help this discussion point): https://hekint.org/2025/01/30/agatha-christie-nurse/

#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Aims42 I thought it was funny how having a few sips of brandy was the cure-all 🤣 Overwhelmed? Have some brandy. Just faced a shock? Have some brandy. Almost died? Have some brandy. 4w

willaful There's a rather interesting book on her use of poisons.

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie

MallenNC @Aims42 Maybe we all need to try the brandy cure! This year I might need it. 4w

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MallenNC @willaful That sounds like such an interesting book. I‘m putting it on my TBR 4w

Aims42 @MallenNC 😂🤣 Very true!! 👍 4w

willaful @MallenNC might be healthier for me than my usual ice cream cure. :-\ 4w

mrp27 I thought the brandy bit was funny too. I guess if we didn‘t have all the over the counter medicines we have today I would be hitting the brandy bottle too. 3w

RainyDayReading The answer to all life‘s ills! Brandy! 🤣 2w

RainyDayReading Though it‘s clear that being a nurse had a rather large impact on her life and not just while she was volunteering. So it makes sense that poisons would make their way into her writing and be a focal point for many of her books. Side note: also interesting how she has a character suffering from pretended memory loss when 4 years later she goes missing herself with memory loss. Prob nothing to it but it‘s interesting 👀 2w

dabbe @MallenNC 🎯🎯🎯! 2w

MariaW I feel like those novels are giving me wrong sense of how much brandy is consumed in GB. When I ordered some as an aperitivo during my last stay I was always looked at weirdly. 😂 I‘ve posted an article a year ago, which stated that Christie used poison as a her favourite murder weapon 34 times in her murder mysteries. That‘s more than the half. ☠️🍄🦂 (edited) 3d

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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5. Did you figure out the identity of Mr. Brown before the big reveal? Were you suspicious as to the motives of some of the characters we meet in the book, thinking specifically of Mr. Carter, Julius, and Lord Edgerton? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Bookwormjillk I did not. I thought it was Julius. 4w

OutsmartYourShelf I was suspicious of both Julius & Edgerton, especially after the death of Rita with the clue of the balcony only being accessible from that flat. It had to be one of 3 people there & I knew it wasn't Tuppence. 4w

Deblovestoread Christie did a great job of having me waffle between Julius and James. 4w

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Aims42 I was convinced it was Julius 😆 4w

willaful I read it first so long ago I don't remember. She does some nice misdirection, certainly. 4w

MallenNC I had read this before but forgot how it ended. I was sure it was Julius! 4w

BarbaraJean I did NOT figure it out. I was convinced it was Julius! I was very suspicious of his motives--he was WAY too invested in saving a cousin he'd never met just because he fell in love with her picture. 🙄 4w

ferskner I'd read this before, and I can't remember how I felt the first time, but she always does a good job of hiding clues! 4w

mrp27 I was very suspicious of all of them! I felt they all had the potential, Julius, Edgerton, Mr. Carter. (edited) 3w

RainyDayReading I didn‘t fully commit to my suspicion, but I leaned more towards Edgerton leading up to the reveal. Especially after the “found Finn she‘s been hit by a car” chapter and the dead man newspaper clipping. I did think about Julius especially after the section about him with the safe in Rita‘s flat but figured it was too obvious and probably a red herring. I think I‘ve read too many mysteries 🤣 2w

dabbe @Deblovestoread Same here! My only inching toward James was that he supposedly was sort of dating her at the beginning. Other than that, I was shocked. 2w

MariaW I totally went for the red herring that Rita knew Edgerton before and that he was a frequent visitor. I was aiming for Julius as well - even after this weird car accident - till the end. 🤦‍♀️ 3d

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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4. Tommy and Tuppence have separate adventures in this novel, and Tommy especially faces a potentially deadly situation. What are your thoughts on the adventures they face? Why do you think they take the risks they do in order to find Jane Finn? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Deblovestoread In the beginning it was more a lark but as things got serious I think they continued because the knew the other was counting on them to see it through. 4w

OutsmartYourShelf I thought it was a bit contrived that two people with no relevant experience would be employed in an investigation involving state secrets on the basis of placing a newspaper ad asking about Jane Finn. Yes, they could be easily disavowed by the government but still. One of those “accept it for the plot“ situations. 4w

Aims42 Here for the comments because I‘m on the fence. Part of me was like, “ugh, don‘t split up! That‘s how you get killed!!” But then the other part was like, “I am curious how this ends up” 🤔 4w

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MallenNC What I liked most about them getting split up was that Tuppence got to be a smart character of her own. I always want to see that more than a damsel in distress. Jane was my favorite though, since she really saved herself throughout the book. 4w

BarbaraJean @OutsmartYourShelf My thoughts exactly! That particular contrivance required a LOT of suspension of disbelief for me.
I was frustrated by the risks both of them took! I was impressed by their ingenuity, though--I was kind of willing to go along with some of the more unrealistic aspects, because both Tommy and Tuppence ended up being a lot smarter about their own predicaments than I would have predicted. 4w

ferskner I really like that the book immediately sets up that a) they're broke and b) they've both just survived a war. I think those two facts make them very aware that they have nothing to lose. They've both just seen horrific realities and I imagine that would make them willing to take considerable risks because they're alive to take them. 4w

mrp27 It was totally contrived, ridiculous and they both took extreme chances but that‘s what made the story fun for me. Made me think a bit of Nancy Drew and how things just always seem to fall in place at the right time. 3w

RainyDayReading I thought the adventures were entertaining though I wish we got to see each of them unfold beside each other instead of seeing Tuppence and then when she disappears and Tommy steps in he just recounts his situation. Vs. us seeing it in “real time”. If that makes sense. Plot was convenient and contrived but it was also a book where I could turn off my brain and just go for the ride. Since the premise already required suspending disbelief on my part 2w

dabbe @MallenNC She did, but Tommy (and Julius) still had to rescue her and Jane in the end. I wish she had gotten out on her own like Tommy did. 2w

MariaW I totally agree with @ferskner. What else could they do? 3d

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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3. Let's talk about Tommy and Tuppence! What did you think of them as characters and as sleuths? Why do you think Christie created sleuths who were very different than Poirot? Would you hire Tommy and Tuppence to help you solve a crime? #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Bookwormjillk I thought they were fun! Not sure I‘d hire them but I enjoyed reading about them. 4w

OutsmartYourShelf It would be boring to write main characters that were all a slight variation on the same theme. Differences allow for more writing scope & plot development. That said, I prefer MM & Poirot myself. 4w

Deblovestoread At first I thought “oh no, more vapid bright young things” but as they became more fleshed out I enjoyed them. As to hiring them to solve a crime probably not but to find my lost dog maybe. 4w

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Aims42 @Bookwormjillk Took the words right out of my mouth, I agree 100% 👏😄 I enjoyed being a fly on the wall reading about their adventures. I‘d be exhausted if I was traveling with them lol 4w

MallenNC @Aims42 Agree! They were clever but probably exhausting in real life! I haven‘t read any more of these so I‘m curious how they get their next case. 4w

BarbaraJean My first thought was that they were a terrible choice to investigate such a sensitive international plot!! I liked them as characters, but thought it was pretty unrealistic that they would have the skills necessary to unravel this particular mystery. But I also appreciate Christie branching out in her protagonists. I liked their youthful energy and banter. 4w

ferskner They're just so fun!!!! I don't know that I'd want to hire them if I came across them, but gosh they're quick on their feet and they get the job done. They prove over and over again that they're up to any challenge, but I confess that I love the scrapes they get into the most (particularly in the short stories). 4w

mrp27 I thought they were fun and smart. 3w

RainyDayReading I like them well enough. Certainly entertaining! The characterization of Tuppence annoyed me from time to time though because she was set up to be this independent, headstrong woman and then there are parts later that read like “I‘m just a silly woman how could I ever solve this?” and the characters can have self doubt, but this felt more like making her align with society‘s beliefs around women during the 20s rather than a believable reaction. 2w

dabbe I certainly had to suspend my disbelief when Mr. Carter hired them, but his if-they-die-they-are-expendable attitude made it a bit more believable. Sort of. I loved their advertisement, especially the “pay must be good.“ A definite attitude sometimes for younger folk who think they can start from the top and not have to work their way up. 2w

MariaW I enjoyed reading about them because they are the complete opposite from „high class“ Poirot, but was rather astonished that they would be hired on the spot without any experience and reference. Even though they might have been expandables, but how can governmental agent rely on and believe total strangers? 🤔 3d

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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2. Christie sets up the mystery again with references to World War I...makes sense, since this was published in 1922. This time, Christie begins with the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.

How familiar are you with the Lusitania? Why do you think Christie uses a historical reference point to anchor (pun not intended) her story?

More info on the liner: https://www.pbs.org/lostliners/lusitania.html

#ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Bookwormjillk It certainly added drama to have it start with a famous boat sinking! 4w

OutsmartYourShelf Last year I read a book set onboard the Lusitania which was quite good & I was vaguely aware of the ship's history before that. Maybe as this was an early book of Christie's, linking it to a fairly recent historical event gave her a good starting point. Her contemporary readers would know instantly the setting & the events. 4w

Deblovestoread I read Lusitania by David Butler years ago (great book) and it pops up frequently in books set in the period. I think it was a good way to insert the political intrigue into the story. 4w

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Aims42 It‘s such a pivotal part of history, I loved this as an opening. Definitely recommend Erik Larson‘s ‘Dead Wake‘ 4w

willaful The intro to my copy talked about Christie hearing the name Jane Fish and deciding to incorporate it, which is way she often worked. (If you know both Christie and D.E. Stevenson, you can see a lot of Christie's inspirations!) The sinking might have worked in a similar way. 4w

MallenNC I was only a little aware of the Lusitania and now I want to read more about it. I think starting with a real life event was a clever way to open this novel, especially as her readers would‘ve known so much about it when the book was first released. 4w

BarbaraJean I'm not at all familiar with the Lusitania, other than the general timeframe! It made sense to me that she wanted to orient it in relation to those international events, so the setting and scope of the story were clear. It was a very different backdrop than the other Christie novels I've read! 4w

ferskner I only know a bit about it as it pertains to bringing the US into the war, but I think it's a smart way for her to create a punch of a beginning! 4w

mrp27 I‘m familiar with Lusitania from school history and over the years it has served as a plot line in some books I‘ve read. 3w

RainyDayReading I‘m pretty familiar with the Lusitania from other books/documentaries I‘ve read & watched. It explains why there‘s a ship on the cover of the version I read 🤣 Didn‘t think about that till now. I think having that aspect helps ground the story especially for those that read it back when it was originally published. They didn‘t have to imagine what it was like when it sank, they remember what it was like since it happened only a few years earlier. 2w

dabbe @Aims42 Now on the stack! 🩵💙🩵 2w

dabbe The inclusion of THE LUSITANIA definitely added to the international intrigue of the story as well as WWI. 2w

Aims42 @dabbe It is so good!! I hope you enjoy it too 😊 2w

MariaW It rang a bell, but only because I saw some documentaries about the different ocean liners at the beginning of the last century. It was definitely an interesting start. 3d

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Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

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1. This novel is the first in the Tommy and Tuppence series, which will eventually include 4 novels and 1 short story collection. This is also Christie's second novel, and we see a very different type of detective compared to Hercule Poirot!

Have you read The Secret Adversary before? Any of the Tommy and Tuppence novels? What are your overall thoughts to the book? We'll explore characters and themes later! #ChristiesCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3

Suzze Tommy and Tuppence are my favorite Christie characters! I wish she‘d written more of them! 4w

Librarybelle @Suzze It is a refreshing story. Admittedly, the first few times I read this book Tommy and Tuppence did not click for me. This time, though, they were just what I needed! 4w

Bookwormjillk First time for me. I liked that they weren‘t wealthy. 4w

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Deblovestoread I haven‘t read any of the Tommy and Tuppence books until this one. And I wasn‘t sure I‘d like it in the beginning but they grew on me by the end. 4w

OutsmartYourShelf This was my first read of this series after concentrating mainly on Miss Marple & Poirot so far, but I'm not a fan of T&T going by this book. Hoping the other books will be an improvement. 4w

Aims42 First time for me! I enjoyed these characters so much, I loved the humor and youthfulness. 4w

willaful I've read this quite a few times. It's far from Christie's best but it has a nice sense of fun. 4w

MallenNC @Librarybelle That was my experience too. I first read this after seeing a TV adaptation and I didn‘t like the banter. But this time I enjoyed it. It had been long enough that I forgot the story‘s resolution. It was much more like a spy novel than a detective novel but it had those signature Christie twists. 4w

BarbaraJean This is my first time reading any of the Tommy & Tuppence novels. I wasn't sure how I'd like the espionage/intrigue plot, and I do think some of it felt a little contrived, but overall, this was a lot of fun. Like @Deblovestoread, Tommy and Tuppence grew on me by the end. I'm interested to read the other books in the series. 4w

ferskner I've read this before and while T&T aren't my favorite Christie creations, that's really more of a testament to Poirot and Maple than a knock against T&T. They're so fun to read about and the frothy tone is perfection, even though I don't care as much about her thrillers. 4w

mrp27 This was my fist T&T and I really enjoyed it. 3w

RainyDayReading This was my first time reading a T&T story and I enjoyed it more than I anticipated! Not that I was expecting to not like it, I thought it would be fine, but I wound up really enjoying myself while reading it! I do like the mystery format/story better than espionage, but I‘m looking forward to the other T&T stories. 2w

dabbe Quite late to this party! Tommy and Tuppence (whose name I kept mispronouncing until the “TWO“ clued me in 🤦🏼‍♀️) reminded me so much of Nick and Nora from THE THIN MAN, which was published 12 years later. Hammett had to have read this one first because the 1920s bantering is so similar! I loved it, you old bean! 2w

MariaW This was my first time reading a T&T novel and I liked it. Especially Tuppence being that witty. I am looking forward to reading more if them. 3d

18 likes14 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

March‘s #LiteraryCrew selection aligns perfectly with the Ides of March…Julius Caesar, Rome, and politics.

For this low key #BuddyRead , read at your own pace throughout the month, and discussion questions will be posted on March 31st. I‘ll post periodic check ins throughout the month.

Please let me know if you would like 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, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

Librarybelle @LitsyEvents 4w

Cuilin I‘m so looking forward to this. 4w

Librarybelle Yay, @Cuilin ! 😁 4w

See All 13 Comments

CatLass007 She‘s already in my Audible library! 4w

Librarybelle Yay, @CatLass007 !! 4w

rwmg I read this in 2018, maybe it's time to revisit it. 4w

Librarybelle You‘re more than welcome to join us, @rwmg ! 4w

julieclair Looking forward to reading this! 4w

Librarybelle Yay, @julieclair ! 4w

Jerdencon Unfortunately my library doesn‘t have any copies so I‘m going to miss this month. 3w

Librarybelle So sorry, @Jerdencon ! 3w

tpixie @Librarybelle I‘m going to join in. Sounds intriguing! 3w

Librarybelle Yay, @tpixie ! 3w

54 likes1 stack add13 comments

Librarybelle

The Secret Adversary | Agatha Christie

Tomorrow (Sunday) is our next #ChristiesCapers discussion! Get ready to spend some time discussing Tommy and Tuppence and the Young Adventurers Ltd.

I‘ll post questions mid- to late-morning, US East Coast time. See you then! #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, TheAromaofBooks, Tineke, PageShifter, willaful, AnishaInkspill

kspenmoll This was such a fun read! 4w

Librarybelle So glad you liked it, @kspenmoll ! 4w

55 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

From Dust to Stardust | Kathleen Rooney

pick

A slow meander through a fictional look at the start of Hollywood, with a sprinkling of nostalgia for the silent film industry. Doreen O‘Dare is the fictionalized portrayal of Colleen Moore, a silent film actress and the creator of the Fairy Castle. Reading this book makes me want to watch silent films! A good choice for #SundayBuddyRead .

#LitsyAToZ #LetterF #52BookClub25 #IThinkItWasBlue

TheBookHippie, Texreader

TheBookHippie Perfect for February. 💙 1mo

75 likes1 stack add1 comment

Librarybelle

Untitled | Unknown

#5JoysFriday

1. Fun book haul from Barnes and Noble
2. I received my federal tax return without issue. HUGE relief! And, because of this…
3. Making contributions to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, my local PBS station, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Parks Foundation.
4. Zeke is feeling better!
5. IRL book club

DebinHawaii

Susanita Zeke is judging you! I‘m glad he feels better. 1mo

Leftcoastzen Yay ! Glad Zeke feels better! 1mo

Kerrbearlib Yay PBS! 1mo

See All 28 Comments

Librarybelle Thanks, @Susanita @Leftcoastzen ! 1mo

Librarybelle PBS is so important, @Kerrbearlib …I give when I can! 1mo

Deblovestoread Yay Zeke! 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @Deblovestoread ! 1mo

TheBookHippie PBS!!! Zeke♥️ no issues how wonderful! 1mo

Librarybelle @TheBookHippie Thanks! 1mo

dabbe Yay for all your joys, and Yay, Zekemeister! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo

Librarybelle Thanks, @dabbe ! 1mo

Daisey This is a great list of joys! 4w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Daisey ! 4w

DebinHawaii Wonderful joys! 💛💛💛 So happy Zeke is feeling better! 😻 4w

Librarybelle Thanks, @DebinHawaii ! 4w

DogMomIrene Zeke, we‘re crossing our paws that you get something super tasty for being such a good boy! - 🐶🐶Bernie & Lizzie 4w

Librarybelle @DogMomIrene Not to worry, Bernie and Lizzie, Zeke is definitely getting lots of treats! Thanks! 😁❤️ 4w

DogMomIrene @Librarybelle always excellent news! 🍗🍤🧀 4w

KadaGul I usually donate around tax time, even if it‘s just a little bit. It feels good to give back. I'm happy to hear Zeke is doing well! Pets are like our little kids 🚼, right? When they‘re sick, it scares us. Bilge 🐈is 11 now, and I'm considering chatting with his vet to see if he needs any supplements. I feed them Wellness since it‘s packed with good stuff. 4w

Librarybelle @KadaGul Yes, I call my cats my kids all of the time. And each of my boys has something to monitor. But, we do what we can for our pets! 4w

Librarybelle I guess I spoke too soon…Zeke is having some issues again. I‘ve seen a slow regression over the weekend, and I‘ll have to contact the vet tomorrow. Poor guy! Please continue to think of him @Susanita @Leftcoastzen @Deblovestoread @TheBookHippie @dabbe @DebinHawaii @DogMomIrene @KadaGul . He‘s having a hard time shaking this recent pancreatitis attack. 4w

Susanita Poor guy. I hope he feels better soon. ❤️‍🩹 4w

DogMomIrene @Librarybelle Poor guy! Hang in there! 4w

Librarybelle Thanks, @Susanita @DogMomIrene ! ❤️ 4w

kspenmoll Good for you- we have not filed yet so…. 4w

kspenmoll So glad Zeke is healing! Oh no just saw your newest post. Love to Zeke from Poe & Em. (edited) 4w

DebinHawaii @Librarybelle sending him positive healing thoughts. Poor little guy. 💜💜💜 4w

Librarybelle Thanks, @kspenmoll @DebinHawaii ! ❤️ 4w

64 likes28 comments

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Joined September 2016