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Friday, June 29, 2018

#Audiobook #Review: 2 out of 5 stars for The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley @BOTLibrary

TITLE: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
SERIES: Flavia de Luce, Book #1
AUTHOR: Alan Bradley
NARRATOR: Jayne Entwistle
PUBLISHER: Books on Tape
PUBLICATION DATE: May 5, 2009 
FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 9 hrs and 53 mins
GENRE: Mystery, Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9781415964491
It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.

For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

MY REVIEW:

This historical cozy series is so popular, and I've wanted to read it for such a long time. Not only do I love cozies, but it's also by a Canadian author so for me that's a plus!! Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.

The heroine in the story is Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old girl who is quite curious and clever, and the setting is London in 1950. She is the youngest of three girls, and her mother passed away when she was just a year old. She's raised by her father, but there's no affection between parent and child. Flavia often is off on her own, in her laboratory (yes, she has one!) playing with chemicals.

When a dead bird is found on their doorstep with a postage stamp speared by its beak, Flavia's father becomes very unsettled. Later that evening, Flavia overhears her father arguing with someone and one of the things she hears him say is that they killed someone. Dogger, one of the mansion's servants, tells Flavia that it's none of her business and sends her off to bed. She awakens before dawn and sees something from her window. In their garden, she finds a man lying in their garden. She watches him take his final breath and hears him utter "Vale!" before he dies.

Before I started this series, I had no idea that Flavia was a child. I was quite surprised, but then the idea of a little girl solving mysteries appealed to me. For me, this story seemed to ramble on and on and there was so much extraneous information that was not relevant to the mystery and seemed like the info was there just to fill the pages. There were parts that were very boring to me and failed to hold my interest. This book won lots of awards, so it looks like I'm in the minority here! Given the popularity of the series, I'm willing to give it another shot and hope that I enjoy the next one more.

Memorable quote:

"As I stood outside in Cow Lane, it occurred to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

No … eight days a week."

Jayne Entwistle is a new-to-me narrator, and she kept me listening. She pulls off the voice of a child which is no small feat. Had I been reading as opposed to listening, I don't think I would have gotten through this one. Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:
2 stars!! I wanted to love it but, for me, it was a bit "meh." It was just okay.

This book qualifies as:

Thursday, June 28, 2018

#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters #ElizabethPeters @recordedbooks @Rosenblat_Actor

SERIES: Amelia Peabody, Book #1
NARRATOR: Barbara Rosenblat
PUBLISHER: Recorded Books
PUBLICATION DATE: July 29, 2004 (first published 1975)
FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 9 hrs and 51 mins
GENRE: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Northern Africa/Egypt
ISBN: 9781402577260
Amelia Peabody, 32-year-old Victorian gentlewoman, inherited two things from her father: a considerable fortune and an unbendable will. The first was indispensable in allowing her to indulge in her life's passion: Egyptology. Without the second, the mummy's curse would have made corpses of them all. Promptly upon her father's death, Amelia takes ship for Cairo. But her companion, Miss Pritchett, succumbs to typhoid in Rome -- weak minded female that she is. That's just when an unexpected distraction drops, more or less, at Amelia's feet. What happens next makes for a delicious mystery and pyramids of fun.

MY REVIEW:

This historical cozy mystery series has long been on my TBR list. I actually jumped into the series at Book #3 (The Mummy Case) because I read that each book stands alone, but I was so intrigued with the references to the past that I stopped listening a couple of hours in and then downloaded this first book in the series.

The setting of the story is 1884, and the main character is British Amelia Peabody who is a "spinster" by the standards of that era. She's 32 years old (egads!) and the youngest of six children. Her father was a scholar and antiquarian, and she is the only one in the family who shared his interests. When he passed away, he left his property to Amelia since her brothers were all merchants and she was the only one without an income. She wanted to visit all the places that her father studied, and she decided that she needed a travelling companion. After her first companion dies of typhoid, Amelia meets a woman named Evelyn after coming to her rescue. Off they go to Egypt! They meet two brothers who are on a archaeological dig, Radcliffe and Walter Emerson. While Evelyn and Walter appear to be smitten with one another, Amelia and Radcliffe are constantly at odds with each other. I love their banter! Things take a turn when Radcliffe becomes ill, and Amelia nurses him back to health. 

Someone is trying to scare the quartet off from their dig: A mummy! The gang has to figure out who wants to scare them off and why.

I really enjoyed this historical cozy mystery, although my only complaint is that it was a little light on the "mystery" part! I have always had an interest in ancient civilizations, particularly Egypt, so the setting for me was perfect. Amelia is strong, capable, and no-nonsense and I love that she goes against the grain of other women from that era. I enjoyed how the relationships developed between the Emerson brothers and their female companions. There was a lot of sarcastic humor and even a little romance. I will definitely be continuing on with this series, and I'm looking forward to listening to the next book, The Curse of the Pharaohs.

Barbara Rosenblat is a new-to-me narrator, and she was perfect! She totally captured the complicated essence of Amelia, who is both fierce and caring. While some female narrators have trouble with the male vocalizations, Rosenblat did not. She made each character unique and was a pure joy to listen to! Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR if you enjoy historical cozies!

This book qualifies as:

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

#Book #Review: 5 out of 5 stars for Unearthly by Cynthia Hand @CynthiaHand @harperteen @EgmontUK ‏

TITLE: Unearthly
SERIES: Unearthly, Book #1
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
PUBLISHER: Egmont Books (UK)
PUBLICATION DATE: May 1, 2011
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 435 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781405259644
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

MY REVIEW:

I've been blogging since 2010, so this book has been on my radar since it was published. I even won this book in a giveaway in 2011, and it's been languishing on my bookshelf for far too long. I finally took the plunge and read it, and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long! 

Clara Gardner is not your typical 16-year-old. She is part-angel or, more specifically, a Quartarius (a quarter angelblood) born to a Dimidius mother (a half angelblood) and a human father. Clara has a vision of a boy, who looks to be about 17 years old, standing in the trees with a fire blazing around them and when he hears her approaching, he turns and then it ends. She never gets to see his face. Clara's mother explains to her that this vision is about her life's purpose, and that she needs to figure it out so that they can be where they need to be. Her mom tells her to pay attention to the type of trees that are around her in the vision, and then she buys a field guide to help identify the type of tree. Clara also sees in her vision a silver truck, an Avalanche. From the markings on the license plate, she identifies that the plate is from Wyoming. This purpose business is so serious that Clara's mom sells their house in California and they move to Wyoming to find the place in Clara's vision.

When Clara attends the local high school in Jackson Hole, she spots the silver Avalanche in the parking lot and knows instantly when she sees the boy from her vision. Even though she's never seen his face, she knows it's him. His name is Christian Prescott, and she knows that she is meant to save him. So, she's found the boy. Now, she just needs to find the time and the place.

Clara becomes friends with Wendy Avery, whose twin brother Tucker is always tormenting her. When Christian and Wendy both go away for the summer, Clara spends time with Tucker and falls in love with him. This leaves her feeling conflicted, because she feels that she's meant to be with or at least save Christian.

To say that I loved Unearthly is an understatement. I totally devoured this book! I can't remember when I last read a book about angels, and I found it fascinating. I love Clara and her mom, and I'm very curious about Clara's younger brother, Jeffery, and what he's hiding! I'm not normally a fan of love triangles, but I can totally see why Clara is torn between Tucker and Christian. They are both swoon-worthy!

Once I devoured this book, I had to ditch my reading plans and get the second book in the series, Hallowed. I just didn't want to stop!

This is my first book by this author, and she totally blew me away! I'm loving this series, and maybe it's a good thing that I waited to read it until all the books were published so that I can binge on it!

MY RATING:

5 stars!! I loved it and will likely re-read it! You should definitely put it on your TBR if you enjoy YA Fantasy.

This book qualifies as:

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Bucket List by Georgia Clark @georgialouclark @EmilyBestler

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tessa @ Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.


Here is this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection:

AUTHOR: Georgia Clark
PUBLISHER: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: August 7, 2018
FORMAT: Hardcover
LENGTH: 352 pages
GENRE: Women's Fiction/Chick Lit
ISBN: 9781501173028
From the author of the critically acclaimed “lively and engrossing parable for women of all generations” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Regulars­ comes a deeply funny and thoughtful tale of a young woman who, after discovering she has the breast cancer gene, embarks on an unforgettable bucket list adventure.

Twenty-five-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Lacey doesn't want to lose her breasts. For one, she’s juggling two career paths; her work with the prestigious New York trend forecaster Hoffman House, and her role on the founding team of a sustainable fashion app with friend/mentor, Vivian Chang. Secondly, small-town Lacey’s not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their hey-day. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery.

This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Ultimately, this is a story about Lacey’s relationship to her body and her future. Both are things she thought she could control through hard work and sacrifice. Both are things she will change by choosing to have a major surgery that could save her life, and will give her the future she really wants.

Featuring the pitch-perfect “compulsively delicious” (Redbook) prose of The Regulars, The Bucket List is perfect for fans of Amy Poeppel and Sophie Kinsella.

I very rarely read Chick Lit, but this one appeals to me! It sounds like it will make me laugh and cry at the same time. I'm adding it to my TBR.


What are you waiting on? Please leave a comment in the section below. If you participate in this meme, please leave a link so I can visit your blog!

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Series I’d Like To Finish Someday #TopTenTuesday


This is a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week, they post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers will answer. Everyone is welcome to join!

Today's list is:

Series I'd Like To Finish Someday

This is an on-going reading goal of mine...to finish the series that I've started! I keep telling myself that I am NOT going to start ANY new series until I am caught up on the old ones...but that never works! Here are just some of the series that I've started and need to finish:


The Splintered series by A.G. Howard
I am actually listening to Ensnared right now, so GO ME!

The Kendra Chronicles series by Alex Flinn
I'm actually reading Mirrored right now, so GO ME!

The Others series by Anne Bishop

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano

Dead Wrong series by Jami Alden

Sea Haven series by Christine Feehan

To Die series by Lisa Jackson

Daughter of Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor


So, what series would you like to finish someday, or what series have you given up on? Please let me know in the comments, or leave me a link to your blog post if you are also participating in the meme!

Monday, June 25, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


This weekly meme is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.


I'm reading: 

Something from my Kindle library. Even though I hate e-books, I had to buy this because I'm loving this series!

TITLE: Radiant
SERIES: Unearthly, Book #2.5
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUBLICATION DATE: December 4, 2012
FORMAT: Kindle edition
LENGTH: 69 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
ASIN: B0092QBP8Y
Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met Phen two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.

Something from the library, a good choice for the Fairy Tale with a Twist Read-a-Thon!

TITLE: Mirrored
SERIES: Kendra Chronicles, Book #3
AUTHOR: Alex Flinn
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUBLICATION DATE: September 15, 2015
FORMAT: Hardcover
LENGTH: 384 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings
ISBN: 9780062134516
Mirror, mirror in my hand…

Beauty is the key to everything. At least, that’s how it seems to Violet—ugly, bullied, and lonely. To be beautiful, in her eyes, is to have power and love. And when Kendra, the witch, teaches Violet how to use magic, she may finally get what she wants.

For Celine, beautiful since birth, her looks have been a hindrance. She discovers that beauty is also a threat—especially to her stepmother, Violet, who doesn’t want anyone sharing the attention she worked so hard to get and who will do anything to be the fairest of them all.

But beauty isn’t only skin deep and love isn’t based on looks alone. And though Violet and Celine may seem to be completely opposite, their lives are almost… mirrored.


Not only am I a first generation Canadian, but immigration is my profession. 

PUBLISHER: Caitlin Press
PUBLICATION DATE: February 7, 2017
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 216 pages
GENRE: Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781987915341
Edited by Miriam Matejova, Wherever I Find Myself is a diverse collection of stories about the joys and struggles of immigrant women living in Canada. Often bringing with them the shadow of war and the guilt of leaving, the women in this new anthology expose their emotional pain but also their gratitude for being able to call Canada home. Their stories paint touching and charming portraits of cultural and linguistic misunderstandings, bureaucratic hurdles, attempts to navigate unfamiliar landscapes, and a desire to be accepted despite differences in accent, skin colour, or taste in food. Together they form a mosaic of emotions and world-views that underline the immigrant condition for women.

A yellow dress with ruffles, a kind Grade 1 teacher with a surname that’s difficult to spell, cockroaches in the bathroom, the contempt of strangers, and Whitney Houston on the radio–a Filipino woman recalls her experience as a six-year-old immigrant in a ghetto in Mississauga in the 80s. Browsing through a Polish fashion magazine at a European deli, a woman sees herself in an alternative universe of what her life might have been had she never immigrated to Canada. A same-sex couple moves from Minnesota to Ontario to find refuge for their love, but first they must drive a seventeen-foot truck through a blizzard and make it through the frustrating net of Canadian bureaucracy. In search of her origins, a Jewish woman travels to her birthplace in Passau, Germany. There, among rows of European picturesque houses and foreign tombstones of a Jewish cemetery, she finds no memories, only the shadow of Hitler and the ghosts of her parents.

Through these stories of courage, aloneness, and hope, new and established writers reach out to both immigrants and those whose families long ago ceased to identify with the immigrant label. Through their struggles and, at times, endearingly critical looks at Canada, they remind us that many of our perceived divisions are nothing but artificial creations of mind and that all of us are past, current, or potential immigrants.

I completed a nine-week course with a group of people, which featured DVD Study sessions and a Participant Guide with study questions (homework!) for discussion each week. The book is a lot to digest, and I'm still reading it in chunks.

PUBLISHER: Zondervan
PUBLICATION DATE: November 2, 1992
FORMAT: Hardcover
LENGTH: 314 pages
GENRE: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Help
ISBN: 9780310585909
Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives: Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances -- Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions -- Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others -- Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God's will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator -- Often, Christians focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. When confronted with their lack of boundaries, they ask: - Can I set limits and still be a loving person? - What are legitimate boundaries? - What if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries? - How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money? - Aren't boundaries selfish? - Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries? Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.

Something from the library. I really enjoy this author, and I find him to be very inspirational!

AUTHOR: Joel Osteen
PUBLISHER: FaithWords
PUBLICATION DATE: October 24, 2017
FORMAT: Hardcover
LENGTH: 304 pages
GENRE: Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781455534326
The same God that leads you through green pastures guides you through the valleys. #1 New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen shares how God uses the darkness in life for good.

All of us at some time encounter dark places that we don't understand: a loss, a sickness, a divorce, a child who breaks our heart. It's easy to get discouraged, give up on our dreams, and just settle there. We may not realize it, but when we feel buried in dark places, we are being blessed. God is using those experiences to help us grow, because we cannot reach our highest potential if we're standing in the light all the time. With Blessed in the Darkness, you will learn how to draw closer to God and trust Him when life doesn't make sense.

If we will go through the valley trusting, believing, and knowing that God is still in control, then we will come to the table that is already prepared for us, where our cup runs over.

Another one from my dusty bookshelf, which I am reading aloud to my younger daughter. We are loving this series! It just gets better and better!

SERIES: Warriors, Book #5
AUTHOR: Erin Hunter
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUBLICATION DATE: March 17, 2015 (first published 2004)
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 368 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780062367006
Join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter's Warriors series a #1 national bestseller--with new editions featuring a striking new look! More thrilling fantasy, fierce warrior cats, and epic adventures await in Warriors #5: A Dangerous Path.

ShadowClan has chosen Tigerclaw as their new leader, and Fireheart fears that this old enemy still harbors dark plans for vengeance on his former Clan. A mysterious threat has invaded the forest, placing every cat's life in peril. And Fireheart's beloved leader has turned her back on their warrior ancestors. Fireheart can't help but wonder if she's right--has StarClan abandoned them forever?

Another one from my dusty bookshelf, which I am reading aloud to my younger daughter.


TITLE: The Rescue
SERIES: Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Book #3
AUTHOR: Kathryn Lasky
PUBLISHER: Scholastic, Inc.
PUBLICATION DATE: January 1, 2004 (first published 2003)
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 198 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780439405591
Ever since Soren was kidnapped and taken to the St. Aegolius School for Orphaned Owls, he has longed to see his sister, Eglantine, again. Now Eglantine is back in Soren's life, but she's been through an ordeal too terrible for words. And Ezylryb, Soren's mentor, has disappeared. Deep within Soren's gizzard, something more powerful than knowledge tells him there's a connection between these mysterious events.

In order to rescue Ezylryb, Soren must embark upon a perilous quest. It will bring him face-to-face with a force more dangerous than anything the rulers of St. Aggie's could have devised-and a truth that threatens to destroy the owl kingdom.


I'm listening to:

Something from my Audible library, a good choice for the Fairy Tale with a Twist Read-a-Thon!

TITLE: Ensnared
SERIES: Splintered, Book #3
AUTHOR: A.G. Howard
NARRATOR: Rebecca Gibel
PUBLISHER: Blackstone Audiobooks
PUBLICATION DATE: January 6, 2015
FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 13 hrs and 28 mins
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings
ISBN: 9781481522663
After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—-a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

I just finished:

TITLE: Hallowed
SERIES: Unearthly, Book #2
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUBLICATION DATE: December 26, 2012
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 403 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780061996191
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

SERIES: Unearthly, Book #2.1
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUBLICATION DATE: 2012
FORMAT: PDF
LENGTH: 4 pages
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy
Deleted scene from "Hallowed" found on the Amazon book page HERE.

TITLE: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
SERIES: Flavia de Luce, Book #1
AUTHOR: Alan Bradley
NARRATOR: Jayne Entwistle
PUBLISHER: Books on Tape
PUBLICATION DATE: May 5, 2009 
FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 9 hrs and 53 mins
GENRE: Mystery, Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9781415964491
It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.

For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”


What are you reading? Have you read any of these books and, if so, what did you think? Please let me know in the comments and, if you are also participating in this meme, leave me a link to your blog post so that I can stop by!
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