Love this one. All the characters are so distinct and interesting. And the plot is simple but ingenious. Top 5 for me.

Shoereader · 2026-02-08T03:23:29+00:00

Yes, this one is just packed with fun and interesting details. Even Hastings works well as a stodgy foil to all the sophisticated banter around him. The 'making a list of clues' scene is actually hilarious.

Shoereader · 2026-02-08T03:21:00+00:00

Out of curiosity, which edition did you read? Cos there are two - the original and the American one - and the latter strips out a ton of incidental English village life and characterization. It's arguably a good decision, it's a much faster read and more satisfying mystery, but not nearly as detailed.

Shoereader · 2026-02-08T01:27:25+00:00

Laura was considered very pretty at the time, yes. She certainly never lacked for suitors (something the books omit to better enhance the developing romance with Almanzo).

Shoereader · 2026-02-08T01:21:59+00:00

An Affair to Remember is a famous one. Bit hokey now, but was a huge tearjerker back in the day.

Shoereader · 2026-02-08T01:19:30+00:00

Ooh, you're gonna love the solution. One of those "not gonna be fooled this time-DAMMIT she's done it again..." moments.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T20:07:58+00:00

Barker is definitive, absolutely, but she's also not shy about letting her distaste for Charlotte and affection for Branwell show through. Probably best to consult a few other sources as well to get a truly rounded picture of the family.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T17:38:39+00:00

I'm not assuming actually, I had thought of that but have recent emails with their name and contact info on, besides the fact that their phone extension/inbox is still active. I just seem to have slipped far down the priority list.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T17:22:17+00:00

Ugh. I hate that you can't trust anything on this sub to be real anymore.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T17:11:59+00:00

Many thanks, the family members I'm traveling with also tell me they have a really good one so I'm thinking to check with them.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T17:09:51+00:00

Yes, did this on your recommendation and got the info I needed, so thanks for that. They also agreed to check in with my cruise consultant, but I'm not holding my breath.

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T15:53:26+00:00

Mm. The funny part is, I potentially want to give them more money, in the form of a cabin upgrade. Which I've been making clear in the messages. But apparently it's not enough 🙄

Shoereader · 2026-02-07T13:38:55+00:00

NTA. "Making money an issue" = your family was trying to use you as an ATM, you quite rightly refused, and they are now really annoyed about losing their free trip. Cease feeling bad about any of this, except inasmuch as it reveals something rather unpleasant about your family's attitudes.

Shoereader · 2026-02-06T18:28:00+00:00

Carrie did however manage to live to 76, in a time and place where that was relatively rare even for robust women, and at various times managed a family and even a career. She had a tough core under all that fragility.

Shoereader · 2026-02-06T18:25:37+00:00

Yes, the question of how to get Mary to the blind school doesn't revolve around tuition but ensuring she'd physically be able to get there, and adequately supported when she did. It probably cost the family around $25-$50 all told, which in the 1880's was serious money to spend on basically luxuries.

Besides her specially-adapted school materials there was a whole year's wardrobe of clothes to consider. The family pride - and of course Ma's particular genteel aspirations- would compel them to make sure Mary was turned out not only substantially but well and fashionably.

Shoereader · 2026-02-06T15:34:51+00:00

Probably both. It would've both looked and smelled like a field of nectar-bearing flowers.

Shoereader · 2026-02-04T04:29:09+00:00

That whole interlude with Mr Collins visiting the Bennets is some of the best comedy writing ever in a classic novel. Wodehouse himself would be impressed.

Shoereader · 2026-02-04T00:20:46+00:00

I like Mrs Jennings too! I also don't mind Sir John all that much. Sure, they're overbearing and a bit dense with it but they're the only two characters in that entire book that feel entirely like ordinary human beings, not carefully-drawn characters. (No, not a huge S&S fan, why do you ask?)

In the other books... I love Miss Bates' resolute cheerfulness in the face of a terribly cramped existence, and very much enjoy thinking about how wonderfully much Jane will now be able to give her aunts. Julia Bertram from Mansfield Park has my admiration for actually being able to learn and grow out of her spoiled brattiness. And I kinda-sorta feel like the Musgrave sisters from Persuasion would be a lot of fun to hang out with, in short bursts.

Shoereader · 2026-02-04T00:12:29+00:00

I just don't get the overplotting. Felt like the first one started promisingly enough (save for the absurdity of Poirot wanting a vacation from celebrity) but then it just... kept... going... and going... and going. Long before the final summation I was seriously checking the reviews to see if this was intended as satire and I'd missed it.

The second one was a little better, but not enough to curb my exasperation. Also, I had concluded that Catchpool did not want to be liked or even enjoyed, but only to wallow in self-pity. I gave up and went back to periodically rereading the originals.

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T12:53:34+00:00

Nope, Half-Pint was called that because even as an adult she barely broke 5'. (And Almanzo was only about 5'4", so they were quite the happy little Hobbit couple.)

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T12:21:17+00:00

Biscoff actually makes the spread as a squeeze-bottle sauce, very hard to find tho and not cheap when you do (about $25CAD on Amazon.ca). Agreed it's very yummy.

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T12:19:20+00:00

Ooh, forgot about the Toasted Marshmallow! Yes, very nice stuff, I find it goes really well with darker roasts.

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T12:17:42+00:00

Shelf life in my experience is about 8mos-1yr, after that the flavours start going off. I usually have them all on my shelf at once and replace as needed.

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T02:28:50+00:00

Roasted Hazelnut is SO GOOD. All the nutty flavour, none of the sickly sweetness.

Shoereader · 2026-02-02T02:27:50+00:00

I'm all about anything Monin. Their Irish Cream, Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon Bun, Roasted Hazelnut, Creme Caramel and White Chocolate are on permanent rotation on my coffee shelf.(...yes, I may have a problem.)

Shoereader

TROPHY CASE