Friday, January 3, 2014

A Bookish Gem...

Title: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
First Line: It was as black in the closet as old blood.
Favorite Character: Flavia de Luce, an eleven-year-old chemistry genius who has a "passion for poisons", and a penchant for exacting revenge on her two older sisters whenever they cross her. She has a quick temper, a bright mind, and an unexpected knack for solving mysteries.

My Thoughts:I don't know how I missed this gem by Alan Bradley when it was first published back in 2009, but I won't ever miss any of his Flavia de Luce novels again. I loved this book! It's so well-written. And articulate and funny Flavia is the perfect narrator. At one point she describes herself this way:  "I felt my inner cauldron beginning to boil: that bubbling pot of occult brew that could so quickly transform Flavia the Invisible into Flavia the Holy Terror." How can you resist a character like this?

Bradley's skill as a writer, his descriptive prowess, and his style and use of imagery really elevates this novel above the ordinary. I liked his mystery, too. It involves Flavia's father, two rare stamps that have gone missing, and a murdered man found in the de Luce's garden. This book was so much fun to read. I can't wait to read the rest of the Flavia de Luce mysteries!

One of Flavia's "Rules of Life": When you want something, bite your tongue.

10 comments:

  1. So glad you've discovered this series! Isn't Flavia wonderful? Just wait until you catch up....I'm very eagerly awaiting the latest in the series.

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    1. I'm in the middle of the second book and I've got the third book on hold at the library. And Flavia gets better with each one.

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  2. I love these books! Flavia is such a great character. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series as much as this one.

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    1. Without your blog post on Bradley's latest Flavia de Luce mystery, I may never have picked this book up...and that would be so sad. So thank you! I'm already halfway through book two, and loving it.

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  3. Flavia is so much fun. I like to think that I was a bit like her as a child, although I didn't know how to make poisons...

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  4. This sounds like a great character. I am adding this one to my booklist. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. This is an author I've been meaning to try for ages - I even have the book! I'm delighted to know you enjoyed it. That certainly boosts it up the tbr mountain!

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    1. Thank you! I hope you like it...Flavia is a new favorite of mine. Let me know what you think of it.

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