The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Book Review

 

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Alan Bradley

3.8 stars





I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. An eleven year old sleuth, the youngest of three (very interesting) siblings, a chemistry buff and defiant as all heck. 

But as it turns out, what couldn't you love? Flavia is colourful, full of spirit and explains her circumstances so well. Even to the non-science-y among us.

This is a charming book, that might be somewhat wasted on a youth reader. The humour is sublime, the chemistry facts divine, and the characters so in fitting for the fictitious town of Bishop's Lacey. 

This is a book of mystery and cunning, that although a little bit predictable, will keep you reading and cheering on the youthful detective. 

I'm not certain that I would entertain another of Flavia's mysteries, precocious children might get tiresome, but I think you would like this one. It is a wonderful balance of good sense and the freedom of thought imbued in a child. That as an adult we often lose.

This one was on my list for a long while, would I like it or not, but appreciate it I did. And I also got it off my shelf and checked off my list. Sometimes, books that come with a lot of hoopla disappoint, but this one was worth the hype.

Onto, Fredrik Backman's 643 page The Winners. A continuation of Beartown and Us Against You, two of my favourites. You might also like his Anxious People, which was different from the two mentioned above but equally worth your time.

How long do you keep books on your 'list' or do you have a 'list' of books to read at all? Tell me.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Secret Life of Sunflowers - Book Review

Image
  The Secret Life of Sunflowers Marta Molnar 2.5 stars (but keep reading my review for what I learned) Told through the voices of Johanna van Gogh (1887) and Emsley Wilson (current), this book held promise but failed to deliver. I was fascinated by the story of Johanna, who is largely unknown for her role in bringing her brother-in-law’s artistry to the public. She is the reason that I kept reading. The story line for Emsley, her character, and the challenge she faced was weak in holding my interest. I typically would not review a book here that I wouldn't recommend to a friend. So let me tell you why you are now reading this. van Gogh was certainly a tormented soul (as many true artist types were/are), but the way his fame and appreciation of his life became prominent was unknown to me. What this book offered me was the curiousity to look a little deeper into his fame and how easily the world would have been deprived of his talent. I found the author’s experience in adventure/rom...
Read more

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Book Review

Image
  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford 4.5 stars Jamie Ford has captured me again. This is the second book of his that I’ve read. His more recent The Many Daughters of Afong Moy (2022) was my introduction to his words and both brought the most heartwarming story to his readers. In this debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (2009) you are led into the troubling time of the Japanese internment during the 2nd world war. This sad time when thousands of Japanese were sent to camps, were forced to build their own shelters, and lived in the most uncomfortable of conditions. What comes through prominently is the nature of the Japanese people who were affected, including those born in the USA. Their loyalty to the USA was not shaken as they endured the circumstances of their captivity. Ford tells us the facts with no judgement on the less than desirable reactions of the citizens. What the foundation of all his words is Hope. Do not miss the author’s notes where ...
Read more

The Picture Bride - Book Review

Image
  The Picture Bride Lee Geum-yi 3 stars I realize that this book was a translation, so be prepared for the stilted language that did not flow, sentences that are choppy and it took some resolve to work through. Although aspects of the Korean independence were an important part of the background, I was not able to assimilate that story and found it quite confusing. It was interesting to know that many Asian people chose to settle in Hawaii and how difficult it was to establish yourself to gain any kind of affluence. The history of descrimination held true and is always difficult to hear. The female characters were interesting enough but if I had borrowed this book from the public library, it would have gone back early. If you have some prior knowledge and/or interest in the Korean culture, you will likely be more inclined to persevere. This book was a slog for me. The deceptions told to secure a young bride, is saddening of course, but not entirely surprising. The emotion that was r...
Read more