I give this book
4 out of 5 stars.
Looking for a book with a lot of flavor and just the right amount of sass? This might just be the book for you. This book was recommended to me a few months back by the sweetest elderly gentleman whom I drew blood on at the hospital. I'm always super curious during the morning blood run to see how many patients have books on their bedside tables and I almost always try to strike up a small conversation with them about what they are reading. Mind you, we phlebotomists make our morning rounds throughout the hospital starting at 3 a.m. ...so it is needless to say many of my patients aren't super enthused to be talking to me about much of anything that early in the morning. But, there are some rare (and might I add wonderful?) occasions when I do find a patient who come to find out would just love talking to me about just about anything, just to have someone to talk with, even for only a few moments. And, I not only look for these types of people, but I usually end up feeling that our short time together is not only cherished by them, but also are quite precious moments for me also. And, it was through one of these small moments that I came to find this book- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.
Miss Flavia De Luce is a colorful girl full of surprises. And, although she comes from a somewhat very broken little family, she has learned to make do with what she has, and by so doing has become quite a resourceful little 11 year old girl. 11 going on 22 that is. She sure is quite the spit-fire! While her sisters spend their days reading books and practicing the piano, Flavia feels her time is much better spent working on something new in her very own chemistry lab- brewing up some such concoction in an effort to poison her oldest sister. Or, as is the case in this book, Flavia takes it upon herself to use the knowledge she can find by riding Glady's (her faithful and well used bicycle) all around town (mostly back and forth from the library, as she often loses track of days and times and ends up there a few times when it is closed) to solve the mystery of the murder that has taken place in the garden at her home. Join "Detective De Luce" in this British novel set during the 1950's in England as she untangles the clues and solves the mystery and by so doing you will find that Flavia is one smart cookie! This book is an absolute great read full of lots of laughs, and plenty of excitement. I don't know of anyone else (besides the old man at the hospital, of course) that has read this book, so if ya do end up reading it, please, by all means, let me know what ya think!
I gotta say I am quite excited to read the next book in this series!
