To very loosely tie into our discussion on censorship and banned books ... I'm reading a Patricia Wentworth mystery from 1925. For those of you who aren't fans of hers ... she's basically a contemporary of Agatha Christie. This book has a dozen options all for villains -- the flirty red head, the gossipy spinster, a war widow -- but the most interesting is the Miller family who has an accent and it's said in whispers that their name is really Müller and they're Germans. Even if the Millers don't end up the *bad guys* the book is still setup to show them as horrible people. It doesn't bother me and I can enjoy the book because I have enough historical context to understand why an English author might have a lot of rage toward Germans in 1925 without assuming Ms. Wentworth is a horrible human being. It's similar to all those action movies in the 1960's with Soviets as despicable humans or the Arabs in the 1990's.

I love love love your book updates/reviews. Reading through your thoughts and what you decide to highlight from each chapter is fascinating. It must take so much work but rest assured it's appreciated. You bring up some good point on dwarf culture. And losing Gandalf was such a shock the first time I read the book ... but I will save more of my comments on that for later in the discussion. (I wasn't planning on reading along with you but when I saw you posted this review last night I had to reread the chapters to discuss today.)

As always ... thanks for sharing so many of the fun links you find! This was fun for a mystery loving gal! Thank you!

I finished A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch - Despite my historical nitpicking the mystery was good and lots of twists and turns just as I like. I find myself comparing the series in my mind to the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries and wonder if Mr. Finch might hunt down whoever fact checks for her because they're spot on with historical accuracy.

Our libraries are just now opening up but I haven't heard of any adult summer reading programs ... or even kids programs. I guess that's okay because it means I won't have to secretly hide the Paw Patrol book Chews picks out. And thank you for sharing that poem. It's lovely... As I get older I've given myself permission to put books away that I don't like. Back in my younger days I would push on and be miserable but I've got too many books I do want to read to put the time and effort into something that doesn't catch my attention.

So much of society and culture will disappear if we decide to ignore the authors of the past and while it's unfair that most of the authors of the past have been white and male that's a product of the fact life has been incredibly unfair and not only were they the educated ones but they were also the ones with free time to write. Possibly Mrs. Chaucer and Mrs. Milton had fantastic stories inside them to but with keeping house and raising children that didn't happen. (I don't know if they were married or not so please excuse my lack of fact checking. Give me credit for not mentioning Mrs. Wilde... because I know she was a writer.) Life has been historically unfair and I hope that changes but I'm not going to burn my pre-1960's copies of the Boxcar Children because of it.

I'm attempting to post on my phone because VC brings up an important topic and when smart women are discussing important topics I like to listen to the conversation. When the Thing started happening I realized that my bookshelves are 95% white European authors and by European I mean English. (My reading tastes haven't even discovered the American colonies yet.) I will claim some diversity in that most are written by women but it seems feminism is on the back shelf for now so nobody cares. So as any good Millennial I decided to expand my reading and to give myself an easy win I picked a romance between a woman of color and a sexy librarian that was on one of those million lists circulating on books you simply must read. I got 35% in and gave up but forced myself to read another 10% out of guilt. I hated it. And I felt so incredibly guilty for hating it. So I tried again. But the plot was basically "friends with benefits" and I hated that concept even in high school so I'm certainly not going to be impressed with it at 38 years old. And I secretly went in and took the book off my Goodreads shelf without mentioning to anyone because I'm a coward and don't want to admit that I didn't like the book. And then I read a PG Wodehouse book and loved everything about it. And I contemplated not even posting that I read it because it seemed so insensitive but PG Wodehouse was and still is a master of comedy and he deserves that credit. Maybe I'm a bad person but I can read a book and recognize outdated ideas but still enjoy the story or characters. And I'm going to make a trip to my used book store tomorrow to swoop in and buy a few more English mysteries or comedies before they disappear from the shelves. It'll be okay. Nobody will recognize me because I'll be wearing a mask. (And I will go fist to cuffs with anyone that claims I shouldn't read PG Wodehouse because of the blatant classism because everyone in the book is an idiot with the exception of the valet. He was an equal opportunity satirist.)

Whoo boy. I'm going to have to add on to that angry letter I'm writing in my mind to author Charles Finch. A few more historical inaccuracies. There's no way the master of the house in a London Regency era mansion would have been hanging around the kitchen because it was warmer. And no way a footman would be corresponding about his days off with the lady of the house, all that would have been handled by the housekeeper or butler. And I don't know if this is a historical inaccuracy or simply poor marriage preparation but our hero and his wife of three months just got around to discussing if they wanted children. *side eye* at the book. Might be too late for that conversation. But I still have no idea who the murderer is so I will keep reading and keep complaining. @Violet Crown - John and I are doing something very similar this summer to what you and Middle Girl have planned. "Post-1960's US History: A Cinematic comparison of modern and historical Scooby Doo." Whenever we're really bored we argue over if we're going to watch a classic good episode like I grew up with. Or a more modern and really dumb reboot episode that he votes for. He hasn't yet discovered the atrocity that is Scrappy Doo yet. I'm trying to preserve his innocence as long as possible. But seriously ... that sounds fascinating and like a fun class! Keep us updated on the movies/books as you go.

Y'all if I was the type to write an angry letter to an author I would be writing one right now. Let me sum up a scene I just read. The setting is Regency England and our beloved detective is searching a footman's room for clues. First of all the footman has a room to himself ... which was unlikely but I'll let it slide. Then the detective goes to his CLOSET and searches it. There's no way. It was as likely that the footman had a closet as it was he had a Jaguar. But I shall forgive all because it's Charles Finch (Charles Lenox mysteries) and the mystery is good.

Finished Silent Voices (Vera Stanhope) by Ann Cleeves - As I started listening I thought I'll have to recommend this series to @mumto2 and @Lady Florida. then at the halfway mark I came to my senses and realized that there was no way they didn't already know about an English mystery series this good. I was right. I know both have read a few already. But to all the rest of you dear friends ... highly recommend. It reminds me a bit of the Inspector Gamache/Three Pines mysteries before they jumped the shark.

This might be the dustiest book on my dusty shelves. I think it's been sitting there for ten years waiting for me to read it. Maybe it'll get read this year.

We just hired John's kindergarten teacher to come in three mornings a week to nanny for us and it's been wonderful. Since she started last week I've actually had time to read books. Work is still super busy but I'm able to do it during the day rather than after John goes to bed. Hurrah! FINISHED: The Mating Season by PG Wodehouse - Highly highly recommend. It was hilarious and heartwarming is such a wonderful way. I listened to it as a audiobook and found myself laughing aloud while I did laundry like a crazy lady. The Watersplash (Miss Silver) By Patricia Wentworth - Another great Miss Silver book in the series. The ending was surprising which I don't normally find in cozy mysteries so that was fun. Wired for Story by Lisa Cron - One of the best craft books I've ever read for writers. I loved it so much I'm already rereading. So it's possible I'll forget that I already posted it and might tell y'all about it again in July. Jane of Lantern Hill by LM Montgomery - I might make some enemies with this opinion but ... meh. Jane was a classic Mary Sue. At thirteen years old she managed to sew and cook and keep house and befriend her father in about three days and do it all perfectly. I should have spent my time rereading the Blue Castle. And for those of us with Little's to read to still ... John and I have read all the Franny K Stein books by Jim Benton and they've all been hits. Now we're making our way through Toad and Frog and he's reading them to me. 🥰

@Robin M - the new you is so cute! We watched Pirates of the Caribbean last night with my parents (they are temporarily living with us while they fix up a rental house in town ... normally they're in Pennsylvania). I forgot about the pirate/skeletons and expected John to be freaked out but he love it. I didn't realize they made five of them! @mumto2 - I'll put my spoiler comment in white so you can come back to it when you finish the audiobook. Death on the Nile and Murder Under the Sun are my two favorite AC books. Comment here> This was one of the books where I wanted the murderers to get away with it. I don't remember their names but I remember finding them so sympathetic because the gal that go murdered was such a sleazy boyfriend stealer. @Liz CA - I hope you find the Guersney book. About a million years ago I read that to my MIL when she was in the nursing home and we both enjoyed it. And I know exactly what you mean about attitudes and trying to have a good discussion. Times are wild right now.

@Kareni - I hope that we get a better update from you soon! Count me in as another one to whom time no longer has any meaning. I saw a joke that there aren't days of the week anymore and each day is simply Todayday. That's my life right now. I finished another audiobook. This is basically the level I'm able to enjoy a book these days. Witch Miss Seton by Heron Carvic. It's silly and unbelievable and I lost five hours of my life listening to it. It's what I needed.

How kind of you to ask! I'm querying agents right now so best case scenario it'll be three years until it's published. (If it ever gets published!) But if anyone wants to do a beta read for then I'm be happy to share it. Just send me a PM.

Hello all! I've had a heckuva time signing on to WTM this week. Has anyone else had a problem? @Kareni - Glad to hear a good update about your DH. Hope he continues to heal quickly. @Robin M - You come up with the cutest avatars. I love it! It's so you. @Negin - I've always wanted to be the type of woman that does a complicated Korean skin care routine but I always end up coming back to the same Oil of Olay I've used since I was 12. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks it's just too much. I finished a book. Still struggling to read text but I'm doing okay with audiobooks. The Alington Inheritance by Patrica Wentworth - I love my Miss Silver books the way I love Starburst jelly beans and staying up too late. I know I shouldn't over do but sometimes I can't help myself. Maybe I've read too many in a row or maybe this quarantine thing is making me cranky but I didn't love this book. Everyone in this book was stupid. Particularly the antagonist. I'll put a spoiler in white >> The entire plot hinged on if the young heroine's parents were married. The antagonist killed a woman to cover the fact up. But the proof was still in the records at Somerset House and all they had to do (which they did in the end) was to go and see if there was a marriage certificate. It took them 18 years to do that. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey - This is short snippets on all sorts of artists and their schedules/lives. It was interesting. I started it in January and was startled at how many famous authors ended up being alcoholics and hermits later in life. Looks like I'm halfway there since I haven't left the house in five weeks! @Robin M Did you recommend this? If you didn't then I recommend it to you. Our library is closed and won't even allow us to turn books back in. All their return boxes are taped over. They said they'll figure out due dates when they reopen. It's bizarre.

We have had both in the past. We also really prefer acorn.

Hurrah! I read another chapter in the book I'm slowly making my way through today. And I actually finished a book today. The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass - The narrative is good but the real winner here is his writing exercises. If you like books on writing then I suggest buying a used copy of this, arming yourself with a new highlighter and a stack of post its, and reading in a comfy chair.

I love spring weather that's crazy. Not tornado crazy but the winds and the thunderstorms are awesome to sleep to. Too soon! LOL. That does sound lovely. Our church is doing a parking lot mass next week ... Sophia and I are contemplating it but Kevin said the only way we'll get a spot in the parking lot is if we go now so we'll see.

I read a little in a book today. I didn't finish one or make good progress but I'm consider it a win. Tomorrow I'll read a little more. By the end of the year I might even finish a book!

And this is highly tangentially related to reading but DH and I have watched the first ten episodes of Hamish MacBeth on Acorn TV (I think it's also on Amazon Prime). Really diverting. And to make it BaW appropriate ... it's nothing at all like the books! Dare I say that they're even better than the books. *ducks a tomato*

I'm trying to save cash this month but I might have to make an exception for this book. It looks lovely. DD will need something in her Easter basket, right?!?! I'm still struggling to find something to catch my reading attention right now. I've got about eight books that I'm 80% through. The only thing I can seem to finish are Joan Smith and Patricia Wentworth novels I've read half a dozen times. I feel like I'm doing the BaW equivalent of treading water. BUT I did just download the next Charles Finch novel onto my kindle. So let's see how that goes!

For Golden Age mystery fans - I stumbled across this list today and saw some new authors I haven't read before. https://murder-mayhem.com/female-mystery-writers-golden-age

Good morning! Today is the first day since we've been home from NOLA where I've been up and out of bed feeling (physically) pretty good. Hurrah! Perhaps it's because I've went to bed early and read last night. Here's the bad news: I'm not enjoying the book my friend recommended for me at all. I can see why she thought I'd enjoy it. It reads like a Regency book set in modern fairyland (it's called the Nether in the book, I don't know if that's a common term or not but I'll mention it here in case it makes sense to others) with a little bit of intrigue. Except ... I don't read anything with fantasy elements and it's simply not my thing. Apparently my imagination is too old and broken to shut down reality for fiction in this circumstances. I'm going to have to channel my inner VC and be tactful with my response when I finish it.

@SereneHome (and anyone else that's having difficulty focusing on reading right now) - Did you get some reading in today?