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I haven’t so thoroughly enjoyed a book in quite some time. Although the heroine may seem a bit too knowledgeable for age 11, keep in mind that this was 1950, pre MTV and video games. It was not unheard of for children to become experts in the area of their hobbies. Flavia and her families dynamics were delightful. The story was great.
I really loved this book because it is peppered with all manner of cultural, historical, scientific, and literary references that make the story rich. I enjoy the ...more
I really loved this book because it is peppered with all manner of cultural, historical, scientific, and literary references that make the story rich. I enjoy the ...more

I think to really enjoy this book, you have to like Flavia, the main character. Certainly, she was the biggest draw for me. Yes, she should be a little unbelievable, with smarts well beyond her eleven years, but I personally liked that for all her intelligence, she didn't have the first clue when it came to anything emotional. That was where her true age really shone through, in my opinion.
I wouldn't go into this book because you like mysteries, because it's really more literary fiction than mys ...more
I wouldn't go into this book because you like mysteries, because it's really more literary fiction than mys ...more

I found this a fun, easy read. I thought the mystery part was pretty stupid but I got quite a kick out of the 11 year-old sleuth, Flavia. Also, I loved the librarian. I'm a sucker for any book with a sympathetic librarian.:) I can't help but feel that she'll be a co-sleuth in future books.
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I found this book to be neither here nor there. It was well written and all, but I just didn't find compelling enough. It ended up dragging seriously in the middle. I don't think I will bother with teh rest of the series.
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Flavia De Luce is a girl who is interested in chemistry. She lives with her father who is mainly interested in stamp collecting and her two older sisters, her mother disappeared during a mountaineering trek when Flavia was a baby. When Flavia finds a dying man in the cucumber patch she decides to investigate his death. I found this to be an ok mystery and Flavia was interesting but I didn't fall in love with her the way a lot of readers have.
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Didn’t finish, made it about 1/3 of the way through (roughly 100 pages into it). Though the voice is original and the writing is clever (perhaps self-consciously so?), I felt the story was too over-the-top cutesy and sweet, as though it were written for children rather than adults, and I’m craving something meatier right now. Even so, I can see how some readers would find the main character and 1950s setting endearing.

What a beautiful story! I loved every minute of this book, and can't wait to listen to the next Flavia de Luce book! :)
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Cute book. I probably won't continue on in the series, but it was well-written.
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Oct 03, 2018
Diane
marked it as to-read