The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Discussion

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

This is the discussion thread for the Fall 2011 Group Read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

[Rosemary]

I loved this! All the characters were so well drawn, especially Flavia of course, but even the minor characters stood out. The details brought everything to life.

[Donna Jo]

I enjoyed reading this one. Then I listened to the second one (The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag) and really loved it--and I normally hate audio books.

[Coralie]

I quite enjoyed it, but I never got completely involved in trying to solve the mystery. I would have prefered to have had a bit less Flavia and a bit more of the rest of her family.

[mstan]

I thought the premise of the book was quite good, but the mystery a little long-drawn at 300+ pages. I did like the reference to (if I remember correctly) an 'elephant ballerina' near the end of the novel though, when Flavia was in danger. She seems to be funniest when she is in a tight spot!

[Emily]

I enjoyed this one. I usually get annoyed by characters that know a little too much, especially young characters, but I actually liked Flavia. She's sort of what adult me wishes I was more like as a kid. The book probably could have been a bit shorter, but the mystery was good and I didn't figure it out before she did. I'll definitely pick up the next book.

[KarenF]

Add me to the people who liked Flavia, although I bet in real life she'd be too much she's great fun on the page. This book has been in Mt. TBR forever so I'm glad for the push to finally read it. I also enjoyed many of the secondary characters, especially Dogger, the inspector and Max. I definitely won't be waiting long to get to the second one now as I really liked this one. It was a fun and quick read.

[Jennifer W]

I just love Flavia as well. My complaint also goes along with the length of the book. I never felt like I had to force myself to keep reading, but more than once, Flavia would make a connection between a clue that she found 150 pages ago and a current clue, and I had forgotten all about the 1st part. (view spoiler)[ This was especially annoying with the 2 stamps. She found one in/on the suitcase at the local motel and then found the other much later in the clock. By the time she got to the clock, I had completely forgotten about the suitcase. (hide spoiler)] If this lengthiness really bothered you in this book, be forewarned, it continues in the second book, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Still, Flavia's an adorable main character and the books are fun. I hope to get to the third book, A Red Herring Without Mustard sometime during the fall challenge.

[Emily]

Jennifer W wrote: "I just love Flavia as well. My complaint also goes along with the length of the book. I never felt like I had to force myself to keep reading, but more than once, Flavia would make a connection bet..."

(view spoiler)[Weren't both stamps on the suitcase? The stamp she found in the clock was the one that was impaled on the bird at the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer W]

Were they? It's been a couple years since I read it.

You do the nifty spoiler thing the way you do italics or bold. You use <> and put the word spoiler (or bold, or italic) in between the brackets. Then type the spoiler part. Then you do > and put the word spoiler after the / but before >

[Emily]

Well, that's just neat! Haha. I edited my post above.

And yeah, they were found together. But your point is still valid. There were definitely parts where I had to flip back through the book to check what had happened before, and I read it in about 2 days (I usually only have to do that when it takes me a few weeks to get through a book).

As for that specific part you mentioned, (view spoiler)[ she lied and told Pemberton that the stamps were in the clock, and I personally had to go back and look, because while I knew the stamps weren't there, I couldn't remember which stamp her father had hid there in the first place. (hide spoiler)] Maybe that's what you were thinking of?

[Jennifer W]

It might be. It also didn't help that I know nothing of stamp collecting, especially British stamps.

[Cindy LooHoo]

I too thought that this book could have been improved by a little tighter editing to shorten it a bit. I also kept thinking, 'what are these kids doing all day?' No one seems to expect them to be in school or studying with a governess or whatever would be appropriate to the time. That said, I was/am geeky enough to be a little jealous of Flavia's fully-stocked lab.

[Dee]

I just started listening to this today at work - so far enjoying the narrator - Flavia just found the body - but I am jealous of her chemistry lab

[Josalyn]

I love Flavia. Bradley did a great job with her. She's obviously a prodigy, but she still acts her age. I love it. I love the diversity of the minor characters too. A fun read, I'll definitely pick up the next one.

[Butterflycager]

Well, that was fun. I'm glad I gave this book a second chance - I tried it last year and found it extremely off-putting for some reason. This time, I just sat back and let Flavia drag me along for the ride. I'm not usually a fan of the precocious child narrator - I've gone through several books wishing their narrators were real so I could smack them - but I found Flavia funny and charming. I also enjoyed the feel of the book in my hands - the pretty cover and binding made it even more appealing. I will probably read more of this series.

[Dee]

I'm with Butterflycager - not normally a fan of the child narrator, but enjoying this one - maybe because i'm doing the audiobook...the narrator is really bringing flavia to life and she is doing a great job with all the other voices - they all seem distinct, which doesn't always happen

does the detective show up in the later books in the series?

[Dee]

from my above post - finished this up today - I had a vague idea who done it, but it didn't turn out to be who i thought - so that was good - i've already added the rest of the books in the series to the audible wish-list

[Lorna]

My favorite part of the book was the character of Flavia. It was quite a humorous book and I liked that. The descriptions were so funny. I loved the encounter that Flavia had with the librarain.

[Carla]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Flavia - assertive, intelligent and sassy. I wish her sisters were a little more three dimensional, but that would probably be my only complaint. I will definitely be picking up the next installment.

[Wendy UK]

It took me a few chapters to get into this as I found the style of the writing rather contrived. However, once I got going I found it a quick and amusing read.

The strange imaginary 1950s world, where a young girl could roam around at will, getting into scrapes and solving mysteries, reminded me of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books which engrossed me as a child. I think the atmosphere of the book is not of the real 1950s - when I was growing up - but of the world into which we escaped in the stories we read.

[Bea]

I kinda wish I were Flavia - smart, sassy, really good at Chemistry! I, too, like to read and would really have enjoyed that strange library. I also found it a bit free that Flavia could roam so far on her bicycle. And I would have liked to know more of her sisters, but think the author was right to keep them more one dimensional to play off of Flavia's fuller character. Maybe, in another book, he will flesh them out more.

[Donna Jo]

Bea wrote: "I kinda wish I were Flavia - smart, sassy, really good at Chemistry! I, too, like to read and would really have enjoyed that strange library. I also found it a bit free that Flavia could roam so fa..."

Bea, I thought the sisters were more one dimensional because that's the way Flavia herself saw them. After all, she's telling the story and she seems to have tunnel vision about some things.

[Bea]

Donna Jo wrote: "Bea wrote: "I kinda wish I were Flavia - smart, sassy, really good at Chemistry! I, too, like to read and would really have enjoyed that strange library. I also found it a bit free that Flavia coul..."

You make a good point, Donna Jo. I bet you are right, now that I think of it. From Flavia's point of view, her sisters are sorta background for much of her life, unless she is trying to pull a prank on them, that is.

[JC]

I enjoyed this book tremedously from beginning to end. I am in love with Flavia as a character and am excited to read some more of her adventures. "You can go and suck my galoshes" *snort*

I listened to this on audio and was very impressed with the narration. I listen to lots of audiobooks and this rates at the top of the list as far as voice, expression and narration; the narrator did a splendid job of bringing the story to life.

Mystery is not normally in my range of genres, unless a mystery just happens to be part of another genre I'm reading. They don't usually keep my attention and I am usually 10 steps ahead of the protagonist. My limited exposure to the mystery genre may be why I liked this so much and others disliked the actual mystery portion. I didn't know "who dunnit" until Flavia did, which was enjoyable. I rated it 5 stars and am recommending it to everyone!

[Tanya Patrice]

What I liked - Flavia for one - yes I'm a chemist, so how could I not love a young one who takes delight in the chemical world.

What I didn't like - Flavia. Too much of her, not enough of the other characters.

[Jody]

I'm 31 % complete with this book. I'm struggling to keep reading. This really feels like a BBS series that is shown on a PBS channel. From the comments that are posted here it seems as though a few people struggle through the first few chapters, but then find it to pick up. So I'm going to continue on and hope that the next page is better.

[Gayla]

I really, really enjoyed this book -- far more than I expected to. I'm thinking I might pass it on to my twelve-year-old, who loves mysteries and will identify with Flavia.

[Christine US]

I'd already ready The Peach Keeper, and didn't care for the other choice...so I was left with this.
OK, so I'm obviously in the minority disliking the book. I don't feel like I got anything out of reading it.
Strangely, I found the part about the stamps interesting. Years ago, my dad took my family to a stamp convention in DC, so I learned some of the things in the book there (about the sheets and marks on the edges, the row size, etc) It made me feel smart to hear some things I already knew:)
I just didn't buy Flavia. What 11 year old is going to know that much, be that interested in a mystery to solve, and would actually be allowed to run around and investigate? I understand her father was in jail, but shouldn't her older sisters have watched her a little more carefully? She spoke and acted much older than her age, and it felt unreal.

[Midu]

It IS like Enid Blyton! Takes me back to the time I read all those lovely books with kids solving the mysteries. My favorite were the Five Find-outers and dog series. I think that's why I'm loving this book.

[Karen Michele]

I've wanted to read this one for a long time and I enjoyed it very much. I thought Flavia was great fun and I enjoyed the chemistry connections. It did start to drag for me for a little while, but it picked back up when Flavia was in danger near the end of the book. I guessed a few things, but, all in all Flavia outdid me by far!

[Tineke]

I'm reading it right now as the groupread. I like it, but I don't care about the descriptions of the surroundings. Those bits drag. Other bits really flow, and those parts I really do like. I think Flavia is really charming, although not 'real.' I'm now at that point where her father is explaining and I really do like that part. I have a clue about whodunnit, but I actually expect to be wrong. I have to get back about that when I'm done.

[Tineke]

I was wrong ofcourse! Anyway, my opinion hasn't changed. I gave it three stars. I won't actively seek out the next one, but when I happen to come across it for free, I will take it.

[JennRenee, Moderator]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was very entertaining with a great cast of characters. It gave me a simple pleasure during the day to get in to the life of Flavia and her colorful friends and family. The only think I would have liked more is if the clues were better yet followed. I was confused at times how the clue found related to the past clues. I think I will continue wiht the series.

[Midu]

Finished the book. Liked it a lot.

[Seakbee]

I must not be a fan of murder/mystery. I never connected with the characters or the story. I put the book down a lot. It started to remind me of Scooby-do (perhaps because of the age of the characters and that it felt cookie-cutter to me). Glad I tried it, but will probably not venture there again too much.

[Katrina]

As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and various Agatha Christie novels, I certainly enjoyed this one. A mystery with this sort of wit definitely catches my interest, and I swiftly added the rest of the series to my tbr list. Definitely recommended to those that are fans of Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle.

[Tami]

I liked the characters in this book but have to say was amazed that an 11 year old could have a chemical lab at her disposal. Scary! I may read the next one as I love a good mystery.

[Meghan]

As for the character of Flavia - she was fun! I enjoyed her quirky sense of humor, her sarcasm, her 11-year-old melodrama... but the writing did me in with this book. It seemed so contrived, I had to keep convincing myself to keep reading. The only time this feeling subsided was in the couple of chapters in which her father pontificated - for some reason, that part of the story wrapped me up and carried me along without me noticing! But the rest of the book, I felt like I was dragging my feet through mud to get through. Overall, I'm kind of disappointed. I picked up the second book when I checked out the first at the library - that one, unfortunately, will get returned without being read.

[Katy]

When I first heard of this book a while back, I was a little skeptical, as if it would be sort of like the Bobbsey Twins or something. However, I have to say...I'm impressed! A lot of the other comments here are kind of lukewarm...and I guess I agree. I *think* I will go on and read the next one, but I don't think it'll be on the top of my pile!

I do like Flavia quite a bit...as someone upthread said, I wish I were her! (Although since she's approaching those middle school years, I'm not sure I wish I were about to repeat those!)