New York Times

[becke_davis]

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Flavia_de_Luce wrote:

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ReadingPatti wrote:

Welcome, Alan, I love the name of your character. I love the illustration of her too. I am very intrigued and must check out your books. I also love Sherlock Holmes so I must check out those books too.

What do you like about writing and especially mysteries?

Do you have any favorite authors?

Welcome and I hope that you enjoy your visit with us.

ReadingPatti

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Dear Patti,

After too many years of working for someone else, it's a dream job working for yourself - and for your readers, of course! I've always been fond of mystery novels, and often thought it would be fun to write one myself - little dreaming that one would become six!

My favourites are Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Benjamin Black, Agatha Christie, and Louise Penny. It always gives me a warm feeling to think of Louise's wonderful Armand Gamache novels, since she is, in a very real way, Flavia de Luce's godmother.

But that's another story ...

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"It always gives me a warm feeling to think of Louise's wonderful Armand Gamache novels, since she is, in a very real way, Flavia de Luce's godmother.

But that's another story ..."

Ask anyone on this board and they'll tell you I'm kind of an evangelist for Louise Penny's books. I've given both your books and hers to people in my family this year for birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas...

Great gift ideas, folks!

Oh, I almost forgot - I finished Book 4 yesterday and it's the best yet! NOOOOO peeking at the end of the book (I never do it myself, but I've seen the comments about this on the Romantic Reads board - I know a lot of you like a teensy peek. DON'T DO IT.) This is an absolutely wonderful book to read for the holidays.

[becke_davis]

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Flavia_de_Luce wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

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eadieburke wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

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leisure_reader wrote:

My introduction to Flavia comes from this thread.  Becke does a great job of getting readers to come out of their element here with introductions to new authors and subjects and many new characters

Looking at some of the cover art, doesn't Flavia look a little like Wednesday Addams from the old Addams Family series? 

J

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I noticed that some of the foreign (i.e. not U.S.) book cover portrayals do make her look a bit like Wednesday Addams. It's not quite how I picture her, but the covers are very eye-catching!

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In my mind, I always picture Flavia as resembling Pippy Longstocking!

http://www.sweden.se/pippi

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LOL. I guess I sort of picture her like a young Margaret O'Brien (Tootie in "Meet Me in St. Louis"):

Meet Me in St. Louis  

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How odd that you should post these particular photos. I remember as a child (I must have been about 6) being taken to see "Meet Me In St. Louis" at our local movie theater. Besides the Trolley Song, and the title song, Margaret O'Brien stands out in my mind, even after all these years. I think all little boys were half in love with her.

Thanks for the memories.

Alan

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Alan - This was one of my mom's favorite movies. All of her grandchildren watched it at her house over and over again. I'd forgotten it, but my kids loved it so much I bought a copy, too. Great, great movie!

[Fricka]

Waaaaaah! I'm one of the lurkers, I guess, although my lurking was due to technical difficulties.

Alan, I've loved the first three books, and now I have just bought  I am Half-Sick of Shadows. I'm going to try to be good and save that for just-before-Christmas reading. I do have a copy of A Study in Sherlock and really enjoyed your story, You'd Better Go in Disguise". I wasn't exactly sure at first  whether "Montague" was Sherlock Holmes, and the narrator turned out to be unreliable, which added a lot of spice to the story. I also enjoyed the Agatha Christie reference at the end.

In case you do peek back in here after your trip to Malta, I do have a couple of questions for you:

1. Why are Feely and Daffy so mean to Flavia? I only had a younger brother growing up, but their behavior seems very cruel to me. I was really indignant on Flavia's behalf when they kept telling her she was a changling, and not really their sister.

2. I love the name of Antigone for the Inspector's wife's name! Will we ever see her develop a close relationship with Flavia?

3. Will we see a resolution to the financial problems that are facing Flavia's father?

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

Waaaaaah! I'm one of the lurkers, I guess, although my lurking was due to technical difficulties.

Alan, I've loved the first three books, and now I have just bought  I am Half-Sick of Shadows. I'm going to try to be good and save that for just-before-Christmas reading. I do have a copy of A Study in Sherlock and really enjoyed your story, You'd Better Go in Disguise". I wasn't exactly sure at first  whether "Montague" was Sherlock Holmes, and the narrator turned out to be unreliable, which added a lot of spice to the story. I also enjoyed the Agatha Christie reference at the end.

In case you do peek back in here after your trip to Malta, I do have a couple of questions for you:

1. Why are Feely and Daffy so mean to Flavia? I only had a younger brother growing up, but their behavior seems very cruel to me. I was really indignant on Flavia's behalf when they kept telling her she was a changling, and not really their sister.

2. I love the name of Antigone for the Inspector's wife's name! Will we ever see her develop a close relationship with Flavia?

3. Will we see a resolution to the financial problems that are facing Flavia's father?

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Fricka - I see number 3 as a recurring theme, but I think Alan is also toying with us. He (as Flavia) frequently tosses in casual asides about galleries of portraits gathering dust (potentially valuable portraits...), rare books in the library, even more rare texts related to chemicals and poisons in Tar's collections, and so on and so on.

I feel like one of those people who yells at the TV when a character misses a clue. "Call in an antiques valuer!" I want to shout at Flavia. "You're surrounded by treasures!"

[Fricka]

Good point on # 3, becke, but aren't all of those possessions part of the late Mrs. de Luce's estate, and thus possibly entailed? Mr. de Luce can of course sell his stamp collection, as it is something HE collected, but I'm not so sure he would be able to sell the portrairs, rare books, etc.

We'll have to wait and let Alan explain the de Luce estate legalities, I expect. Personally, I'm hoping for Flavia to solve some mystery that results in some kind of monetary reward that will allow her to be the salvation of the de Luce estate. Wouldn't THAT just put Ophelia and Daphne in the dust!

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

Good point on # 3, becke, but aren't all of those possessions part of the late Mrs. de Luce's estate, and thus possibly entailed? Mr. de Luce can of course sell his stamp collection, as it is something HE collected, but I'm not so sure he would be able to sell the portrairs, rare books, etc.

We'll have to wait and let Alan explain the de Luce estate legalities, I expect. Personally, I'm hoping for Flavia to solve some mystery that results in some kind of monetary reward that will allow her to be the salvation of the de Luce estate. Wouldn't THAT just put Ophelia and Daphne in the dust!

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Read on...

[Fricka]

Awww, becke, you tease! You KNOW I'm trying to hold off reading I am Half-Sick of Shadows for the time being, at least! My will power just took a major hit with that last sly comment of yours, though!

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

Awww, becke, you tease! You KNOW I'm trying to hold off reading I am Half-Sick of Shadows for the time being, at least! My will power just took a major hit with that last sly comment of yours, though!

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Fricka - I loved all the books, but I think I AM HALF SICK OF SHADOWS is my favorite.

[Fricka]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! You WOULD go and put salt in my already wounded self-control, becke! Santa may have to bring you a lump of coal this year! Heh, heh.

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! You WOULD go and put salt in my already wounded self-control, becke! Santa may have to bring you a lump of coal this year! Heh, heh.

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Moi??  

[Fricka]

Oui, toi, becke.

[becke_davis]

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Fricka wrote:

Oui, toi, becke.

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LOL!!

[basson_mommy12]

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becke_davis wrote:

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Fricka wrote:

Oui, toi, becke.

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LOL!!

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I'm trying to hold off reading until closer to the holidays, too. More because I'll have some time! Too busy right now! I'll want to stay up and read the whole thing in one go ala Harry Potter.

It was great having Alan here. Fantastic!

[becke_davis]

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basson_mommy12 wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

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Fricka wrote:

Oui, toi, becke.

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LOL!!

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I'm trying to hold off reading until closer to the holidays, too. More because I'll have some time! Too busy right now! I'll want to stay up and read the whole thing in one go ala Harry Potter.

It was great having Alan here. Fantastic!

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I hope he'll come back again - maybe when book five comes out!

[becke_davis]

Exciting book sale news!!

"NYT bestselling author of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley's next four adventures of the intrepid Flavia de Luce, following the sixth book, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, which Delacorte will publish in 2013..." - Hurray!!!

[eadieburke]

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becke_davis wrote:

Exciting book sale news!!

"NYT bestselling author of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley's next four adventures of the intrepid Flavia de Luce, following the sixth book, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, which Delacorte will publish in 2013..." - Hurray!!!

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So, there will be a total of 10 books planned?

[becke_davis]

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eadieburke wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

Exciting book sale news!!

"NYT bestselling author of Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Alan Bradley's next four adventures of the intrepid Flavia de Luce, following the sixth book, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, which Delacorte will publish in 2013..." - Hurray!!!

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So, there will be a total of 10 books planned?

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So far - he could possibly sell more if the series continues to be so successful. Which begs the question - will Flavia age in real time or will he slow that pace?