You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Four

Can the flower hedge be a rose bush? like this

That will work, Katrisa.

Is this clear enough as flowers and work for flower task?

It will work Aya.

Thank you, Janice!

2. Nine letters: To be ironed
Read a book with a character who is a maid servant whose responsibilities would include ironing clothing.

I was considering Songbirds which is about the search for a maid who has gone missing. I think she'll be significant as she's the missing person, but as she's missing, I'm not sure if she's an actual character as well. Is it acceptable like this? Or would it be acceptable if she for example appears in flashbacks other characters might have? Or has anyone read it and know if it fits?

Go for it Peggy.

Yay! Thanks Janice!

Task 8 - Read a book where the first letter of the title (not including articles) starts with ABCDE.

Clarifying question - first letter of the title (not including articles) can begin with A, B, C, D, or E? Just want to make sure, thanks!

That's right Lilisa. We're looking at the first word (not including articles and it can begin with A, B, C, D, or E. It could be 4 words long, but we're just looking at the first word. eg. A Bad Day for Sunshine. Ha, I'd better go plug that one in right away.

Janice wrote: "That's right Lilisa. We're looking at the first word (not including articles and it can begin with A, B, C, D, or E. It could be 4 words long, but we're just looking at the first word. eg. [book:A ..."

Lovely, thanks Janice. Lol, that sounds like a good one!

Need help with the task:
Read a book with the theme of tourism

Not sure about the kind of books to be read for this task.

Thanks.

Viji wrote: "Need help with the task:
Read a book with the theme of tourism

Not sure about the kind of books to be read for this task.

Thanks."

Maybe something like this? The Disaster Tourist

I think travel memoirs would work too. I'm sure there are plenty of lists :)

Ayacchi wrote: "Viji wrote: "Need help with the task:
Read a book with the theme of tourism

Not sure about the kind of books to be read for this task.

Thanks."

Maybe something like this? [book:The Disaster Tour..."

Thanks a lot, Ayacchi.

Peggy wrote: "I think travel memoirs would work too. I'm sure there are plenty of lists :)"

Thanks, Peggy.

TASK: Read a book with a wreath of flowers or a hedge of flowers on it

Would be acceptable for this task?

Thanks.

If the book posted by me in msg. 18 is not acceptable, would fit the 'wreath of flowers or a hedge of flowers on it" fit the task?

Thanks.

Viji wrote: "TASK: Read a book with a wreath of flowers or a hedge of flowers on it

Would be acceptable for this task?

Thanks."

Yes, this will work.

Janice wrote: "Viji wrote: "TASK: Read a book with a wreath of flowers or a hedge of flowers on it

Would be acceptable for this task?

Thanks."

Yes, this will work."

Thanks, Janice.

I think this is a no for the flowers but I just want to confirm.
. :o)

You're right in your assessment Cherie.

OK. Sigh, I am sorry, but I have one more. I have this book left over from a rainbow task from one of the past yearly challenges. It is not a hedge or a wreath, nor really a flowerbed, but it could be, maybe... how about a field???

Cherie wrote: "OK. Sigh, I am sorry, but I have one more. I have this book left over from a rainbow task from one of the past yearly challenges. It is not a hedge or a wreath, nor really a flowerbed, but it could..."

I'll accept it.

Task 2 Read a book with a character who is a maid servant and whose duties include ironing clothes.

Has anyone read The Keeper of Lost Things The blurb describes the MC as a housekeeper, but I wondered if that was significant to the story and if she might happen to iron.

Tricia wrote: "Task 2 Read a book with a character who is a maid servant and whose duties include ironing clothes.

Has anyone read The Keeper of Lost Things The blurb describes the MC as a house..."

Wait! Actually, the GR blurb doesn't say "housekeeper" at all; it says "assistant." Hmm, I wonder where I got the housekeeper thing.

I don't think it will work Tricia. I didn't see housekeeper either.

Too funny , Tricia. I just read the whole book blurb and was just coming back to ask where you saw housekeeper. 😉

I haven’t found a maid who irons yet either.

I found it! LOL I knew I saw it somewhere. I bought the Kindle version when it was on sale, and the first review on Amazon says that Anthony hires Laura as his housekeeper. I'm still putting it in the "no" pile for this task, but at least I know I haven't lost my mind.

does anyone know if the maid in The Maid does any ironing?

Katrisa wrote: "does anyone know if the maid in The Maid does any ironing?"

I don't think she does. She's a hotel maid cleaning hotel suites.

Does anyone have any maid suggestions?

Does the book have to mention ironing specifically or would a domestic housekeeper rather than a hotel maid be sufficient?

Have you read The Help? I've slotted Belgravia because it's similar to Downton Abbey. I'm sure there are downstairs staff who do that type of thing. If the proof isn't in the pudding when I read it, I'll have to find something else.

So ironing does have to be mentioned not just implied?

Katrisa wrote: "Does anyone have any maid suggestions?"

I have Maids of Misfortune slotted for this task. The maid, Kathleen, is a significant character in the story and it's mentioned in the book that one of her jobs is to iron clothing.

The ebook is free on Amazon.

If it helps, I often use the 'look inside' feature on amazon. You can look up words in the book and see the context in which they are used, if the section is included in the example.

The Help definitely has ironing included. For The Maid, it says the word ironing is included in the story several times, but I don't know the context. I didn't recall her doing it as part of her job. Belgravia and Maids of Misfortune both say that the word ironing is included, but also give no context as those pages are not included in the sample.

For any cozy mystery fans looking for a maid who irons (also historical fiction in England and books set 1901-1946), I recommend A Lady & Lady's Maid Mystery Series by Alyssa Maxwell.

It doesn't have to be that it's mentioned in the book that the maid irons. But the type of job that the maid does, would likely include ironing - like a maid who does laundry. A maid who cleans hotel rooms, doesn't iron clothes.

Oh, gotcha, Janice. My tip might not be very helpful then. Also, as you indicated, I'm pretty sure in The Maid her ironing has nothing to do with her job.

That tip is super useful in general Kristie!! Thanks!

You're welcome, Katrisa! Hope you find it helpful at some point. :)

Are the hedges of flowers clear enough on this cover?

Task: Read a book with a character who is a maid servant whose responsibilities would include ironing clothing

My original choice was A Lady & Lady's Maid Mystery Series by Alyssa Maxwell or Maids of Misfortune by M. Louisa Locke.

I started reading for another challenge. The synopsis states that she is a housekeeper.

In Ch.1. (Loc.112) in the conversation between the maid (business owner of Happy Maids who is also the original Happy Maid) and her new employer, where he requests the laundry to be done first, it is mentioned:
" Do you have about an hour's worth of work you can do while you wait?"
"Yes"
"And you'll go to your office or study or to your bedroom to do that."
"I have an office in the back."
"Great. I'll get on the laundry."

There is no specific mention about 'ironing'.

Would this book be acceptable for the task?

Thanks.

I found one in today's Kindle Daily Deals - What the Lady's Maid Knew. Using Kristie's method, the maid does press clothes. Cheap for today. :)

Viji, please refer to message 40 for your answer.

Janice wrote: "I found one in today's Kindle Daily Deals - What the Lady's Maid Knew. Using Kristie's method, the maid does press clothes. Cheap for today. :)

Viji, please refer to message 40 for..."

Thanks, Janice. I had missed the msg. referred. From the clarification, I find this book fits and I would use this for this task.

In India, the book referred by you is available under Kindle Unlimited but is not available under Kindle Daily Deals. I have added this to my to-read list.

Re task #3:   Read a book with one or more of the following barnyard animals on the cover - Chickens, Cattle, Sheep, Ducks, Goats, or Pigs.

Does the "one or more" refer to the type(s) of animals or to the animals to be found on the cover - specifically: Does one animal suffice?
I am reading which would fit elsewhere, too, but the sheep is rather prominent.

My intention with that was that you could have just one animal on the cover, or a whole barnyard of different animals, in any configuration.

Great, thank you!