The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

I have nothing to share today because all I can think about is getting back to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. I started reading yesterday afternoon and within the first chapter or two, I fell hook, line, and sinker for Flavia de Luce, the 11-year-old protagonist. My younger kids are finally in bed, so I can read!

Flavia is about to break the case wide open, but I do have to share one thing. Alan Bradley was seventy when this book—his first novel—was published. When asked if he had always had a passion for writing or if it was a more recent development, Bradley said, “Well, the Roman author Seneca once said something like this: ‘Hang on to your youthful enthusiasms—you’ll be able to use them better when you’re older.’ So to put it briefly, I’m taking his advice.”

Three cheers for late bloomers! And if you love a good mystery, definitely give this book a try.