The Sweetness at the bottom of the pie by Alan Bradley

-
The Sweetness at the bottom of the pie
A Flavia de Luce Mystery
By Alan Bradley 
2010 Softbound, 370 pages

I am so happy now that I am done with it that I decided to finally read the book after it laid resting on my shelf for a while. Though by now, you know that non-fic is not my cup of tea, so much more is the mystery crime thriller. I thought I got this book at the BIG BAD WOLF sale in Cebu City but I just realized after closing the back cover that I got it from Book Sale. I must have picked up the book because of the word pie or preview at the back about Flavia de Luce or the mention of stamp collection. As I started and went along the book (many interruptions in between, of course), I feel like I'm reading a coming-of-age book or I myself was transported to my elementary or high school self reading a book. It's a surprise that this is an adult crime mystery. I wish this is made into film too. It's a delight to do some sleuth work with our heroine Flavia Sabina de Luce, as she refers to herself sometimes. 

One delightful surprise is that the Author is a Canadian who never set foot in England except when he received his writing competition award. He was 70 by then. And this is his first novel. 

To date, he has written ten Flavia de Luce Mysteries (see titles abive, takrn from Wikipedia) and currently he is 83 or 84 years old. Isn't that inspiring for us to try writing too? 

Well, I might try another Flavia de Luce Mysterry if given another chance. It's a series surely with refreshing heroine who sports youthful passion and unflinching desire to finish any quest. 

Well, who wants the sweetness at the bottom of the pie? Reach for it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more

Linabog nga Bisaya nga Manok

-
Image
When I searched for Linabog in th web, I can see entries on Linabog but using a different souring agent and usually the fish called "pagi" is used. Also, they attribute Linabog to the Cebuanos and there is one video which explained that the word means "throw away" because the parts used in the dish are parts which are usually to be thrown away, like the bony "pagi." Meanwhile, there is also a "kinunot" way of cooking which means "hinimay" or flaked for the Luzon. The name was also coined for leftover parts of fish or chicken. In Hiligaynon, the word "labog" means forcefully thrown away.  This surprised me because when I was small, I heard from my father and his friends about this linabog and they used the leaves of labog plant. So I grew up having some idea of what linabog cooking means and definitely, the Cebuanos' definition of Linabog dish is far from my Ilonggo definition. And yes, Ilonggos
Read more