This was so adorable. I wasn't a huge fan of the first book but I think it's because, this time, I did this as an audio book.
The reader was great - she had the perfect inflection of silly or mischievous that I think I understood Flavia a little better this time.

I saw a review that described Flavia as a mix between Wednesday Adams and Sherlock! LOL YES! Only she would see mud on a girls skirt and think she's pregnant!

anyway, I will definitely read more in this series! ( )

Audiobook. Reread.

I must be getting used to the audiobooks because the "problem" I had in the previous book with not connecting with Flavia as much because of the narrator's voice instead of my voice (in my head lol) wasn't really a problem this go-round.

Audiobooks are a different experience than reading on your own. One isn't necessarily better than the other (in most cases) and I have to remind myself of that (for some books) and just enjoy it for what it is.

I've needed the audiobook experience in the last few years because I've had trouble shutting out the world in order to read. That was scary for me because I have read, and loved to read, since I was 3 (according to my late mama). I could always escape into a book--until I couldn't. Enter audiobooks. I had resisted them for years but they kept me reading.

Anyway, Flavia is still great. ( )

Reread on 19 nov. 2011 ( )

I'd skipped this one because it wasn't available when I was ready for the next book, and then each book lead to the next so that I didn't want to backtrack until I got to the end, which I had. So it was great to learn more about Dieter, who'd seemed to pop up out of nowhere--but actually had been well introduced in this one. Although I'm not too pleased with her penchant for speaking untruths, and would prefer a character to demonstrate what bravery, skill, and good will there is in adhering to the truth, I continue to adore Flavia's affection for Dogger, and her enthusiasm over chemistry as she rattles off the names of compounds and what they do; art, as she describes famous paintings; music, as she talks about composers and their works, all in the course of ferreting out the hows, whys, and wherefors of the latest crime. ( )

To me, it was good, but as good as the previous book in the series. I adore, Flavia the super smart eleven year with a passion for chemistry.

The book had tendency to drag once in a while, but Flavia knowledge of chemistry, keen desire to find out about her mother who died before she got to know her and her impatience with her two older sister kept it from dying.

I love learning and I never took chemistry but the main character and sleuth, Flavia made appreciate the value of knowing as much chemistry as possible.

I loved the part about pigeon poop, that was a delightful surprise. The evil person was beautiful drawn, you will hate her too, ( )