RKLW {reading, knitting, listening, watching}

{A once-a-week post about what I’m reading, knitting, listening to, and watching.}
{Feel free to join along and link to your post in the comments.}

Reading: The Complete Father Brown Stories by G. K. Chesterton. Yes, still working my way through it. I’m demonstrating my ability to read and knit while holding the book open with my toes. Odd, isn’t it?

Knitting: Smaug socks! (Click for link) *grumble, grumble* I’m a little worried that Smaug may triumph over me. I’ve turned the heel and I’m working on the gussets right now. I hope it isn’t too snug! There might have to be a good deal of blocking… Only problem? No sock blockers….

Listening: The Nutcracker! I’ve had this record for years. And I only paid 25 cents for something I listen to all year round. 🙂

Watching: Oh, North and South, I do love thee. I’m not thrilled that the library put a sticker over Richard Armitage’s face! Talk about uncool much. I love the mini-series to death, so now I want to find the novel. Did you like it?

What are you reading, knitting, listening to, or watching? Leave a comment!

RKLW {reading, knitting, listening, watching}

{A once-a-week post about what I’m reading, knitting, listening to, and watching.}
{Feel free to join along and link to your post in the comments.}

Reading: The Complete Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton. I’m about half way through this book. I really think reading Sherlock helped me understand Father Brown, even though they are both very different. I’ve read Fr. Brown before, but was never really able to make heads or tails of it… Slowly, slowly, I’m working my way through it. 🙂

Knitting: Smaug socks! I want to have both of them done before the Battle of the Five Armies comes out in our area. The pattern is my second actual patterned sock. I love the way it is knitting up. The pattern really looks like scales.
Disclaimer: I don’t have more than one sock project going right now. I finished the socks from two weeks ago, and the sock from last week. If I had more than one sock going at once, I would be in big trouble… 😉
(P.S. The second picture is a sneak peek at something I’m working on right now. Stay tuned till next week! Can you guess what it is?)

Listening: Since it is officially Advent, listening to Christmas music is acceptable. I give you leave to listen away. 🙂

Watching: Return to Cranford, the sequel to Cranford. Oooo!!! Talk about a great show! This one has Tom Hiddleson in it…better known, I’m sure, as Loki from the Avengers. I will warn you, though, Cranford, both of them, have high body counts. Way to rip my heart out, BBC!!

What have you been reading, knitting, listening to, or watching? Comment below!

a truth #11

“You are scintillating this morning, Watson!” ~Sherlock Holmes

Glad you’re so awake, Dr. Watson. Has anyone seen my coffee? I don’t do mornings… Like, at all.   Are you the same way? Comment below!

Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet~ review

A Study In Scarlet– by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Dr. John Watson is home from the war and in need of a place to live. One of his friends has a suggestion; a man who is looking for someone to share a flat with. Watson, interested, agrees to meet the man and is duly introduced to Mr. Sherlock Holmes. The two rent a flat, 221B Baker Street, and get used to each other. However, Watson has no idea what it is that Sherlock actually does for a living. Little does he know that he is about to find out….

You know that I have already reviewed The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles (click for the reviews). I am not a big fan of A Study in Scarlet. I liked the first half of the book, but seriously, what was that second part? It seemed like it was a whole different story. Totally threw me for a loop at first. I did like meeting Sherlock Holmes. He’s just so matter of fact while spouting off theories. Watson thinks Sherlock is a lunatic at first, I think. I kind of have to agree. 😉 As for the mystery, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I have a hard time guessing mysteries! I feel more like Watson more than I care to admit. Maybe I should pit my wits against Miss Marple or Father Brown… What do you think?

I checked the Complete Sherlock Holmes out from the library and worked my way through it. Unfortunately, I don’t remember some of the stories enough to review them right now. And the book had to go back to the library. 😛 I’ll try to get it again soon.

What is your favorite Sherlock story? Comment below!

well, what do you know?

Would you look at that? It’s the complete Sherlock Holmes! Shall we review it over the next few days? I think that’s a wonderful idea. So glad you agree. 🙂 Get used to seeing this cover.

By the way, I’m open to any suggestions you might have for book reviews. If you give me an idea, be sure to look out for the review! Please leave a comment if you have a favorite book you’d like me to read and review.

rainbow spines

When you look at books, the first thing you see is the spine of the book. Sometimes the spines are very pretty. Sometimes they’re really ugly. I searched through my favorite books to find ones with pretty, rainbow spines. Here they are in order. I hope this cheers up your dreary day!

Red

Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll~ I just had to include this book. My blog is named Alice In Bookland, after all! And the book itself is stunningly pretty. I love the vintage spine. And the White Rabbit on the front? Darling!

Orange

Theodore Boone: The Accused by John Grisham~ The third of the Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer books by John Grisham. The spine looks more red than orange, but whatever. This is a really good book, great for boys. And girls!

Yellow

Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne~ I think this book was printed in the 1930s or so. It is gorgeous!

 

Green

Tiger’s Destiny by Colleen Houck~ Number four in the Tiger’s Curse series.

Blue

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall~ Can I say how much I love the Penderwicks? The sisterly love between them is wonderful. The story is sweet. Skye trying to be the OAP (oldest available Penderwick) is hilarious. This is the third in the Penderwick series.

 

Indigo

Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery~ My favorite of all the Anne books. I like it because Anne is older (but not too old), and it has romance. And Gilbert! Oh, I have such a literary crush on Gilbert…

 

Violet

The Quiet Light- A Novel about Saint Thomas Aquinas by Louis de Wohl~ Louis de Wohl is one of my favorite authors ever in the history of authorship. His books are so well written, so detailed, and the subjects are wonderful. This one, about Saint Thomas Aquinas, is one of my favorites. And it’s one of the only books I have that has a purple spine!

Care to share your favorite rainbow spine books? Comment below!

a truth #6

It is a truth universally acknowledged….

…that “There is nothing so stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.” ~Sherlock Holmes

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes~ review

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is an anthology published in 1892. It contains the following stories:

A Scandal in Bohemia
The Red-Headed League
A Case of Identity
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
The Five Orange Pips
The Man with the Twisted Lip
The Blue Carbuncle
The Speckled Band
The Engineers Thumb
The Noble Bachelor
The Beryl Cornet
The Copper Beeches

There weren’t very many of the mysteries that I enjoyed. Most of them were a little creepy and odd. I did like The Red-Headed League (I have a couple of red-headed friends) and The Blue Carbuncle (poor goose!). I had a hard time figuring out the solution to most of the mysteries, but I did hazard a guess in The Beryl Cornet and The Five Orange Pips. The Engineers Thumb was scary and The Noble Bachelor was silly. I would like to find the other anthologies at some point.

On another note, isn’t that the ugliest cover ever?

What is your favorite Sherlock story? Do share, if you feel so inclined.

The Hound of the Baskervilles~ review

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes is at it again. Dr. James Mortimer has paid him a visit with a wild-sounding tale of the Curse of the Baskervilles. Sir Charles Baskerville apparently died of fright after seeing a giant hound, the so-called Hound of the Baskervilles. His death leaves his estate to his nephew Henry, the only known heir. Holmes is intrigued with the tale, but is unable to go with Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry back to Baskerville Hall. He sends Dr. Watson in his place. But could Sherlock Holmes, world’s greatest detective, really leave a case alone? Of course not!

The Hound of the Baskervilles is the first Holmes mystery I’ve read. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Most mysteries all seem to be pretty similar, but Conan Doyle’s stand in a class of their own. I had the wrong person picked as the criminal! But that didn’t upset me too much. There are a couple of subplots that sort of throw you off the scent for a bit before being resolved. I love how Holmes sums everything up at the end. It’s closure, something I like in books. Sir Arthur’s writing style is simple and easy to follow, though how Sherlock manages to deduce so many things just by looking still stumps me. I think I understand how Watson feels!

After reading THOTB, I had to find more Sherlock. The stories are so very exciting, thrilling, and addictive! He has definitely made a comeback recently. I can see why, with the stories being such classics. I found The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and I’m working my way through it. So far, it’s enjoyable. I had checked out a biography of Conan Doyle a few months ago, but I was unable to finish it before having to return it. How aggravating. I’ll get it again and review it for you sometime. It’s called The Man Who Created Sherlock: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Andrew Lycett, in case you were wondering.

Movie-wise, I’ve only seen Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey, Jr. I would like to watch the first movie starring him, and the BBC mini-series with Benedict Cumberbach and Martin Freeman. Have you seen them? Any thoughts, comments, fan-craziness?

Any other Holmes stories (book or movie) to recommend? Tell me in the comments!