The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Fiction - 4.5 stars

Just finished this on my Nook (started in February, so that's not a bad timeframe for me) as part of my pact to alternate between classics and modern. I am so glad I read this as I have only read The Hound of the Baskervilles, and that was written long after these stories. I loved them, and I really came to see Holmes and Watson in a different light.  These stories also give a glimpse of Victorian England as it really was, the similarities to and differences from modern society were definitely intriguing. I am hooked!

Score!!!

Megan, Danny and I went to the used book sale at the kids' school, and I happened upon a collection of Agatha Christie novels that someone had cleaned off of her bookshelf. I was so excited I bought all of them. That, with 9 kids' books, and a historical look at the time of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's own investigations of European murder cases) was only $15. What a deal! Earlier in the day, Megan had picked up a cookbook for me, so overall it was an awesome day! I know what I'll be reading this summer...

I Double Dog Dare you!

Don't know how many of you know about this, but Borders summer reading program has begun! You can download the form here. My kids have started their reading lists, and they can't wait to get the first freebie! I'm pretty excited myself.

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Youth Fiction - 3.5 stars - Megan loved this book! It is the story of Danny, who grows up in a gypsy caravan in England, and who works at his father's filling station and auto repair when he is not in school. Having no electricity in their caravan, Danny and his father spend their time storytelling by the light of the gas lamps and have a marvelous life until his father's secret life spices things up a little. This book stays true to one of Dahl's favorite themes that can be found in all of his books - no tv and imagination go a long way. Worth the read, especially for Megan's age group.