by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4.5 hours
read by Simon Jones
British story about a boy, Damien, who finds a bag of cash. He and his brother have only a few weeks to spend it before the conversion to Euros. Their mother died a few years earlier, and that along with Damien's fascination with saints and their stories, make for some unusual plot twists as the boys find the money becoming a burden rather than a blessing.
Jones' voice is perfect for this work.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney
hardcover, CMSW, ? pages
I had to read book three (brand new) before checking it out to my students! How delightful! Even though Greg is a little stinker, the book rings true in many regards. I enjoyed this one as much as book one in the series, and waaaay more than book two. What fun!
Greg's mom thinks it's time for him to do his own laundry. His dad wants him to be more manly, like his boss's kids. Greg just wants to be a kid.
hardcover, CMSW, ? pages
I had to read book three (brand new) before checking it out to my students! How delightful! Even though Greg is a little stinker, the book rings true in many regards. I enjoyed this one as much as book one in the series, and waaaay more than book two. What fun!
Greg's mom thinks it's time for him to do his own laundry. His dad wants him to be more manly, like his boss's kids. Greg just wants to be a kid.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Stormbreaker
by Anthony Horowitz
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 hours & 37 minutes
read by Nathaniel Parker
I enjoyed this more the first time I read it. Listening to it, especially with two 21-year-olds mocking it, made it much less enjoyable. Alex Rider as a 14-year-old spy is pretty far-fetched. I don't think I need to re-read the rest of the series . . . but it's still fun to booktalk it to readers who want something fast and action-packed.
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 hours & 37 minutes
read by Nathaniel Parker
I enjoyed this more the first time I read it. Listening to it, especially with two 21-year-olds mocking it, made it much less enjoyable. Alex Rider as a 14-year-old spy is pretty far-fetched. I don't think I need to re-read the rest of the series . . . but it's still fun to booktalk it to readers who want something fast and action-packed.
Friday, January 16, 2009
John 3:16
by Nancy Moser
paperback, Carver County Library, 402 pages
I liked (not loved) this book, but am eager for our book club discussion. When we talk about the books, then I really start to appreciate what the author brought to it and what each of us takes away as readers.
Without giving away too much, I'll say that the funeral and Roman finding Trudy's letter were the two parts that I liked the most. My favorite characters were William and Barry. I must just like kids . . .
Some parts of this just felt too pat. I had a really hard time getting into this book (I didn't get past chapter two for weeks!), but once I got into the different characters' storylines, I read quickly and enjoyed it.
As it's written in the book (not sure what version):
John 3:16. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who belives in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Praise God!
paperback, Carver County Library, 402 pages
I liked (not loved) this book, but am eager for our book club discussion. When we talk about the books, then I really start to appreciate what the author brought to it and what each of us takes away as readers.
Without giving away too much, I'll say that the funeral and Roman finding Trudy's letter were the two parts that I liked the most. My favorite characters were William and Barry. I must just like kids . . .
Some parts of this just felt too pat. I had a really hard time getting into this book (I didn't get past chapter two for weeks!), but once I got into the different characters' storylines, I read quickly and enjoyed it.
As it's written in the book (not sure what version):
John 3:16. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who belives in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Praise God!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Fast Food Nation
by Eric Schlosser
read by Rick Adamson
audioCD, Carver County Library, 9 hours (abridged)
I didn't realize this was an abridgement until the very end of the CD! Good thing it was, though, because nine hours of fast-food condemnation got old. There was some very interesting information. The part on slaughterhouses made me glad that we buy our beef from a local farmer and local butcher. But it's easy to understand how people make the choice to go vegetarian.
I thought he was a little over-the-top in making Ray Kroc and Walt Disney sound like the bringers-of-the-downfall of American society. But he makes some really strong connections between business and politics. Money and power are interesting forces throughout civilization . . . usually for ill rather than good. I'm glad that I'm already trying to eat healthier. This book is definitely "food for thought." I would love discussing it with other readers! (But maybe I should check out the book and read the whole thing.)
Adamson did an excellent job of reading this book, bringing energy and clarity to the diatribe against our fast food culture.
read by Rick Adamson
audioCD, Carver County Library, 9 hours (abridged)
I didn't realize this was an abridgement until the very end of the CD! Good thing it was, though, because nine hours of fast-food condemnation got old. There was some very interesting information. The part on slaughterhouses made me glad that we buy our beef from a local farmer and local butcher. But it's easy to understand how people make the choice to go vegetarian.
I thought he was a little over-the-top in making Ray Kroc and Walt Disney sound like the bringers-of-the-downfall of American society. But he makes some really strong connections between business and politics. Money and power are interesting forces throughout civilization . . . usually for ill rather than good. I'm glad that I'm already trying to eat healthier. This book is definitely "food for thought." I would love discussing it with other readers! (But maybe I should check out the book and read the whole thing.)
Adamson did an excellent job of reading this book, bringing energy and clarity to the diatribe against our fast food culture.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Circuit
subtitled, "Stories from the life of a migrant child"
by Francisco Jimenez
hardcover, CMSW, 134 pages
What a beautiful but sad collection of stories about a family of Mexican migrant workers. Francisco is four years younger than his brother Roberto, and alternates between the little boy job of watching younger siblings and the grown-up job of working the fields. His joy in going to school is tempered by the challenges of trying to learn in six months what other students get nine months to learn.
The most heart-breaking point of this book for me was when his notebook burned in the house fire. The disappointments and frustrations were tangible. This is a beautifully written book!
by Francisco Jimenez
hardcover, CMSW, 134 pages
What a beautiful but sad collection of stories about a family of Mexican migrant workers. Francisco is four years younger than his brother Roberto, and alternates between the little boy job of watching younger siblings and the grown-up job of working the fields. His joy in going to school is tempered by the challenges of trying to learn in six months what other students get nine months to learn.
The most heart-breaking point of this book for me was when his notebook burned in the house fire. The disappointments and frustrations were tangible. This is a beautifully written book!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Illuminated
by Matt Bronleewe
borrowed from Cindy Ottinger
hardcover, 311 pages
This was much darker and more violent than I expected. And yet the thing that bothered me the most was the idea of people mistreating rare old books! An interesting cross between the Da Vinci Code and National Treasure, Illuminated has two opposing groups trying to gain control of three copies of the Gutenberg Bible to look for clues to the Templars' treasure. August and April are divorced, but end up coming together to protect their son Charlie.
Brownleewe is a founding member of Jars of Clay. This is his first novel.
borrowed from Cindy Ottinger
hardcover, 311 pages
This was much darker and more violent than I expected. And yet the thing that bothered me the most was the idea of people mistreating rare old books! An interesting cross between the Da Vinci Code and National Treasure, Illuminated has two opposing groups trying to gain control of three copies of the Gutenberg Bible to look for clues to the Templars' treasure. August and April are divorced, but end up coming together to protect their son Charlie.
Brownleewe is a founding member of Jars of Clay. This is his first novel.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Kidnapped
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Carver County Library, audioCD, ~8 hours
read by Jim Weiss
From wikipedia:
The full title of the book, Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away, his Sufferings in a Desert Isle; his Journey in the Wild Highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other notorious Highland Jacobites; with all that he Suffered at the hands of his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, falsely so-called: Written by Himself and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson gives away major parts of the plot and creates the false impression that the novel is autobiographical.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as Stevenson's other books I've read. I think it's interesting that I've always thought of him as a British author, but this story quickly led me to believe that he was Scottish. Indeed! There are many colloquialisms in this story. The reader had a great brogue!
Carver County Library, audioCD, ~8 hours
read by Jim Weiss
From wikipedia:
The full title of the book, Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away, his Sufferings in a Desert Isle; his Journey in the Wild Highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other notorious Highland Jacobites; with all that he Suffered at the hands of his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, falsely so-called: Written by Himself and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson gives away major parts of the plot and creates the false impression that the novel is autobiographical.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as Stevenson's other books I've read. I think it's interesting that I've always thought of him as a British author, but this story quickly led me to believe that he was Scottish. Indeed! There are many colloquialisms in this story. The reader had a great brogue!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Brisinger
by Christopher Paolini
CMSW, hardcover, 748 pages
I enjoyed Eragon's further adventures and am looking forward to the final installment of the story (probably two years out). Eragon is finally maturing a bit, though he still displays some bratty outbursts. The whole scene with the dwarves and the coronation was a bit too drawn-out. Roran's storyline rocked! My favorite, though, was the banter and interplay between Eragon and Saphira.
CMSW, hardcover, 748 pages
I enjoyed Eragon's further adventures and am looking forward to the final installment of the story (probably two years out). Eragon is finally maturing a bit, though he still displays some bratty outbursts. The whole scene with the dwarves and the coronation was a bit too drawn-out. Roran's storyline rocked! My favorite, though, was the banter and interplay between Eragon and Saphira.
Anne of Avonlea
by L.M. Montgomery
Hennepin County, audiobook on CD
read by ???
Listening to this reminded me of why I *hate* abridged versions of books! I wasn't careful at the library - it didn't say it was abridged, but I could tell right away. I still enjoy the story, but am glad that I've read the full version before. So much of the story line and character development are lost in the abridgement!
Anne is a much more enjoyable character in this story. Her improvement society and teaching experiences are fun and interesting.
Hennepin County, audiobook on CD
read by ???
Listening to this reminded me of why I *hate* abridged versions of books! I wasn't careful at the library - it didn't say it was abridged, but I could tell right away. I still enjoy the story, but am glad that I've read the full version before. So much of the story line and character development are lost in the abridgement!
Anne is a much more enjoyable character in this story. Her improvement society and teaching experiences are fun and interesting.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Quilter's Legacy
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hard cover, 310 pages
Sylvia tries to locate her mother's quilts. Andrew's children object to their marriage. The parallel story focuses on Sylvia's mother, Eleanor, and her upbringing, marriage, and making of her quilts.
I liked it, especially the historical storyline. I also enjoyed stretching this out over a long time, as I only read it a little bit at a time before going to sleep. I still need to make time to quilt!
Carver County Library, hard cover, 310 pages
Sylvia tries to locate her mother's quilts. Andrew's children object to their marriage. The parallel story focuses on Sylvia's mother, Eleanor, and her upbringing, marriage, and making of her quilts.
I liked it, especially the historical storyline. I also enjoyed stretching this out over a long time, as I only read it a little bit at a time before going to sleep. I still need to make time to quilt!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Making Big Schools Feel Small: Multiage Grouping, Looping, and Schools-Within-a-School
by Paul S. George and John H. Lounsbury
St. Thomas Library (via Minitex), paperback, 112 pages
I was looking for information on looping in middle schools and so thankful I found this book! It looked at a number of middle schools across the country which have tried some of these methods of making large schools seem smaller. The evidence for these programs is overwhelmingly positive on many levels. The last part of the book ends with surveys from teachers, students, and parents. It's interesting that parents were least positive about the results and their number one concern had to do with students getting stuck with a "bad" teacher more than one year in a row. Interesting!
This will go on my professional shelf at PRMS, if I can find a copy!
St. Thomas Library (via Minitex), paperback, 112 pages
I was looking for information on looping in middle schools and so thankful I found this book! It looked at a number of middle schools across the country which have tried some of these methods of making large schools seem smaller. The evidence for these programs is overwhelmingly positive on many levels. The last part of the book ends with surveys from teachers, students, and parents. It's interesting that parents were least positive about the results and their number one concern had to do with students getting stuck with a "bad" teacher more than one year in a row. Interesting!
This will go on my professional shelf at PRMS, if I can find a copy!
Friday, December 05, 2008
The 100-Year Old Secret Files of Sherlock Holmes
by Tracy Barrett
Carver County Library, audiobook, 3 CDs
Read by David Pittu
This book just seemed too darn young for me - to the point of being irritating. (Never mind the plot point that Xander & Xena are Sherlock Holmes' descendants . . . and he's fictional.) Basically, the two American kids are in Britain for a year and they have been taught by their father who was taught by his father who was taught by you-know-who to be extremely observant. They are introduced to the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives (SPFD) in a rather strange manner and given a casebook of files that Sherlock Holmes never solved. They gather clues and find the long-lost painting of "Girl in a Purple Hat," stunning the art world and saving the day.
Pittu gave voice to the characters very well, but the story just didn't cut it for me.
Carver County Library, audiobook, 3 CDs
Read by David Pittu
This book just seemed too darn young for me - to the point of being irritating. (Never mind the plot point that Xander & Xena are Sherlock Holmes' descendants . . . and he's fictional.) Basically, the two American kids are in Britain for a year and they have been taught by their father who was taught by his father who was taught by you-know-who to be extremely observant. They are introduced to the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives (SPFD) in a rather strange manner and given a casebook of files that Sherlock Holmes never solved. They gather clues and find the long-lost painting of "Girl in a Purple Hat," stunning the art world and saving the day.
Pittu gave voice to the characters very well, but the story just didn't cut it for me.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Fire-Eaters
by David Almond
audiobook on CDs, Hennepin County Library, 3:54
Read by Daniel Gerroll
Mary Verbick recommended this story. I found it very disturbing, but also touching. Bobby Burns is the main character, a boy growing up in a working class family. He is worried about his father's illness, has mixed feelings about his new school, loves Ailsa Spink, and is fascinated by McNulty. McNulty is the fire eater who asks Bobby to help him choose a skewer and collect money from his audience. His madness and seeming imperviousness to pain draw Bobby in to his world.
This would be a fantastic discussion book - why does is the title plural? Who are the other fire-eaters? Bobby? Joseph? How does his new neighbor alter Bobby's reality?
Gerroll's accents make this an auditory delight! He nails the characters and their various ways of speaking beautifully!
audiobook on CDs, Hennepin County Library, 3:54
Read by Daniel Gerroll
Mary Verbick recommended this story. I found it very disturbing, but also touching. Bobby Burns is the main character, a boy growing up in a working class family. He is worried about his father's illness, has mixed feelings about his new school, loves Ailsa Spink, and is fascinated by McNulty. McNulty is the fire eater who asks Bobby to help him choose a skewer and collect money from his audience. His madness and seeming imperviousness to pain draw Bobby in to his world.
This would be a fantastic discussion book - why does is the title plural? Who are the other fire-eaters? Bobby? Joseph? How does his new neighbor alter Bobby's reality?
Gerroll's accents make this an auditory delight! He nails the characters and their various ways of speaking beautifully!
A Clearing in the Wild
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 365 pages
Historical fiction based on a true story. A German Christian community located in Missouri sends scouts out to find land out west for the group to move to and develop. Emma is outspoken and determined, qualities that alienate her from the group's leader, "Father" Wilhelm Keil. She falls in love with the much older Christian and seeks to be the perfect wife.
I didn't like this story. The characters bugged me. It wasn't compelling. My favorite scene was when she left with her baby, the goat, and the tarp. Our discussion last night at Gretchen's was fantastic! I love hearing what other people think of a book. We have such a fantastic group of women in our book club! It was fun to hear why other people liked it, even though I didn't.
Hennepin County Library, paperback, 365 pages
Historical fiction based on a true story. A German Christian community located in Missouri sends scouts out to find land out west for the group to move to and develop. Emma is outspoken and determined, qualities that alienate her from the group's leader, "Father" Wilhelm Keil. She falls in love with the much older Christian and seeks to be the perfect wife.
I didn't like this story. The characters bugged me. It wasn't compelling. My favorite scene was when she left with her baby, the goat, and the tarp. Our discussion last night at Gretchen's was fantastic! I love hearing what other people think of a book. We have such a fantastic group of women in our book club! It was fun to hear why other people liked it, even though I didn't.
The Education of Henry Adams
by Henry Adams
Introduction by Edmund Morris
Carver County, hard cover, 500ish pages
Hmm. I only read the intro & about ten pages of the actual autobiography (written in third person). This came into my hands in a timely manner - just when I was going to talk with Tamara's students about reading something a little bit challenging. The first few pages (of the intro) included these words: escarpment, equipoised, epiphanies, atavistic, legionnaires, scion, crucible. What a great example of a "reach" book! However, Mr. Adams is just a bit too arrogant, intellectual, and dry for my taste. So after a dozen pages, I bid him adieu. Perhaps I'll read this when I grow up.
I got it from the library based on this review:
"As history, as literature, as autobiography, this book is one of the gold standards in American letters. Unless you are very young, you've probably read it, but how long ago? It's time to read it again, with all the insight you have gained since you first read it. Adams viewed his country through the mirror of himself and his family. What he saw gave him a great deal for his acute and wide-ranging mind to mull over. We, his fortunate readers, enjoy the result, a work arresting, entertaining, and profound." This is from the Page-a-Day calendar I got from MILI last year. So far, I have disliked all the books I've checked out based on their reviews. (Latte' Trouble, Beethoven's Hair, Adverbs, etc.) I think it's time to turn the rest into scratch paper!
Introduction by Edmund Morris
Carver County, hard cover, 500ish pages
Hmm. I only read the intro & about ten pages of the actual autobiography (written in third person). This came into my hands in a timely manner - just when I was going to talk with Tamara's students about reading something a little bit challenging. The first few pages (of the intro) included these words: escarpment, equipoised, epiphanies, atavistic, legionnaires, scion, crucible. What a great example of a "reach" book! However, Mr. Adams is just a bit too arrogant, intellectual, and dry for my taste. So after a dozen pages, I bid him adieu. Perhaps I'll read this when I grow up.
I got it from the library based on this review:
"As history, as literature, as autobiography, this book is one of the gold standards in American letters. Unless you are very young, you've probably read it, but how long ago? It's time to read it again, with all the insight you have gained since you first read it. Adams viewed his country through the mirror of himself and his family. What he saw gave him a great deal for his acute and wide-ranging mind to mull over. We, his fortunate readers, enjoy the result, a work arresting, entertaining, and profound." This is from the Page-a-Day calendar I got from MILI last year. So far, I have disliked all the books I've checked out based on their reviews. (Latte' Trouble, Beethoven's Hair, Adverbs, etc.) I think it's time to turn the rest into scratch paper!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
In Your Room
by Jordanna Fraiberg
paperback, destination unknown, 203 pages
This was an impulse buy at Barnes & Noble, because it looked like a sweet little romance story that would be appropriate for middle schoolers. I enjoyed it, but will probably send it to the high school. The romance part was sweet and clean - the most they do is kiss. But these are kids between their junior and senior years of high school and alcohol is heavily featured. I just don't want middle schoolers to think that alcohol is a normal part of adolescence. It's just so matter-of-fact that these underage kids are getting drinks at every party - even shots at a bar! Just not what I want for middle school kids to read. . .
The essential story is that Molly's family (mom and new stepdad) are house-swapping with Charlie's family (two moms and two 11-year-old sisters) for the summer. Both teens are initially upset by the swap, but start to correspond as they inhabit one another's bedrooms. Each of these young people is interesting and fairly well-developed. Romance buds even as misunderstandings seem to trip them up.
paperback, destination unknown, 203 pages
This was an impulse buy at Barnes & Noble, because it looked like a sweet little romance story that would be appropriate for middle schoolers. I enjoyed it, but will probably send it to the high school. The romance part was sweet and clean - the most they do is kiss. But these are kids between their junior and senior years of high school and alcohol is heavily featured. I just don't want middle schoolers to think that alcohol is a normal part of adolescence. It's just so matter-of-fact that these underage kids are getting drinks at every party - even shots at a bar! Just not what I want for middle school kids to read. . .
The essential story is that Molly's family (mom and new stepdad) are house-swapping with Charlie's family (two moms and two 11-year-old sisters) for the summer. Both teens are initially upset by the swap, but start to correspond as they inhabit one another's bedrooms. Each of these young people is interesting and fairly well-developed. Romance buds even as misunderstandings seem to trip them up.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything? and other stories
by Avi
CMSW, hard cover, 196 pages
I intended to read this over the summer . . . guess I missed the boat! Finally done. Interesting collection, a little edgy.
"What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?" - boy befriends homeless man and confronts his single mom with the meaning of happiness
"The Goodness of Matt Kaizer" - a truly nasty kid goes to the home of a classmate whose father is dying so that he can be cruel and torment her. He ends up being perceived by the dying father as a kind of savior who can take his last confession. The experience permanently changes the boy.
"Talk to Me" - Maria's 16-year-old brother has been gone for a year and no one will talk about him. When her phone frequently rings at 4pm, she believes it is him trying to contact her, even though no one talks.
"Teacher Tamer" - when Gregory decides to get revenge on Mrs. Wessex, he learns about her motivation and opinion of him. That changes his plan, but not his result.
"Pets" - a girl is crazy about pets until her dead cats try to get her to die, too.
"What's Inside" - a boy is on the spot when his cousin wants to commit suicide, but the two identical boxes he made in shop class help him find an out.
"Fortune Cookie" - an angry 13-year-old asks his divorced parents to have dinner with him for his birthday present, but then he behaves in a way that alienates his father and makes his mother cry.
Interesting collection. I think kids would respond to most of these stories.
CMSW, hard cover, 196 pages
I intended to read this over the summer . . . guess I missed the boat! Finally done. Interesting collection, a little edgy.
"What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?" - boy befriends homeless man and confronts his single mom with the meaning of happiness
"The Goodness of Matt Kaizer" - a truly nasty kid goes to the home of a classmate whose father is dying so that he can be cruel and torment her. He ends up being perceived by the dying father as a kind of savior who can take his last confession. The experience permanently changes the boy.
"Talk to Me" - Maria's 16-year-old brother has been gone for a year and no one will talk about him. When her phone frequently rings at 4pm, she believes it is him trying to contact her, even though no one talks.
"Teacher Tamer" - when Gregory decides to get revenge on Mrs. Wessex, he learns about her motivation and opinion of him. That changes his plan, but not his result.
"Pets" - a girl is crazy about pets until her dead cats try to get her to die, too.
"What's Inside" - a boy is on the spot when his cousin wants to commit suicide, but the two identical boxes he made in shop class help him find an out.
"Fortune Cookie" - an angry 13-year-old asks his divorced parents to have dinner with him for his birthday present, but then he behaves in a way that alienates his father and makes his mother cry.
Interesting collection. I think kids would respond to most of these stories.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Oh My Stars
by Lorna Landvik
Carver County Book Club kit, paperback, 389 pages
Violet Mathers goes from a winsome to angry to whining to lovely protangonist. The factory accident that costs her an arm changes her life. As she heads for San Francisco to commit suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge, a bus accident in North Dakota brings her in contact with Kjel ("Shell") Hedstrom and Austin Sykes. Her life is never the same.
I liked this book, though it was much more serious than other Landvik titles. I wish it were possible to listen to the Pearltones' songs - the descriptions of their music were so powerful. I look forward to discussing this with the book club next week.
Carver County Book Club kit, paperback, 389 pages
Violet Mathers goes from a winsome to angry to whining to lovely protangonist. The factory accident that costs her an arm changes her life. As she heads for San Francisco to commit suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge, a bus accident in North Dakota brings her in contact with Kjel ("Shell") Hedstrom and Austin Sykes. Her life is never the same.
I liked this book, though it was much more serious than other Landvik titles. I wish it were possible to listen to the Pearltones' songs - the descriptions of their music were so powerful. I look forward to discussing this with the book club next week.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sherlock Holmes Theatre
Carver County Library audiobook
Unabridged - 4:30 hours on 5 discs
"Sherlock Holmes" by William Gillette & Arthur Conan Doyle
Delightful story of Holmes going up against Moriarty. Surprises included Holmes' cocaine addiction - I had forgotten about that - and Holmes actually falling in love with the persecuted Alice. All in all, very enjoyable.
"The Speckled Band" by Arthur Conan Doyle
Not so enjoyable. The heavy-handed villain is too obvious and the young lady too pathetic. The snake and snake-charmer were interesting touches.
"Ghastly Double Murder in Famed Detective's Flat" by Yuri Rasovsky
Bizarre twists - some clever and some annoying. Holmes & Watson turn on one another and Holmes sets up both Watson and Mrs. Hudson the housekeeper. I wonder what Doyle would have thought of this . . . I don't care for it.
Unabridged - 4:30 hours on 5 discs
"Sherlock Holmes" by William Gillette & Arthur Conan Doyle
Delightful story of Holmes going up against Moriarty. Surprises included Holmes' cocaine addiction - I had forgotten about that - and Holmes actually falling in love with the persecuted Alice. All in all, very enjoyable.
"The Speckled Band" by Arthur Conan Doyle
Not so enjoyable. The heavy-handed villain is too obvious and the young lady too pathetic. The snake and snake-charmer were interesting touches.
"Ghastly Double Murder in Famed Detective's Flat" by Yuri Rasovsky
Bizarre twists - some clever and some annoying. Holmes & Watson turn on one another and Holmes sets up both Watson and Mrs. Hudson the housekeeper. I wonder what Doyle would have thought of this . . . I don't care for it.
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