Something Wicked This Way Comes

By Ray Bradbury

The most brilliant book I have read in ages.

Storytime is a family affair. 

Lately I have read:

The Encyclopedia of the Exquisite

Sherlock Holmes

Once Upon a Time in the North

Gnomes

Gentlemen of the Road

The Night Circus

and

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt.

They are all very good, especially Sherlock Holmes and Gnomes, which are brilliant at any time, day or night, and are on the list of FAVORITES FOR ALWAYS. The Night Circus was a bit disappointing and I shall most likely have a review of it sometime. 

Here's a book I didn't like:

Water for Elephants.

 I don't understand all of the frenzy over this book. In my personal opinion, it was a good idea wasted because of a nursing home and too many details. Also, I thought the movie was better than the book, which is a rare phenomenon. 

In another of my personal opinions, the only truly extraordinary books are the ones that were written long ago by extraordinary authors. I think it's because most books written lately are awful.

Dust and Shadow

I was skeptical at first about this book. I love Sherlock Holmes, so a knockoff Holmes story seemed absurd! But actually, it was written almost flawlessly in typical Conan Doyle style.

In the book, Sherlock Holmes, the famed private investigator, is intrigued and horrified by the strange killings taking place in the bowels of London. The mutilated bodies, the mysterious notes written in blood, and the meticulously planned out  murders. How can a monster such as this roam about completely unnoticed? In order to find the answer Holmes must delve deep into the blood spattered under belly of London, risking his own life in the process, and facing hidden fears.

What's different about this book is the fact that Holmes seems more personable. In past stories he is a cold automaton, lacking much feeling, whereas here he shows compassion throughout the book. I really enjoyed it. It was a bit frightening falling to sleep imagining muddy gaslit streets and a terrifying killer wandering about with long knives, but it was worth it for such an exciting story. Also there is quite a twist in the end.