"The Once And Future King"

I have always loved King Arthur. I love his character. I love his story. I love what he stands for. I recently finished The Once and Future King (and it's sequel, The Book of Merlyn) and it is probably my favorite book. Other than anything by Agatha Christie, of course, but that's another post.

In my opinion, The Once and Future King is something everyone should read. It is full of life lessons about people, characters and societies. It talks about how most people are good, and that people should use their talents and skills for good.

Of course, there is the well-known story of Arthur learning by being turned into animals by Merlyn, Guinnevere and Lancelot betraying the king and the knights of the round table searching for the Holy Grail. But, this book is so much more than that. There are morals and lessons in every chapter and you feel like you have learned something every time you read it. It delves deep into psychology, societies and law.

The Once and Future King, written by T.H. White is based on Le Morte d'Arthur, which is supposed to be one of the "truest" versions of the legend. White's book was written during World War II and there are a few times when you can really see the author's feelings about the war. It is said to be his view on what the perfect society would be like.

The Book of Merlyn is a much heavier read. It picks up right where the previous book left off: King Arthur is an old man, about to go into battle, he has been betrayed by everyone he loves, his kingdom and the good of the world is crumbling right before his eyes, and he is wondering if all he has worked for and dedicated his life to was worth it. He contemplates the nature of man and realizes that there is only so much he can do as a leader. This book is basically a long conversation between King Arthur and Merlyn and there are long passages about why people do what they do and why societies succeed or fail.

Anyway, I could go on and on about these books but the best way to appreciate them is to read them for yourself!

"The best thing for being sad is to learn something."

"Might does not make right! Right makes right!"

"We cannot build the future by avenging the past."

"The bravest people are the ones who don’t mind looking like cowards."

"Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot."

Sherlock Holmes

If you know me, you know I love murder mysteries. From Agatha Christie to Arthur Conan Doyle to John Dickson Carr and everything in between. I eat them up. I love trying to solve the mystery myself before the book ends. I love the cleverness and the way a good detective can see things most people would miss and can piece together clues in a way an average person could not. It sounds morbid but I love the untraceable poisons, the sealed-room puzzles and even the classic stand by ways to commit murder.

One thing that makes a murder good (besides being totally believable, plausible, and solvable for the reader, which is a whole other blog post) is the psychology behind it. It's fascinating to watch a character develop into such a state that they commit murder or to decipher personality, motive and ability to peg the guilty character.

Recently, a friend and I went and saw Sherlock Holmes. Wow, was it great. They did such a good job of bringing Holmes' personality out and keeping with the classic Sherlock Holmes style. The story, the other characters, and even the way Sherlock deals with villain when he finally catches up to him are all reminiscent of the stories. The darkness and twists are done well and it's enjoyable to watch Holmes battle to save the English government and cope with personal struggles at the same time. The movie also does a wonderful job of bringing Sherlock Holmes into the modern world of movies, adding action, romance and humor in all the right places. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it this weekend!

"The 39 Steps"

I just finished "The 39 Steps" by John Buchan. Wow, what a good book. There is actually a really old Alfred Hitchcock movie based on it. One day I was browsing at the bookstore and came across the book and decided I had to grab it.

Originally published in 1915, the story is about a man named Richard Hannay who is bored of his everyday life in London until he meets a man at his apartment who tells him a crazy story about an assassination plot. Hannay comes home a few days later to find the man dead in his apartment. Because he knows about the plot and because he is now wanted for the murder of the man, Hannay goes on the run and travels across Europe dodging the police and those who are planning the assassination while he tries to figure out how he can prevent the planned murder and the outbreak of World War I, until he eventually has to come face to face with both.

I don't want to ruin the end but if you are looking for a good book, I really, really recommend this one!