Sherlock Holmes - it's elementary

I loved Sir Arthur Conan's Doyle's, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as a kid - so if Guy Ritchie's film revival motivates a new generation of young readers to explore the classic literary treasure - that's a bonus. This delightful movie captures both the spirit and essence of what made the original stories so enjoyable: The mood of the foggy dark alleys of 1892 London, the witty banter of Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, but most of all, the endearing character of Sherlock Holmes with his brilliant mind and powers of detection combined with the flaws that made him more real - including a weakness for opium - a detail hardly implied in the movie.

Then there's the impeccable casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes, and Jude Law as Watson. Each assumes his individual role with flair, but even better - their combined on-screen chemistry gives this movie the added appeal of a good buddy caper.

Sherlock Holmes is a fun rollicking adventure film that distills down to the timeless battle of good over evil. Apparently, it's enough to have the elementary components of a good film - great directing, acting, dialog, wonderful editing, and a well-conceived soundtrack - not to mention riveting fight scenes. By definition of its setting, the film is a period piece that had to limit the use of special effects to avoid going anachronistic. It's interesting to note that Sherlock Holmes opened the same week as Avatar - a phenomenal film which is almost entirely about the effects - device over the traditional elements of movie making. What's so refreshing is to see that a good action/adventure movie can still be made without having to rely on tricks.

Having seen the movie - I want to re-read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle myself.

Idealism v. Cynicism: Perceptions of an astute teen on YA books

While waiting at a tiny airport on a Bahamian out island recently, I was delighted to talk to Conor, an eloquent 16 year-old with a fascinating perspective on YA books. I wanted to get a nice background for her photo and I led her into the shrubs, where her clothes got covered in burrs. After that, Conor was such a good sport, she was still willing to answer my questions:

What are you reading right now, Conor?

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.

Where are you in the book?

About a third of the way through it.

How are you liking it?

It's a really good book. He's a really good writer.

Why do you like the book?

It's just the writing style - it really sucks you in - even if it's a boring part - he makes it interesting.

What other books of Gaiman's have you read?

I read American Gods, - this is sort of a sequel of that - Coraline and Good Omens, which Gaiman co-wrote with Terry Prachett - a comedy. I've also read the first of the Discworld series (Prachett).

What are your favorite genres?

I like fantasy and science fiction.

Why?

I like the idea of world building, having a world with concepts that are foreign - like dragons. In my own writing I have things like that.

Oh, you write as well. What are you writing?

I'm on a writing team for an Internet radio play - I'm also an Internet radio DJ.

That sounds really interesting. Can I give you a plug?

The online radio play series is called, Tree from My Youth - at: tree

Any other books you've read recently?

I just finished Lord of the Flies (William Golding) - which sounded like a great book to read on a remote island - about a plane full of people that crashes on a remote desert island!

Ha ha! What did you think of it?

The ending was told to me, so I knew what to expect. I wanted to read it anyway - knowing what would happen. I'm not exactly a sucker for happy endings. The one thing I can really say that's bad about it was it could have changed in tone.

Can you explain what you mean?

The story started with a negative tone - and it ended negative. It would have been better if it had started a bit more positive and when things went downhill - if it got more negative. It was the same sort of genre as My Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George) - about a kid who decides, "Hey, I'm sick of New York," and he goes out and lives in the Catskills and survives. Lord of the Flies is more cynical. My Side of the Mountain is more idealistic.

Great analysis. And now, Conor, let's have it. I gather you borrowed Anansi Boys from the library. Would you mind telling me why you were hiding the library code?

The due date is November 24 and I realized I'm going to be in the Bahamas then so I probably won't be able to return it on time. And I probably won't return it until I finish reading it. It's going to be very overdue.

What a dedicated reader. Thank you, Conor. It was great talking to you. Please stay in touch. I'd love to interview you again!

P.S. And thanks to Conor's Dad, Norm. If it hadn't been for Norm, I would have missed the flight - as well as the opportunity to talk to Conor.