Classic 7 of 40: The Hounds of Baskerville.

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

So iconic.  So screen adapted. And until recently, sadly unread by me.

I'm a fan of so many Sherlock interpretations, it's probably no surprise that I enjoyed the book as well as I did. However, I was nervous that I wouldn't enjoy it so much. That the book may be less than all it's built up to become in modern times.

Very pleased to report that my concerns were not fulfilled. Sherlock is as cocky and condescending as ever; Watson is steadfast and true.

What a delightful classic. A cheerful detour in the land of classics. Lighthearted and mysterious. I would be happy to read more of these - as thankfully - the English begged of Sir Arthur to continue writing after his first stories. They are thoughtful, precise, and masterfully woven. But really, just a fun read.

In the most recent film depiction with Sir Ian McClellan as an aging Mr. Holmes, he describes the books as "penny dreadfuls with elevated prose." I do love that line, and can see how I would have loved them as  a weekly read. Unlike Jules Verne - I found Mr. Holmes' story as told through his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson - remained captivating.

Recommended: Absolutely. For mystery lovers and for anyone ready for a good story.

Classic 6 of 40: Jules Verne - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Finished! This one took me the longest so far; and it was quite possibly the shortest.

Why 20,000 Leagues? I have always wanted to read this; but just never got around to it. I remember the video sitting on my grandma's shelf; and have been curious about the book ever since. This book was the exact type of book I had in mind when I decided to go on this 40 classic novel quest!

Thoughts on the book:
I can absolutely see how this novel altered the course of literary history and how it inspired a new appreciation of science. I imagine there must be so many people that chose a life of science after reading this as it was so ground breaking.

As far a modern read - The first third of the book was delightful. The last quarter of the book was fabulous. The middle.... was a bit of a slog. Endless lists of marine life - classifications of blablapods broken down to genus and species based on the number of legs, location of the gills, skeletal makeup, etc. with notes on how and why they are each different. There are minor bouts of adventure to break up these lists, but I was not as distracted as I wanted to be! The plot was simple and straightforward in that middle section of the book.

The beginning and the end were actually enough to make this a valuable read. I now have a much more vivid image of the enigmatic Captain Nemo. I feel I have a flavor of life on the Nautilus. And i have to say, I feel good about it. I am glad to have had this in my repertoire.  

Recommended for: Scientists! Marine biologists and lovers of detailed marine life. Or, you know lovers of science generally. But most of all - lovers of lists! 

Goal # 30: Learn to Make Pie

Pie! And a bit of a check in.

I have faced my fear of pie crust.

While I'm not any pie making expert, I can now make a crust and therefore make a pie! Next Pi Day, for example, I could totally bring a homemade pie. Next holiday season, I could bring an apple or pumpkin pie! And really, that's all I wanted to be able to do.

Meaning... Pie Making Goal Achieved!

I was reflecting upon this Goal being achieved, whether that was really all. It felt almost too easy of a goal to count towards my 40.

But you know what? I realized that these 40 are not about hard or easy, but about facing challenges. About not letting myself hold back from life anymore. Whether it be in my kitchen going back to basics and learning to make one of the more intimidating dishes. A dish like pie that has not been baked in many of my my previous ovens because I was too afraid of making all the learning pies.

I think I didn't appreciate that the learning pies meant that I would get to have a whole pie to myself. I mean, if I'm too ashamed to make a pie, that means that's a pie for me right? Even if the crust is bad, I could eat the yummy insides. And as it turned out, I was shame free in all my pie making ... so far. And able to share with others. What a pleasant, delightful pie surprise!

Okay, so I haven't reached the beautiful pie making phase. I can admit it. But who cares, as long as it tastes good, right?!

I have been using the pioneer woman's perfect pie crust recipe with both butter and shortening.

The most recent recipe I  used was more like this:

3 Cups of Flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 C butter
1 C shortening
1 egg
5 Tablespoon ice water
1 Tablespoon vinegar

I froze the dough for over an hour, and was glad I did - especially in the summer heat!
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Some other pies I've now made!:

Rustic Plum Tart

French Silk (Sans Whipped topping!)