Monday Coming Attractions #38: Holmes and House

Holmes & House
First of all, I must apologize for how absent I've been the past week or two. My courses at the university have really hit the difficult portions, so bear with me. Everything will be back to normal in a week or two.

Speaking of school, I was reading The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for one of my English classes and was shocked when the book opened:

Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle, and rolled back his left shirtcuff... 'Which is it today,' I asked, 'Morphine or cocaine?'

Now I wasn't shocked because of the flagrant drug use. Actually I find that pretty damn interesting. What shocked me was (1) I've read Sherlock Holmes stories before--and although I was very young--do not remember drug use at all and (2) Holmes began to remind me of someone. I suppose the first can be excused. Perhaps I was recommended the stories that didn't focus on Holmes' addiction or perhaps time has just faded the memories completely. But the second... I couldn't figure out for the longest time if I was imagining the similarities. There was the name similarity, the drug use, referring to clients as puzzles, and the abuse of Watson--but I had to be imagining things, didn't I?

Eventually, I broke down and asked Google what it thought. Apparently, I was not only the only one who noticed the similarities, but the similarities were intentional. Friends, Dr. Gregory House was spawned from the seeds of Sherlock Holmes.



I'm not a huge TV fan, but I have a few shows I watch rabidly. House is one of those shows. Then, after confirming my suspicions, I was in for another surprise: watching House was more fun with the "secret" literary reference. I started noticing references to Doyle's work within the show itself...

Times when the literary intersects with 'normal' life is incredibly gratifying for me. Unfortunately, it just doesn't happen often enough. But isn't it amazing when you ask what the meaning of something/everything/nothing is and someone promptly responds "42"? Or when someone tells you about their pet, named after some obscure character...

I love it.

So tell me what you got, guys. When has the literary unexpectedly meshed with real life for you?

If any author or book review blogger would like to do a guest opinion column for Monday Coming Attractions, please contact me with what your proposed subject and what Monday you can have it ready by.

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Book Love Affair Poll:
There's a poll running currently about the new layout. I'd appreciate it if everyone took the time to vote. Right now it looks like I'll be looking to either fix the complaints people have about this layout or finding a new one. So, if you have any input on what you don't like, let me know in a comment!


Reviews and Events to Watch For at BLA:
These are reviews (in order of likelihood) that may or may not come to pass this week. Feel free to let me know which you're looking forward to (or not looking forward to).

Events: 11/28/2009: Interview with Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant Giveaway: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld Reviews: Under the Dome by Stephen King Y the Last Man: Unmanned (#1) by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzán, Jr. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins The Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

Giveaways:
Want a giveaway promoted? Let me know in a comment! Be sure to include the URL where the giveaway is located.

Dakota Banks is giving away a book a week of Dark Time: Mortal Path Book One, her new urban fantasy/supernatural thriller series. Giveaway ends November 30. Also, answer three questions about Maliha Crayne, the main character, to enter a drawing for an iPod Touch 32GB. Drawing held 12/1.

BookReaderTimes has amazing monthly giveaways. The November giveaway includes Haunted by Kelley Armstrong, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, and For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison! Giveaway ends at the end of the month.

Author Appearances:
Are you wanting to see an author, have a book signed? Well, certainly, I advise checking the websites of your favorite authors--especially just before and after they've had a new book announced. Alternately, it's impossibly to keep up with every author... Therefore, I've compiled a small list of people I'd like to go see in the Bay area who I'd like to see myself. If I missed anyone, let me know! Also, be sure to double check any listing before planning to attend an event:

Seanan McGuire for her book Rosemary and Rue @ Other Change of Hobbit in Berkeley, CA On 12/05/2009 2p-4p Note: BLA will be attempting to attend this event.

Awards/Etc:

Lily over at Lily's Bookshelf's wished me a happy birthday. Thank you, Lily! I was very surprised to see the post and it definitely brightened my day. Ooh...Books! passed on the "Kick Ass Blog" award to Book Love Affair and had some lovely words to say: "Book Love Affair is another fabulous speculative fiction blog. TJ just got a new layout that looks kick ass. I love the books she chose to put up as her header. Her wish list is also the same as mine. Also she has a huge readership which gets her author interviews and kick ass give-aways." To fulfill my part of this award, I'll choose 5 of my favorite blogs: Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings: Donna has one of the best blogs I've seen. Her posts are always informative, helpful, and fun. Plus, she's amazingly involved in the book review blogosphere--so head on over and give her some love, because she deserves it. Calico Reaction: Calico's reviews are the major source of ideas for my wishlist. Her taste is amazing and diverse. And her reviews are always spot on. She's never afraid to say what she thinks. If there's a blog I aspire to emulate in spirit, it's Calico Reaction. SciFiGuy: SciFiGuy is one of those more immense blogs out there, but for good reason. SFG is invaluable for information and keeping my eye on the pulse of speculative fiction. Lily's Bookshelf: One of my closest friend-bloggers, Lily's content on her blog is always top notch. She just recently changed her review layout and her reviews are easier to read than ever. And the books she chooses are always interesting! Jawa's Read, Too!: Erika's reviews are partially what inspired me to start BLA. Her reviews are always so in-depth and well-thought. Though her reviews are eclectic she usually reads speculative fiction, too.