Did anyone else love story hour when they were little? Sitting at the library (public or at school) and being read to was good. I still love to read, but find that I don’t always take the time to do it. There are so many other distractions…knitting, movies, cooking, antiquing (is that a word?), yardwork, housework…you get the idea. 
I have found that one hobby/obsession can lead to another. Knitting blogs and Ravelry all have different knitting-related topics that can sidetrack me. The most recent one I ran across was a series of books that has an older lady as the “star”. Her name is Miss Silver. She is a sleuth (I love that word!), and being of a “certain age” in a different era (the books were written in the 1920′s through 1960′s) she, of course, knits.
After hearing about the series I needed to check it out. I have always been an avid fan of series books (note the vast Nancy Drew collection in my spare bedroom). So I immediately starting researching online. All of the reviews I read were positive so…could I get them at the library, ebay, bookstore?
I found a copy at the library. It, however, was not at my branch so wouldn’t be available for over a week. I put it on hold, but I can’t wait that long to see if I like it or not….I already have this feeling I will love them!! THEN I found another title (The Gazebo by Patricia Wentworth) at a local used bookstore. SCORE!!
I rushed home to read it and discovered that there is a certain charm and easiness to the reading that I like. Miss Silver is smart and has a very strong set of beliefs of proper behaviour. She does knit, but it’s more part of her personality rather than the story. For me it helped illustrate her calming presence. The story is definitely not HER story, but instead the story of the people that she ultimately helps by solving the case. The references are vintage, as are the details (clothes and manners). I may just be a fan!
I want to be as active and inquisitive when I get older as Miss Silver is. In the meantime I will be tracking more of these babies down so that story hour continues at my house!!
