Of Arsene Lupin.

Most of you, if not all, have probably heard of Sherlock Holmes ... the celebrated detective of 221B Baker Street.
But perhaps not all have heard of Arsene Lupin, who can be said to be the "peer" of Sherlock Holmes. Instead of a genius crime solving gentleman on the side of the law however, Arsene Lupin is the genius crime breaking burglar on the wrong side of the law.

I think many of you probably know that I loves the story of Sherlock Holmes.(Xiao Qi and the gang; Thanks for the book.Not sure whether you still remember, but I do.) Somehow, the novel attracts me a lot. I have always had a fondness for these stories.

Perhaps it is the way the novel is narrated. Which throws me back to the "Victorian-ish" era and somehow makes me feel like a small child embarking on a wondrous tale of adventure that is full of exciting secrets. I can imagine myself hiding under the warmth of the blanket with a small light by the side reading the book enthusiastically. That is how much I love these stories.

So, it was kind of a ... down moment when I realized I have read all, if not most of the short stories of Sherlock Holmes. I pored over the table of contents ... for every "Collections of Short Stories" ... different versions of them ... to see whether I have missed out a story or two. Sadly ... or happily, depending on the viewpoint ... I have read all, if not most of the short stories of Sherlock Holmes.

And then just the other day ... as I was browsing online, I stumbled across the name "Arsene Lupin". A little digging here and there revealed that ... it was written by "Maurice Leblanc, a contemporary of Arthur Conan Doyle and that the character has enjoyed a popularity as long-lasting and considerable as Sherlock Holmes in the English speaking world" (Wikipedia)
Of course, the description "gentleman thief" makes it all the more interesting.
If I did not remember wrongly, the manga "Detective Conan" had also used this character in a few of its storyline.

Without any hope or expectation, I went to Drake's online library catalog and typed in the name "Arsene Lupin".
Imagine my surprise, when the catalog showed they actually have a book for it!
And my joy when I found out that the book is one of the earliest edition, without the amendments that would appear in future editions! (I have always preferred reading earlier editions with all the "mistakes" in it because it tells a better story when you understand why there were amendments in the future editions)
Oh glorious glorious joy!

The book is now on my desk, with about 3/4 of its content read.
It was last stamped to be due on October 12. 1987. I was just three years old! But, I think it might have been borrowed around the 1990s too, since there were a few scribbling which indicated that it had been checked out although there is no due date.
The first time it was checked and to be due was in 1976. Imagine that. An antique if you would.

But antique as it may be. As I lay there reading the book, the childish enthuasism of throwing myself into tales of wondrous adventures full of secrets and surprises once again take over me.

It has been some time since I felt this way. It has also been some time I have stayed up the whole night reading a book.
If my memory serve, the last time I did this was when I was hugging "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

I have not finished the book, and as such do not think it as appropriate to give it a review.

Of late...I have realized that I worry too much about the future and am frequently stressed out of stuffs.
I think I need to relax.But I don't know how.Friends have been telling me to relax it a bit too.
But.I.Don't know how.

Perhaps.I have found an antidote.Temporary as it may be.