A suggestion from a reader friend in California took me to The Book of William: How Shakespeare's First Folio Conquered the World, by Paul Collilns. Once the folio sold for less than the cost of having it printed, it now sells for millions. History, mystery, and travel are combined as the author follows copies through time and around the world.

This, of course, took me back to my copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (mine is illustrated by Rockwell Kent) and an evening of skimming through some of my favorite plays. (Remember Nancy Pearl and "setting, characters, story, language"?)

On the shelf next to that is Twisted Tales From Shakespeare, by Richard Armour and illustrated by Campbell Grant. Here are six well known plays told in a new light (because, according to the author, the old light blew a fuse). Fun puns, witty wordplay, and crazy spins will keep you chuckling as you read.

For an otherworldy take on the Bard, try William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily a New Hope, by Ian Doescher (inspired by the work of George Lucas and William Shakespeare). For the best results, read this book out loud with a friend or two,it makes the iambic pentameter more obvious. What fun! Be sure to read the Afterword where Doescher makes all the necessary connections .... from Joseph Campbell (Hero of a Thousand Faces, The Power of Myth) who studied Shakespeare to Lucas, who studied Campbell.

Reading Hermit With Dog