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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
For a famous detective novelist, there's a surprising lack of detection in this story. It's more of a Gothic, atmospheric tale. I liked it, but I wasn't that impressed by it.
I've been in a reading slump and thought about dnfing this, I'm so glad I didn't
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
How this book ended up on my TBR: Sherlock Holmes! I purchased the collection on Audible back in the day and have been making my way through the books. I'm sure I read this book many moons ago, but I remembered not a stitch of it, so it was like reading it for the first time.
This is one of a handful of complete novels that Conan Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes, and in the introduction to the book, Fry remarks on how strange it is that Conan Doyle should include the mystical into this book. Conan Doyle was famously invested in the supernatural in his own life (until he had it out with Harry Houdini), so that part is less surprising. That he would have Sherlock Holmes investigate a case with a supernatural element would seem less plausible; Holmes would of course err on the side of logic and the lack of existence of the mystic world. But he did it, and now the book is rather famous.
The case is fairly succinct: a young doctor from out in the country comes to Holmes because he worries for his new neighbor, who is inheriting his family estate. In addition to a warning that the doctor intercepted on his neighbor's behalf, he also tells of a family myth, the hound of the Baskervilles, a creature brought about by horrific circumstances and who hunts down and recently murdered the last baronet of the house. Holmes and Watson are unconvinced by the myth but do agree to help in the case so that the new baronet does not suffer the same fate. Watson actually travels with the new baronet to keep him from harm's way and to communicate with Holmes about the baronet's new neighbors. Holmes, meanwhile, conducts his own investigation and unveils himself only when he's ready to do so, as he is wont to do. They do solve the mystery, though perhaps not entirely to the satisfaction of an audience who wants to see justice served.
It's a good mystery, complete with some thrill and a little bit of horror, and is well worth the read for anyone who wants to read/listen to a classic story. Stephen Fry is also, of course, utterly amazing as a narrator.
This is one of a handful of complete novels that Conan Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes, and in the introduction to the book, Fry remarks on how strange it is that Conan Doyle should include the mystical into this book. Conan Doyle was famously invested in the supernatural in his own life (until he had it out with Harry Houdini), so that part is less surprising. That he would have Sherlock Holmes investigate a case with a supernatural element would seem less plausible; Holmes would of course err on the side of logic and the lack of existence of the mystic world. But he did it, and now the book is rather famous.
The case is fairly succinct: a young doctor from out in the country comes to Holmes because he worries for his new neighbor, who is inheriting his family estate. In addition to a warning that the doctor intercepted on his neighbor's behalf, he also tells of a family myth, the hound of the Baskervilles, a creature brought about by horrific circumstances and who hunts down and recently murdered the last baronet of the house. Holmes and Watson are unconvinced by the myth but do agree to help in the case so that the new baronet does not suffer the same fate. Watson actually travels with the new baronet to keep him from harm's way and to communicate with Holmes about the baronet's new neighbors. Holmes, meanwhile, conducts his own investigation and unveils himself only when he's ready to do so, as he is wont to do. They do solve the mystery, though perhaps not entirely to the satisfaction of an audience who wants to see justice served.
It's a good mystery, complete with some thrill and a little bit of horror, and is well worth the read for anyone who wants to read/listen to a classic story. Stephen Fry is also, of course, utterly amazing as a narrator.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I decided to read this book because I bought a poster with 100 books to read in your life. This is book twenty-seven on the poster. I thought I was going to struggle with this book considering it is a classic as with most books on this poster, but I think because it was so short I couldn’t struggle with it.
This book is book five in the Sherlock Holmes series. In this book, Sir Charles Baskerville is dead. His body was discovered on the grounds on his Devonshire estate, face frozen in fright, not far from the footprints of a large beast. The cause of death has been determined to be a heart attacked, but family legend tells another tale, and Detective Sherlock Holmes is determined to uncover the truth. So, whodunit on the foggy moors of Baskerville Hall? Holmes and Watson will find out.
I enjoyed the storyline in this book, and I loved the friendship between Sherlock and John. Even if they were both keeping things from each other, I loved that they were still checking in and were both determined to find the killer even if they must go down the crazy theories like the supernatural. I loved reading the reports from John and how fuming he was that Sherlock hadn’t been reading them. I loved Sherlock’s humour has well and was rooting for him and John throughout the book. I loved how small this book was, I feel like if it was longer I would have struggled and even if it was longer chapters or longer paragraphs, with the paragraphs being spaced out, it was more enjoyable, and I managed to finish this book quickly.
I did sort of lose some interest towards the end but that’s because I couldn’t figure out if Charles was murdered and if he was, who killed him? It took a few re-reads of the last chapters to figure out what they were saying, but it was unexpected.
I don’t think I'll read the next book in this series or go back and start this series, but it can be read as a standalone like I read it, and I can’t wait for next book on the poster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Alcohol
Fun and delightful, drags a bit in the middle though
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
pues me ha resultado muy entretenido, nunca había leído un sherlock original (traducción) de arthur y la verdad que muy gratificante si si... pero me ha dolido que no haya un giro super inesperado de ultimísimo monento. peeeeeero, esta bien chulo y se lee rapidito.
me mola bastante q se cuente a través de watson y que haya distintas formas según los capítulos, la verdad eso genial
me mola bastante q se cuente a través de watson y que haya distintas formas según los capítulos, la verdad eso genial
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first Sherlock Holmes and what I thought would be a fast easy read ended up taking almost a week! Granted, it was Thanksgiving week and we had a lot of family and a lot of drama, BUT. I just didn't find this to be super compelling --- there wasn't a lot driving me to devour it as quickly as I should have been able to.
I actually picked up this story because I'm taking the next couple of weeks to study Victorian ghost stories. I was lead to believe this was a ghost story... it is not. So I'm frustrated at having lost that week. But, I think I would enjoy more Sherlock Holmes in the future when I'm reading it for fun and not for any other purpose.
I actually picked up this story because I'm taking the next couple of weeks to study Victorian ghost stories. I was lead to believe this was a ghost story... it is not. So I'm frustrated at having lost that week. But, I think I would enjoy more Sherlock Holmes in the future when I'm reading it for fun and not for any other purpose.
and then they kissed and got married and lived happily ever after