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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Absolutely adored the witty repartee between Sherlock and Watson -- right from the get-go, their relationship is a delight, and Sherlock is such a condescending prick that while his infallibility is maybe something you're secretly rooting against, he's just written with childish glee.
The downfall of this book is the decision halfway through to completely turn against this narrative to build up the story of the deceased. It comes at a weird point where you sort of have the mystery solved, but not exactly, and really the main issue is just that it is written in a manner that is so cumbersome and feels false...this really didn't work for me, even if the story itself is compelling.
Glad to take a break and read some lighter stuff, though, and really wanted to go back and read the beginning of the Holmes/Watson relationship before digging into the rest.
The downfall of this book is the decision halfway through to completely turn against this narrative to build up the story of the deceased. It comes at a weird point where you sort of have the mystery solved, but not exactly, and really the main issue is just that it is written in a manner that is so cumbersome and feels false...this really didn't work for me, even if the story itself is compelling.
Glad to take a break and read some lighter stuff, though, and really wanted to go back and read the beginning of the Holmes/Watson relationship before digging into the rest.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This won't be one of my favorite books, but the mystery is quite fun. I was not able to figure out the sequence of events from the clues Holmes had (and the reader isn't given everything he knows until the end), but it was fun to try.
I have never taken the time to read Sherlock Holmes before, perhaps because I have seen so many adaptations on TV and film that I felt I knew it. But finding myself with some more time over Christmas, I decided to start listening to the Complete Sherlock Holmes audiobook I picked up years ago (I selected it because it was, at 73 hours, the longest one I could get with my free credit). As soon as Stephen Fry's mellifluous tones began, I knew I should have started earlier.
This first Holmes novel is perhaps a little exposition-heavy, but considering it is the first time the characters appeared I can certainly forgive that. Holmes is a wonderful creation, and Fry's gruff Watson makes the perfect foil for his unusual genius. This particular mystery was excellent, with a long and unexpected interlude in the middle providing a fascinating historical glimpse of how Mormon's were perceived in Victorian London. The end felt a little underwhelming, but the grand reveal of the murderer more than made up for that - everything afterwards is just tidying up.
The prose is sharp and expertly-crafted, with humour coming from the two detectives, Gregson and Lestrade. It is inspiring to listen to a work of such imagination articulated so compellingly - it makes me want to try writing myself! I look forward to listening to the next story in the collection.
This first Holmes novel is perhaps a little exposition-heavy, but considering it is the first time the characters appeared I can certainly forgive that. Holmes is a wonderful creation, and Fry's gruff Watson makes the perfect foil for his unusual genius. This particular mystery was excellent, with a long and unexpected interlude in the middle providing a fascinating historical glimpse of how Mormon's were perceived in Victorian London. The end felt a little underwhelming, but the grand reveal of the murderer more than made up for that - everything afterwards is just tidying up.
The prose is sharp and expertly-crafted, with humour coming from the two detectives, Gregson and Lestrade. It is inspiring to listen to a work of such imagination articulated so compellingly - it makes me want to try writing myself! I look forward to listening to the next story in the collection.
Watson meets Holmes and chronicles their first adventure together. An excellent mystery for the first part, but the transition to the backstory was abrupt, the second part dragged along, and I had several issues with the tail end of the second part and then with the third. Why on Earth did Lucy and her father wait so long to flee? Why would the Holy 4 muck around with a month long count down? Why after hearing of Lucy's marriage didn't Hope attempt to rescue her rather than just wait a month for her to die? Why does Hope bother eating the pills himself? The choice between the poison and the harmless pill was a nice idea, but there's no need for Hope to risk poisoning himself. And Mormons should be incredibly offended by the backstory. I appreciate Doyle's attempt at a unique style in interrupting his mystery to provide a context and attempt to sympathize the reader with the murderer, but I think the mystery would have fared better if it maintained the style and pace of the first half.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
The change from Watson’s perspective to the backstory of why the murderer commit the murder was such a drastic change in engagement. I got so bored. From this account, we are able to see Watson’s perspective of being mesmerised by Sherlock.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll always love Sherlock Holmes it's always amazing!!