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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
How does one review a book they liked so much? I understand criticisms like "bus, it took you a month and a half to finish the book!", and in all fairness, it's a bit dense at times. HOWEVER, I always liked Sherlock Holmes as a character, even though I knew very little about him. Then I read The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes for school once and watched films and tv series about him. The idea that someone could use logic and odd facts to come to such masterful conclusions was just wonderful. Being obsessed with the idea of cleverness it was only natural that I absolutely loved this character and these stories when I was younger, but even now, albeit with more appreciation for his kindness and odd sense of humour, I still loved it.
Which brings me to a point that I want to talk about, because it truly does not go well with me when people talk about Sherlock being robot-like and whatnot. He's a lovely person!!! Perhaps it has to do with the fact that he shows it differently, but he can be genuinely nice to people. Watson even remarks on how easily he can put people at ease. He truly cares about his friend and misses him once he retires. I know he plays the game for the game's sake, but he does speak his mind when something happens that he does not agree with, because it's immoral. (you'd think someone who wants to discuss this would have actual arguments, but I'm just winging this review).
Watson of course was as amazing as always and quite invaluable most times. Mycroft is still one of my favourite characters definitely and seeing Lestrade's name pop up was always fun. Even seeing the names of Anderson, Kitty & Shinwell was great, I really enjoyed that. OH AND OF COURSE Irene Adler and Moriarity, who could forget those two.
Some moments that made me go YES (or sob) (I wish i had actually thought of writing it down before the last hundred pages):
p. 1010 -- "'You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!'. It was worth a wound-it was worth many wounds-to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation. 'It's nothing, Holmes. It's a mere scratch'. He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife. 'You are right,' he cried with an immense sigh of relief. 'It is quite superficial.'. His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. 'By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?'
p. 1017 -- "I do not blame you for feeling it. I should blame you if you expressed it, since this young lady was in a sense under your protection"
p. 1077 -- "You can file it in our archives, Watson. Some day the true story may be told."
that's all, I just really love Sherlock Holmes and actually enjoyed this all quite a lot.
Which brings me to a point that I want to talk about, because it truly does not go well with me when people talk about Sherlock being robot-like and whatnot. He's a lovely person!!! Perhaps it has to do with the fact that he shows it differently, but he can be genuinely nice to people. Watson even remarks on how easily he can put people at ease. He truly cares about his friend and misses him once he retires. I know he plays the game for the game's sake, but he does speak his mind when something happens that he does not agree with, because it's immoral. (you'd think someone who wants to discuss this would have actual arguments, but I'm just winging this review).
Watson of course was as amazing as always and quite invaluable most times. Mycroft is still one of my favourite characters definitely and seeing Lestrade's name pop up was always fun. Even seeing the names of Anderson, Kitty & Shinwell was great, I really enjoyed that. OH AND OF COURSE Irene Adler and Moriarity, who could forget those two.
Some moments that made me go YES (or sob) (I wish i had actually thought of writing it down before the last hundred pages):
p. 1010 -- "'You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!'. It was worth a wound-it was worth many wounds-to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation. 'It's nothing, Holmes. It's a mere scratch'. He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife. 'You are right,' he cried with an immense sigh of relief. 'It is quite superficial.'. His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. 'By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?'
p. 1017 -- "I do not blame you for feeling it. I should blame you if you expressed it, since this young lady was in a sense under your protection"
p. 1077 -- "You can file it in our archives, Watson. Some day the true story may be told."
that's all, I just really love Sherlock Holmes and actually enjoyed this all quite a lot.
adventurous
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*I haven't read the entire thing, just using it to track what I do read!
1. A Study in Scarlet - 3
1. A Study in Scarlet - 3
Sherlock Holmes. Such a classic. I can never quite guess whodunit before it's revealed, but that doesn't mean I don't keep trying. :)
Enjoyed most of the stories...VERY long book, and just skimmed through the last hundred pages. Good to read the original material!
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
I'd read a good deal of the original Sherlock Holmes stories before starting this audiobook but it was here that I finally experienced them all. Stephen Fry was a phenomenal narrator! Excellent character voices, foreign accents, emotional delivery at all the right times--I suppose that's what you get when someone with true acting chops reads you some of the best stories ever written~ I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to anyone else narrate the Holmes canon. The inclusion at the beginning of each book of a foreword by Fry himself was an excellent move. Not only did I learn a ton about the stories and their author, I learned things about the narrator that tied him to the Holmes fandom and just made him more interesting than ever as a person. I'm sure this won't be the last time I listen to this audiobook!
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most popular characters ever created by Arthur Conan Doyle. First appearing in print in 1887's A Study in Scarlet, the character's popularity became widespread with the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine, beginning with A Scandal in Bohemia in 1891. Overall, 4 novels and 56 short stories were created revolving around the character of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
All of the novels and short stories are set in the Victorian or Edwardian eras, between about 1880 and 1914. Most of them are narrated by the character of Holmes's friend and biographer John H. Watson, who usually accompanies Holmes during his investigations and often shares quarters with him at the address of 221B Baker Street, where many of the stories begin. As I said in other reviews, I maintain the opinion that the stories really benefit from being narrated by Watson. Not only because Watson helps the reader navigate the setting of Victorian society but also because it helps us understand Sherlock Holmes. Like I said in my review of A Study in Scarlet, Watson is a very emphatic character, so he's the one that helps to humanize the always-rational Sherlock, a character that may not be so loved by readers if the stories were narrated by Sherlock or in thrid-person. For instance, I didn't find "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier", one of the few stories narrated by Holmes, as interesting as the ones narrated by Watson.
But, overall, I really liked the stories and I strongly recommend them. The only thing that I would advise you to do is try to read the stories over time and not at once. This edition has over 1400 pages, and that can be very challenging.
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most popular characters ever created by Arthur Conan Doyle. First appearing in print in 1887's A Study in Scarlet, the character's popularity became widespread with the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine, beginning with A Scandal in Bohemia in 1891. Overall, 4 novels and 56 short stories were created revolving around the character of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
All of the novels and short stories are set in the Victorian or Edwardian eras, between about 1880 and 1914. Most of them are narrated by the character of Holmes's friend and biographer John H. Watson, who usually accompanies Holmes during his investigations and often shares quarters with him at the address of 221B Baker Street, where many of the stories begin. As I said in other reviews, I maintain the opinion that the stories really benefit from being narrated by Watson. Not only because Watson helps the reader navigate the setting of Victorian society but also because it helps us understand Sherlock Holmes. Like I said in my review of A Study in Scarlet, Watson is a very emphatic character, so he's the one that helps to humanize the always-rational Sherlock, a character that may not be so loved by readers if the stories were narrated by Sherlock or in thrid-person. For instance, I didn't find "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier", one of the few stories narrated by Holmes, as interesting as the ones narrated by Watson.
But, overall, I really liked the stories and I strongly recommend them. The only thing that I would advise you to do is try to read the stories over time and not at once. This edition has over 1400 pages, and that can be very challenging.
Final notes: If you're looking for a good adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I suggest the 1984 tv show adaptation produced by Granada Television and starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke and subsequently Edward Hardwicke as Watson. Between 1984 and 1994, 36 episodes and five films were produced over six series. It's one of the best adaptations of Sherlock Holmes that I've seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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