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sab_1961's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jmbz38's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.75
millydean's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sherlock holmes makes my brain go brrrrrrrr
darwin8u's review against another edition
5.0
There is a good reason why Sherlock Holmes is (after Shakespeare and the Bible) one of the most published works in English. The stories were clever, the pacing was quick, and there is (at the same time) a timelessness and an inventiveness to it which is difficult for any author to pull off. Obviously in a book of short stories there are some that are stronger and others that don't work quite as well, but all in all Memoirs is a strong effort and one of the greats of genre fiction.
anatoli's review against another edition
4.0
Like all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work I have read (which isn't as much as I would like), the point-of-view from Watson is a very good writing vehicle and works well for a story where you would not want to read (or write) Holmes thought process. I enjoyed all the stories in this volume, my only complaint being that they were somewhat isolated excerpts from throughout Holmes’s career, so I was missing some of the context. But, I guess that was the point, being memoirs and all. 4 out of 5 on Goodreads.
chriswolak's review against another edition
4.0
When I was a kid and wanted to read a mystery, some well-meaning adult told me to read the Sherlock Holmes stories or Agatha Christie. I couldn't get into either back then (they both seemed snooty and stuffy). Other than reading Edgar Allan Poe for classes, I didn't give another mystery a try until I was in my early 30s and saw a review of Nevada Barr's Track of the Cat in an outdoors magazine. Barr opened the door to mysteries for me and I've been a mystery reader since then, so when the publisher asked if I'd like to review the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes I thought it was time to give the old man another chance. I am so glad I did as I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these tales:
*Silver Blaze
*The Yellow Face
*The Stockbroker's Clerk
*The Gloria Scott
*The Musgrave Ritual
*The Reigate Squires
*The Crooked Man
*The Resident Patient
*The Greek Interpreter
*The Naval Treaty
*The Final Solution
Holmes can still be annoying (particularly in the beginning of The Crooked Man) and I found myself wanting to know more about Watson's life (particularly his time in Afghanistan), but overall the stories were interesting both for the mystery involved and for representation of the diversity of class and race in late 19th century England. My favorite story of this collection is perhaps The Naval Treaty. Too much evidence can get in the way of the art of detection: what is vital is overlaid and hidden by what is irrelevant. And what Holmes said back then is seemingly still true today: "The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage" (216). I now plan on reading all the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels and have already downloaded the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Cheerio mates!
*Silver Blaze
*The Yellow Face
*The Stockbroker's Clerk
*The Gloria Scott
*The Musgrave Ritual
*The Reigate Squires
*The Crooked Man
*The Resident Patient
*The Greek Interpreter
*The Naval Treaty
*The Final Solution
Holmes can still be annoying (particularly in the beginning of The Crooked Man) and I found myself wanting to know more about Watson's life (particularly his time in Afghanistan), but overall the stories were interesting both for the mystery involved and for representation of the diversity of class and race in late 19th century England. My favorite story of this collection is perhaps The Naval Treaty. Too much evidence can get in the way of the art of detection: what is vital is overlaid and hidden by what is irrelevant. And what Holmes said back then is seemingly still true today: "The authorities are excellent at amassing facts, though they do not always use them to advantage" (216). I now plan on reading all the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels and have already downloaded the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Cheerio mates!
priyabryant's review against another edition
4.0
It was great to read such a famous classic, and wonderful to finally read the original version after my obsession with the TV show!