SherlockianDiscussion

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #1

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

erzascarletbookgasm, Cuilin, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Aimeesue, Librarybelle, mom2bugnbee, Read4life, StayCurious, CatLass007, Mollyanna, eeclayton, dabbe, IndoorDame, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, 5feet.of.fury, Tineke, Pageturner1, PageShifter, AllDebooks, AnnR, kimrenee, aroyse

Librarybelle I really liked the setup of the first part. It was good to hear the back story of how Watson met Holmes. The second half was a struggle - by the end, I understood why we had to know the beginning part of part two, but it took me awhile to get to that point. 3mo

Aimeesue The meeting was neat; it‘s been so long since I‘ve read this one, I‘d forgotten how they got together. I‘d also forgotten he worked in a chem lab, experimenting all over the place. 3mo

5feet.of.fury @Librarybelle same. 3mo

See All 38 Comments

Read4life It was great going back to the beginning. 3mo

IndoorDame I loved that this opened with Watson‘s whole backstory before we even meet Sherlock. And I enjoyed the first glimpses into Sherlock‘s persona and his relationship with Watson starting to build. 3mo

CatLass007 This is the first Holmes I‘ve ever read and I don‘t know why it took me so long to get here. I begin to understand why Holmes and Watson are so beloved to readers. 3mo

aroyse It‘s been years since I‘ve read a Holmes! I love that Watson isn‘t sure at first what to make of Holmes and even thinks he‘s a little full of himself. And Holmes‘ army of street boys - love them!! They are the eyes and ears of the streets. 3mo

kelli7990 I tried reading Sherlock Holmes a long time ago as an ebook and I didn‘t like it that way so I decided to listen to it on audio instead. I wasn‘t sure if I was going to like it at first but I decided to keep going with the story and I liked it. 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I've never read any of the Holmes stories before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I ended up enjoying it (with some reservations). It was a fun, engaging read. Ironically, it was the mystery that I found to be a little lacking haha 3mo

AnneCecilie This was the first Sherlock I ever read, but I have had intentions to ever since I bought The Complete Sherlock Holmes back in 2017. I loved reading about how they met, it reminded me very much of the BBC production. I felt completely lost during the first half of the second part, even if it did make sense in the end. 3mo

erzascarletbookgasm I liked the beginning..introduction of Dr Watson, and how he got to meet Holmes. 3mo

Pageturner1 i liked this. enjoyed learning about the friendship. 3mo

eeclayton For me this was a re-read. I enjoyed the first part more than the second, but the switch wasn't as jarring as the first time around. @TheAromaofBooks I too felt that the character studies were way more entertaining than the mystery! 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement I read this nine years ago, I've seen the Sherlock episode, and I listened to the audiobook for this reread. I really enjoyed it. Part two seems to come out of nowhere, but I appreciate the unique way Doyle had the mystery unfold. 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle Yeah, the 2nd part could probably have read as its own novel. Even the writing style and narrator were quite different and took some getting used to. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @Aimeesue Or that he'd hit corpses to see how the blood congealed. 😳 3mo

dabbe @5feet.of.fury 🤗 3mo

dabbe @Read4life 🤗 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame I loved how they instantly shared their bad traits and seemed to have instant karma. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 Oh how they will grow on you the more we read! 🤗 3mo

dabbe @aroyse I love the list he makes of Holmes re: his good and bad traits. I also forgot that Holmes knows NOTHING about literature but EVERYTHING about sensational literature! 🤗 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 #yahooyou! IMHO this is not the best of the stories/novels. So, hang in there because some really good ones are coming up! 🤗 3mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks It was pretty much a straight revenge story and arguably not his best. Greater stories are coming! 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie The 2nd part was such a turn from the 1st. It almost read like a history book, didn't it? 🤗 3mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm 🤗 3mo

dabbe @Pageturner1 🤗 3mo

dabbe @eeclayton Agreed. That's what makes these characters so beloved; we will really get to know them as the canon unfolds. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement It's almost like each part were completely separate rivers that come together in the ocean at the end. 🤗 3mo

CatLass007 @dabbe Rivers coming to the ocean. I like that. It‘s very poetic. 3mo

CrystalE02 I loved the book!!! I felt like the first part was interesting and a great read, I did struggle with second part. I did enjoy the book and the characters. I enjoyed reading Sherlock's interaction with the cases and the other characters. 3mo

AllDebooks It's the first time I've read this one. I absolutely loved it, especially the second half. 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 🤩🤗😍 3mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 It only gets better from here! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks That's great to hear! Do you enjoy historical fiction--because that's how the 2nd part unfolded for me. 🤗 3mo

mom2bugnbee I've read them before, but it's been some time, and since then I've become a HUGE fan of the Cumberbatch/Freeman BBC series. I loved comparing the two! 3mo

dabbe @mom2bugnbee I adore that series! So creative and, well, there's Benedict! 🤩 3mo

Mollyanna I am way behind on our readings and just finished this book a week or so ago. I really enjoyed it and loved seeing how Dr. Watson and Holmes originally connected. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna Absolutely no worries! Read when you can! It is fun to see how they originally met and basically sized each other up to see if they were fit to be roommates. The best roommate pairing in literature (IMHO). 🤩 2mo

55 likes38 comments

dabbe

A Study in Scarlet | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #2

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

Librarybelle Maybe that‘s why I struggled with the second part - the change in narrator. I think, overall, it made sense to divide the two sections of the story. I just struggled with the execution of it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo

AnnR This was the second time I've read A Study In Scarlett. During the prior read, I was completely lost with part 2. (Initially, I thought there was some type of mistake in my kindle version.) Ultimately, I found the transition jarring and actually wish Doyle had rewritten it at some point. (Sorry, probably an unpopular answer.) The backstory served a purpose but I didn't like it. 3mo

Aimeesue The transition could have been smoother maybe, but I‘m not sure how, without making it a far longer book. I found the second part interesting, though - my mother is now a Mormon, and I just don‘t understand some parts of that religion at all. (edited) 3mo

See All 36 Comments

Read4life @AnnR I had completely blocked part 2 from my memory of reading this. It may be an unpopular answer but I agree with you. 3mo

IndoorDame This was my first time reading this one, and I was completely shocked by the turn it took in part 2. But I was kinda pleased by that. Stories rarely surprise me that thoroughly and tie it all together effectively in the end. 3mo

CatLass007 @IndoorDame I agree with you. The difference between “civilized” London and the American Wild West is a jarring comparison. But I believe it is an effective way of telling this story. I enjoyed the mystery and I find the second part heartbreaking. A murderer‘s motivation is, in this case, easy to empathize with. 3mo

kelli7990 I didn‘t like Part 2 that much. I liked Part 1 better. I think breaking it up into a second part worked because the way Part 2 was written is completely different than Part 1. I wasn‘t expecting to learn about the history of the Mormon Church. I‘m disappointed because I was thinking that it was going to be more of a murder mystery kind of like Part 1 was but it wasn‘t. 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I really could have used some kind of transition or notice that we were switching gears. I even flipped ahead to make sure we ended up back in London at some point because I thought there was some kind of misprint in my book, the switch was so jarring. It did make sense to divide the story in that way, but I think it would read better with notification that we were delving into backstory lol 3mo

AnneCecilie I felt completely lost at the beginning of the second part, and wondered what it did there and was a little sorry that I didn‘t get an explanation to how Sherlock solved. It comes nicely together in the end. But feeling lost for such a long time during a relatively short book, is never fun. 3mo

erzascarletbookgasm The first time I read the book, I was put off by part 2. This is my second time reading, I understand why the backstory is necessary but I feel it need not be so in-depth. Also, like the others said, the transition is jarring. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement I adore Watson. I've read a few Sherlock books and just love these characters. I also love me a now-it-all narrator! I enjoyed my reread of this mystery. No complaints. 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle Books with completely different narrators and even writing styles are challenging for me. It's like I'll get the hang of one of them, and then when it goes to another, I'm like 😳? Books with many different narrators drive me bonkers! 😂 3mo

dabbe @AnnR No need to ever be sorry! All viewpoints are valid! I agree that the switch was jarring--just like the craggy rocks in Utah! 😂 3mo

dabbe @Aimeesue That's interesting re: your mother. Did she know someone who was Mormon? I found it interesting, too, but the first time I ever read it, I was like 😳? 😂 3mo

dabbe @Read4life Your brain was trying to protect you from that part! 😂 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame Especially when even the writing style was so different; the 2nd part read like a history book for me. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 I rooted for Jefferson Hope and “hoped“ he'd get his revenge. I also liked that he didn't have to suffer in jail that long. His and Lucy's story was indeed a heartbreaker. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 It was like a history lesson, wasn't it? Lots of good mysteries lie ahead! 😃 3mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks It's weird. I kind of liked the jarring because it reflected the harsh landscape of the wild and untamed west. You had to hang in there, though, for it to slowly start to make sense. Quite a way to start the FIRST Holmes story ever, isn't it? 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie You make an excellent point. You do kind of hang there for a while, thinking “What on earth is going on?“ As a reader, I like to know EVERYTHING as I'm reading, not necessarily at the very end. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm I've often wondered if Doyle wanted to impress us with his so-called learning of the wild west. He did want to write nonfiction and didn't like that Sherlock ended up being the writing he is remembered most for (besides that fairy thing). 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement I love that: a #knowitallnarrator! 🤩 3mo

CatLass007 @dabbe Fairy thing? 3mo

CrystalE02 I think that is why I enjoyed the first part better than the second part. I enjoyed Watson's narrative better than the 3rd person narrative. 3mo

AllDebooks @CatLass007 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-55187973.amp 3mo

AllDebooks I was gripped by the second half more. The back story set in the wilderness of America added extra weight to the desolation to Lucy and Jefferson's plight. 3mo

CatLass007 @AllDebooks Thank you. I have heard about this hoax before but I didn‘t remember or didn‘t know that Conan Doyle was involved. 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies 🤩 3mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 The 1st part was so much more personal, wasn't it? Watson even talks about his life and hardships, too. I feel like he's openly honest as well. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks Excellent choice of word: “weight“. You can almost feel the high crags looming over them when they almost died of starvation and lack of water. 3mo

CatLass007 @dabbe Thank you! 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 🤩😍😃 3mo

aroyse Omigosh! Just like AnnR - I thought that my edition had a printing error 😂. I think Doyle‘s audiences might have been more appreciative of part 2 as the descriptions of the “Wild West” would have been more exciting for them. And the Mormon religion would have been completely foreign to more readers - I wonder how many thought he made up the whole religion…. 3mo

dabbe @aroyse I bet quite a few may have thought it was made up. It might even have seemed like a fantasy to them at the time. 3mo

Mollyanna I definitely enjoyed Part One more than Part Two. I felt Part two was disjointed and didn‘t fit with part one. Plus as others have said, Dr. Watson is the far superior narrator. His impressions, opinions and reactions definitely add to the story. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna It's always interesting when a person realizes that it's through Watson's eyes that we hear the tales. Before I read these, I always thought it was Sherlock. Most of us agreed that Doyle went a bit too far in Part 2; he seems to get his writing to be more concise in the short stories. 🤩 2mo

42 likes36 comments

dabbe

A Study In Scarlet: Sherlock Holmes Collections | A. Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #3

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

Librarybelle It‘s always jarring to see thoughts that are less politically correct by today‘s standards. I recently watched Lucy Worsley‘s Agatha Christie program on PBS, and she interviewed a professor who looks at biases in Christie‘s books. The professor stated poignantly that you can still appreciate the author and their talent but also acknowledge that they come with their own biases and their contemporary thoughts - she said it way better than I just did 3mo

AnnR I read this article in the Smithsonian Magazine, which tried to explain how the English Victorians were fascinated by the Mormons and why Doyle likely chose to include that subject his story. After viewing things in that context, I guess the strange choice by Doyle makes a little more sense.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-was-arthur-conan-doyle-fascinated-... (edited) 3mo

Aimeesue Having been exposed to a lot of Mormon history, Doyle wasn‘t that far off in many respects, especially in the early days of their settling in Utah. They‘d been run out of a lot of places, and did not get on well with, well, a lot of neighbors. They disguised themselves as Native Americans and murdered more than 100 people in a wagon train who were just passing through. The West really was wild, and the Mormons were all up in it. (edited) 3mo

See All 30 Comments

5feet.of.fury @AnnR thank you for sharing that, I was a bit perplexed 3mo

IndoorDame @Aimeesue I thought the same thing. The early Mormon church had a lot of abuses that aren‘t talked about that much anymore. But in some respects they were very different from modern LDS. 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I definitely do think the early Mormons were up to a lot of sketchy stuff, so while I'm sure he did use some creative license, I also think they were prime candidates for the setting of a kind of wild story haha As others have said, I also think it's possible to read and appreciate a story while understanding their biases - which holds just as true for modern authors as it does ones from the past. 3mo

AnneCecilie I don‘t know enough about Mormons to have any idea about how they were portrayed. 3mo

kelli7990 @AnneCecilie Same here 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle You stated it brilliantly! That's why as a teacher and reader, I abhor the banning of books! And I abhor changing the words to make them nicer or most palatable. For ex., when I taught HUCK FINN, the n-word is used over 250 times for a reason. The reason is what the kids need to read and discuss and understand about our country at that time. BTW, do you know the original title of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Christie? 🤩 3mo

dabbe @AnnR Interesting article! Thanks for sharing. Preconceived notions can definitely muddy the waters, can't they? Those Victorians! 😃 3mo

dabbe @Aimeesue I wish I was more surprised by how cultish they became. I mean, they were “run out of a lot of places“ as you eloquently stated, so I would have expected them to be more open to other religions and viewpoints. But they weren't ... just like the Puritans who were persecuted and came over here, hoping to be the “beacon on the hill“ (Emerson Baker) for all to see, but then became persecutors themselves. 🤗 3mo

Librarybelle @dabbe Yes! Not only that, but the original US title. You‘re so right - the books are a teachable moment. 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame These thoughts also bring up in my mind how many religions today are abusive and/or cultish. You'd think humans would have learned how to be more loving and open, especially in a so-called loving religion. 3mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks Couldn't have said that any better than you did. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @5feet.of.fury 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie I know more about modern Mormonism, having read UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN, but not being part of the religion means none of us will ever truly know unless we join. It seems as if Doyle focused on mostly the bad aspects of the religion from his island across the pond because it fitted his plot for the evil Debber and Stangerson. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 🤩 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle The US title: also a not-so-nice name, huh? 😃 3mo

IndoorDame @dabbe so true! And so sad! I have yet to learn about any religion today mainstream or otherwise, that doesn‘t have deeply abusive aspects or sects. Makes me think of the old saying about power corrupting. I know it was never about religion, but we hand over a lot of mental/financial/behavioral control to those institutions… 3mo

AllDebooks I agree with all of the above points, particularly on bias. I think all books/art,etc, should be viewed from the time period in which it was created. Context is everything. A knee-jerk reaction to something unsavoury or offensive, is not appropriate. Question it, read around it and educate yourself. Doing this can give a completely different viewpoint. 3mo

AllDebooks Or at least an understanding as to why certain words and statements are used. As for religion, I know very little of Mormon history, so there's a little research project for me. 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame ... without a second thought. (I had to finish the ... that you ended with). People can be so reasonable when it comes to pretty much everything--except religion. And I agree. I can't even think of one war or one abuse towards another human being without religion being involved in some way. 😢 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks And hopefully create tolerance--which is why I think a lot of authors choose to rip off the bandaids and force us to look at ourselves and how we treat one another. 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks I found UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN to be enlightening, but it's more concerned with one tragic incident in modern Mormonism. 3mo

mom2bugnbee @dabbe Andrew Garfield was astonishing in the mini-series. Highly recommend if you haven't seen it. 3mo

dabbe @mom2bugnbee I haven't seen it! It's on the TBW list! (to be watched! 😂) 3mo

aroyse I love the Baker street irregulars! For all of Holmes‘ and Watson‘s education, studies, and books smarts, they can‘t hang unnoticed in dark places and collect information. It takes all sorts to get the full picture. 3mo

dabbe @aroyse Ain't that the truth? The people one might most look down upon can be the “diamond in the rough.“ In fact, they're so beloved, that the #1 hardest “club“ to get into is called ... you guessed it! 🤩 I'm using Wikipedia this time, but I promise I won't use it for my essay, Ms. Royse! 😂🤗🤩
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Baker_Street_Irregulars 3mo

Mollyanna I agree with all the above, knowing the author, what the author may have been biased about and understating it is a way to move forward. Don‘t ban or change their works to make it more palatable, then we learn nothing. As the saying goes, those who don‘t study history are bound to repeat it. I too love the Baker Street Irregulars and their resourcefulness. 2mo

dabbe What an excellent reminder and so well written by you: “Don't ban or change their works to make it more palatable; then, we learn nothing.“ May I borrow this quote to share with my school district? 🤩😍😃 2mo

41 likes30 comments

dabbe

A Study In Scarlet: Sherlock Holmes Collections | A. Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #4

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

Librarybelle Holmes is such an unusual character…there‘s something about his snarkiness and dare I say snobbishness that also makes him endearing. I tend to gravitate towards the flawed characters in books. While Holmes is not necessarily flawed, he has his quirks. 3mo

CatLass007 It‘s probably a little of both. We like Watson and we like the portrait of Holmes that Watson paints. 3mo

AnnR We probably find Holmes interesting because he is eccentric and (in some respects) very intelligent. We put up with Holmes because Watson does. Well, Watson is his champion and probably paints a more endearing portrait of Holmes than he deserves. 3mo

See All 34 Comments

5feet.of.fury The way they play off eachother is the key to success, different people will relate to 1 or the other, the prickly cactus who sows chaos or the rational friend who is secretly doing most of the work. Unlikely Animal Friends. 3mo

Aimeesue I‘m just fascinated with the way his mind works, tbh 😋 3mo

Read4life I love Holmes‘ snark, intelligence & how he and Watson play off each other. 3mo

IndoorDame Love that Holmes is quirky and a little aloof! But I do think he gets more endearing with Watson around as his foil. 3mo

kelli7990 I think Holmes & Watson are very interesting. 3mo

TheAromaofBooks I think they make a good balance, but I have a hunch that Sherlock would really annoy me in real life 😂 3mo

AnneCecilie I loved the list that Watson gave us about what Sherlock what good at and not, and it emphasized that he‘s good at what he has an interest in. 3mo

erzascarletbookgasm Probably Watson is the only person who can put up with Holmes 😂 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement I like Sherlock's cocky confidence, especially since he can back it all up. I adore Watson, he is an honest, kind man with a healthy ego. Bless him that he can live with Holmes. As much as I like Sherlock, he would drive me insane as a flatmate. 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle I like to think of him as gloriously flawed. 🤩 And he is such a neophyte when it comes to relating to people that you just want to hug him and show him how it's done. 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 I agree. Because Watson likes him, we like him. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AnnR Agree 💯. 3mo

dabbe @5feet.of.fury Interesting idea. 🤩 How do you think Holmes sows chaos? 3mo

dabbe @Aimeesue My favorite parts of the stories are usually when he's able to size up someone just by looking at them. And then when he explains how, it's just a wonder to behold! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @Read4life It is a sight to behold, isn't it? 🤩 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame That's what will be so fun rereading this canon ... to see how Holmes and Watson change each other. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 Agree 💯. 3mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks It would take a truly unique character to put up with him. Watson has his baggage, too; that's why I love how perfect they are for each other. #dareievensaybromance 🤩 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie And isn't that true of all of us? Why are we such good readers? Because we're interested in reading of course! Every human has a passion for something they're good at, right? 🤩 3mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm Amen! 😂 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Me, too! All of his chemistry equipment everywhere, tobacco in his Persian slipper, knives holding his notes on the wall ... 😂 3mo

CrystalE02 I think we find Holmes interesting is because Watson makes him that way but also Holmes interesting ways of solving the crimes. 3mo

AllDebooks I really like Holmes, he fascinates me. Although, I don't think he would be half the character he is, without Watson to even him out. 3mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 Now there's a good question for the future stories: does Watson “talk up“ Holmes, or is he realistically true? I'm going to hold that thought in my head as we read further. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks They both definitely help neutralize the other, don't they? 🤩 3mo

mom2bugnbee Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock describes himself as "a high-functioning sociopath". That is absolutely the perfect description of his character. 3mo

dabbe @mom2bugnbee For the character Dr. Gregory House as well (I just discovered this series; I'm always WAY behind everyone else). He is the EPITOME of Sherlock! 😍 3mo

mom2bugnbee @dabbe I've never watched House, either! 3mo

dabbe @mom2bugnbee It's addictive! Just like Holmes is! 🤩 3mo

Mollyanna House is definitely a modern day Holmes! With Wilson as his Dr. Watson.😏. I love the character of Holmes, eccentricities and everything. He is a complex character that invites speculation as to his motivations and actions. I think that‘s what makes him so intriguing. Is this his calling or is it motivation something more? Dr. Watson is the everyman and through him we see the human side of Holmes. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna Couldn't agree more. BTW, I just started watching HOUSE and absolutely LOVE it! 🤩😃😍 2mo

37 likes1 stack add34 comments

dabbe

A Study In Scarlet: Sherlock Holmes Collections | A. Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #5

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

Librarybelle It was so like Holmes! 😂 But, I think Watson needs someone like Holmes to heal. 3mo

CatLass007 This bromance started with a “meet cute.” Yes Watson needs someone like Holmes in his life. But Holmes also needs Watson to act as a buffer between him and the world. 3mo

Aimeesue Blood tests and a bar. Seems fitting. 3mo

See All 28 Comments

Read4life @CatLass007 well said! 3mo

IndoorDame It was completely charming how determined they both were to like one another when it was clear neither was naturally gregarious. 3mo

CatLass007 @Read4life Thank you. 3mo

AnneCecilie I loved how they met, and how they are both trying to make their best to make their living arrangement work. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement @CatLass007 LOL Yes! They make a great bromance and a marvelous team. 3mo

CatLass007 @CogsOfEncouragement @Read4life I was just thinking. Are friendships between men so rare that we use this silly nickname? I‘ll own that I‘m the one who used the word in this context. But a day later I‘m wondering if I need to rethink my respect, or lack thereof, for friendships between men. 3mo

kelli7990 I think they work really well together. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement @CatLass007 I think it is the closeness of the friendship. It is the equivalent of BFF, right? My husband has friends, of course. There is one friendship he, the kids and I all refer to as his bromance from time to time though. The other guy's wife agrees. They are just really close and ride bikes together most weekends, etc. 3mo

CatLass007 @CogsOfEncouragement Saying it‘s the same as a woman having a BFF makes sense. I had been thinking that we have a silly nickname for male friendships but no silly nickname for female friendships. But we do! Maybe I just don‘t use the term because it‘s a generational thing. 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle I'm glad you said that. In rereading this, I forgot just how traumatic the war was for Watson, not only the physical pain, but he definitely has PTSD. Holmes gets Watson's mind off of his troubles by involving him in cases. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 Amen! Watson humanizes Holmes. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @Aimeesue 😂 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame I love how they instantly shared what they perceived were their bad flaws, too! 😂 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie And their retorts with one another when they get on each other's nerves! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 I didn't take it that you were showing a lack of respect. And there are quite a few literary critics out there who believe that there was more of a friendship between these two. There are just as many who think there wasn't. Then I wonder if that really even matters. What matters most to me anyway is that they are absolute best friends, and bromance is a cute/silly way perhaps to show that. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 Agree! 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Could BAE be the term, too? Or is that related only to romantic relationships? I think it means Before Anyone Else, so that would be like a BFF, too, right? Oy--these terms! 😂 3mo

CrystalE02 I think they both needed each other. It is such a Holmes thing for him to do what he did. Watson also needed this in order to heal. I am hoping to continue with more of the books soon 3mo

AllDebooks H & W met at an opportune time for both of them, when they were both vulnerable. It's a very serendipitous friendship 3mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 Next up is THE SIGN OF FOUR. Get reading! 😂🤗😍 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks And a symbiotic one, too. 😍 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe BAE is not my generation‘s term, but I know from my kids that it used for romantic, dating relationships. lol 😄 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Not from my era either. Good to know it's for romance! 😍 3mo

Mollyanna It‘s kismet for both of them… The universe gave them both what they needed at the time. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna Absolute karma! 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

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dabbe

A Study in Scarlet | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#SherlockianDiscussion
QUESTION #6

Hello, Sherlockians~
Time for a little discussion about A STUDY IN SCARLET. I‘m not hiding the questions, so if you don‘t want to see them yet, don‘t look! 😃 There are 6 questions; respond whenever you wish! 🤩

Librarybelle As someone who rarely figures out the murderer in a book, despite the clues being presented, I did not feel cheated. Conan Doyle‘s development of Holmes‘ character is what I think makes readers keep coming back. It‘s such a character study, diving deep into thoughts and perceptions. 3mo

CatLass007 I agree with @Librarybelle. But not just about the character study of Holmes. In any genre, if the characters are well developed the reader will forgive a great deal. 3mo

5feet.of.fury I like when things are breadcrumbed throughout the story, this one felt very far removed, as we had to leave the main characters & the whole country. 3mo

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IndoorDame @Librarybelle I agree on both counts. I rarely try to solve the puzzles, (and never succeed when I do try) so that aspect doesn‘t bother me, and I think that‘s only a small part of what we‘re drawn to in these stories. 3mo

PageShifter I think it's pecualiar characters? 3mo

TheAromaofBooks While I didn't mind that aspect, I did feel like in the end Holmes was basically like “I telegraphed Ohio and they told me that the dead guy had a murderous stalker“ so... it also didn't feel like he had to make any big deductive jumps?? That felt rather anticlimactic to me 😂 3mo

AnneCecilie I so agree with you @Librarybelle I never manage to guess either, so I don‘t think it matters how many red herrings are laid out through the story. With no clues, I don‘t need to feel stupid for not getting it 😊 3mo

erzascarletbookgasm I do not mind letting Holmes reveal the whole story. I just enjoy the ride, and I find Holmes eccentricity entertaining. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement I started reading Holmes about ten years ago. I remember being a little disappointed at not even having a chance to try to solve it. I started with one of the short story collections. I quickly enjoyed these for what they are though, and they are not Encyclopedia Brown books. lol 3mo

kelli7990 When I read this story, I was trying to see if I could solve it but then I realized that I can‘t because of the way the story was written. I still enjoyed this story even though I‘m used to trying to solve a murder mystery while I‘m reading a book. This was a different type of murder mystery. 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle Well said. 👏 I rarely solve any either--even if given ALL of the clues! I guess that's what makes us the couch potatoes living vicariously through our detective heroes! 😂 3mo

dabbe @CatLass007 Especially because we're on that character's side 💯. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @5feet.of.fury You make a truly valid point. I can't recall another story in the canon that does this, so we'll be with our bros much more consistently in the next stories! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @IndoorDame We just love our detectives, don't we? That's the success of every detective series ever, right? 🤩 3mo

dabbe @PageShifter Which character do you think is more peculiar, Holmes or Watson? 🤗 3mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks That's another reason I love this canon so much. Sometimes Holmes does seem to just phone it in, some crimes he doesn't solve, some he lets the bad guy go free ... you never know what he's going to do in each story. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Love this! What I don't know won't hurt me, and I won't feel like a total nitwit in the process! 😂 3mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm That's an excellent way of putting it--to just enjoy the ride. And every ride will be a wee bit different, which is what entertains us. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement You make me think of an interesting point. I can't really even think of one detective story where we are given every clue like the detective. Usually we do have the big ending where all is revealed and we can then feel like “Wow! You make is sound so easy, Holmes!“ ... which is why he tells Watson he doesn't like to share his ways because then everyone will think it's so boring and easy when it really isn't. 🤗 3mo

dabbe @kelli7990 This one is quite a bit different. I look forward to reading what you think when we read a more “normal“ one. 😃 3mo

CrystalE02 Nope!! I didn't feel cheated about not knowing the clues first. I found it entertaining to learn the clues as the story progressed. 3mo

AllDebooks Hmmmm 🤔 I've never really pondered that before. I just go with the flow of the story. I would, therefore, say I don't mind not having the clues up front. It lends to a more absorbing story because you're not distracted by trying to work it out. 3mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 I don't think I have ever solved one detective story along with the detective; I just like to cruise along for the ride and have it explained to me at the end. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @AllDebooks I didn't think of that as a reason, but you're absolutely right. Then we can go along and watch, observe, and maybe even learn from good ol' Sherlock. 3mo

PageShifter Holmes feels more peculiar, and Watson is trying to help communication between Sherlock and people :D 3mo

dabbe @PageShifter Excellent point. I often wonder how well Sherlock would connect with anyone without Watson. 🤗 3mo

Mollyanna I think Sherlock Holmes‘s stories have stood the test of time because they aren‘t viewed as just detective fiction, but rather the story of humans. It is about observation of facts and evidence for the criminal act, but also the motivations of those that committed the act making it a sociological study. It is also about the characters. We see Holmes and Watson grow and evolve as they move through each case. (edited) 2mo

dabbe How true! I think it's especially imperative that Holmes changes for us the readers. He's so arrogant and prickly at the beginning, but Watson softens him somewhat. And since Watson loves Sherlock, so do we--with all of his idiosyncrasies. 2mo

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