Friday, January 26, 2007
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
**This book had me laughing almost immediately. Maybe Doyle didn't intend to be funny but reading the book 100 years after it was written, with Sherlock Holmes the prototype for 20th Century detectives, this passage just struck me as hilarious: "Interesting, though elementary," said he. 'There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick. It gives the basis for several deductions.'
'Has anything escaped me?' I asked with some self-importance. 'I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked.'
'I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were erroneus. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank, that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth.'
**There were several instances in which Holmes, Watson and another character show off their deducting skills, with Holmes always being right. It reminded me of the poison drinking scene in "The Princess Bride" movie where the two are explaining how each clues leads to an undeniable conclusion. And Holmes is so winningly smug and Watson is just such a dear.
**The story involves the murder of an elderly baron who apparently is frightened to death by a huge, unearthly hound. The deceased's friend enlists Holmes to protect the heir to the estate from a similar fate. Of course, Holmes figures it out but needs proof which leads to a gripping, terrifying chase across the barren moors in the depths of a dark fog. Besides being a fun mystery, the book is a wonderful example of its time, the language, customs and culture. This is one classic I really enjoyed.
Rating: 4.25
posted by Framed at 8:26 PM
4 Comments:
booklogged said...
You are sure moving right along with the classics. You enjoyed two out of three, so far. That's not too bad. I'm almost through with Alice, which will only be my 2nd. I'm going to have to read like crazy to finish Gone With the Wind.
Reading 5 classics back to back is a bit strenuous, isn't it? It is good for me, though, because I'm sure I would not get five read otherwise. And it's GOOD for us, right?!
10:17 PM
Framed said...
"Gone with the Wind" is a fun read so it should go pretty fast.
My next book is a TBR and on my A to Z list, but not a classic. Then I have another A to Z and Chunkster. It's good to have a break from Classics, but I've got two more to do so it will be a short break.
10:45 AM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
hehe! I like the parallel you mentioned between this and The Princess Bride! I agree completely with you.
Heather
www.thelibraryladder.blogspot.com
8:34 PM
SherBears said...
This is on my TBR list, so I'm glad to read a review of it before I dig in!
~Sherry
http://tomeofmind.blogspot.com
http://joeandsherry.blogspot.com
'Has anything escaped me?' I asked with some self-importance. 'I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked.'
'I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were erroneus. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank, that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the truth.'
**There were several instances in which Holmes, Watson and another character show off their deducting skills, with Holmes always being right. It reminded me of the poison drinking scene in "The Princess Bride" movie where the two are explaining how each clues leads to an undeniable conclusion. And Holmes is so winningly smug and Watson is just such a dear.
**The story involves the murder of an elderly baron who apparently is frightened to death by a huge, unearthly hound. The deceased's friend enlists Holmes to protect the heir to the estate from a similar fate. Of course, Holmes figures it out but needs proof which leads to a gripping, terrifying chase across the barren moors in the depths of a dark fog. Besides being a fun mystery, the book is a wonderful example of its time, the language, customs and culture. This is one classic I really enjoyed.
Rating: 4.25
posted by Framed at 8:26 PM
4 Comments:
booklogged said...
You are sure moving right along with the classics. You enjoyed two out of three, so far. That's not too bad. I'm almost through with Alice, which will only be my 2nd. I'm going to have to read like crazy to finish Gone With the Wind.
Reading 5 classics back to back is a bit strenuous, isn't it? It is good for me, though, because I'm sure I would not get five read otherwise. And it's GOOD for us, right?!
10:17 PM
Framed said...
"Gone with the Wind" is a fun read so it should go pretty fast.
My next book is a TBR and on my A to Z list, but not a classic. Then I have another A to Z and Chunkster. It's good to have a break from Classics, but I've got two more to do so it will be a short break.
10:45 AM
Orange Blossom Goddess (aka Heather) said...
hehe! I like the parallel you mentioned between this and The Princess Bride! I agree completely with you.
Heather
www.thelibraryladder.blogspot.com
8:34 PM
SherBears said...
This is on my TBR list, so I'm glad to read a review of it before I dig in!
~Sherry
http://tomeofmind.blogspot.com
http://joeandsherry.blogspot.com
# posted by Framed @ 7:53 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
I was so surprised to read that it made you laugh! I've always steered away from reading it, thinking it would be scary and disturbing. :<) I saw a review on your other blog of Justice Hall. If you do go back and read the Holmes/Russell series, the fourth one is The Moor, and this case is referred to in the book. I'm going to go search out The Hound of The Baskervilles, now, on your recommendation.
Post a Comment
<< Home
