From the Bookshelf of The Reading Challenge Group…

A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1)

Arthur Conan Doyle

Start date: August 1, 2014

Finish date: August 31, 2014

Discussion: Group Read Archive 2014-16

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Group Read Archive 2014-16

Genre Group Read (Humour) - December 2016 - You Are Not So Smart
By Allison , Quest Hound · 11 posts · 30 views

last updated Dec 28, 2016 04:05PM

Alternate Group Read (Classics) - December 2016 - Mansfield Park
By Allison , Quest Hound · 5 posts · 18 views

last updated Dec 04, 2016 09:34AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 23, 2012 Ally rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2012

absolute favorite Sherlock Holmes, because Holmes and Watson together for the first time is the best meet-cute in the world. Also, the story-within-a-story thing is always one of my favorite literary tricks. It's one of those books where, I mean, you think about how we dissect and study classics like they're going to teach us the value of the world we live in. THIS is the kind of classic I like. Where it's just a really good story with really interesting characters. It's not that I don't appreci ...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Literary Ames rated it it was ok

Shelves: 1st-in-series, male-authors, classics, crime-mystery-thriller, stage-and-screen, read-in-2013

Before reading this, my first reading of the Arthur Conan Doyle originals, my first encounter with Sherlock Holmes was CSI's Who Shot Sherlock episode. Since then I've enjoyed the likes of Mr. Patrick Jane of The Mentalist, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock (BBC) and Johnny Lee Miller's Elementary. I'd also argue there's a bit of Holmes in Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory as well. Those adaptations far surpassed the original. Sherlock in particular, provides the closest modern interpretation of the Before reading this, my first reading of the Arthur Conan Doyle originals, my first encounter with Sherlock Holmes was CSI's Who Shot Sherlock episode. Since then I've enjoyed the likes of Mr. Patrick Jane of The Mentalist, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock (BBC) and Johnny Lee Miller's Elementary. I'd also argue there's a bit of Holmes in Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory as well. Those adaptations far surpassed the original. Sherlock in particular, provides the closest modern interpretation of the original text and was far more enjoyable.

There's no question: Holmes is an arrogant ass, but where current interpretations have differed and improved is by providing other sympathetic characters and a sense of adventure and fun to balance out the insufferable Holmes' ego. Without those here, I was tempted to reach into the book and throttle Mr. I'm Better Than Everyone Else.

Part I managed to hold my attention, the beginning of which was very intriguing, but Part II saw me confused by the change of scenery and characters, and felt overly long for the information it was conveying. The portrayal of Mormonism left me uncomfortable. Since I'm not very familiar with their way of life I'm unable to comment on it's veracity here, though my gut says it's an unfavourable, extremist and sensational portrayal you might come across in the media when detailing a crime(s) in those communities, similar to those described in The Chosen One.

Another complaint I have applies to the plot itself. I've become accustomed to playing along in solving the mystery alongside the investigators while reading or watching crime and I was unable to do this here. Sherlock alone spots clues and keeps them all to himself until his big reveal -that's the one major downside to reading Watson's POV.

Despite finding A Study in Scarlet a disappointing venture, I think I'll continue to read more of the originals hoping Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's supposed talent developed into providing a more engaging read.

*Read as part of The Complete Sherlock Holmes, here. ...more

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