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

Jan 05, 2013 Literary Ames rated it it was ok

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

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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Sep 26, 2013 Wendy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, classics, mystery-suspense, olde-london, 2024

I originally had read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes back in high school at the recommendation of a friend, and it made so little impression on me that I can't remember a single memorable case or story from that book (I was more a Poirot fan at the time, too). I never even revisited the ur-detective until I watched the most recent BBC adaptation. Since I like the show very much, I've been catching up on my classic Sherlock reading (Study in Scarlet, Hound of the Baskervilles) and mostly have ...more

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Aug 08, 2021 Elle rated it really liked it

4.5 stars.

What a fun read! I love Holmes' witticism. Although admittedly it is a bit weird with it's divergent middle section diatribe on Mormonism, it's a very fast read with a lot of clever moments. I had heard about this strange middle section, but forgot about it when I went to read. I honestly thought I had mistakenly chosen an audiobook that had more than one story in it until I remembered about this little quirk.

The writing is great and laced with a bit of dry humor, which was completely ...more

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Feb 12, 2022 Bouchra Rebiai rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2022, popsugar-2022

It has been a long time since I first read my first Sherlock Holmes book, and I’ve been meaning to read the rest of the series for a while, but never got around to it. So many books to read, such a short lifetime, eh?

I’m glad I read this one now, though. It was a quick read, compared to most of the contemporary mysteries, but it was fascinating. The backstory behind the murders made it even more fascinating, and I sympathized with the murderer to the very end.

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