January 2016 - The Sherlockian

[Sarah]

One of the group reads for January is The Sherlockian by Graham Moore. Please discuss the book in this thread.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have completed the book before or during January 2016.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

[Tasha]

I was able to get both audio and ebook out this morning from elib so I may actually be able to try this one this month as well. It looks interesting!

[Sandra, Moderator]

I brought it from the library too, so I'll start it as soon as I'm done with The Nightingale for the buddy read.

[Sharon]

I've started this today, and just finished chapter 6.

Re ch 5 (view spoiler)[ Oh that old lady smashing him with the bag just cracked me up. And they put even an obituary in the newspaper for it, that's just to much. I didn't realise it was that big a hype in those days. (hide spoiler)]

Re ch 6 (view spoiler)[ I wonder what's in the diary that's worth killing for... (hide spoiler)]

So far I've only read 1 Sherlock Holmes story in my life. I hope this doesn't interfere with my understanding of the book. No problems up till this point fortunately. (view spoiler)[ I think the introduction of the Sarah character will help prevent that. (hide spoiler)]

[Lynda]

I downloaded from the library this morning, have a couple books to finish this week, then I'll be starting.

[[deleted user]]

Downloaded the audio this morning, I have finished my last audio and this is next in line.

[Roz]

I have a hold on it from my library --- no ebook possibility in my area.

[Joan]

I just finished chapter 5...I am intrigued by the comment (view spoiler)[ Arthur laid the facts of the crime before his readers clearly, calmly and efficiently. No important detail was left out... (hide spoiler)] Anyone who hopes to win the battle of wits must read very carefully; sadly that is not my usual style.

[Joan]

Just finished Chapter 11: The game's afoot and (view spoiler)[ seems more like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty than Sherlock Holmes does anyone think it could be a spoof? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Sharon wrote: "I've started this today, and just finished chapter 6.

Re ch 5 [spoilers removed]

Re ch 6 [spoilers removed]

So far I've only read 1 Sherlock Holmes story in my life. I hope this doesn't interfer..."

I don't think it matters, too much, Sharon. It is hard for me, who loves everything Sherlock, to imagine people who have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes stories or books. Which one did you read?

(view spoiler)[ regarding the lady hitting Doyle with the hand bag. It really, really was a big thing when he killed off SH back then. People were avid readers of the serialized stories. The publishers were totally put out that Doyle maintained he would not write any more stories. (hide spoiler)]

Re Ch 6(view spoiler)[ It will become clear later (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Joan wrote: "Just finished Chapter 11: The game's afoot and [spoilers removed]"

I love your Walter Mitty remark! It did seem more and more improbable as things were rolled out in the present. For me, I loved the story in 1893 and most of the time, did not care what was happening in the present until about half way through.

[Sharon]

Cherie wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I've started this today, and just finished chapter 6.

Re ch 5 [spoilers removed]

Re ch 6 [spoilers removed]

So far I've only read 1 Sherlock Holmes story in my life. I hope this d..."

Well, I've always wanted to read them, but never got around to it. I'm planning to read more of the works this year though.
The one I read is The Hound of the Baskervilles, and now throught this book group read I'm learning much about the background of this story. I think The Sherlockian is giving me a speed course in Sherlock Holmes trivia and the life of Arthur Conan Doyle, I like it :)

You wouldn't happen to be part of the Irregulars Cherrie? ;-)

[[deleted user]]

I have never read s Sherlock Holmes and like Sharon said, this book is a crash course.

I am on chapter 7. The story was really slow for me in the beginning, but has picked up. I am very intrigued by the mystery now. I also enjoy how the author uses quotes from Doyle's books at the beginning of the chapters.

I agree with Joan as well, this book is a battle of wits, and I often miss the subtle clues! but that is what makes a good mystery.

[Joan]

any Sherlockians out there? I wondered if the events in each chapter somehow recapitulate something from the story quoted at the beginning of the chapter.

[Tasha]

I am listening to this one and it's a great production. Coupled with the story, which I'm finding so interesting and funny at times, it's great. I love the dual time lines/narratives and I'm finding both fascinating and interesting in their own ways.

I love learning more about Doyle, Holmes and Watson and it's definitely making me want to read some Sherock books. I think I have read 2 Sherlock books but the only one I really remember is Hound ofthe Baskervilles. I'll definitely read a few more after listening to this one. I'm intriqued now.

I'm enjoying the present day story as well. I've laughed out loud at some of the dialogue and events. I'm not sure how those scenes come across in print but in audio they are funny.

I'm glad this book got chosen bc I'm not sure I would have picked it up otherwise. I really enjoy the way this guy writes the stories.

I'm up to ch 14.

[Ollie]

I agree with Tasha that I probably wouldn't have picked this one up if it hadn't been the group read. I have my own personal challenge going for the number of books I need to read over the next two years, and it works out to 5 days a book. For the first two days of The Sherlockian I read only the number of pages I needed to read in order to finish on time, but after that I read the rest in one long sitting. Things really picked up at that point, and I found myself sucked in.

Without spoiling anything, I liked the solutions to both who the murderer was and what happened to the diary. I've only ever read one Sherlock story, but The Sherlockian made me want to read more.

[Joan]

Tasha wrote: "I am listening to this one and it's a great production. Coupled with the story, which I'm finding so interesting and funny at times, it's great. I love the dual time lines/narratives and I'm findin..."

Tasha - listening sounds like fun. I, too, am reading it and laughing out loud at some points. I just finished Chapter 42 and (view spoiler)[ I can't help humming Lynyrd Skynyrd... gimme three steps mister, gimme three steps towards the door... (hide spoiler)]

I find the NUWSS angle really interesting and the author does a nice job of presenting Conan Doyle's view of the question.

But I am disappointed that the author has a tin ear for the class demarcations of Conan Doyle's England. Social anachronisms are hard to avoid but for me they are distracting.

[Cherie]

Joan wrote: "any Sherlockians out there? I wondered if the events in each chapter somehow recapitulate something from the story quoted at the beginning of the chapter."

No, I don't think so, at least I don't remember them being part of the story. They are references to the original stories. For me, it was fun to try to identify which story they went to.

[Cherie]

LOL, Sharon. No I am not part of the Irregulars, but I know an author who is. I have heard that it is hard to get into them. :-)

[Sarah]

I am pleased people picked this book up because it was a group read and have found in enjoyment in it. The group reads are good for helping expand our reading.

[Sharon]

I've just finished the book and like Brittany, I too like the conclusions of the story.

(view spoiler)[ I was surprised to read in the end how much of the fiction was fact, including the letter bomb he recieved and that there were "Brides in the Bath" murders! (hide spoiler)]

[Joan]

Brittany wrote: "I agree with Tasha that I probably wouldn't have picked this one up if it hadn't been the group read. I have my own personal challenge going for the number of books I need to read over the next two..."

I agree Brittany - the book has made me more interested reading Sherlock Holmes and wonder if I will be able to detect the differences between pre-Final Solution and post Final Solution.

I was very disappointed with the ending. (view spoiler)[ The book read like a spoof to me so I expected an ending like the one in "The Sting" movie with Paul Newman and Robert Redford or at least an O'Henry type twist. I hoped the whole thing was going to be an initiation rite fabricated by the Sherlockians for Harold. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariane]

I started it; I have never read a Sherlock Holmes story before, but I intend to do so this year... I feel like I have trouble really getting into this story, but I like it anyway, I assume it will get better soon... I only read 6 chapters.

[Almeta]

I started The Sherlockian yesterday and finished early this morning.

I have read most all of Doyle's Holmes stories and was a sucker for the Basil Rathebone and Peter Cushing movies when shown on television. I have an The Annotated Sherlock Holmes set in storage, that I'd love to get to sometime soon.

It is fun to know that there are groups like The Irregulars who are fans of Holmes methods and might use them to solve crimes. I however, am just not that sharp, so reading mysteries will have to do. I was surprised that Harold (view spoiler)[was asked to join the club at such a young age. He did prove to be worthy. However, I thought his obsession with his Deerstalker made him a buffoon. (hide spoiler)]

Funny how both Doyle and Stoker felt (view spoiler)[ that their names would fade to obscurity. Holmes to have no redeeming value and Dracula to never be noticed.

Now I'd like to see a similar book with Stoker as the center of the plot. (hide spoiler)]

Even though the girls had spunk (view spoiler)[ for the Suffragette cause, I found it hard to believe that they would venture to The Docks or actually GET a tattoo. I kept expecting to hear that they were accosted by unsavory people.

Also their "womanly independence", didn't stop them from wanting to be the dressed-in-white bride, did it? (hide spoiler)]

Never trusted (view spoiler)[Sarah. I still don't! (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

I read the first chapter yesterday before bed. Looks good, and a quick read. Looking forward to having some time today to pick it again.

[Almeta]

Joan wrote: " was very disappointed with the ending. ..."

I like your theory of (view spoiler)[an initiation prank for Harold. That would have been a good twist. AND he could even have solved the missing diary mystery anyway, and had the prank backfire on them. (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

Just read 3 chapters so far, but I'm already impressed with the writing style. The author is so young, and this is his first novel it seems. He has a previous book, but is not a novel as far as I can say. Looks good.

[Ariane]

In read 20 chapters now and I really enjoy it, I like the characters even though (view spoiler)[I don't trust Sarah, I think she has a hidden purpose (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

I finished this over the weekend. I enjoyed it and thought it was great as an audio. I liked the dual story/time lines and my interest in Sherlock Holmes is sparked!

[Sharon]

I think it's great that this book is making so many of us want to read more Holmes. :-) Great choice!

[Tasha]

There is another interesting series out there. I read the first and enjoyed it and plan on reading more.

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Promise

[Sharon]

Tasha wrote: "There is another interesting series out there. I read the first and enjoyed it and plan on reading more.

[book:Th..."

The blurb sounds omnious. Might be interesting. :)

[Tasha]

It doesn't seem to have good reviews but I found it pretty entertaining.

[Joan]

Several of my friends have recommended Arthur & George

[Lynda]

Glad to hear that people are enjoying the book, I'm looking forward to starting it tonight. Really excited to hear that several people are planning on reading some of the Sherlock stories. I only just discovered them last year for the challenge, and really loved them.

[Tasha]

I like to do things in order so I put a hold on A Study in Scarlet however I did read The Hound of the Baskervilles a few years ago for a challenge.

[Sarah]

I'm wondering if there will be some Sherlock buddy reads cropping up in the not too distant future :-)

[Lynda]

@Tasha, I'm at Book 6 in the Aurthur Conan Doyle books, and I don't think there is much of an issue reading The Hound before Scarlet - in Scarlet you just get to see Watson and Sherlock meet, which is fun.

As for the others, though, I would read The Adventures, The Memoirs, and The Return in order.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I got as a freebie a month ago The Sherlock Holmes Collection. Great coincidence. It's 0.99 in amazon right now, is someone's interested.

[Tasha]

Awesome, I ordered it! thanks :)

[Sandra, Moderator]

You are welcome. Actually it seems that all of them in the British Mystery Megapacks have the same price:

https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...

[Efflorescence]

I ordered The Sherlockian a few days ago and today it arrived. I hope I'll find some time to read it in the next days. Since I have read your comments, I think I could really enjoy the story :)

[Ariane]

I just finished it and I loved it. I don't know who suggested this book but I'm glad she/he did.
I usually don't like books with a double time line, I usually have troubles getting into the story, but this one is really well written and it's like two detective novels in one, brilliant.
I really loved the ending, for once. I didn't read any Sherlock Holmes stories so far but I will, soon.

[Lynda]

I only read the first 25 pages last night, and am looking forward to settling into it. The chapters are quite short, and with the alternate time lines they speed along very quickly. (view spoiler)["Killed Holmes" - nominee for one of the best diary entries ever? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I just finished and really enjoyed it. 3 stars. I have never read any Sherlock Holmes before and this book was a primer for me. I really liked the excerpts from Doyle's books at the beginning of some chapters. I enjoyed how the two stories played out and thought it was well written. I thought it was great that (view spoiler)[ Doyle played Sherlock, I like how the author tied in that Doyle really got a good perspective on how his readers saw Sherlock. It gave a genuine feel to the book for me (hide spoiler)]

This book was a great read for the month.

[Cherie]

I did not suggest the book, but I have recommended it to many others. I thought it was a great story and loved the double time line too. I am so happy to hear everyone enjoying it!

I agree with Lynda's recommendation on the reading order of the SH books. I have read and listened to them all numerous times. I also recommend Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson after you get more into the SH genre. The audio book version narrated by Simon Vance is my #1 favorite. I have The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Promise yet to read, but have been saving it. There some other really good SH books out there and some just meh.

I have not read David Stuart Davies books yet, but I would give my right arm for his biography of Jeremy Brett.

Sherlock Holmes stories and series are like other favorite series. You don't want them to end, if you love them.

edited

[[deleted user]]

Cherie wrote: "I did not suggest the book, but I have recommended it to many others. I thought it was a great story and loved the double time line too. I am so happy to hear everyone enjoying it!

I agree with Ly..."

I am not up on the order of books, but I have volume 5 of the "multipack" It has
A Study In Scarlet (1887)
The Sign of the Four (1890)
The Hound of Baskervilles (1902)
The Valley of Fear (1915)

Is this a good place to start?

[Cherie]

Kelly B wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I did not suggest the book, but I have recommended it to many others. I thought it was a great story and loved the double time line too. I am so happy to hear everyone enjoying it!

..."
Yes, Kelly, this is okay. These are considered the "novels" vs the Short Stories contained within The Adventures, The Memoirs, and The Return in order. The Valley of Fear is a background story to the characters met in A Study in Scarlet and most volumes contain it. Maybe some don't.

There are so many volumes published out there, that it is hard to know where to go or what to look for. I have purchased books only to discover that I have read them, but the cover was different or the publisher was different.

Another book that has not been discussed, but was "discovered" via a challenge is The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure Of Sherlock Holmes. It was a good story but not as good as The Sherlockian

[Cherie]

Kelly B wrote: "I just finished and really enjoyed it. 3 stars. I have never read any Sherlock Holmes before and this book was a primer for me. I really liked the excerpts from Doyle's books at the beginning of so..."

I agree, with your spoiler, Kelly. This story brought the character and the author to life in such a unique way.

For those who like to continue with SH, but with a twist, this book of short stories created by other mystery writers was very good. I liked almost all of them, and some were very unique. In the Company of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon. The editor has written her own unique Sherlock Holmes story too.

[Cherie]

Lynda wrote: "I only read the first 25 pages last night, and am looking forward to settling into it. The chapters are quite short, and with the alternate time lines they speed along very quickly. [spoilers removed]"

I loved it too! If you have read anything about Doyle before, it especially hit the mark (view spoiler)[he felt that SH was taking him away from other things that he wanted to write about and as much as he liked the money he received from the stories, he wanted out. (hide spoiler)]