Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion
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Read-Along: The Moor
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Myra
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Aug 15, 2018 02:26PM
Hi I'm a brand new member. I'm reading The Moor for the first time and I just wanted to know what others opinion on it were!
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It's one of my favorites of the series, Myra, but I found that it improved with a second read and/or listening to the audiobook. You pick up so many nuances when you read it a second time (or listen).
I enjoyed The Moor too: the travel scenes, negotiations between Mary and Holmes and Mary’s solutions stand out for me. Like Merrily, I valued the audiobook and feel noted that the book showed me more on a second read. One of my favourites is Oh Jerusalem.
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I think OJER is my second favorite after BEEK, Dorothy. One of the things I enjoyed in MOOR was the character of Sabine Baring-Gould - and how Russell's opinion of him changes from her first meeting to the end of the book.
I remember the first time I read (audiobook) The Moor, I had dinner with a friend who was familiar with the series and complained about it being too descriptive in parts. I actually read it before I read The Hound of the Baskervilles as I met Mary Russell before I met ACD’s version of Holmes. The second reading was definitely better for me too. I enjoyed Mary’s interactions with the locals, and the intrigue. I actually enjoyed the descriptions of the Moor the second time through much more. I think I was looking for the action and plot line the first time round rather than enjoying the ride. Hope you like it.
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Exactly, Jen! I think at first the book seems slow, but then you realize it isn't. As to the descriptions, some years ago my friend Alice and I did a "Holmes and Russell" trip to Sussex and environs and we went to Dartmoor specifically so that we could stay at Lew Trenchard. It was wonderful and we had fun visiting all the sites in the book. The house is EXACTLY as described and the quarry in which Russell finds a body is still there, albeit fenced off now.
I loved the Moor! I too enjoyed it even more the second time, and it is one of the ones I have re-read several times (most recently after watching Hound of the Baskervilles--both the new "sherlock" version and the Basil Rathbone version). Merrily, I too love O JER, and also Garment of Shadows... sometimes I read them by groupings of location (so I will read a letter of Mary, Ojer, Pirates and Garment) or all the ones with the brothers.
Having said that, I also enjoyed listening to the audiobook Kim (AMAZING narrator) then listening to audiobook of The Game.
The Moor is one of my favorites, I have enjoyed reading and listening to it a number of times,and it improves with each retelling. It's also great to go back and read the Hound... and to read more about Sabine Baring-Gould afterward. One of my favorite things about Laurie R. King is how she brings life to things I had overlooked or dismissed through ignorance.
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I agree!
Jen wrote: "I remember the first time I read (audiobook) The Moor, I had dinner with a friend who was familiar with the series and complained about it being too descriptive in parts. I actually read it before ..."One of my college professors said that any book worth reading is worth reading twice. The first time is driven by "what next" but the second is for savoring the details. I don't always follow his advice . . . so MANY books . . . but he had a point.
Already LOVE it! Ms. Davis guessed correctly that we Sherlockians would really rather be walking the Moor with Holmes by our side than sit things out at Baskerville Hall with Watson!! (No offense ACD) I recognized the name of Baring Gould immediately.. how inspired to have Holmes base his search with Lew Trenchard as his headquarters and to have Mary peruse Sabine's collection.. wonder what she would've thought of the fictionalized version of Holmes early life?? It set my mind off in a billion different directions.. I want to read Sabine's books now and have been meaning to read Baring-Goulds Life of Sherlock Holmes. I found the Ordnance map of Dartmoor online did anyone else?? And I ACTUALLY stopped to read THotB when Holmes suggested it to Mary.. I hadnt yet and it was a good re-read. but then Baskervilles always is!! So in this one Holmes got his man.. but definitely afterward regretted it. Ive never been to the British Isles but I would so love to go and Dartmoor is now on my list. My heart stopped too when they found the body in the pit and also when she heard the shot in the dark at the end. You know I think BBC Sherlock gave more than a few nods to Ms. Kings series and having Watson with Holmes almost throughout is one of them and also anyone notice how well lit the exterior of Henry's home is in BBC? I wondered about that but it sounds just like Mary describes and how ACD said Henry wanted to add better lighting! Anyway.. Im going to reread in a while but I may go on to Justice Hall before that.. ;)
Mod
A series of great comments, Myra. I hope you do get to England as soon as feasible - such wonderful history and so much to enjoy. I've been many times and I would go every year if I could!
The Baring-Gould (although not Sabine, a relative) biography of Sherlock Holmes is great. At one point it was out of print, not sure now - I have an old paperback version but was able to find a hardback on Amazon.
