February 2019 Group Read: A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[Bill]

Angie will lead this discussion thread. Feel free to jump in any time with your comments. Please note that there is also a spoiler thread that you can use as well.

[Angie]

The Study in Scarlet, published in 1887, marked the first appearance of both Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. This short volume, narrated by Watson, recalls his first meeting with the master detective and their first case together. It uses a lot of tropes familiar to readers of mystery/crime fiction and establishes Holmes' style of deduction.

This will be a reread for me. I look forward to seeing everyone's thoughts on the book.

[Bill]

I read and enjoyed this a few years back. Looking forward to seeing the discussion.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I've read this many times over the years, since I first read it at ten.

[Anchita]

I'll be picking this up soon. Looking forward to the discussion.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I read this one last summer, and proceeded to read the rest of the Holmes series (I am just about to start reading the final installment The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes). In Study in Scarlet I enjoyed seeing how Holmes and Watson met and came to encounter their first case together. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks!

[NancyJ]

This will be the first time for me. I'm looking forward to it! I'll probably start it early next week.

[Nicholas]

Interesting introduction to Sherlock Holmes for me. First time reading any of these works. Found the story to be a bit rushed in most parts, with not as much detective work as I would have suspected. I am interested in reading some of the short stories to see if I find these more in favour. Not the introduction I would have hoped for to the world greatest detective.

[Bill]

Nicholas wrote: "Interesting introduction to Sherlock Holmes for me. First time reading any of these works. Found the story to be a bit rushed in most parts, with not as much detective work as I would have suspecte..."

Hercule Poirot might disagree, Nicholas. ;0).. Interestingly I just read The Clocks by Christie and Poirot refers to other mysteries, including the Holmes' mysteries.

[Amanda]

Haven't read any of these since I was a kid, excited to see what I remember and how it is different as an adult.

[DieAReader]

This will be both my 1st Sit Arthur Conan Doyle & my very 1st Sherlock Holmes as well! I will likely start before the end of this weekend.

[Bill]

Amanda wrote: "This will be both my 1st Sit Arthur Conan Doyle & my very 1st Sherlock Holmes as well! I will likely start before the end of this weekend."

I hope you enjoy.

[Tom]

I've seen and read so many versions of this story (including recently the Neil Gaiman graphic novel A Study in Emerald), that it's fun to get back to the original and see where all of those...um, interesting interpretations came from.

[Martha]

Tom, I agree! Having not read the original but seen countless interpretations, I really enjoyed tracking which parts had been kept and which had been altered to appeal to modern tastes. It's amazing how much Holmes has continued to resonate with and fascinate a modern audience.

I loved how the American narrative was weaved into the mystery and presented the motive. It is so unexpected yet doesn't feel disjointed. You are kept always entertained and I just enjoyed reading the story unfold. Must re-read more Sherlock Holmes!

[Tom]

Martha wrote: "Tom, I agree! Having not read the original but seen countless interpretations, I really enjoyed tracking which parts had been kept and which had been altered to appeal to modern tastes. It's amazin..."

Can't help wondering how that American narrative resonated with British readers at the time. Kind of feel like Doyle may have seen it as an exotic/romantic aspect of the story (you know, Wild West and all that), but he never really seemed to include that much motive backstory in any later stories -- at least none that I can think of. Did his readers or editors give him some push back on that?