October {2014} Discussion -- THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[Charity]

(Apologies for the lateness of this post.)

Join us in discussing the October Group Read -- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The stories included in this collection are as follows:

* A Scandal in Bohemia
* The Red-headed League
* A Case of Identity
* The Boscombe Valley Mystery
* The Five Orange Pips
* The Man with the Twisted Lip
* The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
* The Adventure of the Speckled Band
* The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb
* The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
* The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
* The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

[Nicola]

I used to love Sherlock Holmes when I read him as a child/teenager but, going back as an adult I’m rather disappointed. Judging by the comments from other readers I’m alone in this, but I found the stories, simplistic, frequently offensively sexist even taking into account the age, often morally dubious, wildly improbable, repetitive and, worst of all, they ‘cheat’.

1. Simplistic – the short story is a difficult genre to do well; to compress a nugget of an idea without losing any of the freshness. Considering the theme of every single one of these short stories was same (Holmes solving a mystery) the only variation was in the stories themselves, which I grant you were fantastic (fantastic in the ‘incredible, weird, strange’ sense of the word). But the writing of the stories I found ‘simple’, they followed a set formula and although the path to the end was different there was no great mental gymnastics needed to follow the stories. You could get a bit of a cerebral workout by trying to unravel the mystery ahead of time and several of them I worked out but I’m not sure if it was because I remembered the stories from my childhood or I really figured it out. It can’t really have been through logical application of mind because these stories had none.

2. Sexist – woman were weak and feeble creatures, a common Victorian belief; a couple of women in these tales displayed a large amount of intelligence and courage (unusual enough to be highly noteworthy) but other times… In one particularly offensive story Holmes and Watson decided not to tell they young lady who had hired them to investigate a disappearance the truth of what happened. She wouldn’t have believed them and it was obviously impossible to have arranged her to be present when the deceit was unmasked so as to have given her incontrovertible proof… Instead it was deemed better to leave her in agonizing ignorance for the rest of her life, better for her silly little head not to be troubled by it.

3. Morality – Which leads me to the next point; in several stories Holmes and Watson make moral decision to conceal the outcomes of their investigations or to let people off from their crimes, displaying a disregard both for the laws of the day and much care that by leaving people undetected any further wrongdoing is a direct consequence of their inaction.

4. Improbability – Yes. Well. Not really sure what to say here. The stories are nearly universally ridiculous with plot holes big enough to drive a tank through.

5. Repetitive – Oh God! Didn’t anyone else get incredibly annoyed by the ‘Oh Watson, surely you can see by the x of his y and the p of his t that this is a left handed trombone player with an aversion to water who goes pogo jumping every Sunday afternoon? Why it’s so obvious I nearly didn’t mention it!’. Argh! I got so sick of this at the start of every short story. And then there was the inevitable chase and the ‘I’m a clever detective marvel at my genius’ bit at the end. Tedious.

6. Cheating – Detective stories have changed over the years, I’m a lover of Agatha Christie and when I read her books I know I’m given everything I need to solve the mystery myself. Doyle omits most of the ‘clues’ and although I am aware that this is just his writing style and his stories here aren’t meant to be written as a ‘solve it yourself’ type, I still say it’s ‘cheating’ :-)

Anyway I’m rather sorry to have read these again, I would have preferred to have them preserved in my memory as they were. Ah well.

[Melanti]

I definitely agree with the cheating. Well, most of what you've said really, but especially cheating. That was my main complaint against Sherlock when I was a teen. I reread him earlier this year I came to the conclusion that we're supposed to treat Sherlock's actions and statements as a clue.

It becomes a bit more solveable that way.

[Nicola]

Cricky hasn't anyone else read this? I thought this would be a breeze!

[Dee]

I've read them many times, most recently a couple of months ago. I find them hugely enjoyable and entertaining even though I know how the stories end. Although I was surprised the last time I read them that I had forgotten some of the stories.

[Linda]

I haven't read any of them, but I do have a collection of stories at home, I'm not sure how many of the above listed are in the book I have, though. I have too many reads going on right now to fit these in this month.

[Melissa]

So far I have enjoyed reading Sherlock Holmes. The short nuggets of story made it easy to read along with my other readings for school. I can see how after reading it once it would become rather monotonous to read again. I think the improbability is what makes this book so interesting. Sometimes you just need a light read and Sherlock is good for that.

[Nicola]

Melissa wrote: I can see how after reading it once it would become rather mo..."

That's true, it might have been much better to read them on different days instead of all together seeing as I was finding them repetitive. Because they were such easy reading I would read several in one sitting on the train to work and back. Different books can require different ways of reading and short stories often need a break between reading them or they are too much. Saki for example I only read a few at a time but with Somerset Maugham I can read an entire volume because they are so varied.

[Jen]

I read (listened) to the first two stories in this collection, but I'm sorry to say it is now abandoned. I found them dreadfully dull, which came as a huge surprise to me.

As mentioned, this was in audio format, and it's clear that the narrator wasn't working for me. I do plan to return to this, but it will be in print next time.

Interesting to read other reactions, I'll keep checking back here.

[Nicola]

Jen wrote: "I read (listened) to the first two stories in this collection, but I'm sorry to say it is now abandoned. I found them dreadfully dull, which came as a huge surprise to me.

As mentioned, this was ..."

The trouble with audio is that it can make or break a book. I always listen to the two minute sample now before downloading it from the library.

[Noorilhuda]

Nicola wrote: "I used to love Sherlock Holmes when I read him as a child/teenager but, going back as an adult I’m rather disappointed. Judging by the comments from other readers I’m alone in this, but I found th..."

Nicola good job! Very cool analysis. Jeremy Brett's Sherlock is one of my faves and that's how I got to read Conan Doyle in the first place, so I am partial to his effect. You are right, but my take: Holmes is written like all detectives ultimately are: everyone around them is dumb - to make them look better! Except for 'The Woman' (Scandal in Bohemia) and ofcourse the nemesis Moriarty, every one is clueless.

That's a plot device used, like, forever.

Sherlock was the original 'mystery of the week' procedural series, you know, you have a baffling problem (cool gadgets and getups ensue) and few red herrings later, Viola! a = b = z.

Sherlock is cool. He is written as dark yet accessible, empathetic yet aloof, Mr. Know-It-All without rubbing it in anyone's face (except for Dr. Watson) and alone yet not lonely. He's pretty fascinating in that way. He is disciplined yet is a drug-addict. Contradictions make him the original inaccessible hero-sheriff-cop.

As for the morality aspect, not telling victims what really happened - that is a plot device that is also used pretty often. If you've read Steig Larsson's Dragon Tattoo - SPOILER ALERT FOR ANYONE NOT WANTING TO KNOW HOW THAT BOOK ENDS - nobody ever finds out who the killer is and how many victims there really were. I did not like that element, but it was done for a purpose - to keep the mirage alive, to not hurt anyone anymore, that there was no perceivable benefit. I did not like it but it was there. McEwan's Atonement was built around plausible deniability!

In some stories, irony and melancholy need to remain to heighten the drama and give the impression that even the world's greatest detective can't undo somethings.

Btw I am HUGE Agatha Christie fan. My plan is to buy all of her books for my study - I'm upto 45.

[Nicola]

Noorilhuda wrote:He is disciplined yet is a drug-addict.

As I recall he actually wasn't a drug addict, he would resort to drugs when he got bored.

I agree that as a character study Holmes is an interesting one!

[Nicola]

Noorilhuda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "I used to love Sherlock Holmes when I read him as a child/teenager but, going back as an adult I’m rather disappointed. Judging by the comments from other readers I’m alone in this,..."

P.S. Nice to meet another Agatha Christie fan!

[Alana]

I read the entire Holmes collection last summer with another group, and while most of the stories are so similar, I honestly can't remember one from another, I do remember a general feeling of the first collection or two being highly enjoyable, and becoming increasingly more tedious as Doyle's writing career continued. I think he does much better with a novella. the Hound of the Baskervilles is absolutely wonderful, so much so that it's hard to believe it's written by the same person as the rest of the tales. The stories are interesting enough, but I think the further thought he put into some of his longer tales leaves one feeling much more satisfied.

Oh, and I totally agree about the cheating :)

[Debbie]

I believe you have summed his writing up correctly. I believe he continued writing to make money in periodicals. Lost the purpose.

[Jennifer W]

I have these on audiobook. I listened to Scandal in Bohemia today and I liked it quite well. I look forward to the others, but given that they are their own contained stories, I'll probably spread them out. Still, it'll be a fun one to cross of the list!

[Suzie]

I'm not a Sherlock fan, never watch the tv show, and I think have only read The Hound of the Baskervilles, so I had no knowledge of the tales. I quite enjoyed these stories as a "pick up, put down" light read.