English Mysteries Club discussion
Archived Buddy Reads
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Continuing Buddy Read of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with Adrian
Allie wrote: "Yes!! That cellar scene was great! ..."I find that very atmospheric, and if you have an illustrated version there is a great drawing by Sidney Paget, who illustrated the ACD books when they were serialised in the Strand magazine, well worth checking out, I love them.
Michaela wrote: "French was the common language then, as English is today. Esp. in Europe people of class learned French well, so could speak and understand it."I mean, I KNEW that because I mostly read books set in England and/or Europe but I guess I didn’t realize it was still mostly like that even in the later part of the 19th century!
Adrian wrote: "Allie wrote: "Yes!! That cellar scene was great! ..."I find that very atmospheric, and if you have an illustrated version there is a great drawing by Sidney Paget, who illustrated the ACD books w..."
I do not :(
But I’ll make a note somewhere of it so once my libraries open up, maybe I can fish around for it. Thanks!
Allie wrote: "I do not :(But I’ll make a note somewhere of it so once my libraries open up, maybe I can fish around for it. Thanks! ..."
Good luck finding a copy. I hope this URL below works.
https://images.app.goo.gl/EejzMBbyZ2U...
Sidney Paget did 10 illustrations for the Red Headed league alone, when it was first released in Strand magazine in August 1891.
Adrian wrote: "Staci wrote: "Do any of you feel like Watson? Holmes continually gives Watson tid bits here and there then allowing you, oops I mean Watson, more than enough time to figure out the mystery. I’m su..."
Yes but Hastings is so often portrayed as fool.
Mod
Yes, was it Agatha Christie who said that the sidekick should alway be just a little less "clever" than the reader?
Nevertheless, I think in dramatisations, both Watson and Captain Hastings are often portrayed as slower than in the books.
Dorothy wrote: "Adrian wrote: "Staci wrote: "Do any of you feel like Watson? Yes but Hastings is so often portrayed as fool...."
I think Hastings and also Watson have been portrayed as very foolish, the worst was probably Nigel Bruce as Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock. However, as Jean says the portrayal on screen or TV is often exaggerated for the viewers benefit. That said I think Hugh Fraser as Cptn Hastings does not come across as foolish as he might especially in the relatively few novels he actually appears in.
I think Hastings and also Watson have been portrayed as very fool..."
It is a difficult balance to achieve in films. They must be less clever than the heroe, but no necessarilly fool. In the books they are both human and sensitive characters. A good example is Martin Freeman's Watson. (I loved that character!), he is human and sensitive but he is not a fool.
carolina wrote: "I think Hastings and also Watson have been portrayed as very fool..."
It is a difficult balance to achieve in films. They must be less clever than the heroe, but no necessarilly fool. In the boo..."
Agreed!
I think Martin Freeman’s Watson is pretty brilliant!
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Bionic Jean wrote: "So are we coming up to half way through the first book of short stories now, Adrian?"Your timing is impeccable as ever Jean. I was only pondering to myself yesterday as to whether it was that time already .
So given i have some time tomorrow I shall put together a post that details our stories for July.
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So here we are at the end of June and I hope that everyone who joined in the read of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes has managed to get through stories 2-7 as I detailed in message 19. So for July, we shall be reading stories 8-12 and then story number 1
As I mentioned before, some countries publish the same named book but containing slightly different collections of stories, so I shall always detail the stories we shall be reading each month.
So therefore, in July we shall be reading:-
The Speckled Band
The Engineer's Thumb
The Noble Bachelor
The Beryl Coronet
The Copper Beeches
A Scandal in Bohemia
I hope you all enjoy as there are some fabulous and famous stories in these 6. I look forward to seeing your thoughts, so post away as you read, but please remember to use the spoiler tag.
I’ve been looking out for this post! Still need to read 1 more story from the last bunch but looking forward to July :)
Allie wrote: "I’ve been looking out for this post! Still need to read 1 more story from the last bunch but looking forward to July :)"
That's brilliant Allie. I'm glad you'll be with us into part two of "Adventures". Enjoy your last story from part 1
Adrian wrote: "So here we are at the end of June and I hope that everyone who joined in the read of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes has managed to get through stories 2-7 as I detailed in message 19..."Thank you for work on this Buddy Read. I’m enjoying Holmes as always and I’m also enjoying this group. I just figured out how to get desktop version on my iPhone so now I can reply directly to comments. Thanks again and starting Speckled Band tonight.
I was only waiting for July to get these finished! ;)I thought The Speckled Band and The Copper Beeches were especially exciting and cruel in their realization, and I loved that (view spoiler) in A Scandal in Bohemia.
carolina wrote: "I think Hastings and also Watson have been portrayed as very fool..."
It is a difficult balance to achieve in films. They must be less clever than the heroe, but no necessarilly fool. In the boo..."
Agreed!
Staci wrote: "Thank you for work on this Buddy Read. I’m enjoying Holmes as always and I’m also enjoying this group. I just figured out how to get desktop version on my iPhone so now I can reply directly to comments. Thanks again and starting Speckled Band tonight...."No problem Staci, I'm glad you're enjoying the read and the group. I hope through the coming months that we begin to see more people joining to experience the magic of Holmes.
Michaela wrote: "I was only waiting for July to get these finished! ;)I thought The Speckled Band and The Copper Beeches were especially exciting and cruel in their realization, and I loved that [spoilers removed..."
I have to agree Michaela that The Speckled Band is a really exciting read and probably one of my favourites. I'm really glad you're galloping through the stories.
I forgot to mention when I was reading “The Man With The Tiwsted Lip”, the story mentioned it was June. We read the story in June. I don’t know why that makes me ridiculously happy when a book links up to the real world but it does 😅🤣
Allie wrote: "I forgot to mention when I was reading “The Man With The Tiwsted Lip”, the story mentioned it was June. We read the story in June. I don’t know why that makes me ridiculously happy when a book link..."I really like that. Isn't it strange that something so random as that can make our enjoyment of a story even greater.
Bionic Jean wrote: "It's such a clever title :)"Without giving anything away to those who haven't read it yet, I have to agree that it is. When you get to the point very near the end of the story when those words are first used it is just such an amazing image that Sir ACD portrays.
But then I think that about all his short stories. I think its fair to say that of all the great detective writers it is widely accepted (contentious statement ha ha) that Sir ACD packs more into his short stories than anyone else. (and also that Dame Agatha Christie was a better writer of novels, but hey ho, you can't have it all).
And now I await the feedback ha ha
Mod
Serendipity ... perhaps it makes the story seem more real? I feel that way too :)
I just saw my collection of Holmes books and thought "I'd like to revisit those old friends." Now, that I've seen your thread Adrian, I think I will. I thought I owned all of the canon but I don't know how I missed getting His Last Bow! I don't want a new copy so I'll look for a good used copy printed no later than 1960s or 1970s.
ShanDizzy wrote: "I just saw my collection of Holmes books and thought "I'd like to revisit those old friends." Now, that I've seen your thread Adrian, I think I will. I thought I owned all of the canon but I don't ..."Well ShanDizzy , you are very welcome to join in with us, as we read through all the Sir ACD Sherlock short stories and novels over the next 17 months, culminating in Christmas 2021 on Dartmoor with the infamous Hound.
And good luck with your search for His Last Bow
I have just finished reading the June stories (I had to much work in June!). My favorites were The League of Redheads and the Blue Carbuncle. I love the way he creates and atmosphere describing characters and places. Next week I catch up!
I decided to work my way through these stories a few days ago. So glad I found this thread. I’m about halfway through A Study in Scarlet now, and I’ll pick up Adventures next.
Allie wrote: "I forgot to mention when I was reading “The Man With The Tiwsted Lip”, the story mentioned it was June. We read the story in June. I don’t know why that makes me ridiculously happy when a book link..."It is great! In these special days we have to find those little things that make us happy...
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carolina wrote: "I have just finished reading the June stories (I had to much work in June!). My favorites were The League of Redheads and the Blue Carbuncle. I love the way he creates and atmosphere describing cha..."I'm glad you're still with us carolina. The Redheaded league is just a wonderful short story, as you say so atmospheric. Don't worry you have plenty of time to catch up until we start A Study in Scarlet in August.
Justin wrote: "I decided to work my way through these stories a few days ago. So glad I found this thread. I’m about halfway through A Study in Scarlet now, and I’ll pick up Adventures next."Glad you'll be joining us Justin. We shall actually be starting A Study in Scarlet next month, so if you read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes through August and sSeptember you'll be in the same place us us, and still be able to access and post comments along with us. Then you'll be able to start The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes with us in October.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I never get tired of reading these stories :)"I hope that this group read means that more people feel the same as us Jean 🙂
So those people that are still reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I really hope you are enjoying as much as I did. For those that have finished and wish to continue with us into pastures new, we shall be starting A Study in Scarlet in a weeks time.
Don't panic though, as we will have 2 months in which to read it. Its going to be great !!
I read A Study in Scarlet a few years ago-it's a very intriguing mystery.
Wouldn’t desert you now, Adrian! Although I already read A Study in Scarlet in June so I’ll be catching up on other buddy reads until the short stories are back!
Allie wrote: "Wouldn’t desert you now, Adrian! Although I already read A Study in Scarlet in June so I’ll be catching up on other buddy reads until the short stories are back!"
Ha ha, thanks Allie. Please feel free to comment on the thread as we get through the next couple of months.
Well I started reading A Study in Scarlet a couple of days ago and despite both the number of times I have read it, and reading it only 4 years ago, I am as usual thoroughly enjoying it. I really like the initial interactions (or even lack of them) between Holmes and Watson, and I hooted with laughter at (view spoiler).
I think my decision to show how they will interact , and have us read Adventures first , has been vindicated 😊
I am reading A study in Scarlet and enjoying it! I thought it would be the same story as the Sherlock series (A study in pink) but it is not exactly like that. I agree with Adrian, it is very interesting how they relationship between Watson and Sherlock is described.
(And how Watson try to find out what his job is... 😂)
carolina wrote: "I am reading A study in Scarlet and enjoying it! I thought it would be the same story as the Sherlock series (A study in pink) but it is not exactly like that. I agree with Adrian, it is very inte..."
Hi carolina, well I'm glad you're enjoying it, I think you're exactly right in what you say about Watson's curiosity of Holmes' occupation. Its really interesting knowing what will happen over the next 20 years at 221b Baker Street.
Gosh, hasn't time flown, here we are over half way through August already and I've hardly posted any updates on here regarding A Study in Scarlet. Once they get into the case itself, Holmes having been urged to accept it by Watson, keen to see his new found friend's powers put into action, they arrive (sort of a spoiler) (view spoiler) .
Out of interest, this is the first ever mention of a detective using a magnifying glass to look for clues - today's amazing fact with which to impress your friends.
Ah, nice! I didn’t know that, Adrian :)
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So all educated English people knew French. It still remains the first foreign language taught in English schools.
Allie wrote: "Ah, nice! I didn’t know that, Adrian :)"Happy to pass on irrelevant facts ha ha
Now I have to think some more.
Re-read Study in Scarlet at the weekend, and loved how Watson became aquainted with Holmes and his methods. Again (view spoiler)
Michaela wrote: "Re-read Study in Scarlet at the weekend, and loved how Watson became aquainted with Holmes and his methods. Again [spoilers removed]"I know, I really enjoy the first half of "Study" which is why I think I only give it 4 stars (view spoiler)
Bionic Jean wrote: "What's the current one, Ade?"Well Jean, we still have 3 weeks for people to read A Study in Scarlet and then it will be The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes for October and November
So just to remind people this is the full reading schedule
* June and July 2020 -The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (although Scandal in Bohemia must be the last read not the first) (12 short stories) ✅
* August and September - A Study in Scarlet (novel)
* October and November - The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (without The Final Problem) (12 short stories)
* December and January 2021 - The Sign of the Four (novel) and then
* February 2021 - The Final Problem from “Memoirs”
* March and April 2021 - The Return of Sherlock Holmes (13 short stories)
* May and June - His Last Bow (7 short stories - 8 in America)
* July and August -The Valley of Fear (novel)
* September and October - The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (12 short stories) (Ending in “Shoscombe Old Place”)
* November and December- The Hound of the Baskervilles (novel)
I hope people are enjoying the burgeoning relationship between Holmes and Watson, and that they stick with it through the next 15 months as there are some amazing stories to look forward to.
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As Michaela says, all people of higher status were educated in both Latin and French as it was the time in England when legal documents were at the tale end of the crossover from French to Latin. The legal French tended to be more Anglo-Norman from medieval times but French expressions were still very common to educated households.
It had only been a little over 100 years since French finished being the language of the English court.
I suppose because we still do use many French expressions her in the UK (and maybe because I lived in France for 5 years) that I don't notice them :-)