Reading the Sherlock Holmes Books (finally)

It is fair to say I really enjoy a good Sherlock story. I've dabbled in a lot of TV (We'll be acknowledging the BBC shaped elephant in the room), podcasts (there a lot to say about s&co), and a few books (lovecraftian horror/comedy if you must know). But up until now I have never touched the real deal, which feels absurd when you are people's Sherlock Oomf. 

Over the Christmas break I set out the very optimistic goal of reading the entire box set. I started out strong with A Study in Scarlet (did not read the american second part because I'm not mentally prepared for that yet) but by the time I picked up The Sign of Four, I never touched it again. Admittedly it was because the holiday doesn't exist when you have exams to work on. 

So let's break down (part of) the book I actually read. 

The Study In Scarlet - a delightful start

'My companion flushed up with pleasure at my words, and the earnest way in which I uttered them. I had already observed that he was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty.'

Before I get into the heart of the story, I want to offer the atmosphere I was reading it in. As a volunteer in a museum, I knew I had to read this book on the victorian street, as right in front of me I had the shop fronts and road with the horse-drawn cabs, as well as being in my 1890s ensamble including a corset. It was the best way to get emmersed in the story as I could pretend it was ocurring around me, so I think I'll find myself reading there more often. 

It's so interesting getting to know this Watson. The way most mediums work is that although the point-of-view follows Watson, it rarely IS his point-of-view, the closest non-text format I've found is Sherlock and Co where the microphone is just John's musings. This reads like Watson's diary, one he intended to keep as a form of post-military recovery and despite explicitly saying he does not want ANY excitement due to his injury, he meets Sherlock and suddenly is thrust into a tale. It's great having the audience learn about Sherlock through Watson, something BBC Sherlock fails to do entirely, and so he takes a methodical view of his roommate in a way very fitting for a doctor. 

Sherlock is so full of joy. That's the most striking thing I've found from this, he cares so much and in a way that is actually useful for those around him. Yes, he doesn't work too well with social cues, but I wouldn't call him outright rude or aloof. His character is a direct statement of the contemporary police force that modern adaptions are often too afraid to aproach, Sherlock understands the limitations and laziness and then fills in the gaps by learning years of past cases, going round London and identifying different muds, and, something that helped with this case, learning the different features of cigarette ash. His methods of deduction work so well for the structured nature of the Victorian period, where people are characterised by their work uniform, gate, shoes, ect. This is why modern adaptations tend to fall short in what makes his skills as a detective work, often looking quite rediculous at times, because we do not follow these same structures. 

Gregson and Lestrade fascinate me. Two rivals in Scotland Yard both trying to solve a case, whilst respecting Sherlock's skills enough to consult him. They both have different theories and it's so fun having different mouthpieces for the audience, who may have picked up on the different details. I cannot wait to get to know more about them. 

As for the case itself. It has unfortunately been a month since I read it so forgive me for not remembering too many details. Everything felt grounded, from the gravel of the carriage, the change in lighting, or the gait of the purpetrator. It ammused me when the word 'Rache' appeared (meaning revenge in German) as it made the scene in BBC Sherlock's a Study in Pink seem almost agressive towards the viewer. Anderson offering the German translation, that being the correct interpretation in the book, only for this Sherlock to call him, and therefore the viewer, an idiot. (If you cannot tell, just from reading the first story, I have lost a lot of patience for BBC Sherlock). 

I was surprised when the whole mystery wrapped itself into a neat bow on the final page, it felt very sudden. It reminded me of one of the key pages of 'Dracula' where it takes a single sentence for the vampire to be defeated, leading me to believe this was in fashion during the late 1800s. I'll prepare myself for it to happen in the next case, just to be on the safe side. But it caught me off guard, feeling as if I hadn't processed the case properly. 

Overall, I feel I'll have to come back to this once I'm familiar with the nature of Arthur Conan Doyle's writing. One day I will get to find out why Sherlock's going on a roadtrip to Salt Lake City, but today is not that day. It was satisfying, I mentioned the clues being grounded, and it felt that if you payed close enough attention that you could piece the mystery together yourself. Sherlock just acts as a way to draw the non-obvious conclusion, which feels so obvious, and it works. 

Official rating:

3/5 smoking pipes

It's the first one, it has to be average until a control is set (this is subject to change post-mormon second half)

I've now finished my exam period so hopefully reading can pick up again.