The Man with the Twisted Lip - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Hello Bookworms,

            I’m back with another of the Sherlock Holmes short stories that I am reading through. This time I want to talk about The Man with the Twisted Lip by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Summary

            A young woman is stressed by the disappearance of her husband. Her husband is an upstanding citizen who loves her dearly, but when she sees him yelling from the window of a street where he shouldn’t be and then he doesn’t come home, the young woman fears the worst. To clear the matter up she has contacted Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock knows of a homeless man who can answer a lot of questions. Can Sherlock find this man and make him talk? Is it too late for the woman’s husband?

Review

            Oh my gosh readers! To read this story right behind The Five Orange Pips was just mind blowing! Once again, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing kept my mind engaged and kept me guessing right up to the end! I think that readers will thoroughly enjoy The Man with the Twisted Lip.

              A word of caution to parents who are helping their children through the Sherlock Holmes stories, know that a large portion of The Man with the Twisted Lip takes place in an opium den and there is quite a bit of talk about people using opium including Sherlock Holmes himself. It may not be one that you want to read to the kiddies just yet.

Links to the books I’m Using:

I am currently using two different published collections of Sherlock Holmes stories. Both of these collections can be found on Amazon for under $10 each. I have described and provided links to each below:

Currently I am reading The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes because they are published as they might have been seen the The Strand with Sidney Paget's original illustrations. You can find that here:

Amazon.com Illustrated Collection

To fill in the gaps of stories that the first book left out, I bought The Complete Sherlock Holmes: a lovely two-volume box set that has all of the short stories and all 4 novels, but no illustrations. You can find it here:

Amazon.Com Box Set

 

 Either set would be a wonderful addition to your collection of books and with both being so inexpensive, why not get both? ;)

 

Until Next Time,

            Lizzie <3

The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Hello Bookworms!

            As you know, I have been reading through the original Sherlock Holmes stories, lovingly referred to by Sherlockians as “The Canon”. The story I am going to discuss in this post is The Adventure of The Noble Bachelor.

Summary

            While poor Watson is a bit under the weather, he’s had plenty of time to catch up on the gossip in the local papers. What he did not realize is that his new found information will actually help his dear friend Sherlock Holmes. Lord St. Simon has written to Holmes to request his help in the much publicized matter of his wife’s disappearance. The two had been married for just hours after a happy courtship and engagement when his wife walks outside her father’s house where a breakfast is being held and is never seen again. Can Sherlock find the new Lady St. Simon?

Review

            This was an interesting story. It’s difficult to discuss the details of a short story that I like without giving anything away, but I’m pretty sure (after taking great care and proof reading before posting) that I have managed it so here goes:

            The reason I found this story so interesting was because I thought I knew the answer from the beginning. However, it shortly became clear that I had missed the answer altogether! For me that’s something I love is when the answer to the question is something that I did not consider as being possible in the story and yet the evidence backs up the conclusion completely! I like the creativity!

            Being a person that enjoys studying people’s behavior, ideas, and habits, I loved the section at the end after the solution has been explained. I loved the way that Doyle wrote Sherlock inviting people to dinner at 221b Baker Street and that Sherlock Holmes seemed to like Americans and said as much. It was just an interesting moment to learn a little more about what kind of a person Sherlock Holmes, the great detective, was meant to be in the original stories. I like seeing what kind of a person Sir Arthur Conan Doyle originally wanted Sherlock Holmes to be. Do not misunderstand me, it is fun to see all the variations of Sherlock Holmes and all the variations of character and backstory that have been given to the detective over the years, on the stage and screen, but I like to see what person Sherlock Holmes was originally meant to be. Remember, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the original writer. Doyle created Holmes and had reasons for writing Holmes the way he did. While we may never know what Doyle’s actual thought processes or reasons were, I like the idea of paying the author the respect of getting to know his original character while getting to know the other variations as well (sometimes I find that I even like the original Sherlock Holmes’s personality much better than the variationsJ).

            I have almost completed The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and will soon be moving on to “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes” as they have been published in the compilation “The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes”

You can buy a copy here

I realize that this version is missing many of the short stories but I am going to go back and fill in the areas that have been deleted using this book that I recently ordered through Amazon.com shown here:

This book has all 56 Short stories and all 4 novels so I am really excited to get to add it to my collection.

You can buy a copy here

            I think that either book would be a great addition to your personal library. While the first is missing several stories, it does include the illustrations by Sidney Paget and the stories are printed the way you would have seen them in The Strand Magazine. The other has all of the stories and novels but no illustrations. I like both copies and am glad to have both.

 

Until next time!,

                  Lizzie <3

Out of the Shadows: The Untold Story of Arthur Conan Doyle's First Family by Georgina Doyle

Hello Bookworms!,

          I’ve recently finished reading a lovely book about the first family of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes Stories, the Brigadier Gerard Stories, The White Company, and so much more.

 

Summary

          There have been many skewed biographies of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his family, and his career. Over the years many myths have been taken and fact, and many facts and been believed to be myths. Arthur’s first family, His wife Louise Hawkins, and their two children Mary and Kingsley Conan Doyle, were, for a time, all but erased from the history of the family…Until now. Family member Georgina Doyle (Daughter-in-law of Arthur Conan Doyle’s baby brother Innes Hay Doyle) has spent years compiling the facts and has published Out of the Shadows: The Untold Story of Arthur Conan Doyle’s First Family setting the record straight for the first time in years.

 

Review

          Out of the Shadows has been a joy to read. I’ll start out by saying that I highly recommend it to all who will read it. Why do I love it so much? I’m so glad you asked ;-) .

          The first pleasant surprise was the author of the forward. In looking for a book about what happened to Mary and Kingsley Conan Doyle, I reached out to author Alistair Duncan (author of Close to Holmes, Eliminate the Impossible, and An Entirely New Country). Alistair put me into contact with Doug Wrigglesworth from whom, after several pleasant online interactions, I bought my copy of Out of the Shadows.  As soon as I opened the book, I found that the forward was written by none other than, Douglass Wrigglesworth, whom I may add did a lovely job and I suggest that you take the time to read the short forward at the beginning of the book.

          Next was the lovely prologue by Georgina Doyle in which she explains her reasons for doing the book. For me this section (only about a page and a half long) really set the tone for the rest of the biography. You really get a sense of Georgina’s lovely character and her intention not to hurt anyone, but to help everyone understand the whole story of the Conan Doyle family as it actually happened. She evens mentions that the time of publication ( © 2004)  was best because now anyone who might be hurt by the truth had passed on, which I found extremely thoughtful.

          The book gives the history of the Doyle and Hawkins side of the family and then goes into how Louise and Arthur met and married and subsequently had children, Mary and Kingsley. It continues all the way to Mary Conan Doyle’s golden years detailing the life of her and her family from family documents, first and second-hand accounts from family members, and even statements from Mary Conan Doyle herself.

          I found it beautiful to read Mary’s own words. I loved getting to hear her story from her perspective in many places. I also loved Georgina Doyle’s writing. She had an easy style that makes it easy to read. It reminded me a lot of movies that have a person telling a story in conversation and then slowly slips into a flashback. That’s how it feels reading Mrs. Doyle’s writing. It was wonderful. I found myself becoming so attached to the family members through Georgina’s writing that I began to grieve each time a family member died, especially at the deaths of Louise Hawkins “Touie” Doyle, Kingsley Conan Doyle, and Innes Hay Doyle.

          I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to read, enjoyable, plus there were pictures and several discrepancies from earlier biographies set straight. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the family of Arthur Conan Doyle. This is easily the most reliable book in existence. It is hard to find a copy now, but if you can find one, borrow one from a friend, or check one out at the library, it is well worth it!

A special thanks to Alistair Duncan and Doug Wrigglesworth for helping me in obtaining a copy of Out of the Shadows.

 

 

Normally, I would post a link where you can buy Out of the Shadows. However, it is hard to find now. I was not able to find a link to an online seller so if you know where readers can get a copy of the book, please feel free to post it in the comments or let me know at @LovelyLizzie10 on Twitter and I'll add it here.

Until next time,

                   Lizzie <3

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

Hello Bookworms,

            I cannot what to tell you about today’s book! I loved it for so many reasons and I can definitely understand why it became a New York Times Bestseller and has gotten rave reviews from everywhere including the New York Times Book Review, the New York Post, Los Angeles Times, the Dallas Morning News, even Edward award-winning creator of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Rupert Holmes, just to name a few. It’s The Sherlockian by Graham Moore!!

Summary

January 2010

            Harold isn’t what you’d call an adventurer. He has a normal job, an apartment in California, four friends that he has lunch with once a month, and the one event he looks forward to every year. The big Sherlockian convention in New York! But this year the convention is even more special: Harold, at 29 years of age, is to be the youngest member inducted in to the Baker Street Irregulars since Alex Cale (the greatest Sherlockian alive). A great honor indeed. Soon, something is going to happen that will shatter the monotony of Harold’s life.

October 1900

            Arthur Conan Doyle is doing his best to put “The Great Detective” behind him. “If I had not killed him, he certainly would have killed me” Arthur complains to his friends. Seven years since he threw Holmes off the Reichenbach Falls, people are still mentioning him. But at least at Arthur’s new home in Hindhead, it’s starting to slow down…that is, until now…until this visit to his mailbox to look at the day’s post…what happens next will change Arthur Conan Doyle in ways he never expected.

What do these two events have to do with one another? Find out in The Sherlockian by Graham Moore!

Review

            I’ve been really excited to read The Sherlockian since I read a description of it in Daedelus. Now that I’ve read it: I’m so glad that I did! Here’s why:

            First, there is Harold. Harold is the kind of character with whom we all identify. The person who does enjoy their life, is proud of their accomplishments, and definitely would not mind a break  from the “same old, same old”. Then, he gets the opportunity that all true Sherlockians have dreamed of: a chance to use Holmes’s methods in real life. Following his story from zero to unlikely hero is really a joy.

            Second, the way that Graham Moore writes Arthur Conan Doyle and his friends as a character in his book is truly brilliant. You can really tell that Moore did his research when developing Arthur’s personality for the purposes of The Sherlockian. The writing made me feel like if I had known Arthur Conan Doyle in life that might have been his real personality. That was fun to think about as I read the book.

            Third, the Sherlockian details. Oh my goodness! All the real elements from the Sherlockian world that Graham Moore included were amazing! The Baker Street Journal, the conventions, the societies, London, the museums, The Reichenbach falls, Undershaw as it was in the past and the present, and so much more! Even Jeremy Brett gets a proper mention! I couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear like a complete dork while reading!

            Fourth, the plot twists! Holy cow! While some twists I may have seen coming, others took me completely by surprise! But I love that! I enjoy not being able to predict the entire course of the book even when I’m more than halfway through.

            Fifth, were the beginnings of each chapter. Graham Moore uses quotes from the original Sherlock Holmes canon, Arthur Conan Doyle’s other writings and speeches, friends like Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) etc. to foreshadow at the beginning of each chapter. That was a really fun detail.

There are only a couple of drawbacks with The Sherlockian. First, there is the issue of spoilers. If you are reading through the Sherlock Holmes Canon or some of Agatha Christie’s work (particularly The Murder of Roger Ackroyd) be warned that certain stories will have major details or endings ruined. However, I can’t blame the author because it is necessary to the story and many people that will read this book will have already read most of those mysteries. Second, this book has some very strong language as well as some brutality (only seen after the fact not during). Also, there was a lot that revolved around prostitutes (no sex scenes just their trade and people’s attitude about them) and their side of town, so while this is a great book, it’s definitely not for the children.

            The Sherlockian was a pleasure to read! I definitely recommend this book to adults. If you’re a fan on murder mysteries, history, Arthur Conan Doyle, and especially Sherlock Holmes, you really want to read this book! You’re going to love it!

 

Buy The Sherlockian Here

Until Next Time,

          Lizzie <3

A Scandal in Bohemia – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A Discussion on Irene Adler

Hello Bookworms,
      I have a new review of one of the original Sherlock Holmes stories! and I am starting an interesting discussion on the character of Irene Adler!

Review:

     To Sherlock Holmes she is the woman. A mysterious man has asked Sherlock to retrieve a scandalous photograph from the illusive Irene Adler.  Sherlock makes short work of locating the woman. However, what Irene does next is something not even Sherlock expected…

Summary/Discussion:

 CAUTION! This summary contains SPOILERS!

                I honestly loved “A Scandal in Bohemia”! Before now, I really didn’t like the character of Irene Adler. After reading “A Scandal in Bohemia” I realize that my aversion to the character of Irene is simply because I have never before seen the original version of Irene.

                I had always been bugged by the idea that Sherlock Holmes was “in love” with Irene, but in the original, they weren’t in love at all. In fact, Irene Adler married another man! What’s amazing about Irene is not Sherlock’s “attracted” to her but that she’s the only woman who outsmarted him! Sherlock didn’t call her “The Woman” because she was “The only woman for him”, it was a name he called her out of respect. In fact, in the opening lines of “A Scandal in Bohemia” Watson states:

    “In his [Sherlock’s] eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind”

                We can see from this statement that Sherlock’s calling Irene “THE Woman” is merely a way for Holmes to show respect and possibly even something akin to admiration for her brilliant mind which rivaled that of his own. Holmes always had great respect for someone who could break the barriers of cleverness and enter downright brilliance (whether they were friend or foe).

                So why then do many versions of Sherlock Holmes portray Irene Adler as Sherlock’s one true love? I believe the answer lies in the history of the Sherlock Holmes stories and their original theater adaptation. In 1898, William Gillette, an American playwright, was turning the Sherlock Holmes stories into a stage play (in which Gillette himself would star as Holmes). Gillette contacted Arthur Conan Doyle and asked if he could have Sherlock Holmes get married in the play. Doyle famously replied “You may marry or murder or do what you like with him!” Gillette did decide to have Holmes get married in the play and fashioned a wife (named Alice Faulkner) for Sherlock that he modeled after Irene Adler in A Scandal in Bohemia.

                After having seen Irene Adler in both lights, first as Sherlock’s “One true love” and now as her original self, I must admit that I much prefer the original Irene Adler to any of her “alter egos” such as Alice Faulkner (Sherlock Holmes, the play), The Woman (Sherlock, BBC), Adler/Moriarty (Elementary, CBS), etc.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION!! :

 Which version of Irene do YOU prefer? Please leave comments below! J

Illustration by Sidney Paget

               

 

Credits:

The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes – Arthur Conan Doyle

An Entirely New Country – Alistair Duncan

Sherlock Holmes (play) - Wikipedia