Reading the Classics discussion

Discuss The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Remember if you are talking about specific stories to label which one(s) you are referring to. Happy reading!

The Yellow Face
I really enjoyed this story. I think Doyle really wanted to show that Holmes is not infallible and, lacking enough information, he can arrive at wrong, though perfectly logical, conclusions.
I am reading an U.S edition of this book and there was a footnote at the end of this story that was of some interest. Apparently, the (view spoiler)[ "long ten minutes" in which Mr. Munro contemplates what he should do with his wife and her black daughter, is actually a "long two minutes" in the British version. This makes more sense to me, as ten minutes is a really long time to stare down your terrified wife. If I was her, I'd figure he was plotting out my and my daughter's murders in detail. I probably would refuse to go with him at the end of the ten minutes. But two minutes is enough time for him to think "what will people think? ... I love my wife..." etc. and come to the conclusion that he can overcome his prejudices for the love of his wife. Apparently, for the U.S. edition, where interracial marriage was an even more taboo practice, they thought that he needed a whole extra 8 minutes to blankly stare at his wife and her child. Awkward. (hide spoiler)] Anyway, I found that change pretty interesting, and wanted to share it with anyone who doesn't have the foot note that I did to explain it.

Oh gosh - it's time to start this one, isn't it.

Interesting discovery: I have "The Cardboard Box" in one collection I have checked out from the library, but it's in "His Last Bow" in the other collection. Apparently it's one way in the English canon and another in the American?

Silver Blaze

I have to say, I highly enjoyed this one. We actually got to see a lot of Holmes' deductions as he was making them, instead of just at the end, and Watson even got to play a more major part than usual. I thought the ending was kind of "meh," but I highly enjoyed the telling of the tale. Well done!

The Yellow Face

I loved watching a story unfold wherein Holmes was so off on his guess! It didn't involve someone getting killed, thankfully, but how fun! Also, an interesting viewpoint on racial tension in Britain at the time. Quite a break from the typical story, but I enjoyed reading it a great deal.

I have finished reading this, well actually I mostly listened to it since I have it also on Audible and had a long drive to Chicago yesterday.

The last story was unexpected. Prior to reading these books I was unfamiliar with the series so it was a bit jarring. However I am left with a bit of a dilemma. :-) My Audible version goes straight to The Return of Sherlock Holmes which does rather make sense, before proceeding with The Hound of the Baskervilles. I think I will read them in that order even though the Group is reading them in the reverse. Since I am ahead of schedule it should be fine that way.

ETA My favorite of this collection would probably be The "Gloria Scott".

I've finished the first story - silver blaze- which I thought was okay. Found it pretty run of the mill Holmes, although that's still a pretty high standard. I think some of the shorter stories crop up in more than one collection.

The Stockbroker's Clerk

This one reminded me a lot of The Readheaded League for some reason. It was interesting, though a little odd.

The Gloria Scott

I found this tale interesting, but it didn't seem very "Holmsian," somehow. At the end I kind of felt "Um, so? Ok?"

The Musgrave Ritual

I think this one was one of my favorites, even if it was somewhat predictable, especially the ending. I really enjoyed following the "treasure map," and the adventure of what they would find at the other end. Once they found the body, it was fairly obvious what had happened and why he had died there, but listening to how they figured it out was still fun. More of an action-based story, I think that's why I liked it more.

The Reigate Squires

This one was quite fun, too, as Holmes takes partial clues and forms the whole story out of them. I particularly enjoyed his focus on the torn paper and his clever means of coming about the other half. The deductions about the handwriting were fascinating as was the capture of the villains. Great little tale!

Just finished The Yellow Face. I liked this one, it was nice and short, easy to read and fun. I guessed the mystery along with Holmes, trying to think of different conclusions and I liked that he got it wrong.

Mary- I'm reading a UK edition and it certainly does say 2 minutes, not 10. It's very interesting that this was changed in the US edition, but I can't help feeling this is a very sad reflection of race issues of the time. I also wonder what year this was changed?

The Crooked Man

This was played out in an interesting manner, if a tad on the cliché side. Of course, revenge is always a good motive, although it doesn't play out exactly as revenge in this case. The David and Bathsheba comparison is intriguing, even if it doesn't entirely match the case.

The Resident Patient

I really enjoyed Watson's involvement in this case, as, even though his conjectures in the beginning turn out not to be the case, he shows more thought and involvement in the deduction process than is typically the case. Instead of merely the bumbling sidekick (well, or the practical helper, more accurately), he plays a more active thinking role which Holmes praises. The outcome of the case, however, felt so far-fetched that I kind of went "Huh? That's the best you could do?"

The Greek Interpreter

While the story itself is fairly obvious, I LOVED the introduction of Mycroft Holmes! (what is it with these bizarre names, anyway?) I loved his deductions, his interactions with his brother, and hearing Sherlock referred to by his given name for a change. And I love that he's even more arrogant about his powers of deduction than even his famous brother. What fun!

Mary wrote: "The Yellow Face
I really enjoyed this story. I think Doyle really wanted to show that Holmes is not infallible and, lacking enough information, he can arrive at wrong, though perfectly logical, co..."

Thank you for the footnote Mary. I do remember as I read this one that I thought ten minutes was quite a long time also. Interesting that it was changed for the American version. I had this one figured out, but it was a very good story and I really enjoyed it.

There wasn't one story in this collection that I didn't like. I loved being introduced to Mycroft in The Greek Interpreter! Like Alana, I also enjoyed the interaction between the two.

I enjoyed The Musgrave Ritual and seeing the case that started it all. The Naval Treaty was one of my favourites in this book. Can't wait for the next one!

Reading this, Conan Doyle's style seems much more "writerly" in this collection and I have to say that I think the writing is much more assured in this collection than the previous one. whether the tales are as good or better is, of course, another matter entirely.

So far Silver Blaze - I must have seen this on TV before because I knew what had happend earlier than I had right to. The Yellow Face - a lovely little tale, almost anti-holmsian in that he draws the wrong conclusions from the evidence. The Stockbroker's Clerk - like Alana, this definitely reminded me straight away of The Red Headed League, basically it's the same process, but with a different crime at the end.

Like Phil, so far Silver Blaze, The Yellow Face and The Stockbroker's Clerk. The first two were ok but I thought The Stockbroker's Clerk the best of the three.

I agree with Alana that the "Gloria Scot" did not seem very "Holmsian" and was just ok as a story. I also liked "The Musgrave Ritual" the most of all the stories so far. Following along with the treasure map and the mathematical processes was fun. The ending, however, was somewhat strange in that (view spoiler)[ Musgrave was allowed to keep the crown. It seems that anything like that would not be allowed to stay in private hands. (hide spoiler)]

I thought "The Reigate Puzzle" was just so-so but I really liked "The Crooked Man". One reason was that it was the first time in this set of stories that Holmes said "Elementary" which I so associate with Sherlock Holmes. Also, I was not able to figure out the mystery right away like I have been able to do with several others. There were several odd repetitions of details from other stories that I thought strange. In the beginning of the story Holmes got to Watson's house at quarter to twelve which was the same time that the note in "The Reigate Puzzle" said for the coachman Kirwan to meet at the gate. Also, in the note a Ms. Morrison was mentioned and the friend of Mrs. Barclay in "The Crooked Man" was named Ms. Morrison. The street name integral to that story was Hudson Street. Hudson was the name of the seaman in "The Gloria Scot".
It was noted by Pink that "The Yellow Face" discrepancy was perhaps a sad reflection of race issues of the time. In "The Crooked Man" it is noted by Watson that Holmes face had "resumed that red-Indian composure". This is also a phrase that is a reflection of race issues. I doubt that it would be said in this day and age.

Alana wrote: "The Crooked Man

This was played out in an interesting manner, if a tad on the cliché side. Of course, revenge is always a good motive, although it doesn't play out exactly as revenge in this case...."

I agree with Alana's assessments of "The Resident Patient" and "The Greek Interpreter". It was fun to meet Mycroft.

The Naval Treaty

I quite enjoyed this one, perhaps because it was the longest of the stories and had more of a novella feel to it? It had an almost Bond feel to it, with the national intrigue to it. The end wasn't shocking exactly, but was enjoyable. I do enjoy a "closed room" mystery.

The Final Problem

Ah, finally the introduction to the infamous Moriarty. This one was odd, as we don't have the solution of the crime aspect, merely a closing off of the histories of Holmes. The character of Moriarty was very appealing though, I loved the conversation between the two! I did like that we got to see Watson's own deductions at the end, rather than Holmes'.

All in all, a fun collection of stories. I'm really looking forward to Baskervilles, though. :)

I liked "The Naval Treaty" a lot mostly for the same reasons as Alana. I did not care much for "The Final Problem". Despite the character of Moriarty the lack of much plot and just seeing Watson's deductions (which were very basic) did not do much for me.

Just finished the Stockbroker's clerk. It was a strange case, not the best, but nice and quick to read.