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Reading is FUNdamental (books): Getting started on Sherlock Holmes

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      CommentAuthorYtoabn
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009
     
    The Sherlock Holmes movie is approaching, and I really want to get an idea of what the character was in the books before I see how the movie reinvents him. Questions is, how do I dive in?

    Wikipedia says there are 56 short stories and 4 novels. So does that mean I should start with the short stories or novels? Apparently the first collection of short stories is A Study in Scarlet, is that a good place to start?

    How many Fancy Bastards have actually read an actual story of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Do they stand the test of time?
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      CommentAuthorBill
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009
     
    My mom had a collection of shorts that I tried reading when I was younger. I thought they were interesting, but dry. Josh (mine, not Joel's) found several in audio format that are decently done. If you want, I'll see if he remembers where he got them.
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      CommentAuthorMike Brady
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009
     
    There's really very little story arc that spans the Holmes collection, so don't feel obligated to read them in order. Whet your appetite with some of the classics, and then decide if you want to delve into some of the lesser known stuff. I'd start with the short stories to see if the style is a good fit for you. "The Hound of the Baskervilles" is a popular one that might be a good place to start. Don't expect a Dan-Brown-style thriller, but the stories are still very compelling and clever and I think they hold up well.
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      CommentAuthorDram
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009
     
    I enjoyed them when I read a few as a kid. I'd read a few of the short stories, maybe a book or two, and then hit up Wikipedia if you really want to round out your knowledge. I think the movie might actually be more enjoyable if you're not an expert on the series, but it's up to you. Know almost nothing about the movie.
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      CommentAuthorYtoabn
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009
     
    Posted By: BillMy mom had a collection of shorts that I tried reading when I was younger. I thought they were interesting, but dry. Josh (mine, not Joel's) found several in audio format that are decently done. If you want, I'll see if he remembers where he got them."Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine and into your brain, and that's where you get shitty ideas from." - Unknown


    Ooooooh, doing these stories in audio book format would be so much easier. Please, search!
    • CommentAuthorlardboy
    • CommentTimeJun 11th 2009 edited
     
    BBC Radio 4 did an excellent Sherlock Holmes series. info

    You can definitely get the CDs from Amazon UK and possibly US and I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could find them in other places. I can highly recommend them if you like audio plays.

    However the best version of Holmes IMHO is the TV series starring Jeremy Brett so I would track that down if you can.

    As I've just realised this is in the books section I'll add this wikipedia link to give you a reading order if so desired.
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      CommentAuthorBill
    • CommentTimeJun 11th 2009
     
    Posted By: YtoabnOoooooh, doing these stories in audio book format would be so much easier. Please, search!

    He can't find the same ones he downloaded before, but he did find these: http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/template.php?show_name=Sherlock%20Holmes
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      CommentAuthorYtoabn
    • CommentTimeJun 14th 2009
     
    Mmmm... the audio books are pretty good.


    Canon of Sherlock Holmes (1887-1927)
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Unabridged, read by John Telfer
    2001 Alec Reid Recordings


    That's the guy who's reading it, and he does a fantastic job. He doesn't just drone, he reads it just as if Dr. Watson was sitting down with you and telling you a story. As for Holmes himself, I was a bit surprised how it all started. Holmes was a cocaine snorting scientist, and Watson a crippled war doctor before they met. By the second case Watson gets married with one of Holmes' clients, and doesn't live in the Baker Street home after that. Other than that, I found Holmes to be a much cockier character, who actually enjoys the vanity of impressing Dr. Watson though he doesn't want to admit it. None the less, this is so enjoyable.
    Since it's done from the perspective of Watson, you don't get the footprints or marks described, but instead simply "see" Holmes make measurements, make a wild conclusion about what happened, then explain each part one by one. With proper listening you can actually get good enough to try to guess the solution before hearing it. The best cases may be the quick ones. A person comes to Holmes' home, explains their case, and if you're good enough you can guess the solution to the mystery before Holmes is so kind to explain it.

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