The final problem, is THE FINAL case. Or, it was supposed to be the final case before popular demand brought SherAnlock Holmes back to life.
It's funny that he doesn't die, and it's funny how there are more stories after that, especially since it says "it was the last that I was ever destined to see of him in this world".
There may be a final solution, however, there is no case in this story. There is chasing and suspense and thrill... but none of the deductions that made Holmes the person/detective he is... which i find strange.
Personal Opinion... these stories remind me a bit of comic books. Especially the ones in Japan. They come out every week in magazine like collections, and then they have the entertainment value, and building up aka the final problems and the struggles etc...
It feels as if Sherlock Holmes has lost track a little of what it originally was. Solving mysteries through deductions. Now, there is a bit of arch enemy, great amazing and dangerous plans that have no concrete details.. etc.
This last case feels a little bit like a let down. There isn't even a case for me to attempt to solve.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sherlock Holmes short stories, in general.
I've read quite a few of these stories now... In the past, a few recently that I still haven't blogged on and etc. I know that Doyle wrote 56 of these short stories and that Holmes was immensely popular. Even now, he still holds an allure and control over our generation. Though, popular opinion of hhim can be different from teh actual portrayal that the book has of him. I had no idea what Sherlock Holmes and those stories were like and would be like until I subscribed to the strand and read them myself.
It's just personal taste, but I don't know if I would like or want to read all 56 or be terribly upset if the series was discontinued. So... it's making me curious and brings back around my original question... what about him is so alluring?
Does it have to do with the time that he was published in? Or is there more... the idea of brilliance, genious, but still being down-to-earth and realistic?
When I was younger, whenever there was an allusion to Sherlock Holmes, it was like an allusion to something amazing and untouchable, however when I started reading it, it didn't quite live up to my expectations and I remember being bored with the stories.
I don't believe that these stories are quite literary (or they might be... I don't know), they seem more for just entertainment.
It's an open question to anyone who'd like to respond..
It's just personal taste, but I don't know if I would like or want to read all 56 or be terribly upset if the series was discontinued. So... it's making me curious and brings back around my original question... what about him is so alluring?
Does it have to do with the time that he was published in? Or is there more... the idea of brilliance, genious, but still being down-to-earth and realistic?
When I was younger, whenever there was an allusion to Sherlock Holmes, it was like an allusion to something amazing and untouchable, however when I started reading it, it didn't quite live up to my expectations and I remember being bored with the stories.
I don't believe that these stories are quite literary (or they might be... I don't know), they seem more for just entertainment.
It's an open question to anyone who'd like to respond..
Silver Blaze - Sherlock Holmes Short Story
Silver Blaze - I forgot where I read it, but there was a comment on the story Silver Blaze that said that Silver Blaze was unbelievable and that half the characters were insane or delusional.
I can't agree.. but I'd just like to put that out there...
So.. about Silver Blaze, there were quite a few hints in the story that would have enabled us to solve it. According to wiki... almost all the cases of Sherlock Holmes are solvable by the reader... though I personally have never been able to solve it.. Maybe it's because I lack the imagination that Inspector Gregory lacks, too.
Anyways the hints like the curious incident with the dog (how he didn't bark), of the expensive dress which a horse trainer could not afford (which we wouldn't be able to understand since the finances of this period are out of our knowledge...), and the knife and curried mutton and the opium powder (again... I don't know much about how opium powder tastes... so that clue would have been unknown by me... )
However, apparently it is enough information. One of the struggles in us being able to solve the crime, too, though is becuase it is being told through the eyes of Watson. Though he can also give us information and observations that we might not have noticed, his obersations and perspectives can somewhat skew our views on it, too, making it difficult to see it for what it really is.
Should we be able to see into the mind of Holmes, I'm sure we'd be able to solve it along the way... however since we don't make the connections, it is quite out of our scope.
I want to try reading a story and see if I can solve it for myself... hmmm...
I can't agree.. but I'd just like to put that out there...
So.. about Silver Blaze, there were quite a few hints in the story that would have enabled us to solve it. According to wiki... almost all the cases of Sherlock Holmes are solvable by the reader... though I personally have never been able to solve it.. Maybe it's because I lack the imagination that Inspector Gregory lacks, too.
Anyways the hints like the curious incident with the dog (how he didn't bark), of the expensive dress which a horse trainer could not afford (which we wouldn't be able to understand since the finances of this period are out of our knowledge...), and the knife and curried mutton and the opium powder (again... I don't know much about how opium powder tastes... so that clue would have been unknown by me... )
However, apparently it is enough information. One of the struggles in us being able to solve the crime, too, though is becuase it is being told through the eyes of Watson. Though he can also give us information and observations that we might not have noticed, his obersations and perspectives can somewhat skew our views on it, too, making it difficult to see it for what it really is.
Should we be able to see into the mind of Holmes, I'm sure we'd be able to solve it along the way... however since we don't make the connections, it is quite out of our scope.
I want to try reading a story and see if I can solve it for myself... hmmm...
Sherlock Holmes and the Greek Interpreter.
I chose to blog on this story becuase it seemed different from the other Holmes stories that I've read.
Mainly in the form that the deductions of Holmes aren't the focus of how the story is solved.
Anyways, Mycroft is introduced in this story as the older brother with the much more acute observation skills. However, not much of him is mentioned... he is apprarently a recluse and doesn't actively engage in detective work, which is contrary to the image that is presented of him in the other book I read, the Italian Secretary.
There is evidence again of Sherlock and Mycroft's amazing deducing skills in the beginning of the story which is reminiscent of Sherlock and Watson's introduction in the study of scarlet.
HERE IS THE PASSAGE EXCERPT...
" The two men had stopped opposite the window. Some chalk
marks over the waistcoat pocket were the only signs of billiards
which I could see in one of them. The other was a very small,
dark fellow, with his hat pushed back and several packages
under his arm.
"An old soldier, I perceive," said Sherlock.
"And very recently discharged," remarked the brother.
"Served in India, I see."
"And a non-commissioned officer."
"Royal Artillery, I fancy,'' said Sherlock.
"And a widower."
"But with a child."
"Children, my dear boy, children."
"Come," said I. laughing, "this is a little too much."
"Surely." answered Holmes, "it is not hard to say that a man
with that bearing. expression of authority, and sun-baked skin. is
a soldier, is more than a private, and is not long from India."
"That he has not left the service long is shown by his still
wearing his ammunition boots, as they are called," observed
Mycroft.
"He had not the cavalry stride, yet he wore his hat on one
side, as is shown by the lighter skin on that side of his brow. His
weight is against his being a sapper. He is in the artillery."
"Then, of course, his complete mourning shows that he has
lost someone very dear. The fact that he is doing his own
shopping looks as though it were his wife. He has been buying
things for children, you perceive. There is a rattle, which shows
that one of them is very young. The wife probably died in
childbed. The fact that he has a picture-book under his arm
shows that there is another child to be thought of."
Though we ourselves cannot make these observations since we cannot see them. And from the description that Watson provides, it is impossible for us to make these deductions. However, like always they seem reasonable.
However, that is the end of the deductions by Holmes basically... the solution to the story is essentially done by Watson indicating that it is a simple case.. .and simple it is since there are no further deductions, only following, action and saving people/letting them run away.
I didn't enjoy reading this one as much since everything was obvious and there was not as much suspense.
... It seemed like just a regular crime/police story becuase despite the seemingly strange cirucumstances the solution was rather ordinary.
Mainly in the form that the deductions of Holmes aren't the focus of how the story is solved.
Anyways, Mycroft is introduced in this story as the older brother with the much more acute observation skills. However, not much of him is mentioned... he is apprarently a recluse and doesn't actively engage in detective work, which is contrary to the image that is presented of him in the other book I read, the Italian Secretary.
There is evidence again of Sherlock and Mycroft's amazing deducing skills in the beginning of the story which is reminiscent of Sherlock and Watson's introduction in the study of scarlet.
HERE IS THE PASSAGE EXCERPT...
" The two men had stopped opposite the window. Some chalk
marks over the waistcoat pocket were the only signs of billiards
which I could see in one of them. The other was a very small,
dark fellow, with his hat pushed back and several packages
under his arm.
"An old soldier, I perceive," said Sherlock.
"And very recently discharged," remarked the brother.
"Served in India, I see."
"And a non-commissioned officer."
"Royal Artillery, I fancy,'' said Sherlock.
"And a widower."
"But with a child."
"Children, my dear boy, children."
"Come," said I. laughing, "this is a little too much."
"Surely." answered Holmes, "it is not hard to say that a man
with that bearing. expression of authority, and sun-baked skin. is
a soldier, is more than a private, and is not long from India."
"That he has not left the service long is shown by his still
wearing his ammunition boots, as they are called," observed
Mycroft.
"He had not the cavalry stride, yet he wore his hat on one
side, as is shown by the lighter skin on that side of his brow. His
weight is against his being a sapper. He is in the artillery."
"Then, of course, his complete mourning shows that he has
lost someone very dear. The fact that he is doing his own
shopping looks as though it were his wife. He has been buying
things for children, you perceive. There is a rattle, which shows
that one of them is very young. The wife probably died in
childbed. The fact that he has a picture-book under his arm
shows that there is another child to be thought of."
Though we ourselves cannot make these observations since we cannot see them. And from the description that Watson provides, it is impossible for us to make these deductions. However, like always they seem reasonable.
However, that is the end of the deductions by Holmes basically... the solution to the story is essentially done by Watson indicating that it is a simple case.. .and simple it is since there are no further deductions, only following, action and saving people/letting them run away.
I didn't enjoy reading this one as much since everything was obvious and there was not as much suspense.
... It seemed like just a regular crime/police story becuase despite the seemingly strange cirucumstances the solution was rather ordinary.
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