vivdunstan

On to another one that I can barely remember, and this discussion is going to be full of spoilers, so let's go into a big ( spoiler cut ... )

Onto another story, and, like "A Scandal in Bohemia", this is one I've appreciated more on reads than watching the Jeremy Brett TV version. And this latest read was no exception.

It is gloriously Christmassy, and I really feel as though I should have been reading it in a couple of months time from now! There are vivid descriptions of the cold, wintry weather. And I think reading that is far more immersive than even a visual depiction on the TV version.

The story revolves around a festive goose which has turned up in mysterious circumstances. And even more mysteriously it turns out to have a giant gemstone inside it. Holmes has to deduce how this happened, and solve a crime, and of course he does so, brilliantly.

There is a very lengthy deduction section, where Holmes shows off his skills. This time starting from a hat. It's great to read, not feeling overlong, and it does set up the rest of the story.

I loved the dashing from location to location as Holmes and Watson followed the clues about the goose, back to its origins. There is also a highly amusing conversation in Covent Garden, with a very reluctant poultry seller. And I was amused when Holmes traced someone by placing an advert in the newspapers, that he was sure the person would see the next day.

Ultimately the mystery is resolved, and things are wrapped up. And all round it's just very satisfying. Though again, I think, best read at Christmas. I do wonder what I will think when I rewatch the Jeremy Brett version soon.

On to another story, and one that I find personally one of the most disturbing in the entire Holmes canon.

( spoilers )

On to the next short story, and I'm going to discuss it with some major spoilers in there. So into the ( spoiler section we go )

So a rather slight Holmes story, but many interesting elements nevertheless.

I've read this story several times, but this is the first time I've really enjoyed it. And I think it's probably that I'm looking at it from a more adult perspective, and appreciating things that much younger me didn't like. I remember finding it as dull as dishwater when I watched the otherwise excellent Jeremy Brett TV series - this was the first of the short stories to air on TV in there, in 1984.

Putting the rest in spoiler space, because I am going to get into some detail.

( spoilers )

Incidentally I adore the BBC Sherlock version of this, "A Scandal in Belgravia". To be fair I watched this at a much older age than I saw the Jeremy Brett TV version in 1984. I doubt my parents would have been so enthused if 11-year-old me had seen the Benedict Cumberbatch version.

I have just DNF'd My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix. It should have appealed a lot, with lots of 80s pop culture references. But I didn't find the writing style worked for me, nor were the voices of the young girls convincing. I see it was made into a movie a couple of years ago. Happy to pass on both.

Alongside other non fiction books on the go I've now started a short story fiction collection, gathering together classic spooky stories about Cornwall. Cornish Horrors is another in the British Library Tales of the Weird series. And should fill a nice slot for me.

I am leaving my fiction reading slate free after that for the middle of July, when another in Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches fantasy series is published. I particularly enjoyed the original trilogy, and am keen to read this upcoming 5th book, The Black Bird Oracle. I have it preordered on Kindle, and intend to read it right away on publication. And I also have a signed hardback copy on preorder.

Just finished my 59th book of the year, and this is one of the British Library's Tales of the Weird short story collections, and one full of festive themed stories, dating from the 1860s to the 1940s. Here is the full list of stories included:

• The Four-Fifteen Express - Amelia B. Edwards
• The Curse of the Catafalques - F. Anstey
• Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk - Frank Cowper
• The Christmas Shadrach - Frank R. Stockton
• Number Ninety - B. M. Croker
• The Shadow - E. Nesbitt
• The Kit Bag - Algernon Blackwood
• The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance - M. R. James
• Boxing Night - E. E. Benson
• The Prescription - Marjorie Brown
• The Snow - Hugh Walpole
• Smee - A. M. Burrage
• The Demon Kind - J. B. Priestley
• Lucky's Grove - H. Russell Wakefield

Some of the stories had only tenuous links with Christmas, and the earlier part of the book was definitely weaker for me. However the book had some absolute standouts. Especially "The Kit Bag" by Algernon Blackwood and "Smee" by A.M. Burrage, both of which left me spooked for a very long time after reading! I also found "The Prescription" by Marjorie Brown to be highly effective.

Fortunately there are currently three other festive collections in the Tales of the Weird series of books, with potentially more to come. So I can see future Christmases where I read the others.

Rating 4/5 stars.

I bought online tickets for a number of talks and panels accompanying the British Library's current Fantasy exhibition. Luckily I bought these tickets before the British Library suffered a ransomware cyber attack, which they are still reeling from. I don't think online tickets can be bought at the moment (but may be wrong), but the streaming is working for people who were lucky to buy tickets in time. We can watch an event live, or on catchup within 48 hours of it starting.

Today I was watching a 90 minute chat last night about the Tales of the Weird series of books published by the British Library. This was a lot of fun. Chaired by Matthew Sweet, who was excellent as to be expected. And with 6 other people on the stage. 2 were extremely rabbit in headlights for much of it sadly, though they relaxed later. But the other 4 panelists were great value. And the chair worked well to pull out discussion even from the rabbits in headlights folk.

I have bought a lot of these books to read on my Kindle over the years. They are typically £2.99 for the Kindle versions. But I still have many to read. Including the 3 so far Christmas anthologies. I am now enthusiastically lining some up for the festive season. If I'm awake enough.