Going into quite a significant story, that I'd forgotten much of! ( spoilers )
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Crooked Man
Apr. 18th, 2025 03:16 pmOnto another story, and going to discuss this ( with spoilers )
Just blogged about physical descriptions of my Dublin great granny and her close family, including both her parents. Fortunately for me all recorded in Irish prison registers. The family was extremely poor, and in and out of prison a lot for petty crimes.
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Reigate Squire
Apr. 2nd, 2025 02:26 pmOnto another story and going to discuss this with ( serious spoilers ... )
Onto another story, and unashamed disclaimer up front: this is one of my all-time favourite Holmes stories. ( spoilers )
Reminded how many eye colours I know for my Irish ancestors, thanks to them being in prison a lot for minor offences. I need to draw up a family tree annotated with eye colour! Fun task soon. I should also note their hair colour and height. My Dublin g-granny was 4 foot 11 inches per prison records.
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Gloria Scott
Mar. 3rd, 2025 09:29 pmContinuing my reread of the Memoirs collection, and another story I can barely recall. ( spoilers ... )
Current reading, non fiction/history
Feb. 4th, 2025 09:57 pmFinished reading a new book about the letters of Mary Queen of Scots last night, Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jade Scott. Review to follow soon on my academic blog. Meanwhile, and continuing the literary theme, I’ve started reading about a 1930s book forgery case, The Book Forger: The true story of a literary crime that fooled the world by Joseph Hone. Likely to review that book in due course too.




Sherlock Holmes reread: The Yellow Face
Dec. 17th, 2024 09:32 pmGoing to discuss big spoilers with this one, so ( into spoiler space ... )
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Cardboard Box
Dec. 11th, 2024 03:49 pmOnto the next in my reread, and a story that has rather a complicated publication history, which means I could read it in a couple of different places in the reading order. But have opted for it now. Mainly to get it out of the way! It is not one of my favourites.
( spoilers ... )
( spoilers ... )
Sherlock Holmes reread: Silver Blaze
Dec. 4th, 2024 01:24 amStarting my reread of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. And going to discuss spoilers so ( into spoiler space ... )
Onto the last in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection. And this is one that I do remember. Even though I have a tendency to muddle it with the "Solitary Cyclist" story ...
( Into spoiler space ... )
So that's the end of the first collection of short stories for me. On to Memoirs next week.
( Into spoiler space ... )
So that's the end of the first collection of short stories for me. On to Memoirs next week.
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Beryl Coronet
Nov. 18th, 2024 04:26 pmOn 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 ... )
Now this story surprised me. I can't remember it at all from my multiple past reads. Nevertheless it is a well constructed mystery, with a satisfying resolution.
The "noble bachelor" is another member of the upper echelons of society who comes to Holmes for help, the latest in a long line. Though this one is rather arrogant, and I loved this put down from Holmes:
The mystery of the lost wife is well described, though I found it somewhat hard to visualise in places. My own issue with probable aphantasia.
As in a number of Sherlock Holmes stories there is an American connection, with very much a sense of the exotic in its inclusion.
Ultimately the solution to the case is a simple one, as Holmes sums up himself:
So yes, a good story, though not one of the best Sherlock Holmes stories. And a story that had completely slipped my memory, despite multiple rereads.
The "noble bachelor" is another member of the upper echelons of society who comes to Holmes for help, the latest in a long line. Though this one is rather arrogant, and I loved this put down from Holmes:
"A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society."
"No, I am descending."
"I beg pardon."
"My last client of the sort was a king."
"Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?"
"The King of Scandinavia."
"What! Had he lost his wife?"
"You can understand," said Holmes, suavely, "that I extend to the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to you in yours."
The mystery of the lost wife is well described, though I found it somewhat hard to visualise in places. My own issue with probable aphantasia.
As in a number of Sherlock Holmes stories there is an American connection, with very much a sense of the exotic in its inclusion.
Ultimately the solution to the case is a simple one, as Holmes sums up himself:
"The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes, when our visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard."
So yes, a good story, though not one of the best Sherlock Holmes stories. And a story that had completely slipped my memory, despite multiple rereads.
Continuing the short story reread, and onto one of the most gruesome stories in the canon. Going to discuss this with big spoilers from the start, so here's a ( spoiler cut. )
Sherlock Holmes reread: The Speckled Band
Oct. 28th, 2024 03:33 pmOn to another Sherlock Holmes short story, and one of my absolute favourites. ( spoilers ... )
I haven't posted about this publicly before. Mainly because I don't know what to say, and I'm still trying to process it. And I haven't felt that I can contribute to the discussion. Google it if you need to know more. Be warned the details are potentially highly triggering and distressing.
However at best I think there is a serious question mark over any perception of consent. Assuming consent in the circumstances described - hugely skewed in terms of age, power, and employer/employee relations, is highly questionable, and I think untenable. At worst it's potentially criminal sexual assault.
For now I am looking at his books and comics from a very wary distance. Including my recently personally signed and dedicated book.
I will be very surprised if one of his TV series continues, and am doubtful for the other two.
Just currently really disappointed.
However at best I think there is a serious question mark over any perception of consent. Assuming consent in the circumstances described - hugely skewed in terms of age, power, and employer/employee relations, is highly questionable, and I think untenable. At worst it's potentially criminal sexual assault.
For now I am looking at his books and comics from a very wary distance. Including my recently personally signed and dedicated book.
I will be very surprised if one of his TV series continues, and am doubtful for the other two.
Just currently really disappointed.
Books finished in 2024
Feb. 19th, 2024 06:59 amGoing to start a running list of these, in case any of the titles interest others. Happy to answer questions. I'm expecting a modest list of books read this year, so this list isn't going to get gargantuan.
- Wenceslas: A Christmas Poem by Carol Ann Duffy
- The Children of Hurin by JRR Tolkien
- The Incomplete Framley Examiner
- Once Upon A Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire
- The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
- The Art Thief by Michael Finkel