townesvanfaulkner

Writing Style-3.2
Originality-7.5
Plot-3.8
Literary Merit(whatever that means)-4.6
Overall-3.4

This book was moronic. There were two good things about it, (1) the legend of the hound of the baskervilles was cool and (2) it was a very short book.

This is the longest Sherlock Holmes story that Doyle wrote I believe. I always thought I should try Sherlock Holmes. The idea seems intriguing, a classic mystery. The thought of hanging on every line at the edge of your seat, tracking clues, trying to figure out who done it. But, in practice, it wasn’t interesting in the least.

Like I say, the legend is pretty cool and potentially scary. It’s about this hellish hound that was brought on by the acts of an evil Baskerville many generations ago and this curse has haunted every generation since, leading up to the mysterious death of the latest Baskerville. But, you quickly learn that Holmes has a very scientific, skeptical mind and Holmes is almost never wrong about a deduction, so therefore, it is certain that any tale of the supernatural is simply superstition and that Holmes will get to the bottom of it and the explanation will be something mundane and stupid.

Also, all of the clues feel so contrived. You know that Doyle is just placing them there with something in mind for Holmes and Watson to cleverly figure out later. The storytelling just lacks the ring of truth. Nature is never that orderly and human nature is never that predictable.

This felt like a book for 10 year olds. Like it’s a glorified Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. I don’t see any justification for anyone older reading this. All the clichés are there. Why bother?