tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4639217130221993344.post8806775520219190633..comments2015-11-23T16:22:07.917-08:00Comments on Elementary Schooled: Book Review: "The Red-Headed League" (Doyle, 1891)Austin Lugarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13054213679703476461noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4639217130221993344.post-17918445665410585882012-10-18T09:31:15.404-07:002012-10-18T09:31:15.404-07:00HAHAHA! The red herring thing was completely unint...HAHAHA! The red herring thing was completely unintentional, I promise. <br /><br />As per usual, you are spot on with your comments. Holmes would want to figure out why all of these odd and off the wall things were happening and want to solve the problem. <br /><br />I feel like the opening is like the one chapter of Harry Potter books 2, 3 and 4. You knew they were recapping so you knew you could skip it, especially if you're marathoning them. You see the opening with the parlor and you know that you can just skim that portion because it's only sorta needed. I know that this changes eventually, much like the Harry Potter books, we just have to get to that point in the writing.Leigh Montanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14212709793900015111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4639217130221993344.post-20646910783133076672012-10-16T23:06:47.791-07:002012-10-16T23:06:47.791-07:00This is my Other Half's favourite story of all...This is my Other Half's favourite story of all the Holmsian mysteries so I feel compelled to comment.<br /><br />First: Leigh? Really? Red Herring? I saw what you did there you naughty girl.<br /><br />Second: this really is a very Holmsian mystery simply because it is just so off the wall. Could you really see any police officer being slightly interested in why a bunch of men are being hired to copy out the encyclopaedia? And why only men with red hair are asked for and hired? Nope. They're too grounded in the mundane to look at that and think beyond "That's weird". Only Holmes could thing "That's weird. Why is that weird?" and then go out and find out precisely why. Like in the restaurant in *Sherlock*, Cumberbatch's Holmes comments: "That's clever. Really? That's clever? Why is that clever?". Holmes second guesses those things normal people would simply dismiss. That is also a sign of his genius. This one wasn't something glamourous, not really, but it was different, and odd, and enough to pull his mind into a state other than self-destructive boredom.<br /><br />Third: I do agree that the starting in the parlour bit did and would get old if you're reading them all together, but spread out, it's nice to have that reminder of where their home base is, and to get a refresher of just what Holmes is and how he works. It's a starting point, like picking up a quest in a tavern. Sure you get bored with it, but Holmes starting in a parlour is just as classically cliche.<br /><br />Finally: Seriously, Leigh? Red Herring. I'm still smarting.<br /><br />Love the pics, too; "The Doctor. Doctor. Fun."Margauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16850537733253873932noreply@blogger.com