Sherlock Holmes

[David Dawson]

If you're looking for modern adaptations, many people have enjoyed the BBC's Sherlock, though I myself haven't quite liked it as much as I wish I could. They play up the "Jerk Genius" aspect of his personality way too much for my liking, so much that it borders on ill humour;

I like BBC's Sherlock although I totally agree with your "Jerk Genius" assessment.

Hmmm, I'm not sure how much that aspect of the series is a diversion from Conan Doyle's Holmes. He can be pretty obnoxious in the books.

On another note, I've been re-reading the books over the last week or so and it is really re-iterating to me how far they diverge from the conventions of detective fiction (which is not really a criticism, just that they pre-date them) - especially the idea that the reader should at least have a reasonable chance of working out the solution. Not that I think it necessarily detracts from them.

[Alden Loveshade]

I read all off Doyle's Holmes books and thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories. Recently I saw an article that Sherlock Holmes may have Asperger's Syndrome. He was obsessed with small details, was irritated by the irrational and tried finding a rational explanation for everything, avoided emotional relationships, had only one close friend. I had long thought he showed signs of Bipolar Disorder, so maybe he showed both.

-- 04 Sep 2014, 15:29 --

To me, the closest portrayal I've seen to Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes is Jeremy Brett.

[Hazel]

It was really a fascinating book but I found it difficult to understand part of the content due to the style of writing which I'm not used to. But overall, its a really great book to read!

[Airam Velarde]

Hmmm, I'm not sure how much that aspect of the series is a diversion from Conan Doyle's Holmes. He can be pretty obnoxious in the books.

On another note, I've been re-reading the books over the last week or so and it is really re-iterating to me how far they diverge from the conventions of detective fiction (which is not really a criticism, just that they pre-date them) - especially the idea that the reader should at least have a reasonable chance of working out the solution. Not that I think it necessarily detracts from them.

Personally I find him to be more agreeable in the books than how he is portrayed elsewhere. Also, I'm not sure what other readers might experience with this series. But to me, Sherlock Holmes was more of an interactive book that let me think for myself and try and solve each mystery. Of course this varies with each person.

Recently I saw an article that Sherlock Holmes may have Asperger's Syndrome. He was obsessed with small details, was irritated by the irrational and tried finding a rational explanation for everything, avoided emotional relationships, had only one close friend. I had long thought he showed signs of Bipolar Disorder, so maybe he showed both.

That's very interesting. He's eccentric, yes, but I never actually thought of him as having some sort of syndrome or disorder.

[JanuaryGray]

I'm don't have any suggestions regarding adaptations, but I am currently reading and getting reading to review Sherlock Holmes in graphic novel format from Dover Publications. The shading could be a little better on the drawings, but it is an interesting and fresh way to enjoy our dear Holmes.

[DATo]

It seems to me that now they have started to concentrate more on his eccentricities and on giving him a romantic life, than on his detective skills. For example, in the original series he states that he has never been in love, that he isn't an admirer of women. He both dislikes and distrusts them, and is even described as more of a machine than a human. Yet in many different adaptations, he is given a romantic life with either one or many partners. It makes me wonder if changes like these are necessary to his story.

I have several adaptations of Sherlock Holmes that I really like, while others, I feel, are steering away from the mystery elements in the original stories. I was wondering if after reading the Sherlock Holmes series, do any of you feel any adaptations, both old or new, did justice to it? Which would you recommend, and do you feel the changes being made to the original are good or bad?

If by adaptations you are referring to stories written by authors other than Arthur Conan Doyle (and I assume you are) I can tell you now that they are bogus misrepresentations of the character created by the original author. In my own opinion anything written by anyone other than A.C. Doyle is to be dismissed out of hand, for there is no "original series", there is only THE series - everything else is a fraudulent, "monkey with a parasol" attempt by "authors" with apparently no creative talent of their own to capitalize on the genius of A.C. Doyle.

If you are suggesting that in THE original series of works by Arthur Conan Doyle Holmes becomes enamored with members of the female persuasion you are patently wrong. He admired Irene Adler in A Scandal In Bohemia because she bested him ... he was smitten by her brains not her looks. In other stories such as A Case Of Identity or The Copper Beeches Holmes demonstrates his disgust with men who would impose upon the sensitivities of women, but only because in doing so they overstep the bounds of ethics and gallantry, not because he romantically admires the women of these stories.

[Reshmi]

I can read 'Sherlock Holmes' any number of times and still not be bored

[bluebutterfly2]

Sherlock Homes is one of my favorite mystery series. I own several books in the series, but haven't gotten to read them all, yet.

[Airam Velarde]

If you are suggesting that in THE original series of works by Arthur Conan Doyle Holmes becomes enamored with members of the female persuasion you are patently wrong. He admired Irene Adler in A Scandal In Bohemia because she bested him ... he was smitten by her brains not her looks. In other stories such as A Case Of Identity or The Copper Beeches Holmes demonstrates his disgust with men who would impose upon the sensitivities of women, but only because in doing so they overstep the bounds of ethics and gallantry, not because he romantically admires the women of these stories.

I think you misunderstood me. I know very well that Sherlock admired Irene for her intelligence and that he was in no way enamored with her or with any other female character. What I meant is that in modern adaptations, such as in TV series, movies, or books, Sherlock is portrayed as being romantically attached to either Irene or other women. Personally I do not like that his character was changed like this because in THE original series, he is clearly against relationships such as these. I'm sorry if what I stated before was a bit confusing for you, I hope this made it clearer.

[JonathanFavorsGrimes]

I've skimmed through some of the books when I was younger. It was something that really didn't get my interest until was in college. I've seen the movies and watched the show's although there totally different from the books. But I do plan to read them one day, it's totally on my book list.

[Charlotte Reese]

If you're looking for modern adaptations, many people have enjoyed the BBC's Sherlock, though I myself haven't quite liked it as much as I wish I could. They play up the "Jerk Genius" aspect of his personality way too much for my liking, so much that it borders on ill humour;

I like BBC's Sherlock although I totally agree with your "Jerk Genius" assessment.

Hmmm, I'm not sure how much that aspect of the series is a diversion from Conan Doyle's Holmes. He can be pretty obnoxious in the books.

I find him less callous and more mannerly in the books. He showed some concern for his clients' welfare so he's not the total "high-functioning sociopath" that the BBC series glorifies.

[bookwrm22]

As far as I can remember, I have NEVER read a book because I saw the movie/TV show. However, I have to say, it has happened. I started to read Sherlock Holmes because of the BBC show, which, by the way, I totally recommend. It's a good show. Anyway, I am only about 30 or 40 pages in but I am fascinated by the work. A book (well, a bunch of stories, really) written over a century ago can be compared with today's novels and still hold its own. It amazes me how literature has since progressed.

[rssllue]

To me, the closest portrayal I've seen to Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes is Jeremy Brett.

I wholeheartedly agree! He really became Sherlock with his performances. Whenever I read the stories now, I picture him as Holmes in my mind's eye. Brilliant performance!

[amybo82]

I love all the Sherlock stories! I thought that some of them were laugh-out-loud funny, and the writing is just phenomenal. To create a cast of characters that are so deep and diverse is truly a feat of genius! When I watch any of the TV/movie adaptations, I try to think of them not as versions of the stories that've already been written but as continuations of Sherlock's life. My two favorite adaptations are the BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch (I see that some others have recommended this, too) and the Robert Downey, Jr. movies. The BBC show gets darker as the season go on, and I could definitely see many of Sherlock's written qualities and eccentricities coming to life. I disagree with the "jerk genius" classification, though. I think that people with great minds are just a little weird, and I definitely think it can have a profound effect on their social skills. I don't think he's trying to be a jerk; he's just misunderstood. As for the Downey movies, I love that they play up the humor. In the second movie, at one point, I was crying, then I was laughing, then I was crying from laughing so hard. I think this captures the true spirit of the books--a wild ride of emotions packed into a short period of time.

[Airam Velarde]

To me, the closest portrayal I've seen to Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes is Jeremy Brett.

I wholeheartedly agree! He really became Sherlock with his performances. Whenever I read the stories now, I picture him as Holmes in my mind's eye. Brilliant performance!

Recently I stumbled upon the Sherlock Holmes series with Jeremy Brett and he is absolutely amazing. I think he comes the closest to how I pictured Holmes while reading the stories.