Review: The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Numbers:
Rating (out of ten): 7
Critiques: I wish it dove deeper into big ideas. Good story line, engaging, and distinct characters.
One Sentence Setup: Few duos in literature are as classic as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson—and both are at their best in this classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mystery.
Themes: Mystery, Adventure, Justice, Courage, Observation
After reading this book for the first time since the seventh grade, three aspects/ideas about this book struck me.
This book has beautiful writing. For a book whose '“science” is that of deduction, this feat is incredible. The descriptions of the mire, the hound, the situations, the people—all evince wonder and illustrate the vivid event of the story. I read books like these when I specifically focus on improving my writing. I would suggest the same for anyone.
Observing the little things. Classic Sherlock Holmes, this detective story will hone your skills of observation—and explain why. We all have heard of the incredulous deductive skills of the sleuth Holmes, but, even though I disagree slightly with his methods, he really does point out the true value of supposedly trivial matters. Echoing a theory in Tolstoy’s War and Peace, the little things move the universe and cumulate into the big things. Observe, understand, and conquer the little things of each day, and your whole life will flourish more.
Lucretian Roots? This part is probably rather obscure to the reader, but it is still worth bringing to light. In his book De Rerum Natura, Lucretius talks about a return to reason within religion. The ancients attributed unknown causes and phenomena outside of their power to the gods. Lucretius shuns them for this and pleads for them to use reason to figure out the nature of things. When reading about the hound, this topic of Lucretius struck me. I don’t know what to make of the encounter with the hound, but I think they performed a rational series of actions. I won’t totally spoil it, but if you read it, I think you’ll see it clearly. I would hope to do the same actions in their situation.
These are the three points that struck me. I hope you read this thrilling book. It’s a mild classic for sure, and the points aforementioned are definitely worth fostering in any life.
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