Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

12 reviews

mxmorganic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A bit slow in parts, especially early on. As well, the book is riddled with unchallenged ideas about the merits of colonialism and various racial “facts” - e.g. being able to identify and define various groups of people by the contours of their skulls - that are extraordinarily uncomfortable to read today.

However, the core mystery of the novel is quite compelling, and most of all Arthur Conan Doyle has a way with words that really struck me at multiple points in the text - when finally the eponymous Hound of the Baskervilles rears its head, ACD describes it with some of my favorite language I’ve read this year, and the surrounding chapter too was a tremendous climax to the novel.

Finally, the introduction/afterword to my edition of the novel was a highlight of this printing, leaving me with much-appreciated food for thought as I think back over the novel now. So, with the caveats that it’s not always as thrilling as one might expect, and that it’s very of its time, I do certainly recommend the Hound of the Baskervilles for Doyle’s rich renderings of the English language, if for nothing else.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Murder

Minor: Colonisation

seforana's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

readingelli's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

asen123's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It’s not my favorite Sherlock Holmes novellas. I preferred the valley of fear, the study of scarlet, and the collections. It was still an amazing book. I love the atmosphere and how immersive the story was. I loved that it was mainly dr watson in the story. The way the story was summed up was great too. It was all really good. I’d say that it can get a bit gory and dark. More than the other stories, so keep that in mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Body horror and Gore

Minor: Domestic abuse

singalana's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

 🎉  I won this audiobook from a giveaway hosted by listenwithaudrey.

I grew up reading Sherlock Holmes stories, and I’ve seen the movie (with Jeremy Brett) many times. But I don’t think I’ve ever read this book. I happened to win this at StoryGraph’s Giveaway as an Audrey audiobook. I must say I was positively surprised, as I enjoyed the narrator and the guide.

But enough about that and into the book. As many of you know, this is a classic detective story with a hint of the supernatural. There seems to be a curse upon the Baskervilles: a huge hound haunts the members of the family, and Sherlock Holmes is called to help as the curse threatens the last remaining member of the Baskerville family.

The story is told from the perspective of Watson, who is a well-meaning doctor and a faithful friend of Sherlock Holmes. Watson is sent to investigate, as Holmes is otherwise engaged. Soon, he discovers that strange things are indeed happening. But can they protect the last Baskerville before the Hound gets him too?

I like Sherlock Holmes, and I think Doyle does excellent villains, but Watson is sometimes infuriatingly clueless, and Doyle’s women leave a lot to be desired. But I can’t help but like this story nonetheless. It has all the elements of an interesting story: a family curse, a creepy setting, suspicious servants… It’s not perfect by any means, but I think the ending is satisfying, and I had a good time listening to it! 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

jeremie's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Gun violence and Incest

laineydunne's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Stalking, and Murder

book_bear's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Sherlock Holmes stories are always wonderful and masterfully written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I have loved every single one! Hats off to you, Sir Doyle! <3 :) 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

erikwmj's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Minor: Racism

ran_sophia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Violence