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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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Colonisation
seforaflorian'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
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
paloverdepages's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
I read this book for The StoryGraph's Genre Challenge 2024 prompt 2. A historical fiction novel set before 1900.
Even knowing some version of the story (thanks BBC Sherlock), this was still fun to read! I might be a fan of mystery/detective stories now
Even knowing some version of the story (thanks BBC Sherlock), this was still fun to read! I might be a fan of mystery/detective stories now
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder
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 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!
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was an assigned reading, but I enjoyed it all the same. I didn't see most of the twists and reveals coming, despite the characters being ubiquitous! I can see why the plots, characters, and themes have had such strong staying power over the last 100+ years. Other than letting a potential reade know about some heavy-handed chunks of exposition that bogged me down, I’d highly recommended it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Classism
chalkletters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.0
Thanks to the crime fiction module I took at university, The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the Sherlock Holmes story I have the most accurate memory of. I remembered the major twists before they happened, but this somehow only made it more thrilling to read, knowing in advance what Doctor Watson was about to find out.
It helps that the writing of The Hound of the Baskervilles is exciting anyway, perhaps because Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes are separated for so much of it, forcing Arthur Conan Doyle to give the reader a lot more of Watson's man-of-action than of Sherlock's deductions. This is both a puzzle mystery and a wild adventure on the moors of Yorkshire.
Despite how much time they spend apart, The Hound of the Baskervilles also provides some lovely moments in Doctor Watson and Sherlock's friendship: including the 'conductor of light' speech which inspires the heartwarming resolution in BBC Sherlock’s adaptation of this story.
Despite all this goodness, The Hound of the Baskervilles did still manage to include one moment which may make a modern reader unreasonably angry. Doctor Watson is adamant that they shouldn't let a serial murderer remain on the loose in England as a danger to the public, but has no problem shipping said murderer off to South America where he can be a danger to somebody else. As The West Wing's Will Bailey would say, 'Why is a Kundanese life worth [less] than an American life? I don't know, sir, but it is.' Even if it would relieve the tax payer, let's not send murderers to other countries as if we're happy for them to do their murdering there!
Nonetheless, I did enjoy The Hound of the Baskervilles! It's possibly my favourite Sherlock Holmes story so far on this particular reread. Not to mention, it provided me with a delightful image of Sherlock Holmes sitting in a cardboard box like a cat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
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
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 :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
lizzyrai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Classism