Loving the intensity of the BBC program Sherlock, I assumed that the suspense and mystery of the book
series written off of Sherlock’s supposed childhood would intrigue me as well. However
I found the book drudgingly slow and very unrealistic.
The predicaments Sherlock entangles himself in are, not only
coincidental, but extremely impossible. Time after time, Sherlock is thrown
into situations that are unrealistically horrible: he is almost killed in a
fire, yet escapes; kidnapped at a fair, yet escapes; is attacked in a boat, yet
escapes; meets an evil baron, yet escapes; attacked by two sinister apprentices
of the baron, yet escapes; captured on a ship, yet escapes; and fights against
the same baron, yet escapes. Too many narrow escapes for reality, even for
Sherlock Holmes.
Though the overall plot of the book was unsatisfying, I
enjoyed understanding more of the great genius’ past, and the reasons for much
of his bitterness. The author does a very good impersonation of the adult
version of Sherlock, adding a childish rebellion, crush, and innocence.
Thanks to the kind friend who recommended it, for it taught
me, one, how to read a book persistently even when I don’t love it, and two,
that the books are not always truly better than the movies.
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