Sherlock Holmes.
Either from the BBC show or from popular culture in general, everyone knows the name, Sherlock Holmes. His methods of deduction have made him one of the most unique and famous literary detectives of all time. This book, Study in Scarlet, is the perfect introduction to the world of London’s greatest detective. It starts with Dr. Watson, a former employee of the Army medical department, meeting Sherlock Holmes and then deciding to room with him in London to mitigate the high costs of living in the city. It’s also the first case, a murder at Lauriston Gardens, where Watson is exposed to the eccentricity and brilliance of Sherlock’s detective work. The peculiar nature of this case: a wedding ring, the word RACHE written on the wall in blood, and no wounds on the body of the deceased, set up the scene for a deceptively simple murder case with a rich and extensive background. Although there wasn’t as much detective work as I would have liked (nearly half of the story was the background and history of the murdered man) it was still a refreshing read and great introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes.
This book was also a surprisingly smooth read; that was something I was thankful for after a month of Wuthering Heights and Oscar Wilde. A study in Scarlet is, in my opinion, a great starting point for those interested in reading the “classics” but are too daunted by the prospects of picking up Moby Dick or Jane Austen.
But although the story was enjoyable, most of my thoughts were on Sherlock’s methods of deduction. I was always fascinated by the prospect of being able to decipher someone’s background and history from the length of their stride, a tan on the wrists, or their types of shoelaces. Although I’ve always been quite skeptical of Holmes’s more ludicrous claims: once on the BBC show he correctly predicted alcoholism from scratches on a phone charger, I do recognize that we often betray a lot about ourselves unconsciously, and with a trained eye, one could learn a lot about another’s past just from their mannerisms or the way they carry themselves. This relates to micro expressions as well; I’ve heard about micro expression experts being able to notice lies from a twitch of the nose or dilation of the pupils. It’s a terrifying notion, the idea that we betray so much about ourselves without realizing it, but it’s a fascinating idea nonetheless.
A Study in Scarlet was no literary masterpiece, but I was thoroughly hooked throughout the entire novel and I strongly suggest it for everyone.
The book for next week is The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway