So I started The Execution of Sherlock Holmes by Donald Thomas. It contains five short stories and this is the book written by a contemporary author.
It starts off with Holmes breaking into a house. However, their plan goes astray when the owner comes in and Watson and Holmes have to hide behind curtains. A lady visits the man and kills him. Holmes grabs the pistol and runs off with Watson. They meet two guards and shoot the pistol and Holmes just tosses the pistol. He doesn't keep it and is not worried that the police can trace it back to him. Now this is very unlike Holmes and I guess he wasn't thinking when he was faced with death.
Furthermore, this book portrays Holmes as a hopeless and helpless man because he ends up in jail and is about to be condemned to death. The police (I don't think it really is the police, it might be his enemies that are doing this) drug him. They use a drug that wipes away his short term memory. They do this every night and they pin him down and chain him to the bed. Each day he is brought to court and he feels very out of it. Each night he tries to find a way to break out and to figure out who the people are in court but he worries that he'll forget because of the drug. This is a dark and maybe more older Holmes. He seems useless because he's locked up and his food is cut for him. He's in a place where his intuition isn't that much of a help to him. I guess however he comes out of this situation will show what he truly is made of. I can only wonder how he will actually escape his death or will he finally die?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Post 10)
So I finally finished the book. I have to say this book was very enjoyable. Holmes and Russell finally get out of their mess by distracting Miss Donleavy and pushing the gun out of the way. Russell was pierced by the bullet which went through her and killed Miss Donleavy.
To continue with my previous discussion:
This book portrays Holmes as more of a father figure and that he can be human when he needs to be. In this book he isn't all uptight about his detective work. Throughout the book, Holmes was always looking out for Russell, even in the end of the book when they were being threatened. Holmes told Miss Donleavy to leave her out of it and just take him instead. Holmes is actually showing some affection for others which he did not show in the previous books I read. Holmes was willing to put his reputation on the line to save Russell. He was threatened to sign a letter that proved that he was a fraud. This is very unlike Holmes from what Watson has shown us. I think that Holmes was just really happy that he's finally met someone who thinks in the same way he does. It was like he had a daughter, that was how close the relationship was. I mean Holmes is the only person who Russell is really close too. I guess you could say he's even considered family because Russell never liked her aunt. Also, Holmes was able to help Russell overcome her nightmare of guilt. In the end, Holmes was able to help Russell become more like himself. He helped her become an unique individual. I'll add more later if I can think of more things to say, hehe.
To continue with my previous discussion:
This book portrays Holmes as more of a father figure and that he can be human when he needs to be. In this book he isn't all uptight about his detective work. Throughout the book, Holmes was always looking out for Russell, even in the end of the book when they were being threatened. Holmes told Miss Donleavy to leave her out of it and just take him instead. Holmes is actually showing some affection for others which he did not show in the previous books I read. Holmes was willing to put his reputation on the line to save Russell. He was threatened to sign a letter that proved that he was a fraud. This is very unlike Holmes from what Watson has shown us. I think that Holmes was just really happy that he's finally met someone who thinks in the same way he does. It was like he had a daughter, that was how close the relationship was. I mean Holmes is the only person who Russell is really close too. I guess you could say he's even considered family because Russell never liked her aunt. Also, Holmes was able to help Russell overcome her nightmare of guilt. In the end, Holmes was able to help Russell become more like himself. He helped her become an unique individual. I'll add more later if I can think of more things to say, hehe.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Post 9)
Holmes and Russell decide to come out of hiding and go back to London. They decide to put on an act and convince the murderer that they've split up. However, none of it worked as the mastermind found out what Holmes was up to. Russell decoded the message that was inside the burnt cab and she found out that the murderer was her math tutor, who was the daughter of one of the criminals that Holmes killed.
As this apprenticeship develops, Holmes begins to show more of his human features. In this case, he's told Russell that he will have complete faith in her to solve the case. He believes that she can help lure the mastermind out. We also see that this case has pushed Holmes to the edge because the criminal is attacking the people who are most dear to him. He is forced into hiding and he is forced to break down his own defenses and accept the credibility of others. He's not so fearful of inferior minds as before. He even shows a bit of his charisma. Holmes says, "when the time comes, you will do it. I have faith in you, Russ," and the way he said it calmed Russell I guess. He is understanding and knows that he is putting a lot of responsibility in Russell's hands,so he tries to give her some kind of motivation. Holmes never had this type of relationship with Watson. Could this be because Russell is a woman? or is it that Holmes has met an equal? I think it is because he has met his equal. He's met someone who he can nurture and mold into someone who is capable of solving any case like he has. Maybe he says a bit of himself in Russell. Maybe Holmes was once like Russell and had to learn from someone too, he could even have had a master!! He is even acting almost like a lover to Russell. He occasionally embraces her and kisses her forehead. Well maybe more like a father comforting his daughter than a lover. Holmes listened to Russell when she had a recurring nightmare about her family's death. Holmes told Russell just what she wanted to hear. He acknowledged that it was hard for Russell to retain her guilt (she claimed she's killed her family because she yelled at her brother, which distracted her dad from driving. They were hit by a car and somehow Russell flew out of the car while her family tumbled off the cliff.). To be continued later...
As this apprenticeship develops, Holmes begins to show more of his human features. In this case, he's told Russell that he will have complete faith in her to solve the case. He believes that she can help lure the mastermind out. We also see that this case has pushed Holmes to the edge because the criminal is attacking the people who are most dear to him. He is forced into hiding and he is forced to break down his own defenses and accept the credibility of others. He's not so fearful of inferior minds as before. He even shows a bit of his charisma. Holmes says, "when the time comes, you will do it. I have faith in you, Russ," and the way he said it calmed Russell I guess. He is understanding and knows that he is putting a lot of responsibility in Russell's hands,so he tries to give her some kind of motivation. Holmes never had this type of relationship with Watson. Could this be because Russell is a woman? or is it that Holmes has met an equal? I think it is because he has met his equal. He's met someone who he can nurture and mold into someone who is capable of solving any case like he has. Maybe he says a bit of himself in Russell. Maybe Holmes was once like Russell and had to learn from someone too, he could even have had a master!! He is even acting almost like a lover to Russell. He occasionally embraces her and kisses her forehead. Well maybe more like a father comforting his daughter than a lover. Holmes listened to Russell when she had a recurring nightmare about her family's death. Holmes told Russell just what she wanted to hear. He acknowledged that it was hard for Russell to retain her guilt (she claimed she's killed her family because she yelled at her brother, which distracted her dad from driving. They were hit by a car and somehow Russell flew out of the car while her family tumbled off the cliff.). To be continued later...
Saturday, February 2, 2008
The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Post 8)
Holmes and Russell find their cab burnt and demolished. Holmes has Scotland Yard look at the clues to try and find the whereabouts of the criminal. When Russell leaves the storage room she was in, she calls for a cab. She dismisses two of them and climbs into the third one. Little did she know, Holmes was actually the driver of this one and he made Russell pull the revolver on him. This reveals that Holmes does like to take advantage of people, but in this case he was doing it for a quick laugh. In addition, Russell is introduced to Lestrade and even Lestrade can't believe that Holmes has finally decided to work with a partner.
The book thrives on Holmes's change from the old Holmes into a new and refreshened Holmes. Holmes is now more considerate of females and even acts like a father figure sometimes. He looks out for Russell and gives her nourishment. He is the one who is also guiding her and nurturing her growth as his apprentice. When someone attempted to kill Russell through a window, Holmes immediately isolated her in a windowless room. A package was delivered to their whereabouts and Holmes immediately has the bomb squad examine it. All in all, Holmes wants to keep Russell safe and out of harm's way while in the meantime, he ensures that Russell learns his trade well.
However, there were times when there was a role-reversal. When Russell found more news about the package and didn't want to leave the country so quickly, she yelled at Holmes like a mother would to a young boy. She told Holmes to take a shower and to dress casually and to get some rest. She urges him to recharge because Holmes had been up for a few days. Furthermore, Holmes is beginning to slip. He isn't as sharp anymore and Russell has begun to find some errors in Holmes's reasoning. Russell found out that the criminal is a woman and Holmes overlooked it. Russell even linked the package to the people involved with Jessica Simpson's ransom. Holmes acknowledges all this and doesn't talk to Russell until they arrive in Palestine.
Because of the apprenticeship, we see that Holmes begins to be more relateable. Despite having an immense intuition, he still has human flaws. For example, he cannot win over old age. We see that his mind is starting to deteriorate. Holmes is becoming a totally different person because of his relationship with Russell. However, I think he knows that he's going to have to give up his trade sooner or later. He gave Russell the choice of picking where to go and she picked Palestine. Holmes also mentions making Russell assume mastery instead of staying as an apprentice. I wonder if Holmes will die in this book and maybe finally acknowledge Russell as someone better than him.
The book thrives on Holmes's change from the old Holmes into a new and refreshened Holmes. Holmes is now more considerate of females and even acts like a father figure sometimes. He looks out for Russell and gives her nourishment. He is the one who is also guiding her and nurturing her growth as his apprentice. When someone attempted to kill Russell through a window, Holmes immediately isolated her in a windowless room. A package was delivered to their whereabouts and Holmes immediately has the bomb squad examine it. All in all, Holmes wants to keep Russell safe and out of harm's way while in the meantime, he ensures that Russell learns his trade well.
However, there were times when there was a role-reversal. When Russell found more news about the package and didn't want to leave the country so quickly, she yelled at Holmes like a mother would to a young boy. She told Holmes to take a shower and to dress casually and to get some rest. She urges him to recharge because Holmes had been up for a few days. Furthermore, Holmes is beginning to slip. He isn't as sharp anymore and Russell has begun to find some errors in Holmes's reasoning. Russell found out that the criminal is a woman and Holmes overlooked it. Russell even linked the package to the people involved with Jessica Simpson's ransom. Holmes acknowledges all this and doesn't talk to Russell until they arrive in Palestine.
Because of the apprenticeship, we see that Holmes begins to be more relateable. Despite having an immense intuition, he still has human flaws. For example, he cannot win over old age. We see that his mind is starting to deteriorate. Holmes is becoming a totally different person because of his relationship with Russell. However, I think he knows that he's going to have to give up his trade sooner or later. He gave Russell the choice of picking where to go and she picked Palestine. Holmes also mentions making Russell assume mastery instead of staying as an apprentice. I wonder if Holmes will die in this book and maybe finally acknowledge Russell as someone better than him.
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