#56: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Doyle, Arthur Conan: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Ebook.
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SUMMARY: A collection of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories.
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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'I have come for advice.'
'That is easily got.'
'And help.'
'That is not always so easy.'" - Adventure V: The Five Orange Pips.
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I downloaded this book on my iPad a few months ago, but didn't get around to reading it until recently.  I apologize for the incomplete citation above; the version I downloaded didn't provide any information regarding who created this electronic version, the year it was created, etc.  This post will differ from the usual set-up I have because this book is a compilation of short stories and not a novel.  
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The main thing I liked about this collection of stories: 

• The stories, although short, were each enjoyable because of their brevity.  I like Sherlock Holmes novels in general, but sometimes they have the tendency to drag on.  Each of these stories had a complete beginning, middle, and end.  However... (see below).

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The main thing I did not like about this collection of stories: 

• It would have been nice if, at the end of some of the stories, there was an elaboration of what happened to the criminals and/or victims.  A few of the stories felt like they ended too abruptly.  They got to the point of the mystery and provided the necessary information that proved it had been solved, but some further information about those involved in the case would have been appreciated.

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Here are a thought or two for each story:

1. Adventure 1: A Scandal in Bohemia.  A woman blackmails her ex-lover.  The ex-lover was an ass for breaking things off with her because she wasn't of the same class as him.  I'm glad she was happy at the end.
2. Adventure 2: The Red-Headed League.  The victim in this story is lacking a few files in the upstairs department, and it is unfortunate that people like him can be taken advantage of so easily.
3. Adventure 3: A Case of Identity.  The parents of this victim are EVIL.  And love really can blind even the most level-headed of people.
4. Adventure 4: The Boscombe Valley Mystery.  I liked the way Holmes handled this situation.  Things aren't always black and white, and the fact that Holmes does not reveal who the criminal is to the masses was a noble decision.
5. Adventure 5:  The Five Orange Pips.  This story was the scariest of the 12.  Left me with chills.
6. Adventure 6: The Man with the Twisted Lip.  It's a shame that getting money through deceitful means is sometimes easier than making an honest living.
7. Adventure 7: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.  Funny place to hide a diamond...
8. Adventure 8: The Adventure of the Speckled Band.  Another evil step-parent taking advantage of their step-daughter(s).
9. Adventure 9: The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb.  Holmes doesn't find the villain in this story!  Such a rare occurrence.  
10. Adventure 10: The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor.  I felt very sad for the victim in this story.  I understand why his wife did what she did, but doesn't make it any less terrible!
11. Adventure 11: The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet.  This whole family is messed up, and I'm pretty sure that, if Doyle was to continue writing this story, all three of them would have a very sad ending.
12. Adventure 12: The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.  Another case of greedy parents doing horrible things to their children.  This was a theme in a few of the stories in this compilation...

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Short stories are usually not my pick because they tend to leave me feeling unfulfilled.  I prefer longer, detailed stories, but this book is an exception.  I loved each story, and although I was left wanting at the end of a few, I am glad to have read them.
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Recommend?  Yes!  I enjoyed reading this book.

#55: Dead Man's Folly

Christie, Agatha: Dead Man's Folly. New York: HarperCollins Publisher, 1956. Print. 226 pages.

SETTING: Nasse House in Devon, a county in South West England.

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SUMMARY: The successful Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, is suddenly called upon by famous mystery author, Ariadne Oliver, to come to Nasse House, a beautiful country property where she is a guest.  A crime has yet to occur, but Ms. Oliver feels an impending evil is upon Nasse House.  She is unfortunately correct...

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "'I think when one is old, the death of anyone who is young upsets one out of proportion.  We old folks expect to die, but the child had her life before her.'

'It might not have been a very interesting life.'

'Not from our point of view, perhaps, but it might have been interesting to her.'" - Chapter 16, part 2, page 187.

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With just a little more free time than before, life has become so relaxing!  Our school bookstore was recently revamped and now provides a very comfortable place to sit and read.  I missed reading a good Poirot novel, so decided that this would be the next book of choice!
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The storyline.  It was very simple, but I was hooked from start to finish.
2. Poirot's methods of deduction.  It's not explained all the way until the end, as in any good mystery novel, but when the grand reveal happens, Christie manages to tie everything together very nicely.
3. The subtle clues scattered throughout the book.  Piggybacking off of the last point, she brings all the little clues she gives the readers together at the end, and everything makes sense, as it always does.
4. Christie's writing style.  But you already know this :)
5. Hercule Poirot himself.  One of my favorite detectives, only in close competition with Sherlock Holmes.  He is eccentric and has his own unique methods of successfully completing his work, and most importantly, he stays true to his character, regardless of what other people say about him. 

Things I didn't like about this book: 

1. We aren't given any information as to the fate of the criminals.  It made the story feel a little incomplete to not know what the final outcome was.

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I love Christie's novels, especially ones featuring Poirot, and I rarely have any dislikes.  I pick these novels when I want a good book without having to go through the effort of shopping around for one.  My book soul was successfully satisfied.

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Recommend?  Yes!

#54: Mansfield Park

Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park. New York: Barnes and Nobles Inc., 2007. Print. Pages 407-656.

(I read the novel out of my Barnes and Nobles compilation edition of all seven of Austen's major works.)

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SETTING: Mansfield Park, a country estate in England.

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SUMMARY: Sir Thomas Bertram of Mansfield Park decides to take in Fanny Price, his wife's poor niece, as an act of favor to the Price family, who are never able to make ends meet.  The story chronicles Fanny's life growing up in Mansfield Park and how her development is affected by the fact that she is always meant to feel in second place to the Bertram children, especially by her other maternal aunt, Aunt Norris.

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FAVORITE QUOTE: "But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them." - Chapter 1, page 409.

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I finally have a lot of free time and, as I am often prone to do when I'm feeling stressed or burned out (currently burned out and ready for the school year to be over!), I looked to a Jane Austen novel to provide me with the relaxation and distraction I desired.  I've only ever read Mansfield Park once before, but I have watched the 1999 film multiple times and the 2007 TV adaptation one time.  I actually re-watched the 1999 version again last week, and I enjoy re-watching it so much that I decided to read the novel for a second time.  
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Things I liked about this book:

1. The writing.  As you've already come to realize, I LOVE Austen's writing style.
2. Fanny's happily ever after.  Regardless of what I write about Fanny (see point #1 below), I'm glad she's happy at the end.  She suffers quite a bit of emotional abuse at the hands of Aunt Norris, and deserves something good to happen.
3. Tom Bertram.  He's the "bad boy" of the family because he loves all things sinful, but he's my favorite of the four Bertram siblings, followed distantly in second place by Julia.  He's the most genuine character and speaks his mind 100% of the time, and its something I grew to really appreciate once I realized how fickle the other characters are.

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Things/characters I didn't like about/in this book: 

1. Fanny's character is so weak.  I understand she's supposed to be young and naive, and that's the appeal of her character in the book, but it became annoying very quickly.  She absolutely has no backbone and no opinion on anything, and is shocked when she's treated well.  I understand this is to emphasize her mistreatment by her Aunt Norris while growing up at Mansfield, but come on!  It's a little much.  She's starts off immature, and the amazing transformation that she has in the book doesn't really change her character all that much.  Her personality and traits are quite opposite to the strong female protagonists seen in P&P and Emma.  Her character is lacking in many areas, in my opinion.
2. Mrs. Norris.  A terrible, spiteful woman.  My dislike for her only increased as the book progressed.  She's manipulative and cunning to a disturbing capacity.  She's the perfect example of a person who talks too much while actually saying very little.
3. Henry and Mary Crawford.  An awful pair of siblings and I wish they had an awful ending too.
4. Edmund Bertram.  He's such a... boy.  The stereotypical, becomes an idiot for a pretty face, boy.
5. Maria Bertram.  She deserves what she gets in the end.  She thought she could have her cake and eat it too.  Silly girl. 

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After writing this list, I've realized there isn't a whole lot I like about this book.  I've decided it probably lands last on my Austen list.  I've read about how the main theme of this book is morality, and I appreciate the effort and get the points Austen is trying to make, etc..  But the core purpose of a fiction novel, in my opinion, is to entertain, either through the fun of the story line or through appreciation of the point the novel is making.  For me, this story did not do a great job of achieving either point.

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Recommend?  Yes, because it's very well written!  But if you haven't read her other novels already, especially P&P, go to those first.