The Secret Diary of Dr. Watson

Rating:
Summary: A pleasant surprise for Holmesians
Review: I had low expectations for this book since so many Holmes pastches are uninspired ripoffs, but this turned out to be a clever and worthwhile surprise. There is a (mostly negligible) plot carried through the diary entries of Watson, but the real interest comes in the chronicled circumstances of the "real" cases behind the famous stories of the Canon, Watson's difficulties in pleasing his publisher and Holmes, and Holmes' "true" character and adventures. Well written and researched, and entirely "plausible" with respect to the Holmes cases.

Rating:
Summary: If I was impressed enough to write a review....
Review: I have to say that this book exceeded my expectations by a longshot. Not only is it witty and well-paced, Our Hero, Dr. Watson, develops quite nicely. He is fleshed out into a real believable person--- not at all the cardboard sidekick to Sherlock Holmes he used to be.

Throughout most of the book I was laughing, until of course I hit the plot twist after Sherlock Holmes death. Funny, I didn't even particulary notice the plot advancing, which is always a sign of a good book by me---I don't like it when you can break everything down into action/reaction moves by the characters. In other words, this reads lightly, just like a detailed, humourously insiteful journal, complete with occasional skips and gaps in time and events that the reader needs to fill in for himself/herself. No, this book doesn't spoonfeed you or "club you over the head" with its plot developments. It reads like somtething from real life, like a letter from your dear uncle--- you know, the one that always has witty observations about life, and who also manages to weave these observations together into a mesmerizing story.

No, no, don't worry, The Secret Diary of Dr. Watson is not "heavy" reading like Faulkner or Shakespeare or any other classic literay great---- it flows well, and after a chapter or two, you don't even notice the compelling recreation of 19th century English. The language simply becomes the flavor of the book, as it should. It doesn't even feel contrived. Remarkable.

I won't tell you what happens after Sherlock Holmes' death---that would be letting the secret out, and I wouldn't want to spoil it for any potential readers. The last few chapters are both exactly what I expected, and not at all what I expected. They put the final touches on Watson's personality, hauntingly reminding me of thoughts that I myself have had about various friends and friendships, and about life. Something to think about.

In short, you know the book is remarkable if I have gone through the trouble of putting my words down "in print" and hung them out to dry on Amazon. I personally am both lazy and afraid of the limelight. But this book is too good to let it fade away into oblivion---and I'm not even a Sherlock Holmes fan! Well, enough of my ramblings...

Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Up!!!
Review: You know how Holmes always takes the known facts and then shows you how they all fit together in a surprising way? Well, that's what this book does, only it does it about Holmes himself. Two thumbs up! This one's not only worth reading, but worth owning.

Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Up!!!
Review: You know how Holmes always takes the known facts and then shows you how they all fit together in a surprising way? Well, that's what this book does, only it does it about Holmes himself. Two thumbs up! This one's not only worth reading, but worth owning.