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nosc87's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
books_and_beers's review against another edition
5.0
In this book we meet our favorite characters once again, but this time instead of the setting being around the fireplace is 221B Baker Street, it is in a quite nursing home in the year 1929. Here we find Watson "still, but not silent," lying on what will soon become his death bed. His health has deteriorated and we now find a frail old man where there used to be such life and vigor. But there we also find Sherlock Holmes sitting by his bedside to keep him company and reminisce about all that they had achieved together in life.
Just the premise of this book made me a bit melancholy, these two are probably my favorite, most beloved, literary characters so it made me sad to think of them at the end of their lives. But we all know that everyone must die, even Holmes and Watson aren't immune from death. In a way this book gives a sense of closure that wasn't present in the last Sherlock Holmes story by Doyle. Here we get to say good-bye and be with Watson right up until the end. It is like saying good-bye to a friend, and I very much like the fact that David Ruffle, the author, allowed us to be there at the end. I laughed a little when David Ruffle apologized at the end for doing that but I don't think he needs to apologize for anything! The book was wonderful, and beautifully written and definitely has nothing to apologize for.
One of the unique things about the book is that it is all, 100%, dialogue. There is no description or other factors at play, just the words of two friends talking for the last time. I have never read a book like this and I very much enjoyed it. Having just the dialogue made it more personal, intimate in a way, which I think made this book better. It contained only the essential piece. You can picture them talking and made you feel like you were there, sitting in the corner, eaves-dropping on this final conversation.
What we get from the conversation is Holmes and Watson reminiscing about old cases. Here you learn the details about things that were exaggerated and a look into the Giant Rat of Sumatra, which also was a mystery to the readers of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories. We also learn more about all our favorite characters: Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, and Mary. The stories they tell each other are very honest and they seem to let loose all these things that have been building up over the course of their lives. I also thought it was cute that even in their old age you find Watson and Holmes making little jabs at each other like they always did in their younger years.
I don't want to give anything away because I think this is a book all Sherlock Holmes fans should read, but you get to see more of the younger lives of Watson and Holmes. Here at the end of their days we get the stories of when they were little, and what they most regret. From both Watson and Holmes we get a shocking confession that could change how you see these characters. After these confessions I loved the response that the other gave. They truly are the best of friends. While some didn't like these confessions, feeling they were a bit too far-fetched, they wouldn't really be shocking confessions if after hearing them you thought, "Yeah guess I should have seen that one coming." I think they added another side to Holmes and Watson that we hadn't been privy to up until that point and it helped strengthen the already un-breakable bond between the two.
Overall I give this book 5/5 stars. It is original without breaking from the original feel of the characters. David Ruffle did an amazing job of showing these two characters that I have come to love so much. I definitely will be reading more of his books. Like I said before if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes I would highly recommend this book to you, you will not be sorry you read it. Great job David, I look forward to reading more of your works in the future!! :)
Just the premise of this book made me a bit melancholy, these two are probably my favorite, most beloved, literary characters so it made me sad to think of them at the end of their lives. But we all know that everyone must die, even Holmes and Watson aren't immune from death. In a way this book gives a sense of closure that wasn't present in the last Sherlock Holmes story by Doyle. Here we get to say good-bye and be with Watson right up until the end. It is like saying good-bye to a friend, and I very much like the fact that David Ruffle, the author, allowed us to be there at the end. I laughed a little when David Ruffle apologized at the end for doing that but I don't think he needs to apologize for anything! The book was wonderful, and beautifully written and definitely has nothing to apologize for.
One of the unique things about the book is that it is all, 100%, dialogue. There is no description or other factors at play, just the words of two friends talking for the last time. I have never read a book like this and I very much enjoyed it. Having just the dialogue made it more personal, intimate in a way, which I think made this book better. It contained only the essential piece. You can picture them talking and made you feel like you were there, sitting in the corner, eaves-dropping on this final conversation.
What we get from the conversation is Holmes and Watson reminiscing about old cases. Here you learn the details about things that were exaggerated and a look into the Giant Rat of Sumatra, which also was a mystery to the readers of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories. We also learn more about all our favorite characters: Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, and Mary. The stories they tell each other are very honest and they seem to let loose all these things that have been building up over the course of their lives. I also thought it was cute that even in their old age you find Watson and Holmes making little jabs at each other like they always did in their younger years.
I don't want to give anything away because I think this is a book all Sherlock Holmes fans should read, but you get to see more of the younger lives of Watson and Holmes. Here at the end of their days we get the stories of when they were little, and what they most regret. From both Watson and Holmes we get a shocking confession that could change how you see these characters. After these confessions I loved the response that the other gave. They truly are the best of friends. While some didn't like these confessions, feeling they were a bit too far-fetched, they wouldn't really be shocking confessions if after hearing them you thought, "Yeah guess I should have seen that one coming." I think they added another side to Holmes and Watson that we hadn't been privy to up until that point and it helped strengthen the already un-breakable bond between the two.
Overall I give this book 5/5 stars. It is original without breaking from the original feel of the characters. David Ruffle did an amazing job of showing these two characters that I have come to love so much. I definitely will be reading more of his books. Like I said before if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes I would highly recommend this book to you, you will not be sorry you read it. Great job David, I look forward to reading more of your works in the future!! :)
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sorry, but, to me, this was plain boring. All dialogue, long diatribes that might be interesting for the author, but not for the reader, and although it's obvious that the author knows well the canon, the only use he does of it is... showing it.
It failed to engage me.
It failed to engage me.
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