This story made my feminist heart squeal. The lead female character outwits both a king and the wily Sherlock Holmes to come out the victor in the end. According to Watson, this is the only time a woman outwits Sherlock Holmes. My only complaint is that SACD wrapped the story up so quickly so there was little time to gloat.
I haven't started yet, but did pick up my copy for $5.00 at the used book store. I think I have about 40 tales to pick from (yay! eat your heart out, rural-dwelling Aaron!)
Harold's reading a bit of it now, and just read me a passage regarding Holmes' cocaine use. He commented "You don't see that portrayed on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, now do you?"
Hopefully I wrench it out of his hands later tonight and be able to comment tomorrow. In the meantime, why don't you pick a few more for us to read?
How refreshing! 15 pages and done. Great characters, great plot, just fabulous!
I see some irony in Holme's being the witness to the marraige to perhaps the only woman who perhaps he could have loved (or at the very least had a very involved realtionship. Nice!
I did figure out where he was going with the smoke bomb bit - but think he blew it when he quickly explained that it was a flase alarm. What do you think? Of course, I think there was a lot of underestimating going on as well.
I think you are right that there was a lot of underestimating going on, especially after the King warned him of her wily ways. I also agree that calming the false alarm so soon after the bomb was set off gave him away.
Did the comment about women running to the thing they value most in a fire, make you wonder what you would go for? Mine would be our pets. I have this inexplicable fear that the house will catch on fire while we are gone and our animals will be burned alive.
It also makes me wonder, what do men do? Try to save their own skins? At first I was a little insulted, because it felt as though the insinuation was that women are weak, but then I realized that, regardless of how it was meant, it is actually a compliment.
I am currently reading the first novelette- the one that introduces Watson to Holmes (can't for the life of me think what the title is and I don't have the book right here). I wasn't going to choose any of the novelettes for the group since they are over 20 pages long (want to give Aaron a shot this time). Anyway, it is your choice now. Which one would you like for us to read?
My mom has long said that if there was a fire in the house the one thing she would save (assuming everyone was out safe) was the large bin of photos. I'm not sure exactly what I would save - maybe my book of poetry and my scrapbooks or my grandma's quilts - they're really the only things I own that aren't replaceable.
I do think it's a compliment, and one of the qaulities that make women, women. We are aware of worth, and "save-me-status" (usually) of items regardless of their monetary value. I guess it's all part of being the "gentle sex."
Maybe men would first rush to save lives, then extinguish the fire? I'm not sure.
I don't think my volume has the novelettes - alas - and I'll post a new title momentarily.
SACD refers to this story in The Five Orange Pips:
"I have been beaten four times--three times by men and once by a woman."
Having read a few of the stories now, I can't wait to find another where he is beaten! However - I bet he doesn't refer to him as "the man" as he does Irene Adler. Actually it reminds me of the Spanish way to refer to someone you don't particularly care for - "esa mujer" - that woman! I've also heard my family use the same sort of phrase - "that Wagner woman."
I wonder how many of the other stories have a female perpetrator? Shoot, now I'm going to have to read them all to find the three men who outwitted him and to see if there is another female "man"! BTW: Harold's pick next, since we haven't heard if Aaron's gotten the book yet?
I thought this story wrapped up way too soon. I would have loved to hear more about this women who bested Holmes. I think she was the exception in those times and that was the most intreging aspect to Holmes. I think that is the most intreging thing about certain women is their intelect. She showed her intelect and willingness to not be messed with. Overall a good story I think.
9 comments:
This story made my feminist heart squeal. The lead female character outwits both a king and the wily Sherlock Holmes to come out the victor in the end. According to Watson, this is the only time a woman outwits Sherlock Holmes. My only complaint is that SACD wrapped the story up so quickly so there was little time to gloat.
I haven't started yet, but did pick up my copy for $5.00 at the used book store. I think I have about 40 tales to pick from (yay! eat your heart out, rural-dwelling Aaron!)
Harold's reading a bit of it now, and just read me a passage regarding Holmes' cocaine use. He commented "You don't see that portrayed on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, now do you?"
Hopefully I wrench it out of his hands later tonight and be able to comment tomorrow. In the meantime, why don't you pick a few more for us to read?
How refreshing! 15 pages and done. Great characters, great plot, just fabulous!
I see some irony in Holme's being the witness to the marraige to perhaps the only woman who perhaps he could have loved (or at the very least had a very involved realtionship. Nice!
I did figure out where he was going with the smoke bomb bit - but think he blew it when he quickly explained that it was a flase alarm. What do you think? Of course, I think there was a lot of underestimating going on as well.
=) Good choice, M, it's like Monk in paper form.
I think you are right that there was a lot of underestimating going on, especially after the King warned him of her wily ways. I also agree that calming the false alarm so soon after the bomb was set off gave him away.
Did the comment about women running to the thing they value most in a fire, make you wonder what you would go for? Mine would be our pets. I have this inexplicable fear that the house will catch on fire while we are gone and our animals will be burned alive.
It also makes me wonder, what do men do? Try to save their own skins? At first I was a little insulted, because it felt as though the insinuation was that women are weak, but then I realized that, regardless of how it was meant, it is actually a compliment.
I am currently reading the first novelette- the one that introduces Watson to Holmes (can't for the life of me think what the title is and I don't have the book right here). I wasn't going to choose any of the novelettes for the group since they are over 20 pages long (want to give Aaron a shot this time). Anyway, it is your choice now. Which one would you like for us to read?
My mom has long said that if there was a fire in the house the one thing she would save (assuming everyone was out safe) was the large bin of photos. I'm not sure exactly what I would save - maybe my book of poetry and my scrapbooks or my grandma's quilts - they're really the only things I own that aren't replaceable.
I do think it's a compliment, and one of the qaulities that make women, women. We are aware of worth, and "save-me-status" (usually) of items regardless of their monetary value. I guess it's all part of being the "gentle sex."
Maybe men would first rush to save lives, then extinguish the fire? I'm not sure.
I don't think my volume has the novelettes - alas - and I'll post a new title momentarily.
SACD refers to this story in The Five Orange Pips:
"I have been beaten four times--three times by men and once by a woman."
Having read a few of the stories now, I can't wait to find another where he is beaten! However - I bet he doesn't refer to him as "the man" as he does Irene Adler. Actually it reminds me of the Spanish way to refer to someone you don't particularly care for - "esa mujer" - that woman! I've also heard my family use the same sort of phrase - "that Wagner woman."
I wonder how many of the other stories have a female perpetrator? Shoot, now I'm going to have to read them all to find the three men who outwitted him and to see if there is another female "man"! BTW: Harold's pick next, since we haven't heard if Aaron's gotten the book yet?
I thought this story wrapped up way too soon. I would have loved to hear more about this women who bested Holmes. I think she was the exception in those times and that was the most intreging aspect to Holmes. I think that is the most intreging thing about certain women is their intelect. She showed her intelect and willingness to not be messed with. Overall a good story I think.
Ah, to think after MD we'd be complaining about stories that conclude too QUICKLY!! :-)
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