The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

This is the discussion thread for the Fall 2021 Group Read The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

I was happy to see this as the Gutenberg entry in the group reads. I jump at any excuse to read Sherlock Holmes, and The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of my favorites.

For anyone who only knows Sherlock Holmes from movies, I encourage you to read the stories. They are so much better. I grew up on the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce films, and one thing that always bothered me was the buffoonish portrayal of Watson, which goes against the stories. Watson is very intelligent in his own right, which makes much more sense given that he is the chronicler of the Holmes cases.

I enjoyed revisiting an old favorite.

Lisa MD

I recalled reading The Hound of the Baskervilles when I was in school around 45 years ago; however, the details of the story escaped me. I remembered only a feeling of suspense and horror surrounding the tale. I was excited to see it appear as the Gutenberg selection this season because it was the push I needed to revisit Sherlock Holmes.

I had a vague memory of some of the events in the story as I was reading, but never enough to have that aha moment where I suddenly pieced everything together. The sense of foreboding and dread I recalled from reading it so long ago was just as strong this time around. I only have to hear the Moors mentioned to know nothing good ever seems to happen when someone is wandering alone on them. I really enjoyed this atmospheric story and it has made me want to read more classic Sherlock Holmes.

Reading a Sherlock Holmes is a but like reading an Agatha Christie - you can't tell if familiarity is because of having seen an adaptation or because of a reread. Either way it's enjoyable to travel the story with Watson, and whilst some of the twists (it was Holmes, obvs!) aren't a surprise due to the vague familiarity, the atmosphere and detail still strike home. As Lisa says, the moors as a place to be avoided (see also Jamaica Inn) were particularly effective!

I have read this before, but certainly enjoyed reading it again - the atmosphere is compelling, and, agreeing with Lisa and Cat, you just know that you need to stay away from the Moors!

One thing that I didn't recall was the somewhat jarring attitude about the escaped convict - they described him as a brutal killer. Yet, they all seemed to feel that the whole thing was okay as long as he left England - just keep him out of the way until he can get on a ship for South America! Ummm...........okay? He can go kill people elsewhere, no problem!

I am sure I have read this book before, but it was so long ago that I had forgotten the ending. I quite enjoyed the book through the first 14 chapters. I learned a couple of new words (goyal and dyspnea), and the fast-paced action was fun. Sherlock is Sherlock, but I do have to admit that parts of the book are ridiculous as he prattles on about his expertise in obscure knowledge (e.g., newspaper headline fonts, perfumes). Chapter 15 was a disappointment, in which Sherlock shows the machinery behind the story. I'm not keen on a story where there is no chance one could figure it out beforehand. Several pieces of vital information were kept hidden until Chapter 15.

That being said, a good read. I may dip into other Holmes in the future. I'm sure I don't remember them either, and perhaps they are less "talky" at the end. Maybe.

Nick KY

I first read THOTB as a pre-teen. I like to think of it as a Gothic novel because I was drawn to it during the middle of my Edgar Allen Poe phase and simply needed to get everything Victorian and Spooky into my system. I am in concurrence with the opinions above that the Moors induce a great deal of the spookiness which first attracted me to the story. And to have a great house sitting in the middle of the Moors is an added Gothic bonus.

In my first impressions, I was let down, though, by the non-supernatural element of the resolution. I wanted something otherworldly to fit the atmosphere. But in re-reading the story many times since my childhood, I find the eeriness to more than compensate for the all too real-worldliness of the resolution. Finding out, years later, that this was Conan Doyle's first re-introduction of Sherlock Holmes after his "Death" added to the spectral quality. As Conan Doyle became more and more interested in the supernatural himself, I wonder if he tempered his all too practical Holmes with more and more ghostly surroundings. (Well, he did. But I think these outside-the-story considerations make a re-read all that much more chilling.)

In the end, I think of this fantastic book as one of my favorite Gothics AND one of my favorite mysteries.

Amy B
I finished this book last night, all the way through, afraid I had read it before (I'd already read two of the four group reads this time around.) There is definitely a sense of familiarity in reading Sherlock Holmes books, almost cozy. Until you get to the description of the murder toward the end of the book that is feared to be the latest Baskerville.
But in spite of really liking the story and the feeling of relief that I hadn't read it before (I kept thinking it was going to turn out to be the doctor as the villain), I kept dozing off reading the last chapter where everything gets explained. And the last page ended so abruptly that I kept turning to the next page (and finding nothing there) that I thought that a page was missing. Weird. Anyway. Enjoyable read - thanks to whomever suggested it!
(Oh, and I couldn't help thinking of the movie American Werewolf in London - the scene where the best friend gets attacked while they are walking on the moors. NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS ON THE MOORS!)

This is the second time I'm reading this fabulous mystery classic. I read it in high school (YEARS ago) and this second time around, I enjoyed it even more. I was able to appreciate the nuances of this story more readily. So glad it was an option for this season's group reads!

I had read this before, but didn't remember very much. It wouldn't have inspired me to read more of Sherlock Holmes if I had read this first, but that may be because Holmes wasn't present for a large portion of the story. (Actually he was, but Watson didn't know that and it's told from Watson's POV.) I'm not big on horror, so didn't appreciate the actual story about the hound, although I did find the whodunnit aspect interesting, especially when Holmes recognized the similarity of one of the characters to a portrait.

This is a book I enjoy re-reading periodically. It always strikes me as an atypical Holmes story, with Watson off on his own for a big chunk of it. Indeed, it's the one where you see the most of the good doctor as himself, rather than as Holmes' foil, across all the Conan Doyle canon. Perhaps because of that, I find Holmes more condescending than usual in it when he is about, and find myself wondering how poor old Watson had the patience to take it!

The thing I love the most about it, though, is how Conan Doyle brings Dartmoor alive, in its moods, antiquity and sheer vastness - its a character in itself (as various folks have mentioned). Perhaps that was even an influence on Delia Owens, when she did the same for the marsh in Where the Crawdads Sing.

Nick KY wrote: "I first read THOTB as a pre-teen. I like to think of it as a Gothic novel because I was drawn to it during the middle of my Edgar Allen Poe phase..."

So do I. And I'm always surprised it doesn't have either gothic or paranormal as an MPG.

Paul wrote: "That being said, a good read. I may dip into other Holmes in the future. I'm sure I don't remember them either, and perhaps they are less "talky" at the end. Maybe."

I think its worth it, but don't expect them all to be like this one. Most of the short stories are less "fantastical". As I said, I think of it as atypical.

Like others here, I first read this when I was about 10. I remember that evening - curled up in a comfortable chair in front of my grandparents' big picture window in Colorado. As I read a thunder storm blew in over the plains; it was perfect hearing the heavy wind and thunder outside as I read about a ghostly hound pursuing people over the moors. Since that day this remains my favorite Holmes novel. I think it's held up better than the others.

Because I've read it quite a few times I decided to listen to it this time. One thing that struck me was Holmes trusting Hastings as much as he did. I think he's usually more disparaging of him. Sherlock even complimented him a few times! Plus, I always enjoy reading about nature, and there are some good descriptions of the moors.

I don't mind that Holmes isn't in this book as much as you'd expect, I enjoy reading about Watson who tries so hard to follow Holmes directions without becoming annoying to Baskerville. I especially felt for him when he had to follow the Baron outside to a tryst with his lady friend. Poor Watson has such strong feelings about such delicate situations. Still, he took the responsibility seriously, even if it made him uncomfortable.

The ending was still tense, and I thoroughly enoyed rereading this old favorite.

I love Sherlock Holmes. I'm sure I've read this one before, but I think it was when I was in high school, which has been... hmmm... let's just say a while. Like many others, the only thing I remembered was the spooky feeling of the moors and possibility of some paranormal element.

Turns out I had completely forgotten the ending! So that was fun.... ;-)

Many of my reading choices are determined by the setting. I want the setting to be another character in the book, and this one fit that perfectly. The dark, wild, isolated moor sets up the possibility of danger and evil- both supernatural and man-made.
It was nice to revisit this book and be transported to a different time and place.

Like everyone else, I had read this before, but it was probably 50 years ago (does that date me?). I decided to listen to the audiobook this time and that was really enjoyable. I liked that Watson was on his own for much of the book, Holmes can be a bit overbearing. Glad I gave it another go.

Unlike everyone else, I had never read this particular book before. I had read several of the Sherlock Holmes short stories - the room where I often stayed at my in-laws' home had a battered volume tucked away in a drawer, and it was my custom to read one of the tales each night before going to sleep. But that was years ago, and I didn't realize how much that little ritual had meant to me until I picked up a copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles for this challenge.

This book had the same feel as some of my favorites among the short stories: a sense of dread, and an urgency to stop further crimes from being committed. The supernatural flavoring was a nice bonus and quite appropriate for this time of year. I also liked that much of the story came from Watson's POV - Holmes can be a little hard to take at times. But most of all, reading this book has led me to revisit some of the short works along with some happy memories. I had tried one of the other Group Reads selections and didn't care for it, but this turned out to be an excellent choice.

I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I have always been a fan. I love how Holmes figures out the cases on very little clues.
I always loved Watson as the storyteller. This is my second time reading this book.

I had a hard time getting into this book, but I'm glad I stuck with it. As it went on it got a lot more interesting. I don't think I've read a Sherlock Holmes book before and was surprised that the POV came from Watson. It got me wondering if the likable but not so bright sidekick to the smart/never wrong investigator started with this pair? I had a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight at first (I listened to the audiobook,) but as I kept listening and got more into it things started falling into place and I ended up enjoying the book.

Laurie ME

I enjoyed rereading this book after so long. During the last challenge I read the book Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong: Reopening the Case of The Hound of the Baskervilles, which made me want to read the Hound again. It was fun.

CEELEE
I just finished this excellent novel last night. Like other readers here, I also found that I may have read it before becuase it seemed familiar but I couldn't remember all the details. I know I have seen the movie so I am probably picking up the familiar parts from that.

No big deal. It was mostly like reading it for the first time. A great read for late at night when the wind is whipping around stirring up things and making strange noises. outside. I consider this novel as a true gothic even though the hound was not a supernatural creature , its origin was unknown for most of the book. The setting on the moors is perfect! I always like reading books set in that part of England because the moors are like characters themselves and play a role in every story. Grimpen Mire sounded perfectly sinister and lived up to its name. Good plotting but I felt a little uneasy during the time Holmes was not in the picture for part of the book. Lots of twists and I had forgotten about the missing boot and was surprised when it turned up at the end. I appreciate the final summary chapter to remind me of details I had forgotten. I am glad SRC has been featuring these books from the Project Gutenberg website. I love reading classics. It's nice to be introduced to something "new" or visit again books from the past.

Brooke TX

I'm pretty sure I read this in high school (a continuing theme in this thread, it seems!), but I had forgotten enough, and mixed up details I thought I remembered with bits from various adaptations, that I was still engaged with the story. I loved the atmosphere (suitably spooky for my Halloween TBR!), but always find that I'm disappointed with the original characterization of Watson, given some of the excellent Watsons in the aforementioned adaptations.