Sign of Four

pick

28-30 Nov 24 (audiobook)
The second Sherlock Holmes novel in this collection. I could really listen to Stephen Fry reading anything but I did enjoy this story for its introduction of Mary as Watson‘s love interest. I found Holmes‘ drug use a bit shocking - and wondered whether I should have allowed Trix to listen unsupervised. There probably were racist elements but I thought on the whole it was anti-colonialist.

9 likes

Gissy

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

Last book completed in October. I think what I enjoyed more was Watson relationship with Miss Morstan (no spoilers So sad to see Holmes in drug dependence. Those first pages were hard because no one like to see another human being in that trap, sick world. As expected, Holmes will solve the mystery by using a deduction method. 3/3.5⭐️

Gissy #HauntedShelf #FreightClub @Jadames2024

Other read 10 pts
Hours read 5 x 10 pts = 50
Readathons 6 x 10 = 60 pts
#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Dabbe @Cuilin
#Witchathon (part of a series)
#FrightFestbingo (classic)
#GottaCatch‘emAll (greed)
#AfterDarkBingo (:secret community)
#BodyCountBingo (event)
1 pt post
Total = 121 + 3,441 pts = 3,562 pts 1mo

Cuilin 🎉🤩 1mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 1mo

49 likes3 comments

kwmg40

Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

This mystery was not bad, but I mostly enjoyed reading about how Dr. Watson and his wife Mary first met. There is usually not much in terms of romance in the Sherlock Holmes stories so I found this aspect surprising.

#GottaCatchEmAll (prompt 25. Wheezing: Victorian era) @PuddleJumper
#52bookclub24 (prompt 1. Locked-room mystery)

PuddleJumper ❤️❤️ 4mo

kwmg40 @Kristy_K @LaraReads @KarenUK @Hooked_on_books @BarkingMadRead @Crazeedi @brittanyreads @Magpiegem @BookBelle84 @Larkken @jenniferw88 @julesG @Deblovestoread @MidnightBookGirl @Librarybelle @triplem80 @Tove_Reads @Read4life @Bluebird @BarbaraBB @eeclayton @hissingpotatoes @Book_Lover95 @TheAromaofBooks 4mo

Librarybelle Good choice for the prompt! 4mo

44 likes3 comments

Mollyanna

The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Doyle

Another excellent edition to the Sherlock Holmes series (#SeriesLove2024). This one flowed a bit better than the first and started to give us more insight into Holmes himself. I‘m slowly catching up on #NoPlaceLikeHomes

Cuilin, Andrew65, TheSpineView, dabbe

Cuilin 🎉💪🫶 7mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 And Watson meets his wife! 7mo

Mollyanna @dabbe Yes! How could I forget that… 😊 7mo

22 likes3 comments

Faranae

The Sign of the Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pan

I re-read this to decide if I could read it on stream. I cannot. It's not just that this book is BAD. That's fine; my chat would have a great time with a bad book. No, it's that it's incredibly, irretrievably RACIST. Some books I quietly remove the slurs so we can read them but in this, the plot is fundamentally racist. There's no way to “fix“ it to not be so deeply harmful. So I'm not going to read it for an audience.

7 likes

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#BookBracket
@CSeydel

How does one choose a better Sherlock? #toughchoice

I love completing 2 brackets; they will definitely turn out differently! 🤩

54 likes

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#BookBracket
@Catsandbooks

It's all about Sherlock so far. 🤩

Catsandbooks Woohoo! 🙌🏼 10mo

dabbe @Catsandbooks 🤩😍😃 10mo

54 likes2 comments

Blackink_WhitePaper

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

I read it for the first time. I had no clue that the story was connected to India. Though it is hard to think about the colonialism, racism, and aftermath I admire the author's appropriate incorporation of historical events. I just finished this book and now enjoying reading the discussion. Thank you for hosting #noplacelikeHolmes @dabbe and @Cuilin

Cuilin Glad you enjoyed it. 👍 10mo

dabbe Yay! Would you like to join our group so that you can be tagged? 🤩😍😃 10mo

Blackink_WhitePaper @dabbe Yes!!!😍👏👏 Please... I will participate in the future as well. Thank u 🙂🙏 (edited) 10mo

26 likes3 comments

AnneCecilie

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

pick

In this second novel Mr. Holmes is contacted by a young woman who has been receiving some strange letters and she wants his help. This leads to an investigation into her dad‘s disappearance many years before and into a present day murder.

A book about greed, colonialism and war

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
@dabbe @Cuilin

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 10mo

Cuilin Perfect summation! 👍 10mo

55 likes2 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#weeklyfavorites
@Read4life 😘

Read4life Yay! 💙💜💙 10mo

47 likes1 comment

CogsOfEncouragement

The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Doyle

pick

Enjoyed this for the #NoPlaceLikeHolmes BR. I read it years ago and chose to do the reread with an audiobook. I give it 4⭐️. Again.
Still time to join us for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which is a short story collection. We discuss the first one Saturday 2/24.

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 10mo

23 likes1 comment

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
The 2nd story immediately introduces Holmes's needle dependence on cocaine, which he uses when overcome with ennui at the absence of a case to solve. One finally comes in the form of Mary Morstan (Watson's future wife), and we are taken to the outskirts of London, to flashbacks in India, and on a suspenseful boat chase down the Thames, all while viewing the negative effects of Victorian social status and colonialism. #whataride

52 likes

erzascarletbookgasm

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

I enjoyed this more than the first book. The mystery wasn‘t too difficult to guess, but it was fun to see Holmes‘ deductions. A couple of things surprised me - the quick romance and the casual depiction of use of cocaine by you-know-who! And Toby made me smile.

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Cuilin, dabbe

dabbe An almost-love-at-first-sight romance, I'd say! I liked this one better, too! 🤩 10mo

Cuilin Agreed this was a more enjoyable read. 10mo

65 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

Though I struggled with the story at the end, I overall enjoyed this Sherlock Holmes story. The reader gets to learn a bit more of the idiosyncrasies of Holmes that are so well known. Poor Watson…not picking up the clues like Holmes! 😂

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Cuilin, dabbe

Librarybelle This is my February #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks 10mo

TheAromaofBooks I had some mixed feelings about this one as well, but I appreciate Doyle's “kitchen sink“ method of writing, where he throws in a bit of everything 😂 10mo

Librarybelle @TheAromaofBooks I like that…the “kitchen sink” method!! 😂 10mo

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dabbe Opening up the novel with Holmes inserting a needle into his arm--talk about idiosyncrasies! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks And we're everywhere, too--in London, in the country, on the Thames, flashbacks to India ... 😃 10mo

Cuilin @dabbe I love the London of Sherlock 10mo

dabbe @Cuilin Me, too! I wish I could time travel just to be an observer! 🤩 10mo

68 likes7 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

erzascarletbookgasm, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Aimeesue, Larkken, Librarybelle, mom2bugnbee, Read4life, StayCurious, CatLass007, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, eeclayton, dabbe, IndoorDame, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, 5feet.of.fury, Tineke, Pageturner1, PageShifter, AllDebooks, AnnR, kimrenee, aroyse, CrystalE02

CogsOfEncouragement This was a reread for me, and I listened to an audiobook this time. I admit I didn‘t enjoy every moment of Johnathan Small‘s long story. I gave this one four stars. 10mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement Small's part reminded me of Part 2 in A STUDY IN SCARLET in a way. A perhaps waaaayyyyy too long story when we just wanted to wrap-up, so to speak. 10mo

CogsOfEncouragement It definitely reminded me of S in S part 2 as well. I don‘t remember if The Hound of the Baskervilles has something similar. 10mo

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dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement I don't think so. To me, HOUND is the perfect H&W story. 10mo

CrystalE02 I enjoyed reading this book. I got annoyed with the Jonathan Small story, I felt like it was too long. 10mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 I even felt my mind wandering quite a bit during his story. Maybe he talked so long because he didn't want to get carted off to jail. 😂 10mo

CrystalE02 @dabbe Lol!!! I didn't think of that. It was probably why he talked so long. 10mo

Daisey This method of filling in the details at the end seems to be a pretty common aspect of these stories, and I also think it‘s part of the reason I tend to like the short stories best. The balance of the explanation to the entire length works better than in some of the longer ones. That said, I did really enjoy this one. 10mo

dabbe @Daisey I enjoyed this one more than SCARLET, too. Though that explanation at the end had my brain wandering around quite a bit; it was hard to stay focused--which is why I totally agree with you re: the short stories. 🤩 10mo

Librarybelle Yeah, Jonathan Small‘s story was a bit much. But, I liked Holmes‘ deduction techniques. 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm I think Small‘s story, though long, was bearable compared to Part 2 in A Study In Scarlet 10mo

kelli7990 I enjoyed this story at the beginning but I didn‘t care too much for it at the end. 10mo

IndoorDame Overall I really liked this one! But I found my mind wandering a bit during Small‘s story too. I wondered if Doyle is drawing too much on common adventure story tropes that don‘t exist as much post colonialism, so he‘s referring a picture that doesn‘t already feel familiar in our minds, and also doesn‘t feel true to life? 10mo

dabbe @Librarybelle Those techniques are what keeps us reading these stories! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm 💯 agree! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @kelli7990 Doyle gets better with the short stories. 😃 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame Excellent observation, and one I hadn't thought of. These stories were written during the Age of Realism, and what doesn't ring true for us today does make it a harder path to hoe. 10mo

SpellboundReader I didn't love it the story but didn't hate it either. @dabbe I read your handy-dandy pdf info about this story. Very helpful. 👍 Thank you. 🙂 It did make me wonder if that chance meeting in 1889 with Oscar Wilde, influenced Doyle's writing. Was there some unintentional competition going on which pushed Doyle to add those extra embellishments about Sherlock's character? Just thinking out loud here. 10mo

dabbe @BeeCurious I wouldn't be a bit surprised. One writer trying to outshine another, so to speak. I also thought he might have made Small's story so long because the book might have been serialized like many books in the 1800s, but it looks like the entire book was published in Lippincott's magazine. That must have been some huge magazine! 🤩 10mo

45 likes19 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

CogsOfEncouragement I was not familiar with “Victorian Fears” but google quickly fixed that. A couple things: Tonga represents their fear of otherness. Thaddeus exhibits their fear of the underclass. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. It gives me more to consider and appreciate. 10mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement I'd love to say I came up with that, but I didn't. 🤩 My reading up on the book to come up with questions helped me! I learned this term, too! 😂 10mo

CrystalE02 I didn't think about the fears about the Victorian fears when I read this, but I do find it interesting to find out more about them. 10mo

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Aimeesue Fear of class mobility seems to have kept Mary from her (looted) fortune. Victorians were extremely fond of everyone “keeping to their place,” yes? 10mo

dabbe @Aimeesue Their society reeks of the medieval feudal system, doesn't it? The “native savages“ would be the serfs perhaps. 10mo

Librarybelle I definitely picked up on the class mobility fear, @Aimeesue ! 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm These ‘fears‘ are certainly interesting 🤨 😏 10mo

kelli7990 I didn‘t think about the Victorian fears when I read this. I was just enjoying the story. 10mo

IndoorDame Not really a term I‘m familiar with, but Tonga‘s involvement definitely stood out while I was reading as symbolic of! And now that you point it out the obsession with the intricacies of Mary moving up and down through the classes, and where that leaves her in regards to Watson probably plays into a different anxiety of the times. 10mo

dabbe @kelli7990 That's what makes these stories so wonderful; they can be analyzed, enjoyed, or read in all kinds of ways! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame That reminds me of Watson's fears when he thinks Mary will be the richest woman in London. He knows they can't be together if that happens--such are the rigid social constraints of that time period. No wonder there was such an underbelly of sordidness during this age! 10mo

Aimeesue @Librarybelle Glad it was t just me! 10mo

36 likes12 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

CogsOfEncouragement I didn‘t study world history to a good enough extent to realize the reach of colonialism, so when I read books that discuss it I am always stunned. When people hear how many books I read a year I don‘t think they realize what a source of life long learning it is. 10mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement You are so right! The truly #1 goal of my entire English-teaching career was to hopefully instill a love of reading in my students--even though they had to read certain books that were on the district-approved reading list. I always tried to pick books I thought they'd like--like good ol' SH! 🤩 10mo

CrystalE02 I knew the British Empire was large, only from what I studied in high school, but I didn't a huge deal about what all went on. I think that is why I love Sherlock Holmes. 10mo

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dabbe @CrystalE02 We definitely get some history lessons--even if Doyle is a bit biased and perhaps-even-not-always factual--we're learning, too! 🤩 10mo

CrystalE02 @dabbe yep I was thinking the same thing. 10mo

Aimeesue It‘s stunning to read the casual racism and blatant disregard of people‘s humanity in many of the descriptions. Not surprising if you read classics of the “Western cannon,” but yikes. Everybody just stealing everybody else‘s stuff because they believe they deserve it. Oy. (edited) 10mo

dabbe @Aimeesue Excellent observation. I seem to recall reading that the jewels originally belonged to an Indian rajah who tried to put them into the safekeeping of the British, but he was robbed. Shouldn't the jewels have rightfully been returned to him and not Mary? Did Doyle change it as another example of racism or did he just forget (continuity error)? 10mo

Aimeesue @dabbe Yes. The 4 killed the Rajah‘s servant who was transporting the treasure to the fort for safekeeping. In the aftermath of the uprising, nobody would‘ve looked too hard for the “outlawed” rajah, I imagine. Even today, return of looted treasure is pretty much up to whoever holds it. Look at the Elgin Marbles - Still in Great Britain. (edited) 10mo

dabbe @Aimeesue Had to look that one up--fascinating! Thanks for the history trip! 🤩 I guess this idea supports the idiom “finders keepers, losers weepers.“ 10mo

Librarybelle There are so many not so pleasant thoughts I have about imperialism and colonialism - my background is in history, and I‘ve studied enough to know it wasn‘t all happiness, and the indigenous communities were not thrilled by any means. And yes, so much taken from the countries! So sad. 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm As someone from a country under the colonial rule for a long period of time, the effects of British colonialism (1786 to 1941) are still felt up to this day. They brought racial theory and constructed a social and economic order structured by "race." 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm Imperialism and/or colonialism…it‘s taking advantage of / or literally taking what‘s not yours..the effects are not much different. 10mo

kelli7990 I didn‘t realize there was a history lesson in this book. I took a World History class in high school but I don‘t remember if we learned about colonialism or not. Every time I was in World History class, I didn‘t understand or retain the information. A lot of the time, I just felt confused. I haven‘t studied World History since I graduated high school because I don‘t understand it. 10mo

IndoorDame I don‘t actually know if it‘s intentional, but I see imperialism in the story as a really good microcosm of it in society. It‘s both blatant, in that it underpins everything & the story is in essence about it, or at least couldn‘t happen without it. And it‘s insidious, in that no one discusses it, no one even notices it when they aren‘t in the middle of an actual uprising in a foreign territory, & we get no sense of Doyle‘s personal views on it. 10mo

dabbe @Librarybelle Just looking into our own backyard and what we did to the Indigenous Americans makes my face burn in shame. 😢 10mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm May I ask what country? You definitely have a deeper understanding about this than me, and I thank you for sharing your insight. 🩷💜❤️ 10mo

dabbe @kelli7990 The topic is so broad, it is hard to understand. And high school history courses paint such a wide brush over history, it's no wonder that the classes are challenging. 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame According to Leslie Klinger, Watson is also charged with racism for remarking that the natives of the Andaman Islands are “naturally hideous, having large, misshapen heads, small, fierce eyes, and distorted features.“ Then Doyle produces Tonga, who fits the description to a tee. And Watson seems to feel no guilt penning these words because it is so deeply engrained in his culture. 10mo

Cuilin @erzascarletbookgasm same, I‘m from Ireland and we definitely have a generational trauma from Colonialism. 10mo

dabbe @Cuilin 💚🇮🇪💚 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm @dabbe Malaysia. @Cuilin True! 10mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm 💙🇲🇾❤️ 10mo

32 likes22 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

CogsOfEncouragement She seemed to do as she was told. She didn‘t complain, she accepted her lot without much emotion. She was not too ruffled at her treasure being lost since it would allow her to be within reach of Watson. She seemed to accept that there would be no chance of their happiness if she had a fortune, since he did not. 10mo

CogsOfEncouragement The way Mary is dressed is so important, and she checks all the boxes for what is expected/respectable. She does not have the means to dress beautifully but she is wearing what she is supposed to. When I watch shows and movies set at this time, I‘m struck by just how encumbering the long and heavy skirts had to be. We still have a long way to go toward equality but I appreciate that we wear proper clothes for the task we are set at. 10mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement She seems to fulfill the “damsel in distress“ role quite nicely. Watson even escorts her home so that she doesn't have to be out late and be anymore a part of the mystery than she has to be. 10mo

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CrystalE02 I think she did fit the perfect Victorian woman. Although I feel like she probably wasn't. 10mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 Yeah, it's weird to see that in just the second book, Doyle marries off Watson. I want Holmes and Watson to always be at 221-B Baker Street without Watson having a wife. Thanks for breaking up the group, Yoko--I mean Mary! 😂 10mo

CrystalE02 @dabbe Lol!!!! When I was reading this book and it mention her, all I could think of is Mary in the BBC Sherlock.. 10mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 Played by Freeman's ex-wife, no less! I loved her in that series! 🤩 10mo

Daisey This was a reread, but I had forgotten that Watson and Mary met in just the second book. She does seem to be perfect example of a Victorian woman. 10mo

dabbe @Daisey It is surprising, isn't it? I want Watson and Holmes to always reside together at 221-B. That troublemaker! 😂 10mo

Librarybelle She did appear to check all of the boxes of a proper Victorian woman. @CogsOfEncouragement mentions a lot of perfect examples of this! 10mo

IndoorDame I‘d forgotten she showed up in the second book too! And by today‘s standards she‘s a bit boring to tempt him away from his bestie and his life of bachelor adventure, so I‘m assuming the perfect Victorian woman IS boring and proper (and pretty because men haven‘t changed that much) 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame I know! And it's her mystery they're trying to solve, but she gets relegated to the back burner while the MEN do their thing! 😂 10mo

dabbe @Librarybelle We'll see how much she's mentioned now that she'll be a mere “wife“ from now on. 😃 10mo

29 likes13 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

Librarybelle There were a couple of moments that Holmes meets someone who he happened to help in an earlier case and because of this, they just happen to have what he needs - now I cannot remember if it was the boat Aurora that he was somewhat known by the wife or a different episode! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 10mo

kelli7990 I didn‘t notice anything. 10mo

IndoorDame I felt very agreeable while reading this one. The entire premise was so outlandish, that small convenient coincidences along the way didn‘t seem out of place here, the way the ‘and then I solved it-esque‘ ending seemed in A Study in Scarlet. 10mo

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dabbe @Librarybelle And again, he happens to know the Baker Street Irregulars and happens to know the best #nosehoundaround in Toby. 🤩 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame The suspension of disbelief wasn't as overt as in SCARLET; I totally agree! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @kelli7990 😍 10mo

27 likes6 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes
#TheSignofFour
#dd #discussionday @Cuilin

We can't wait to read your thoughts, Sherlockians! 🕵🏻‍♀️🔎🕵️‍♂️

CrystalE02 No, I didn't notice any. I am sure that it won't really effect the canon. 10mo

Aimeesue Well, there‘s Watson‘s wandering war wound. Shoulder first story, leg in this one. I wonder if it‘s mentioned in any of the other stories? Guess we‘ll see! 10mo

dabbe @Aimeesue I have a feeling we'll be hearing about the #wanderingwound again. 😂 10mo

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dabbe In A STUDY IN SCARLET, Watson tells us that he's basically all alone in the world, yet in this book he has an older brother. Though, as Holmes so fantastically points out, the brother has recently died, though whether that was before Watson comes back from the war is not made certain. Maybe we'll hear more in the future. 10mo

Librarybelle I did not catch any, though I should have picked up on the #wanderingwound ! 10mo

kelli7990 I was listening on audio and I didn‘t notice anything. 10mo

erzascarletbookgasm I did not notice about the #wanderingwound ! 😂 10mo

PageShifter I also remember how that #wanderingwound made me confused 😀 10mo

IndoorDame I think this once again confirms I am a visual learner (or have zero attention span) I also felt agreeable enough to go with the #wanderingwound thing without so much as blinking, but every time someone‘s shawl slips between takes on tv, or a coffee cup moves to the other side of the table I can‘t look away!!!!!🫣😂 10mo

dabbe @Librarybelle We'll have to see if it keeps wandering in the next stories! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @kelli7990 Watson mentions it so quickly, it would be hard to notice! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @erzascarletbookgasm 🤩😂😍 10mo

dabbe @PageShifter I know! It's kind of like a “Wait, didn't I ...“ moment! 🤩 10mo

dabbe @IndoorDame Have you been to the IMDB website? My favorite part are the goofs noticed in the movies--you'd be the perfect writer for those! 🤩🤩🤩 10mo

IndoorDame @dabbe I love it! I use IMDB all the time to check actors, but I rarely dig into the other sections of the site. I‘ll definitely be checking that from now on! 10mo

28 likes15 comments

erzascarletbookgasm

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

Received my #NoPlaceLikeHolmes Sherlock merch! 🤩🔎
Thank you for all the hard work @dabbe @Cuilin
Will be starting the tagged book for our monthly read 👌.

dabbe Wow! That took a while! Glad you like your goodies and can't wait to discuss our book this Saturday! 🤩 10mo

55 likes1 comment

CatLass007

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I came across the word chaplet in chapter 4 of the tagged book. I had heard the word before from Mom and a friend of hers referring to the Divine Chaplet of Mercy. But I‘ve never heard it in any other context. I think definition 2 is the meaning intended by Conan Doyle, a necklace.

Daisey, Cuilin, DieAReader, Andrew65, TheSpineView, CBee, dabbe, GHABI4ROSES

CBee Thanks for sharing 😊 10mo

TheSpineView Love new words! 10mo

CatLass007 @CBee @TheSpineView My favorite new word of 2023 was deaccession. I‘m in the process of turning the word into action. 10mo

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CBee @CatLass007 I had to look that up. I‘m slowly working on the same thing myself! 10mo

CatLass007 @CBee Last year I was talking to a friend about the hundreds of books I still have boxed up after a move. He advised me to deaccession. I googled it while we were talking. He couldn‘t believe I‘d never heard the word before. I can‘t believe he‘s the only person I know who has heard the word before. 10mo

Cuilin I love the sounds of “chaplet” 🩷 10mo

Andrew65 A good share 😍 10mo

45 likes7 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#weeklyfavorites
@Read4life

THE SIGN OF FOUR: what a riveting boat-ride along the Thames! 🤩

Read4life Yay! 💙💜💙 10mo

dabbe @Read4life #greatminds ❤️💜🩷 10mo

47 likes1 stack add2 comments

Read4life

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#WeeklyFavorites

Sherlock 💙

dabbe #sherlocked (my choice this week, too!) 🤩 10mo

43 likes1 comment

Read4life

The Sign of Four | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

Love this one. Our #NoPlaceLikeHolmes discussion is still to come so I‘m waiting for it to share my thoughts.
#BookSpinBingo #NoPlaceLikeHolmes #readyourebooks #readyourTBR #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

Cuilin, DieAReader, Andrew65, TheSpineView, CBee, dabbe, TheAromaofBooks

TheSpineView Awesome! 10mo

Andrew65 One of my favourites too. Well done 👏👏👏 10mo

dabbe Just finished last night. Agreed! ❤️💜🩷 10mo

See All 6 Comments

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 10mo

CBee This cover is so cool 😊 10mo

DieAReader 🥳Great 10mo

45 likes6 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

Almost finished with THE SIGN OF FOUR [#NoPlaceLikeHolmes]; still slogging through THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV [#pemberlittens/#hashtagbrigade]; hoping to start and finish THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN [#NancyDrewBR].

What's everyone else reading this weekend? 🤩

bthegood I'm continuing A Court of Mist and Fury - going to the library today to swap out some books - just starting a new Aunt Dimity book and The Little Shop of Found Things. It's going to be nice out today (actual sunshine) so I might not get much reading in - enjoy your day! (edited) 10mo

69 likes1 stack add1 comment

IndoorDame

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

pick

The ultimate classic. I just love this one! #NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe @Cuilin

5feet.of.fury Excited for this one! 11mo

Cuilin Right??? 🩷 11mo

dabbe @5feet.of.fury 🤩😍😃 11mo

dabbe @Cuilin 🤩😍😃 11mo

dabbe Yes! 🤩😍😃 11mo

65 likes5 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#MotivationalMonday

Thanks for the tag, @Cupcake12! 😍

1. Get an ultrasound (fun!/#notreally), write #LitsyLove letters (definitely fun!), clean & organize the house (not so much fun), read (always fun!).
2. I barely do. Crap is everywhere! Hence my plans in #1. 🤩
3. Currently on the seedy side of London in the 1880s with Holmes and Watson in the tagged book.

Play? @AmyG @aroyse @AnnR @CBee @Eggs @TheSpineView @The_Penniless_Author

AnnR Ha! We have very similar plans this week, including getting an ultrasound later this week. I know it isn't fun but somehow it seems better than a CT scan or MRI. Good luck with your imaging. I hope all is well. 🤗 11mo

dabbe @AnnR You are so right. Just a little cold jelly, right? My cardiologist is checking my neck for plaque; we're hoping I can stop taking aspiring. 🤞 I hope yours goes well, too. ❤️💜🩷 11mo

AnnR Oh, I'm sorry. I've had that done before and it is a pretty quick ultrasound. Fingers crossed all looks good. My ultrasound is heart related too. 11mo

See All 15 Comments

AmyG Thanks for the tag, friend! Hope the ultrasound goes well. 😘 (edited) 11mo

Cupcake12 Good luck for the ultrasound, thank you for joining in. Your letter is in the post today x 11mo

Read4life I hope all goes well with the ultrasound. I‘m in London with you! #NoPlaceLikeHolmes 11mo

dabbe @AnnR Fingers crossed for you, too. 🤩 11mo

dabbe @AmyG Thanks, m'dear! 🩷💜❤️ 11mo

dabbe @Cupcake12 Thanks! So is yours! 😘 11mo

dabbe @Read4life #woohoo! Thanks, m'dear! I hope you're liking this H&W adventure! 🩷💜❤️ 11mo

Eggs Thanks for thinking of me 😘 11mo

The_Penniless_Author Thanks for the tag! 😀 11mo

dabbe @Eggs ❤️💜🩷 11mo

dabbe @The_Penniless_Author 🤩 11mo

TheSpineView Thanks for the tag!😘 11mo

61 likes15 comments

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

“SHERLOCK HOLMES took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. “

Sherlock's getting ready to do some cocaine. 😳

AnnR Wowza! I was shocked when I read that page. 11mo

dabbe @AnnR He just has a few flaws, our brilliant detective. 🤩 11mo

monkeygirlsmama 😱 11mo

See All 10 Comments

AnnCrystal Why, why...one of the few things I never liked about the famous Sherlock Holmes. I guess it was a different time... (edited) 11mo

dabbe @monkeygirlsmama #😱indeed 😍 11mo

dabbe @AnnCrystal Yep, I think it was. Cocaine was even in the original Coca-Cola. Wonder if any of that was in London at that time? The first bottling was in 1894 in Mississippi, so it could be possible. I guess our man needed to be energized 24-7. 11mo

Bookwomble @AnnCrystal Cocaine and opium use was common in the Victorian era and, despite Watson's tendency to sniff at Holmes' drug use (sorry, couldn't resist the pun!), Queen Victoria was a fairly heavy user - https://www.thehistorycorner.org/articles-by-the-team/queen-victoria-drug-addict... - as was Sigmund Freud - https://www.vice.com/en/article/payngv/how-cocaine-influenced-the-work-of-sigmun... 11mo

dabbe @Bookwomble I did not know about Victoria! Interesting! 🤩🤩🤩 11mo

AnnCrystal @dabbe & @Bookwomble WOW, how strange, right? What was considered normal and acceptable 🤔 then! How very strange... (edited) 11mo

dabbe @AnnCrystal #strangeindeedy 😃 11mo

57 likes10 comments

LitsyEvents

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

from @dabbe Hi, Sherlockians!
Time to go on another adventure with our favorite dynamic duo, Holmes and Watson. Below is a link to some interesting background information re: this story with lots of cool photos. Note: There is a summary, too, so *spoiler alert! Discussion questions will be posted on 2/17. We're also working on a calendar for the entire canon, so stay tuned!
Link to guide: https://bit.ly/3HGTqtF

LitsyEvents https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2699431 original post 11mo

34 likes1 comment

dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin

Hi, Sherlockians!
Time to go on another adventure with our favorite dynamic duo, Holmes and Watson. Below is a link to some interesting background information re: this story with lots of cool photos. Note: There is a summary, too, so *spoiler alert! Discussion questions will be posted on 2/17. We're also working on a calendar for the entire canon, so stay tuned!
Link to guide: https://bit.ly/3HGTqtF

AnnR Thank you @dabbe. 🙂 11mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 11mo

dabbe @AnnR 🩶🖤🩶 11mo

See All 12 Comments

dabbe @Liz_M Thanks! I never remember to do that! 🤩😍😃 11mo

Librarybelle Yay! Thank you! 11mo

dabbe @Librarybelle 🩶🖤🩶 11mo

Aimeesue Yay! More Sherlock! ❤️ 11mo

Mollyanna Wonderful! Thank you! 11mo

dabbe @Aimeesue 🤩😃😍 11mo

dabbe @Mollyanna 🩶🖤🩶 11mo

CrystalE02 Thank you!!! 11mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 🩶🖤🩶 11mo

53 likes12 comments

LitsyEvents

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

Repost for @Cuilin

Our next read for February, Discussion date 2/17/24
Thanks @dabbe for the amazing questions.

LitsyEvents Original post https://litsy.com/p/S0prUnJESzMy 11mo

37 likes1 comment

Cuilin

Sherlock Holmes The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Our next read for February, Discussion date 2/17/24
Thanks @dabbe for the amazing questions.

@LitsyEvents

@AnneCecilie @PageShifter @IndoorDame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @Tineke @Larken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @CatLass007

AnnR Looking forward to it! Thank you @Cuilin and @dabbe. 🤗 11mo

Pageturner1 looking forward to it 😃enjoying it more than i thought i would 11mo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! 11mo

See All 29 Comments

Librarybelle Hooray!! 11mo

CatLass007 I wasn‘t sure I‘d like reading Conan Doyle‘s Holmes. But I think A Study in Scarlet was wonderful reading. 11mo

kelli7990 Yay! 11mo

dabbe Glad you're all liking #NoPlaceLikeHolmes so far (even with that Part 2!) You're in for a treat with the next one! Just like a fine wine, Doyle gets better with his handling of our beloved duo! Thanks @Cuilin, for figuring out our next read and dates! 💜🩶💜 11mo

AnnR I downloaded an extra copy of the ebook on my iPhone and my curiosity got the better of me. After reading a few pages, all I can think of is Holy, hypodermic Sherlock! As I know very little about these individual stories, I wasn't expecting that! Straight out of the frying pan with Part 2 of A Study in Scarlet, and right into the fire in the opening paragraphs in Sign of Four. 😱 11mo

CrystalE02 Can't wait!!!
11mo

Cuilin @AnnR love that!!!! 11mo

Cuilin @CrystalE02 me too. Would you like me to add you to the tag list so you don‘t miss any posts? 11mo

Cuilin @CatLass007 agreed 11mo

CrystalE02 @Cuilin please I would like that 11mo

Cuilin @CrystalE02 💜👍 ✅ 11mo

Larkken Hey! I'd love to join in this month, could you add me to the tag list? I've always lost steam after the dreaded pt 2 of Study in Scarlett before and am excited to get over that hump 😄 11mo

Cuilin @Larkken 🩷👍 11mo

CatLass007 I look forward to The Sign of Four. 11mo

dabbe @AnnR 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @Pageturner1 Yay! 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @TheAromaofBooks 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @Librarybelle 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @CatLass007 Yay! 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @kelli7990 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @AnnR 🤩😍🤗 11mo

dabbe @CrystalE02 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @Larkken You're on the list! Glad to have you aboard! 🖤🩶🖤 11mo

dabbe @CatLass007 Me, too! It's been a while since I've read it, and I can't wait to revisit! 🤩😍🤗 11mo

AnnR @dabbe I couldn't resist after your Batman comment on my post Friday. 🙂🤓😊 11mo

dabbe @AnnR 🤩😂😍 11mo

44 likes29 comments

TheAromaofBooks

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

Received my #NoPlaceLikeHolmes packet of goodies on the same day that I got my next installment of my Sherlock Holmes Penguin Library collection, so that felt like kismet!!

Thanks for the fun and for organizing our readalong @Dabbe @Cuilin !!

Cuilin 💜💜💜 11mo

AnnR That's awesome! 👍 11mo

dabbe @Cuilin 🤩💜🤩 11mo

dabbe @AnnR 🤩💜🤩 11mo

55 likes4 comments

The_Book_Ninja

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle, Martin Freeman

pick

My great-grandmother came from Ireland in the 1800s and settled in Marylebone. Across the road was a work house; close to where Madam Tussaud‘s is. She had a hard life growing up. She eventually moved to the Cally in Islington. I used to visit when she lived in the flats next to Pentonville prison. She often told me how kindly Mr Holmes would give her and her street-urchin friends a shilling to run some errand or follow some rascal, up to no good.

Bookwomble She sounds like a card, your great grandmother! 😊 1y

The_Book_Ninja @Bookwomble 😂that was all true except the stories about Holmes. Good news though…That book turned up today 🐙🎻

Shadows Over Baker Street

Bookwomble Your vignette biography of your great grandmother got me looking at The Cally, which sounds like a street full of history. I know need to visit Housman's bookshop! 1y

See All 6 Comments

Bookwomble I've a couple of books to finish before I can get to Shadows, but shouldn't be too long 😊 1y

The_Book_Ninja @Bookwomble Yes lots of history there and multiculturally rich. My great nan (a widow) lived with my nan(divorced) on the Caledonian estate when I was a kid. It‘s blocks are named after Scottish writers. I imagine it was brand new when my great nan moved from Marylebone. (edited) 1y

The_Book_Ninja @Bookwomble no problem at all👍🏼 It‘s a big ol‘ book so I‘m sure you‘ll catch me up easily (edited) 1y

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dabbe

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#MayMontage
#Author's2ndBook
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

56 short stories and 4 novels = the canon of SH by C-Doyle. The second book of the four is this one. 🔎

Eggs ❤️🖤❤️ 2y

dabbe @Eggs 😍 2y

55 likes2 comments

ChelseaM6010

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#TemptingTitles
Day 9. With a Number
#WithANumber

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤📚🙌🏻 2y

dabbe #sherlocked! 💚💚💚 2y

ChelseaM6010 @dabbe Sherlock forever! 🕵🏻‍♀️🖤 2y

See All 6 Comments

ChelseaM6010 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🖤🖤🙂 2y

dabbe @ChelseaM6010 Yes! 🤗 I never tire of him or the canon! 💚 2y

Eggs Cover Love 💗 📚 2y

14 likes6 comments

AvidReader25

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

Such an incredible exhibit of 221 pieces of Sherlock memorabilia at the Lilly Library at IU. So many beautiful editions, illustrations, and original pages of manuscripts. 📚

DivineDiana Fantastic! 2y

28 likes1 comment

BookishRedhead

The Sign of Four | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Haven't done any language learning all week but glad to get back into the groove and why not in the hot sun 🌞

melzen Looks awesome 👏 3y

thereadingpal I'm Italian if you need help! 3y

BookishRedhead @thereadingpal yay! Grazie, I'll keep that I mind 😀 3y

15 likes1 stack add3 comments

yoavshai

The Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

#BookCoverChallenge
Day 239.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

6 likes1 stack add

rwmg

The Sign of the Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

Classic Sherlock Holmes novel which mixes all the things we love about him with the more than questionable attitudes of the time.

17 likes

Zoe-h

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

so-so

I finished this just in time to go see a stage resting of The Sign of the Four tonight! It‘s a good book, but it was very racist. I understand that it‘s a sign of the times and all, but very racist. I liked the plot and the story telling, but I have to give it 3⭐️

13 likes

LoverOfLearning

The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Doyle

pick

I have to say Dr. Watson cracks me up. Oh, I adore his character. 🤗

This was another very interesting read about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Through their journey in discovering the meaning behind the Sign of the Four and the lost treasure, I laughed and explored all theories along side them.

A must read for any true crime and mystery fan. A bit dragging at times but overall great story telling.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

38 likes

TCLinrow

The Sign of the Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pick

Another brilliant Holmes and Watson adventure. Like a Study in Scarlet it's something that I've come back to time and again over the years.

Cuilin Stephen Fry may be my favorite narrator. 4y

68 likes1 comment

flamingolucifer

The Sign of the Four: Sherlock Holmes | Conan Doyle

Loved this little mystery set in London and yet having prolific connections to India particularly Awadh which is where I hail from!

4 likes1 stack add

CloakNQuill

The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Doyle

pan

#OutstandingOctober been busier than usual this week
3) 1 audiobook
4) 6 1/2 hours total

@TheAromaofBooks #BookSpinBingo #15

Warning - angry, sorry not sorry... I can not condone this. My issues lie with the plot which is heavily influenced by the British Imperialist setting. The exoticism & generalization of the East enforced by the West's othering agenda is all over this. Full review/rant on #Goodreads

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4y

CloakNQuill @TheAromaofBooks thanks! I have another update post to make but I‘m one away from my first bingo! (edited) 4y

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! 4y

25 likes3 comments

Mangelli

Sign of Four | Arthur Conan Doyle

pan

Honestly somewhat bland as far as Holmes stories go. I kept thinking, when will the intrigue come in... and then it ended.

2 likes

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