"Excellent! I cried. "Elementary," said he.

[hollyking]

Sunday I saw the trailer for Sherlock Holmes (2009) which has Rober Downey Jr. as Holmes. I know sirriamnis doesn't care for the film and my first reaction to the trailer I saw on the web wasn't positive. Then I read an interview with Downey where he said that his film was true to the Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books. Downey went on to say that a lot of the popular view of Holmes wasn't from the books, but rather different actors portrayals in earlier movies. This made me curious about the new movie.

When I saw the trailer in the movie I tried to keep a more open mind. It still doesn't look like the Holmes I know, but having not read the original books I admit I don't know if it was wrong. Well there's one way to know for sure. Read the books and see for myself. I'm fairly sure these will be books to keep. So does anyone have any particular editions they would recommend?

Speaking of books I have a list of other books I want to read. Yes, I know... Lots of books to read. Like you are any different? But this list was chosen because they are all epistolary novels. Have you read any of these? Are there others you would recommend?

• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• The Book of Renfield by Tim Lucas
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Carrie by Stephen King
• The Expedition of Humphry Clinker by Tobias Smollett
• The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
• The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Comments

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

I HAVE read the books, and Downey Jr. is talking out of his ass.

I have also read Dracula, Frankenstein, Carrie and The Moonstone. I started the Screwtape Letters in Jr. High and never finished it.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

As you're not trying to sell me anything and he's an actor trying to promote a new movie I'm going to side with you. Still want to read them though.

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

You should. They're good.

There are some fights in the books, but not huge amounts and not like are in the trailer. And there was certainly no cavorting with a lingerie clad Irene Adler.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

Well that's a plus for the movie then... :) No really, why not make a new movie and add whatever you like instead of detracting from an established story line? Don't get me started on I, Robot...

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

I will not see I, Robot. I read the books, and I do not remember a SINGLE scene from the commercials, etc... being in those books.

A pox on Hollywood script writers, a pox I say.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

Good for you. See originally it was a movie called "Hardwired." Then some schmuck of a producer noticed a couple of similarities with this other book called I, Robot. So they changed a few names. Added a couple of bits and trashed one of my favorite books. The movie I want will never be made now and the unwashed masses might think that Asimov wrote trash like that.

[amberryn.livejournal.com]

Dracula, Frankenstein, and Carrie are all worthwhile. The Screwtape Letters is hours of my life I'll never get back. :(

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

Really... Hmmm...

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

I have read Dracula by Bram Stoker (twice) - it's a bit of a slog at times but I felt I really needed to read it since I'm so much into the genre. It's really quite different than many movies portray and there is a high religion content due to the time it was written. I got Frankenstein by Mary Shelly when B&N was having a big sale on classic books (at which time I also picked up the curious case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) - but haven't read it yet.

I like the Lemony Snicket books - A Series of Unfortunate Events (though I haven't read all of them yet).
I enjoyed World War Z.

So many books - so little space!

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I can't read A Series of Unfortunate Events. I read the first one and had to fight through to finish it. I just didn't enjoy the subject at all.

You're totally right about books > space.

[christhegeek.livejournal.com]

I have been recently rereading the books and its amazing how gungho and physical holmes could be, pretending to be a sea captain, getting into brawls...I love many of the quiter interps of Holmes, but I don't think Downey's is far off the mark.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I remember something about the captain. I look forward to reading it.

[torainfor.livejournal.com]

(Now that I've read the definition for "epistolary novels"...) Just for fun, try out Daddy Long Legs (http://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Long-Legs-Puffin-Classics-Jean-Webster/dp/0140374558). But not the movie. It's nothing like the movie. Oh, and maybe this (http://rainwrites.livejournal.com/10189.html#cutid1).

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

Added to my list. Thanks.

[retrocareer.livejournal.com]

Man. I think Sherlock Holmes looks awesome!

[phyrebright.livejournal.com]

I read the Sherlock holmes books as a kid, young enough not to get all of the references and old enough to completely enjoy them,, they are good. You should read them, I want to read them again! I've tried to read Dracula & Frankenstein but I always always lose interest about 3 chapters in *sigh* I want to like them, but I simply don't.

I agree and disagree about the movies, no, I have never seen a sherlock holmes movie that seems to be 'spot on' with the book character, however, this new one looks interesting. I will definitely watch it although I have no expectations of the two being similar.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I think that's a good way to approach the movie. Although no one better talk smack about The Great Mouse Detective (1986). :)

[maribou]

You might try Dorothy Sayer's The Documents in the Case... and contrary to above commenter I loved The Screwtape Letters - but I tend to read Lewis-writing-Christian-apologetics for insight into Lewis / his historical context, though I still love the voice, rather than for the book itself. If someone wrote that book TODAY I would think wow, what a great writer writing about such WRONG opinions... WRONG WRONG WRONG and not pick up anything else by them. But in context, it's grand. (Hm, that might apply to some degree to the Documents in the Case as well although DITC definitely has more story and much much less of an apologetic bent.)

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I've added that to my list. Thanks.

I want to read a lot more of Lewis' books. Heck, I even want to read the Martian trilogy he wrote although I keep getting told to not waste my time. :)

[maribou]

If you're talking about the Space Trilogy, I loved it! (Mars, Venus, and Earth are the planets for each respective book.) I had some AUGH CS LEWIS YOU ARE SUCH A PRODUCT OF YOUR TIME moments, especially in the later two... but the first one is AWESOME.

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I think so. That Hideous Strength, Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra?

[maribou]

Yes, though Out of the Silent Planet is the first one (and the one I liked best).

I'm also eager to hear what you think of Devices & Desires as it is one of my alltime favorite books but the only person I've recommended it to was not best pleased by it...

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

I just finished the chapter where Ziani met Duke Orsea. Loving it so far.

[filksinger.livejournal.com]

I, too, enjoyed the Screwtape Letters. However, I could read it for insight into the point of view, which can be difficult for many when they disagree too keenly.

I recommend that you follow Dracula with "The Dracula Tapes", by Fred Saberhagen. It was the entire story retold by Dracula, and his version of events made more sense, while matching the original in almost all details where Dracula was actually present.