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A case of identity
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
21 posts | 29 read | 1 to read
The story revolves around the case of Miss Mary Sutherland, a woman with a substantial income from the interest on a fund set up for her. She is engaged to a quiet Londoner who has recently disappeared. Sherlock Holmes's detective powers are barely challenged as this turns out to be quite an elementary case for him, much as it puzzles Watson. The fianc, Mr. Hosmer Angel, is a peculiar character, rather quiet, and rather secretive about his life. Miss Sutherland only knows that he works in an office in Leadenhall Street, but nothing more specific than that. All his letters to her are typewritten, even the signature, and he insists that she write back to him through the local Post Office. The climax of the sad liaison comes when Mr. Angel abandons Miss Sutherland at the altar on their wedding day.
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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame He says she won‘t believe him, and it‘s dangerous to rob women of their “delusions”. But I think it‘s actually that at that time it doesn‘t occur to him that she might need to know the true character of the people around her so she can use her own critical reasoning skills more effectively in the future, because he assumes there will always be a man around to think and decide for her. 8mo
CatLass007 Again, I see this as a symptom of Holmes‘s cynicism, probably Conan Doyle‘s cynicism expressed through Holmes. The circumstances under which the spirit of women is crushed and then they are forced to conform to the standards of society, a society that is inhabited by both men and women. The women who were crushed are now doing much of the crushing. (edited) 8mo
SpellboundReader Holmes has already decided Mary has no critical thinking skills, so why bother to tell her. His decision will allow her to be victimized again. I think the egotistical behavior of Holmes is horrible, even toward Watson. I'm not quite sure why he puts up with him. 8mo
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Librarybelle Agree, @BeeCurious ! Holmes thinks he‘s superior, no matter what, but especially toward women. Mary is not worthy to learn the solution. 8mo
CogsOfEncouragement If Holmes tells her, she loses her mother completely. She also loses the feeling of being loved and wanted as a bride. Holmes also believes the cold-blooded stepfather to end on the gallows sooner or later. 8mo
SpellboundReader @IndoorDame @CatLass007 @Librarybelle - Holmes really is a tough character to like or even respect, as he shows so little respect to others. I suppose readers can admire his brilliance and hope he mellows out a little throughout the series. This is just my personal reaction to Holmes as a character, so far anyway. 8mo
CatLass007 @BeeCurious You‘re not wrong. 8mo
dabbe Again, I have to go back to Watson. The story is told through HIS eyes, not Holmes's. I'd like to think he's being completely objective in his reports, but even Holmes tells him he gets too fanciful sometimes. On these re-readings, I have really been honing in on Watson more than Holmes for some reason. RE: women ... the mother is sly and (dare I say) evil towards her daughter: two completely opposite portrayals of women who are blood-related. 8mo
SpellboundReader @dabbe Good points, especially about the mother. During each reread I'm sure you are picking up on many different things. Many of these stories are a first read for me, so I've been hyper focused on Holmes. He is a shocking character, even through Watson's eyes. I wasn't expecting that. Of course Holmes is also a product of Victorian society with a male author, so I probably shouldn't be shocked. 8mo
CrystalE02 It could have been both of view of Holmes and Watson. 8mo
dabbe @BeeCurious I also am getting to see Holmes with new eyes, thanks to all of you! What a wonderful reading community this is. 🤩😃😍 8mo
dabbe @CrystalE02 Absolutely. They're both (ahem) Victorian men, though Sherlock does seem to have a more scathing view of women. I think Watson sees them as damsels in distress (aka his wife, Mary). 8mo
kelli7990 Maybe he didn‘t tell her the truth because he knew that she wouldn‘t believe him. 8mo
Aimeesue @CogsOfEncouragement I absolutely agree. Rather paternalistic, but Mary doesn‘t seem to care much about the money - of which they‘re shorting her of only the income, not the principal, right? What would happen to her if he did reveal the scheme? 8mo
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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame It‘s a favorite quote of mine! But I see this story more as demonstrating how cruel life is than how strange. Maybe we just live in more cynical times? 8mo
CatLass007 Didn‘t Shakespeare say something similar in one of his plays? I‘m paraphrasing but the theme was “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Or am I trying to fit a round peg into a square hole by comparing the two? 8mo
CatLass007 @IndoorDame I don‘t know that we live in more cynical times. Holmes doesn‘t just feel superior to others, his cynicism about the motives of others is on full display. 8mo
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Librarybelle I have said a few times life is stranger than fiction! 😂 Call it my years working at the library! 😂 But, I like @IndoorDame ‘s assessment, that this story shows the cruelty of life rather than strange. I see this as a story of manipulation as well. 8mo
CogsOfEncouragement I find a character in a story of fiction saying this quite funny. Real life is so strange, dear reader, please forget you are reading a story from the imagination of the author. I feel it is another bit of dry wit which makes me enjoy this series so much. 8mo
kelli7990 I think it does. I think it‘s strange and disgusting that the stepfather in this story pretended to be a potential suitor for his stepdaughter so no one else would marry her and he ended up marrying her for money. How did she not know that she married her stepfather? He must have been really good at disguising himself. 8mo
Aimeesue The lengths to which her mother and stepfather went were mind boggling. Who does that? 8mo
Cuilin @CatLass007 ah yes, Hamlet to Horatio who he believes has a narrow outlook on the world. 8mo
32 likes8 comments
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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame I have mixed feelings about this. I found the fiction vs. reality part of it very satisfying, but the perception of women part infuriating. So the solution itself was actually very satisfying, but then the fact that the law couldn‘t touch her her stepfather, that Sherlock didn‘t bother to tell Mary what he discovered, that he clearly hadn‘t intended to tell her even before she left his office, & how nonchalant he was about it all really rankled. 8mo
CatLass007 I completely agree with @IndoorDame! Holmes is a creature of his time, and I suspect Conan Doyle was as much of a misogynist as his creation. But I sometimes wonder if the term misanthrope would be a more apt description. Holmes is extremely condescending to his male clients and even his supposed friend Dr. John Watson. Did anyone else notice that all the female clients and/or suspects are named “Mary”? 8mo
SpellboundReader Shame on Holmes for judging Mary as having a vacuous face and then not telling Mary who the perpetrator was. How is she to protect herself? It seems Homes just took the case for his own self- gratification. 8mo
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Librarybelle I completely agree with @IndoorDame - I enjoyed the fiction but the brush off of Mary and the unwillingness to share his findings is disappointing, though not out of character. Dare I say that I figured out the mystery/solution and I am - gasp - a woman!! Interesting thought, @CatLass007 - I had not thought of that! 8mo
CatLass007 @BeeCurious You‘re quite right. @Librarybelle What exactly had you not thought of? The misogyny, the misanthropy? All the above? 8mo
Librarybelle @CatLass007 Sorry - the use of Mary for the clients and suspects 8mo
CatLass007 @Librarybelle Even Watson‘s wife is named Mary, right. Of course, initially she was a client. Irene Adler is the only character we‘ve met so far which Conan Doyle seems to have used any imagination in choosing a name. Wait, if we were still in college, which I most definitely am not, this could make a fun drinking game. Every time a character named Mary shows up or is even mentioned, everyone drinks!🍷🤪 8mo
dabbe I can't help but be reminded that it is Watson who is writing this (supposedly). So, it's also him who is showing his misogynistic thoughts as well. Plus, a 1st-person narrator is never completely reliable, so how much of these damning words against women are Sherlock's? Or are they Watson's? Or both? 8mo
CogsOfEncouragement Some people change the system and some maneuver the best they can within it. Women don‘t have a lot of rights at this time. Holmes and Watson live within these laws. I feel like Doyle told stories that got people thinking about how someone like that stepfather should be prosecuted but he actually broke no law at that time. 8mo
kelli7990 Yeah. I feel like it was satisfying. 8mo
Read4life Good point, @dabbe Definitely something to think about. 8mo
dabbe @Read4life 🤩😃😍 8mo
Aimeesue I found it satisfying, though I‘m irate at mom for going along with scamming her own daughter. Mary, you need to be more suspicious! 8mo
SpellboundReader @Cuilin Thank you for posting these thought provoking questions. 8mo
Cuilin @BeeCurious you‘re welcome, apologies for lack of responses as I was at a memorial service and with family but hope to respond today. 8mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame agree, for Sherlock solving the riddle comes before caring for the client. 8mo
Cuilin @CatLass007 yes, for Sherlock the puzzle, case always comes first. 8mo
Cuilin @Librarybelle yes , me a woman figured it out too!! Shocking 😮 8mo
Cuilin @dabbe good point but they‘re definitely Doyle‘s and of their time. 8mo
Cuilin @Aimeesue oh that was infuriating!! No Mom awards there. 8mo
Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement I asked my husband (prosecutor) what would happen today? He said they could be charged with conspiracy to defraud. 8mo
IndoorDame @Aimeesue couldn‘t agree more!!!! 8mo
IndoorDame @dabbe such a good point! I‘ve been thinking a lot about Doyle‘s POV as the writer, but basically ignoring Watson‘s. I need to start considering his influence too! 8mo
SpellboundReader @cuilin I'm so sorry for your loss. There is no need to apologize either, as there are other things far more important than Litsy. We all appreciate the time and effort you and @dabbe have put into making this buddy read fun and interesting. I'm learning so much and am not certain if I would have even attempted to read all these #sherlocked stories on my own. 8mo
CogsOfEncouragement @Cuilin Yes, so different today. Thankful for the fight the women before us took on to no longer just be property of their father or husband, to be able to vote, to serve on a jury, etc. Sherlock puts no blame on the mother, and I think we need to remember how limited her power was too. 8mo
dabbe @Cuilin Most definitely. Sorry about your loss, too. 💚 8mo
dabbe @IndoorDame 🤩😃😍 These 3 men: Sherlock, Watson, Doyle ... #oy! 😂 8mo
31 likes27 comments
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dabbe
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

“ 'My dear fellow,' said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, 'life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind could invent.' “

mabell ❤️ 8mo
dabbe @mabell 💚💙💚 8mo
44 likes2 comments
review
Read4life
A Case of Identity | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P. James Macaluso
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Pickpick

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes discussion on Saturday. I‘ll keep my thoughts to myself until then. But, it is another pick.
#BookSpinBingo #readyourebooks #readyourTBR #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! 8mo
TheSpineView 👍📖📚 8mo
DieAReader 🥳Awesome!! 8mo
Cuilin Fabulous, pick for me too. 8mo
dabbe Yahoo! 🤩🤩🤩 8mo
44 likes5 comments
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SamAnne
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Reading a mystery or scary short story each day for #Scarathlon2020 #TeamSlaughter and #Screamathon2020. This was an okay Sherlock Holmes. And have competed 7 hours for CYOreadathon. So 16 points for the read and will total up my hour points tomorrow. @Clwojick @Sace @4thhouseontheleft .

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bibliobliss
A Case of Identity | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P. James Macaluso

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important."

-- Sherlock Holmes

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bibliobliss
A Case of Identity | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P. James Macaluso

"My dear fellow [...] life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence [....] it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable."

-- Sherlock Holmes

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JackOBotts
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle

I don‘t believe I‘ve read this short story before, but it seemed quite familiar. All the same, an easy introduction to Sherlock Holmes (courtesy of @SerialReader). I hope to read more of his escapades in the new year.

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JackOBotts
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Jumped back into Serial Reader and started this short story...my first reading of S. Holmes! 🕵🏻‍♂️

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Carolhreads
A Case of Identity | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P. James Macaluso
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Pickpick

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DarcysMom
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Mehso-so

🌟🌟🌟
One of my least favorite of the Holmes oeuvre. It gets the third star for Stephen Fry's voice.

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jpmcwisemorgan
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
Pickpick

This would be a good introduction to Sherlock I think. It's short and more to the point than the longer stories. It also has a fairly easy to pick up on mystery so you're not trying to follow convoluted thought processes or how the ash of some obscure cigarette was a key piece of evidence. This one is really about observing, a lesson that's good for us all. #Sherlocked

35 likes1 stack add
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InLibrisVeritas
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
Mehso-so

A decent enough mystery though slightly commonplace and easy to solve.
#sherlocked

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Kathrin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
Mehso-so

You could see the resolution from a mile away... there are definitely better Holmes cases out there. #Sherlocked

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AdaChivers
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Modern Sherlock's riding crop, maybe? #sherlocked #readalong #serialreader

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AdaChivers
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Mehso-so

This one was quite obvious, but Quick.

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Jhullie
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Mehso-so

No mystery here, I figured it out at the beginning but a fairly even read all the same.

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AdaChivers
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Another one they adapted at the tv show! #sherlocked #readalong #serialreader

21 likes1 stack add
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jpmcwisemorgan
A Case of Identity | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P. James Macaluso

Next opportunity to be #Sherlocked coming soon. I wonder if it will be a "three pipe problem" like the last adventure?

Marchpane Please don't speak to me for fifty minutes. 😉 8y
33 likes1 comment