This thread is a focused discussion group. Please see the first post below for the current topic and upcoming book discussions. While natter will inevitably happen, we encourage you to treat this like a virtual book club and try to keep your posts in that spirit.
By consensus, this thread is reopened specifically to discuss Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It will be closed again once that discussion has run its course.
***SPOILER ALERT***
- **Spoilers for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows lie here. Read at your own risk***
The ones I've read, I agree. I was wondering if there had ever been a Holmes story where he hadn't figured out the corrent answer.
But, I think there's an interesting gap between "he figured there were enough extenuating circumstances" and "was in it more for the mystery than the justice." I agree with both, but saying that Holmes gets to be the arbiter of when the circumstances extenuate means that he is the arbiter of justice to some degree.
Which ties back into why you don't see the incarceration of the criminal in classic detective stories, I think; the detective is also the judge and jury to an extent.
saying that Holmes gets to be the arbiter of when the circumstances extenuate means that he is the arbiter of justice to some degree.
Oh, definitely. He makes few apologies for that, often saying he has more latitude than the police since he's not a policeman. I'm sure part of him gets off on the power. Watson expressed discomfort for Holmes' high-handedness more than once.
(BTW, I'm quite enjoying having the current discussion being on such a famous character, because everyone is likely to be able to chime in, regardless of what they've read)
From
Carbuncle:
"After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief feature."
To me, it felt like Holmes was letting him go because he was eager to move on, and the rest is just rationalization.
I was wondering if there had ever been a Holmes story where he hadn't figured out the corrent answer.
He doesn't figure out the right answer in
A Scandal in Bohemia
until the criminal has made a clean escape.
Holmes is wrong in "The Yellow Face." That's the one where he tells Watson to whisper "Norbury" in his ear when he gets too cocky. I feel like there's another one, but I'm not sure.
This thread is now reopened and repurposed to contain discussion of the most recent and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
***SPOILER ALERT***
***Spoilers for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will follow shortly. Read at your own risk.***
We really mean it about the spoilers. Probably stuff happens in the book. And we'll talk about it. And it's out now. Some of us have it. And like, read it and stuff.
Don't say we didn't warn you. Honest, we tried.
Enjoy.
