The Sign Of The Four

The Sign Of The Four
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
...
This is the second novel in the Original Canon of "Sherlock Holmes". It was also the first to go into serialization (it started out as a series of chapters in "Lippincott's Monthly Magazine", and THEN became a book). In this story we find out about Holmes' cocaine addiction (which I must remind you, gentle reader, was not illegal back then) and we also meet Mary Morstan, who eventually will fall in love with Watson. Mary's father had gone missing years ago, and she now has a mysterious benefactor who once a year sends her a valuable pearl. Tonight, however, the benefactor wants to meet her. This plunges Holmes and Watson deep into a case about treasure, murder, and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.


Now this sounds fascinating, right? And it is! But, there were some problems I had with the text. I think a lot of them can be traced back to the fact that it was published in segments before being put together. The plot is shaky at times, and can be downright confusing if your not focusing all your energy (this is not a book you can multitask with!). Also, at times, the references to historical events and Indian Culture might need some looking up before you can understand what's going on (I know I had to look up things!).


Other than those general complaints, the book is still a very good read. Doyle does some great work with trying to humanize Sherlock a bit, breaking free of the "flawless machine" he was in the first book. The Sign Of The Four opens up with Sherlock Holmes being bored! (I'm serious!) Unfortunately, to keep his brain entertained, he has resorted to cocaine use. This is a hotly debated topic among Sherlockians and Book Readers. Is this ok for the hero? But we must remember that Holmes and Watson should be seen as a pair, without one, the other is slightly useless (Holmes losing some of his connection to the Human condition, and Watson losing the life he's created post-war). And it is Watson who gets him out of this slump.This cocaine use worries Watson (he is Doctor John Watson, remember?) to no end, and he eventually talks to Holmes about it. This whole scene really gives good insight into their relationship.

If you're reading the Canon, I still recommend reading this book! Mary is an important character later on in the series, and so is Sherlock's boredom. :)

Overall, 3 Pearls!

Enjoy!

XOXO

Babsie

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

....

This is the beginning of a series of blogs in which I'll go through each of the books in Sherlock Holmes Collection. What better way to introduce the famous Detective then to start with the book that started it all?

A Study in Scarlet starts out with the Narrator (none other than Dr. Watson) fresh out of the Anglo-Afghan War in need of a flatmate. An old friend of Watson's recommends a detective by the name of Sherlock Holmes, who is interested in a flat on Baker Street. Watson find Holmes in a lab, and is instantly amaze by the man's intellect, and the two move to 221B Baker Street. Of course, not long after moving in together, a terrible murder happens. A man by the name of Enoch Drebber is found dead with "RACHE" written in blood above him.

This book has be one of my favorites in the entire series. It's well written, intriguing, and keeps you wondering until the last page. What really helped keep up the suspense was that this story is the only one in the series that has flashback section. The entire second half of the piece is a flashback! Now, I won't reveal where or why this flashback happens (it would ruin the mystery!) I will say that it's well written, and really draws you into the crime that occurred. Of course, there are some questionable stereotypes about the group in question that is featured in the flashback. I recommend going in with an open mind, and realize that back in the Victorian times, not much was really known about this group.


Another great point about this book is the origins of a lot of the stereotypical "detective" ideas and things. This book is the first detective book to use a magnifying glass during a case. Also, the use of science to detect blood is used here first. In fact, a lot of modern day investigative techniques are first found in the book!


Finally, the character of Sherlock Holmes has to be one of the most fascinating of all time. A man, who isn't even the narrator of his own story grabbing your attention and really keeping you on your toes. I think this alone is why the series has become so classic. Overall, four pearls. (Though, if allowed, I'd give it an additional half pearl!)


I really hope you enjoy my newest string of blogs!
XOXO
Babsie

Fracture

Fracture

Megan Miranda   

...       

“If you had one day left to live, what would you do?” 

Well, if you could die in anyway, what would it be? I would be crushed by a piano while standing in the middle of an empty field. Mysterious, right?  The last way I’d want to die is to drown. Delaney, the main character of Fracture by Megan Miranda, drowned for eleven minutes in ice cold water. 

Delaney survives. No one knows how. Her brain still shows massive damage. She shouldn’t be conscious let alone alive. But she is. She can function normally, well except for this strange pull that leads her to dying people.

           

The book was pretty good mixing her love life and the accident. However, there were several points where I wanted to put down the book because I felt physically depressed. Megan Miranda knows how to bring the drama. Not only is there a huge back and forth with her best friend Decker, but also with a new guy Troy. Troy was just like Delaney. He shouldn’t have lived and now he spends his life helping the dying.

The writing was excellent I just wish it had been a little less dramatic. I still definitely recommend it to all of the readers out there. Three pearls for Fracture!

Keep on reading!

XOXO

Rosie

             

We're Back!

Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long, but you know how finals are. Luckily the Dolls conquered them all and will continue posting reviews even though we're miles apart. We send our love!
XOXO
The Dolls

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
By Stephen Chbosky
....
The Perks of Being a Wallflower might have been written back in 1999, but this doesn't stop it from being an instant classic. The novel is about a boy (Charlie) as he transitions into his freshman year of high school. Along the way, Charlie is befriended by the senior sibiling duo Sam and Patrick. The novel follows the three as they navigate through some pretty sticky situations involving Drugs, Alcohol, live productions of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Homosexuality, and of course teen drama!


      I have to say, this story starts out a little slow, but once you're a few chapters in, it's impossible to put down (I finished the book in one day I had some much trouble putting it down!). I think the slow start is mostly caused by the way the novel was written. Perks is written in the very experimental format of letter writing. You see, the entire story is Charlie writing down what has happened that day, and mailing it to a "trustworthy person" (you!). At points, this writing style really drags on, seeming more like a journal than a fiction novel, but at other points it really cracks opens Charlie's soul and shows his inner most fears and hopes, really "baring all" on the page. This can be incredibly uncomfortable at times because Chbosky really doesn't shy away from the gory details. If you have anything against drug use, suicides, sex, or teen alcohol use, I would not recommend this novel to you, because all of those are described in incredible detail. But just because it has some intense moments does not mean it doesn't have a happy ending. It does leave the reader a bit hanging (so if you like a tight, clean happy-ever-after, this is not for you!), but you get the sense that after everything Charlie has been through, he'll make it out okay.


    Another amazing detail of Chbosky's writing is his ability to develop every character, even the smaller ones. Charlie is obviously the most developed, but Sam and Patrick are incredibly dynamic characters. Patrick is lovable and endearing as he deals with forbidden love and heartache, and Sam is just as beautiful in my head as in Charlie's. I could even imagine some of the smaller characters, like Charlie's English teacher and his dead Aunt, both of whom are great influences on Charlie's behavior.


   Overall, I give this novel four pearls. It's a very intimate look into a young man's life that is sure to be a classic. (P.s. If you liked Catcher in The Rye, this is right up your alleyway, as that was the major inspiration for the novel)


Hope you enjoyed my first review!
XOXO
Babsie

Love Story

Love Story
Jennifer Echols
..

Every now and then we all pick up a book simply because we are looking to read about a little romance, usually because our own lives are lacking in that area. I’ve read some books by Jennifer Echols like The Boys Next Door, which happened to be perfect for the mood I was in. So when I saw this book by her I was extremely excited. Especially since it was about two college students in a creative writing class falling for each other. Being a writing major in college, it seemed like it might be the perfect little “Dream Romance” for someone like me.

            I am sad to say I was very disappointed. While the story was not terrible, it was not great either. The characters lacked that certain spark that makes you love them. They seemed flat, and their fears and actions dull and unrealistic. The story starts out with Erin in New York City, paying her way through college because her grandmother cut her off for wanting to be a writer instead of majoring in business. She is taking the mandatory freshman writing course and is about to have her piece critiqued by the class when in walks Hunter, her former love, who her story happens to be about. We follow these two on a kiddy roller-coaster of “love”. One of the biggest problems of this story, is we don’t see these two grow together, they stay on the same level throughout most of the story, and very suddenly jump in and out of situations where they are together.

            The ending was very inconclusive, and again jumped to a place where they hadn’t been going just two pages before. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but instead I found myself setting the book down to surf Facebook instead (Something I never do in a good read). This story almost seemed like it was trying to imitate something of Sarah Dessen’s but couldn’t quite. Like I said, the read wasn’t terrible, and there was nothing I saw wrong in presentation or the way it was written, but it is not a book I would highly recommend. With that said, I am firm believer in forming your own opinion, so maybe borrow it from your local library. 2 pearls.

XOXO

Kenna Lee

Welcome The Newest Doll

Hello readers! The Dolls have exciting news! Recently we have taken a vote and decided that All Dolled Up Reviews needs just a little more flare. Sooooo we are adding (drum roll please) Babsie! She's a wonderful writer new to our Dolled Up world. Thus making us the Fabulous Four Dolls! Welcome Babsie with love!
XOXO
The Dolls

Faithless

Hey Loves! Sorry it's been so long. I've been sick. Anyways, here's your next review


Faithless
Karin Slaughter
..

Faithless is from the point of view of three different characters. There's Sara, Jeffery, and Lina. Sara is the infertile children's doctor whose heart was stepped on by Jefferey when he cheated on her. Jeffery is the chief of police who is trying to win Sara back while he is dealing with traumatic stress from having to shoot a young girl. Lena is the hardened female cop who has an abusive boyfriend and recently had to make a life or death decision. Though these are all fascinating story lines they should be separated into two different books. Sara and Jeffery's story, then Lena's story. 


The ending of the book was disappointing for me. You knew who the bad guy was in the beginning but you hoped it wasn't him because it was so obvious. Now Slaughter tries to fix this with a scene including the apprehension of the criminal, but it just made it more depressing. This book brings up faith, drugs, spousal abuse, abortion, infertility, cheating, lying, killing, sex, prostitution, and torture. It may just be me, but it seems like a bit too much for one book. 


Overall, the book was not the best it could have been. I had hoped she would have stuck to the point of view of Sara, the first character introduced, but she did not. If you're looking for a murder mystery for the solving of the crime and back story, then this book is for you. However, if you're looking for a fast paced whodunit with no clue who the killer could be, I suggest you search elsewhere. 2 pearls.


Keep on Reading
XOXO
Rosie