The first part is pretty awesome, though

[beeinmybonnet]

I’m trudging through the second part of The Valley of Fear.
… ACD couldn’t write romance if his life depended on it, could he?

And while I’m on the subject of Sherlock Holmes, good grief, how can Holmsians be borderline homophobic and still praise Jeremy Brett’s performance? Because Brett’s Holmes is flaming, it’s hilarious. (Did RDJ perhaps draw inspiration from Brett during the restaurant scene in the movie? Because I’m recognizing that “catty bitch” behaviour.)

And now for something completely different. I’ve been playing guitar so much these last few days that I’ve pulled my little finger. Owie. I’m still no rock star, though. Hm. (But I can play In the Hall of the Mountain King!)

I’ve also written +1000 words my bigbang fic, finally. Thanks so much for the kind support! ♥

ALSO, GUESS WHO'S HAVING SPORTS HOLIDAY THIS WEEK? :D

Comments

[yan-tan-tether.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I skipped most of the second half of VALL - isn't there a long, tedious flashback with no Holmes & Watson in? The short stories are much better, imo.

I've been firmly over on the slash side of fandom so far so I haven't encountered any homophobia from Holmesians - I guess they're not big fans of the gay interpretation of H&W's relationship? And Brett!Holmes is *delightfully* queer, it's true.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there is. Isn't that curious, actually? That the best and most ho-yaytastic of the novels are those who are divided into two parts? (I have to trudge through, because the BBC Radio adaptations work in the backstory of the mysteries in the narrative, and I don't want to be confused.)

Exactly. It's pretty funny, imho, that "fandom fans" and casual fans gleefully joke about the gay subtext, while Sherlockians/Holmsians throw conniptions if one mentions it. But Jesus H. Christ on a jumping pogo-stick, I though people were pulling my leg when they said the Granada series were ridiculously gay. Suddenly I understand why my dad's first comment when I mentioned the series was, "It was made in the 80s? Then it must to be pretty gay. ... Is that the reason you want to see it?"

[skull-bearer.livejournal.com]

I skipped both the second half of Study in Scarlet and Valley of Fear because grief *yawn*
I love the Granada series for that. Particularly their adaptation of Sign of Four. I got to the end and was like.... that's it? It's over now? They've skipped the romance ENTIRELY? ... okay... no complaints here... wow.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is boring. But I must prevail!

Wait, what? I mean, oh, indeed, how fascinating. Er, yes. (Ohmygod, I've got to get my hands on that episode/film!)

[skull-bearer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, its like, they have longing looks, but they never really ever talk, and I was bracing myself so much for the inevitable love-relationship-wedding element that when the story ended and the carriage rattled off I was staring at the screen unable to believe it was over.
Other particularly slashy epidodes: Red Headed League. Not only slashy but also really really cute, you can tell why these two men are BFF. Empty House. I squeed so hard. And oddly, Musgrave Ritual which doesn't HAVE Watson in it in the book, but Granada put him in. because they know their audience ;)

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

akskdjsfkdfgjfgfkdgj How come Sherlock Holmes adaptation are so delightfully slashy? ♥

Still, I don't think anything tops BBC Radio's version of DEVI. Because between Holmes randomly quoting Wagner's Tristan & Isolde (http://www.nekosmuse.com/withlovesh/?p=234#comment-98) to Watson and the very same quote being repeated during the trippy-trippy scene--with Holmes as Tristan and Watson as Isolde--the slash is almost too much too handle.

[skull-bearer.livejournal.com]

I have heard that they drop the ball over the Mazarine Stone mystery, because they include a Certain Scene from 3 Garridebs, without including... god, I can't even type it out. General consensus is slashers stay away if they don't want their hearts broken.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't heard 3GAR yet myself, but apparently they do chicken out a bit--though I heard they just downplay it, rather than leaving it out entirely. Still, I can't hold it against them when the other episodes are so incredibly slashy. I mean, just take their adaptation of the Musgrave (http://www.excessant.com/HI/radio/12BoxBoysOnFloor.wav) Ritual (http://www.excessant.com/HI/radio/13CarpetOnTheKnees.wav).

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

By the time they did MAZA and 3GAR combined, Jeremy Brett was so ill he barely appears, and Watson and Mycroft do most of the heavy lifting.

[skull-bearer.livejournal.com]

Do you know where I can download the rest of these? I really want to hear them but have NO MONEY

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

God, I don't even remember The Valley of Fear. I mean, it's been over 8 years since I even looked at it.

I take it you have seen this (http://www.nekosmuse.com/sherlockholmes/subtext.htm)? If not you will love it to death, I think.

Well, the path to flame and glory is riddled with callouses and strained fingers. It will be worth it when you are world famous.

Woo for writing \o/ - see, you'll be fine :D

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

It's the story that starts with:
Watson: I am inclined to think--
Holmes: I should do so.
Watson: [narrating] I believe that I am the most long-suffering of mortals.
and then swiftly moves on to Holmes and Watson deciphering a letter together, and Holmes positively bursting with pride over Watson's intelligence and increasing deductive abilities.

Decoding the Subtext! I live by those essays, they're directly tied in with my reading the canon stories. ♥

I certainly hope so! My fingers are all wonky; it doesn't take a Holmes to deduce I'm playing the guitar, with my callouses and short fingernails and all. True, I'm not as obvious as my teacher is, but still. (He has incredibly short fingernails on his left hand, and very long ones on his right hand. Like I said, bleeding obvious. I'm not, because while the nails on my left hand are short and filed smooth and brightly coloured, the ones on my right are plain and bitten. I live to confuse. :D)

I certainly hope I will! But I won't panic for another week at least~

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

I should read it again, since I get so much use out of that line.

I had a friend once who made himself a fiberglass false thumbnail to use as a pick for his guitar. I'm not sure how he made it but I know that it was welded to the nail in the process, meaning he couldn't remove it until the nail grew out enough to cut it off. He builds electric guitars now. I feel this is relevant somehow but I cannot quite see why...

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

When I read the first chapter of VALL, I had to remind myself multiple times that I was in fact not reading a slash pastiche. But honestly, can you blame me when things like this gets tossed about?

"/.../ You have heard me speak of Professor Moriarty?"
"The famous scientific criminal, as famous among crooks as--"
"My blushes, Watson!" Holmes murmured in a deprecating voice.
"I was about to say, as he is unknown to the public."
"A touch! A distinct touch!" cried Holmes. "You are developing a certain unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must learn to guard myself."

If it's not relevant, it's still very interesting! I know Mark Knopfler uses his fingernails as picks instead of those actually put-on-your-finger-like-a-too-small-ring picks that exist. I wonder how hard the fiberglass faux-nail was, though. I prefer the heavier types to the thinner ones; they're nicer to bite on. Oral fixation? What's that?

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

You are aware of my theories on ACD's penchant for slash.

The nail was like a big lump of hard plastic really. And black. About 3-5mm thick. Seemed quite effective and he only got rid of it because our oh-so-proper school decided it was out of uniform.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

I bet Wilde helped him write that chapter of the book.

Oh, that's a really heavy guitar pick. I prefer the ca. 1 mm type myself.
What an annoying school! D: I'm all for a decent dress code at school, but that's just being pernickety!
... Hm. I wonder what they'd say about my left hand (http://i45.tinypic.com/149ayav.jpg). (I was in the middle of re-painting my ring finger when this photo was taken, hence the mess.)

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

It was deliberately heavy. He had a system worked out whereby he could use it as a violin bow as well. Or rather, he could draw it across the strings and produce sound, not actually play the violin, unless you count making it sound like the death-knell of a cat as "playing".

They would send you to the vice principal's office and make you take the polish off, (with mineral turpentine, not nail-polish remover, mind) despite how pretty it is :) - they used to (possibly still do) force boys to shave in the sick-bay if they came to school with facial hair. And various other atrocities including only allowing navy underwear (which we all thoroughly ignored, but that is hardly the point).

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see, the Holmsian version of playing the violin. :D Clever system, though. (Also--though pretty much off-topic--have you heard this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9VxH4y_T6I)? I'm not usually one for covers, but this one is brilliant.)

Thank you! ♥ But Jesus H. Christ on a jumping pogo-stick, that's just absurd. Navy underwear? And how did they suppose they would make sure? "All right, girls, stand in line and hitch up your skirts, if you please." Dost thou shitteth me? >:O ::is morally outraged::

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

Apocalyptica \o/ (That is indeed an excellent cover!)

They never checked, by it was a part of the rules, and covered in the uniform policy of which everyone was informed often, and my incredibly conformist mother took as gospel. My first day at a public highschool after four years at a private one was amazing.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

You know them!? All right, let's bring up that telepathy theory again, shall we?

Good lord. Suddenly I'm very happy I live in a urban distict which worships independent schools, so there is a big selection of them. (Not that it helps me, since there is no upper secondary school with a class for Aspies here, not until this fall, at least. Guess which school I'm switching to. :D)
Is it really that hard for people to just be reasonable? ::shakes head::

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

They are indeed quite popular amongst the Bohemian writerly sect around here, of which I am an inextricable part. So yeah, I know them :D

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

ACD couldn't write Americans.

My personal theory is that VALL was written just after STUD and then Watson suppressed it until he was really dead short of money. Which is why he had to "introduce" Moriarty in FINA, even though he'd known about the man for years.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

I... don't actually have a personal theory. I usually ignore Moriarty, because save "killing" off Holmes, he never did anything interesting. ::hides in movieverse::

Oh, ACD, why couldn't you just give a damn about your stories and make it easier for us fans? D:

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

regarding the second half of "Valley of Fear"
I would love to know what in the hell "acushla" means. I can't find it in the dictionary.

[beeinmybonnet.livejournal.com]

Thefreedictionary.com says "acushla" doesn't exist, but macushla is an Irish term of endearment. Apparently.