The Scandal in Bohemia (Penguin Readers, Level 3)

Bested by a woman, gotcha Mr Holmes! I thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace of this story, loved the disguises and the ending was just magic! ( )

Really enjoyed this. I pictured Irene Adler and Sherlock as played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the wonderful Sherlock television show! ( )

I wanted to read this short story before I watched this week's episode of Sherlock. I vaguely remember a Wishbone episode that seemed to at least be loosely based on this story, and my brother's school's play this winter also drew inspiration from this and other Sherlock adventures. ( )

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I've known "Sherlock Holmes" for quite a while--I mean, who doesn't at least know the name? I've watched his modern TV and cinema renditions, understood references to this character, known the names of the most famous of his stories and their plot lines. But this was my first introduction to the original Holmes, aside for reading a few of the "kid versions" in my own language, and I must say, I might've been slightly... disappointed.
I loved the opening, with how Watson explained that for Holmes, Irene was always THE woman. It is just a gripping and for me quite a beautiful opening, something that made me feel; "this is how an opening should be!"
I loved that it was told from Watson's point of view rather than Holmes', though I found that sometimes uncomfortable when we only "heard" of the action instead of "witnessing" it, though I suppose it served a purpose - to make Holmes explain his process to the "lesser mind" and viewing everything throughout the eyes of the "normal person", which we can identify with better. Does that mean we're stupid...?
What I was disappointed at was Irene herself. I did not feel that she really bested Holmes at all. I mean, she realized who he was and escaped, yes, but... it didn't feel like the big deal it should've been, considering she became THE woman. I always thought she must've done something truly extraordinary for Holmes to be so caught on her, but it didn't feel that way. It didn't feel as remarkable as it should've been.
Also, she married! And in love, according to her! Kind of ruins any Irene X Holmes shipping, doesn't it? Never saw that coming, considering everybody kind of put Irene and Holmes together (well, to be fair, she is THE woman) and because it never got into any of the adoptions. I suppose this is just my girlish, romantic and teenager-y mind feeling all disappointed about that, but what can I really do this? Admit it, you've got a girly, romantic, teenager-ish girl somewhere as well! Err, unless you're a boy…
I would've liked to hear more about Irene's husband and her reasoning for blackmailing the king to begin with.
I mean, if you're in love and about to get married, why threaten him? It seemed like everything was just so sudden, I don't know. Like she heard of Holmes and decided to marry straight away to lose him, or something?... And why did she have to leave on a different carriage to her wedding, and not have her properly? She didn't have time to plan her own wedding? Why?
I dunno, I guess I always thought that EVERYTHING would be explained in stories about Holmes and that everything would be planned to details and meaningful. But, alas, it hasn't been the case...
Great writing, nonetheless, and still love Holmes and will read more stories of him! :) ( )

a man came to sherlock Holmes to ask him for help. the man is the king of bohemia and he is going to get married but there is a problem, there was a woman who was blackmail the king and the woman and the king were love each other 4 years ago, but the king left her.the woman has some photographs and the king was in these photographs. the king want from Holmes to get these photographs before the king get married.