"The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and "A Monstrous Regiment of Women"

[S. Gomez]

I just finished re-reading the first two Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books. The first time I read them was when I discovered the series about two or three years ago. It was quite a treat to revisit the stories, even more so because a lot of the plot details were fuzzy and I couldn't really remember quite what had happened next. I'm planning to keep on going as and when the books become available to me and to post my thoughts, all to prepare for The Language of Bees--though it may be awhile before I actually get to it. :o

The Beekeeper's Apprentice
This is about the most solid first entry anyone could hope for in a series. The characters, particularly Russell herself, and their relationship are solidly established; that sort of work is always done best through showing how it happens rather than explaining, and LRK is very good at it.
I did have one major problem with the book, however: the villain is not revealed. Patricia Donleavy walks on at the end, and we don't have any setup for the revelation whatsoever. A few lines about "my maths tutor" just aren't enough for me. In order to really feel the betrayal that Russell feels, I want to see the relationship prior; this would have provided better contrast with how things ultimately turn out. It wouldn't take much, just a few scenes of those lessons over tea that we're told about, and any 'drag' they would give the narrative would be a price worth paying, in my opinion. Despite this, it's still a good book, and a lot of fun to read.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women
I think even back when I first read, I thought this was far and away an even more enjoyable book than The Beekeeper's Apprentice. The feminist aspects of the story, as well as the Biblical exegesis and theology around that, is probably my favourite part, actually (and I'm male, by the way). I also thought that the development of Holmes and Russell's relationship and the lead-up to that climactic scene on the pier was excellently handled (thought I still despise Holmes' line "I've wanted to do that to you ever since I first met you", even if it does lead to an incredibly funny joke). That's obviously the strength of the entire series; the love they feel for each other isn't presented in a trite way, it's very honest and you're able to see how it happens and also feel it quite palatably. And that's quite a feat considering this is Sherlock Holmes we're talking about!

And finally I'm moved to ask, even though a more responsible thing would be to scour the boards to see if my question has already been answered: Just what accent does Mary Russell speak with, American or British?

[Pat Floyd]

S. Gomez,
I enjoyed reading your excellent analyses. It's true we don't get much emotional connection between Russell and her maths tutor except a sense of respect for a formidable intellect. A clue I liked was the fact that Russ had been working with Patricia Donleavy on problems in base 8, and the key to the slashes in the seat of the cab was in base 8.

In Beekeepers Apprentice Holmes describes Russell's accent when she was fifteen: recently from northern California, grew up in southwestern edge of London, mother one generation away from Cockney Jew. My guess would be that living in England would increase the English side of her accent. As a North Carolinian I went to school and worked in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York state. My colleagues there spoke of my southern accent, but when I returned to North Carolina, people would tell me that I'd gotten a Yankee accent. I think most of us unconsciously pick up something of the way of speaking of those around us.

[KarenB]

Somewhere (and I'm sure Alice could identify the exact quote :D ) Holmes describes Russell as sounding wholly English to an American ear.

[Bachi]

S. Gomez,
I am also enjoying your points of view on the stories, as you can see all the book discussions are open ended and we keep up with all the posts. I am looking forward to your catching up and becoming part of the current monthly discussion!

[Strawberry Curls]

Somewhere (and I'm sure Alice could identify the exact quote :D ) Holmes describes Russell as sounding wholly English to an American ear.Yes, in LOCK when Holmes and Hammett meet for the first time Holmes describes his wife to Hammett and finishes with "And to American ears, she speaks with a pure English accent." This line follows one of my favorite moment, it is when Holmes rather reluctantly, and seeming to be very uncomfortable, pulls out the snapshot of Russell he keeps in his note-case. The photo is snipped from a larger photograph, and is "...of a young woman on a street, clearly unaware of the camera." How many want to bet that Holmes has told Russell he carries a picture of her? No takers, I thought so. I think this is such a telling line. Holmes loves his wife, and I don't buy the explanation that he carries the photo for identification purposes. Holmes was far too reluctant to share the photo with Hammett.

[classics_fiend]

I'm Californian and I can do a pretty good british accent (I don's mean to brag), so it was funny thinking that Russell might sound a bit like me!

I recently read BEEK for the second time and enjoyed it even more than the first! Having just read the book for the first time only a few months ago, I didn't expect to be as thoroughly enchanted again so soon, but Mrs. Laurie is a masterfull writer. I agree with you earlier comment, Alice about not feeling the betrayal that Russell feels when Donleavy is revealed as the villain. . . The audience hardly gets to know her at all until the end. But I suppose that's a function of Mrs. Laurie having so much more to tell; she didn't have time to expand on thier relationship because she was busy defining Russell's relationship with Holmes.


Hey, I found this cool book review site, it's kind of small, but who knows what could happen on the i-net. Anyway, I posted a review on BEEK. http://www.revish.com/reviews/0312427360/ClassicsFiend/

[Jennifer]

I agree with you earlier comment, Alice about not feeling the betrayal that Russell feels when Donleavy is revealed as the villain. . . The audience hardly gets to know her at all until the end. But I suppose that's a function of Mrs. Laurie having so much more to tell; she didn't have time to expand on thier relationship because she was busy defining Russell's relationship with Holmes.

I think that Ms. King didn't go further into the relationship of Patricia Donlevy to Mary Russell purposefully. Donlevy was a presence only on the edge of our awareness. That she could be so malevolent, lurking around, only vaguely in our minds, that made the absolute shock of her true identity much more powerful to me. And personally, I got quite enough of her in that long and tortuous monologue! And as you said, Ms. King was busy with Holmes and Russell's relationship. While the books always have an element of mystery and intrigue, that aspect is often eclipsed by the fascinating and developing relationship between Russell and Holmes.
Jennifer

[Strawberry Curls]

I recently read BEEK for the second time and enjoyed it even more than the first! Having just read the book for the first time only a few months ago, I didn't expect to be as thoroughly enchanted again so soon, but Mrs. Laurie is a masterfull writer.You may find, as I have, that these books don't pale with re-readings, you only come to appreciate them more. IMHO I agree with you earlier comment, Alice about not feeling the betrayal that Russell feels when Donleavy is revealed as the villain. . . I don't believe that was me, classic_fiend. I agree with Jennifer that keeping Donleavy on the peripheral kept her a real menace, and her demented monologue at the end was even more chilling for that. The reader was able to experience Russell's sense of betrayal, confusion, rage, and chilling fear as she comes to understand just how insane the woman was.

Hey, I found this cool book review site, it's kind of small, but who knows what could happen on the i-net. Anyway, I posted a review on BEEK. http://www.revish.com/reviews/0312427360/ClassicsFiend/Well done, classics_fiend!! This was an excellent review. You have a talent for this. Keep it up. --Alice

[Pat Floyd]

You may find, as I have, that these books don't pale with re-readings, you only come to appreciate them more. IMHO

Well done, classics_fiend!! This was an excellent review. You have a talent for this. Keep it up. --Alice

Alice, the re-reading has truly never paled for me. Last night when I realized that my cat must be put to sleep today, I read BEEK until it was time to call the vet this morning and read some more after I got home.

Classics fiend, your review is supurb! Was the reading in your English accent or your natural one? In any case it was well done.

[S. Gomez]

Good review, classics_fiend.

I had forgotten the line about Russell's accent from Locked Rooms, so thank you guys for reminding me!

[Bachi]

Classic,
Great review,
I was wondering if the sound was synthesized. It almost has a gaelic sound! :cool:

[classics_fiend]

Thanks for reading my review everybody! I've been delightfully surprised at how supportive the Russell fan community is. And I'm glad you liked it!

Woa, I haven't been on for a couple days so:

First, sorry I got you mixed up Alice!

Second, I didn't mind that the Donleavy-Russell relationship wasn't developed for the audience, by doing that the audience thinks as much about her as Russell does, so it's as much of a surprise for us at the end as for her. And that was a chilling "demented" monolougue. (Somehow, I had a sneaking suspiscion through the whole book that a Moriarty was involved. . .)

And third, Pat, I'm so sorry about your cat. . . But there's nothing like a little Sherlock Holmes (and Russell of course) to help you feel better. The Holmes Adventures helped me through a pretty difficult time too. . . Keep your chin up!

[Pat Floyd]

And third, Pat, I'm so sorry about your cat. . . But there's nothing like a little Sherlock Holmes (and Russell of course) to help you feel better. The Holmes Adventures helped me through a pretty difficult time too. . . Keep your chin up!

Thank you so much. Reading is indeed a comfort and so are the kind wishes of friends.

[Bachi]

Pat,
My condolences
w

[classics_fiend]

Classic,
Great review,
I was wondering if the sound was synthesized. It almost has a gaelic sound! :cool:

I didn't record it, I think the site did. . .

[JTACorwyn]

I have read all the books AT LEAST 5-6 times apiece, and they never get stale. Even when you can quote whole passages, the language is so perfect, and the story so compelling, you just don't get tired of it. Knowing what happens isn't even a slight deterrant to my re-reads.

[classics_fiend]

. Even when you can quote whole passages, the language is so perfect. . .


Yes, her way with words is amazing. . . she seems to have thought every thought that will come to mind. I don't know how logical that sounds, but her writing is extremely thought out.

[zeka]

I am grateful that S. Gomez began this thread, I hope it’s not too late to post. I did not come to the Holmes Russell series until 2008, and so missed out on all the earlier discussions. I just finished rereading BEEK, and now am re-reading MRW( it seems impossible to stop at the end of BEEK without going to the second book in the series).
I was charmed by BEEK more deeply on the second read. The first time I read it, I did not like all the exposition in the first 100 pages or so, could not imagine any deeper layers to the cold, calculating Holmes I’d come to know through the few stories I’d read as a child and the 1940’s films starring Basil Rathbone. I would never have believed that a romance could develop, and that Holmes would become so sympathetic a character. If the women in my (non-virtual) book group had not told me that they eventually get married, I never would have intuited it from the beginning of the story, even though there were clues strewn about the pages. That, of course, is just how LRK wanted the reader to react, it needed to be a revelation to all of us that Holmes had more to him than ACD was able to convey.

I agree that I would have liked a scene with the maths tutor earlier on in the book, to set things up a bit, though the game of 8’s clue was a good foreshadowing of what was to come. I also would like to know more about the unnamed Aunt, and wish there was at least one scene, with dialogue, between Russell and Auntie. I find it hard to fathom that Judith Klein’s sister could be so awful, I’d like to know the back story. In BEEK, LRK sets up several tales to come, including OJER, Letter of Mary, and LANG. But she seems to write a literal dead end for the Aunt, as Russell says she does not even attend her funeral. I would like it, if in a future book, some information comes to light that helps Russell understand her aunt better and make some peace with her.

And finally (for now), the reason I picked up BEEK again was that in LANG, without giving too much away, there is reference that Holmes was suffering in the spring of 1919 from the effects of a traumatic incident that occurred in OJER, which of course takes place in the early winter of 1919. The first time I read BEEK, I did find his playacting of the broken man a little over the top, and somewhat melodramatic, even if he was crazy about Russell, which he was. With the new “spin” (as they say in my business) on that time period, his actions make a lot more sense. I love how LRK keeps adding layer upon layer to these tales.

[Shaybo]

I had to get BEEK and Letters of Mary. I've read them both and found them to be good, although you're right S.Gomez the end left me empty. I just looked at my collection of Russell/Holmes books and I need to get Monsterous Regiment, which I thought I had but don't.:mad:

[Donna]

Shaybo, The end of which... both?

Definitely get MRW - the Russell/Holmes relationship to date isn't complete without it. It's also our book of the month coming up in November so your niggling annoyance - if any - can be thoroughly discussed then. Be sure to post your comments on that thread (will be started, doesn't exist yet) if you don't mind us all chiming in, dissecting, pontificating, pronouncing; in short having a great deal of fun with the story (and to some extent, with the author). :)

[Shaybo]

Donna- Bee Keeper's Apprentice. For some reason it didn't go into much details with clues.