Classics for Beginners discussion

I saw this was on itv2 (British channel) the other day.

I think it was a film as it was on for over an hour. Will look it up...

http://www.imdb.com/find?q=Hound+of+t...

All these versions, not sure which one it was.

I have tried to read Sherlock Holmes mysteries in the past without success. I have seen parts of the film Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of Death with Peter Cushing and John Mills and every time I would attempt to read the books that is who I would envision playing out the story. I don't know if it had something to do with Cushing's portrayal of the evil Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars or just how on film it appeared to me that Holmes treated Watson like he was a complete dolt while Watson followed him around only too happily, doing his every bidding but it just always put me off.
Reading it now after having seen the newer Sherlock Holmes films plus the two TV shows where Sherlock is portrayed more as a socially inept genius who treats Watson as a partner who may not be as intelligent as Holmes but is an invaluable part of the team made it a great deal easier to get through the book.
The imagery in the book is excellent. I felt that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle conveys the oppressive and depressing surroundings of the moor quite well.
The length of time it took to solve the mystery seemed so long to me but I believe that I have been greatly spoiled by 60 minute TV mysteries and that in actuality, solving a real case of this nature could take weeks if they're ever solved at all. This book is set in a time where they did not have the advantage of the technology in use today.
I enjoyed the clues that were given along the way to help the readers decipher the mystery for themselves. I could tell who it was and the how, but not the motive unfortunately. I suppose I'm no Sherlock and probably no Watson either.