Month: April 2026

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1902, is a riveting mystery story about a fantastical legend that might turn out to be true. It is written with incredible atmosphere and prose that evokes images in the imagination of a moorland that is riddled with fog, danger, and the eerie sounds of howls in the dark.

The story takes place in Dartmoor, England, and its cast of characters include the infamous Sherlock Holmes and his friend, Dr. Watson, who are sought by Dr. Mortimer to protect Sir Henry, the last heir of the Baskerville estate, after Sir Charles, his uncle, was found deceased under mysterious circumstances. At the start, Sherlock Holmes finds the legend too fantastical to believe, but since there is a million pounds tied up in the estate, he suspects that there are confidants who are willing to stake a claim to that fortune.

Upon their investigation, strange things begin to happen upon meeting Sir Henry. A shoe has gone missing from his hotel, and they receive a message whose words have been cut and put together from newspaper clippings. As Sherlock Holmes stays behind to handle other cases, he sends Dr. Watson with Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall, and under no circumstances, is he to let Sir Henry travel to the moor on his own.

There on that acrid land, we meet the Baskerville neighbors including the Stapleton siblings, the Barrymores (both husband and wife, who are servants of the estate), Seldon, an escaped convict, etc. We also see the moorland taking the shape of a character in the plot, especially in an area called Grimpen Mire, which is treacherous to traverse, with parts that sink into the ground and ensnare whatever falls. The Hound of Baskervilles is a story where many secrets are hidden, including a letter that is discovered in a hearth. Given that it was burned–though not entirely–Dr. Watson tracks down its author, and discovers that Sir Henry’s uncle might’ve been drawn into a trap!

Always lurking is the question if the hound of the Baskervilles is real, if somewhere in that moorland, a creature awaits–given the dark legend of Hugo Baskerville. On this, the story has a foreboding atmosphere that never lets up, even when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unravel the human elements of the mystery. Because of how isolated Dartmoor feels, and how vast the moorland is, it is a story that grips with unrelenting tension, and even when each clue is solved, and the missing links are put together, there remains that question: is the hound of the Baskervilles real?

The Brothers Karamazov, written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1880, is a profound novel that left me ruminating on it long after I had finished it. It’s a book that explores philosophical themes at great length, particularly existential and moral themes, and portrays those beliefs through the lives, thoughts, and actions of its characters.

It is the sweeping story of the Karamazov family, including the father, Fyodor Karamazov, and his three sons, Alyosha, the youngest, who is a monk, Ivan, the intellectual, and Dmitri, the oldest son. The first half of the book explores the history and background of these character, and their specific outlooks on life. Alyosha is contemplating life in the monastery while his mentor, Father Zosima, who is dying, leaves him lasting advice that will impact his life as a monk. Ivan can’t stand to live in the family home with his father and wants to leave, while Dmitri believes he is owed an inheritance from his father, and though he is betrothed to Katrina Ivanovna, whom Ivan is in love with, he wants to be with Grushenka, a woman whom his father would marry in a heartbeat.

But the story takes a major shift when Fyodor Karamazov is murdered, and all evidence points to Dmitri, since he was last seen by his father’s servants at the event, and the money taken at the crime scene was exactly the amount he needed to pay off a debt to be with Grushenka. But Dostoevsky does not reveal what took place at the crime scene until the very end (through a series of interviews, including with the police and the servants ). As a reader, you’re left wondering if Dmitri did it or not, and since we had followed him on his journey as he went from person to person begging for money (3,000 roubles), to the point where he confronts Grushenka at the hotel in Mokroe with the man who she’s planning on leaving with, we question if he really committed the crime or not, though circumstantial evidence weighs heavily against him.

The Brothers Karamazov is a combination of a murder mystery and a philosophical treatise on the moral implications of philosophic values. Ivan believes that everything is lawful and therefore permitted (based on his denial of the immortality of the soul), and criticizes Alyosha’s spiritual beliefs because of how corrupt the world is and how it seems that there is no divine intervention against evil. But Alyosha believes that good must endure in spite of evil, because that is the only way to overcome it in this world. With these two different moral and philosophic viewpoints, in conjunction with the murder of their father, and with their brother, Dmitri, on trial, they must take a stand as to whether he is guilty or not, and therefore, judge him accordingly.

The concluding court trial and ending of this book left me reflecting back on the narrative and these characters, who are so well carved out that they seem real. Dostoevsky did an excellent job contrasting their personalities, while diving deep into their psyches as if he could read their minds and share them with us, even as they wrestled with doubts or indecisions. I found this book hard to put down, particularly at the halfway point, as it was riveting to discover how everything would pan out, especially after Dmitri’s sentencing.

The Brother’s Karamazov is a novel that explores the depths of the human psyche while also illustrating how values can affect a person’s life and attitude on others. It is a masterful work that transports us to a time and place where the beliefs of that era were being shaken by newer ones, and how, ultimately, humanity is always longing for something that will last and endure.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, published in 1813, is a novel that weaves together a tale in which signals are crossed, and characters wrongly assume or judge others until the truth is revealed. Mrs. Bennet has several daughters, and it is her hope that they all marry someday. We see the story unfold through the eyes of her daughter, Elizabeth, as she attends social gatherings, converses with her sisters and relatives, and has her suspicions of various characters that enter the story.

One of those characters is Mr. Darcy, who comes off as rude and arrogant, although he may be putting on a front–given his circumstance–or to Elizabeth’s judgment, pride. Her sister, Jane, who is more amiable and agreeable by far, is the opposite of Elizabeth, and this contrast allows the story to progress in a way where Elizabeth becomes protective of her.

By the third act of the book, we learn that there are people behind the scenes who are scheming in ways to hinder the outcome of marriage, and this is the most curious aspect of the story, especially through the revelations conveyed through letters. Whether it is for financial reasons, or because of what people judge of another’s character, there are layers to uncover, which make each page feel like you’re learning something new about the dynamics of each character.

By the end, I read the final 50 pages eagerly to learn the fate of the Bennet family. Everything comes together in a way where the tension is finally eased from the suspense of not knowing if things will work out for Elizabeth or Jane. The story is written with an ease in which one page flows to the next, and subtle hints are sprinkled throughout the story as to what may or may not happen, based upon the motives finally being revealed.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo, published in 1830, is a tragedy of epic proportions. Set during the late 15th century in Paris, its narrative follows a cast of diverse characters, including the poet Gringoire (who we meet at the beginning), the archdeacon Claude Frollo, the hunchback Quasimodo (his adopted son), a captain of the archers, Phoebus, and the heroine, Esmeralda.

The book is a cross between fiction and nonfiction, as Victor Hugo will digress to describe the history of 15th century Europe (particularly France), gives us insight into the construction of Notre Dame, and even give his take on the history of architecture. In one chapter, he gives a thorough analysis of how the printing press (books) would supplant architecture as the dispenser of art and culture, since before its advent, buildings were not just a place of shelter, but brought together artisans, builders, sculptors, etc., to convey their vision and values. Thus, as you read, you have an understanding of the cultural and geographical climate of that day, which transports you into the time of the story.

The main plot of the novel is that the archdeacon, Claude Frollo, has set his sights on Esmeralda, a street performer who jingles the tambourines, aided by her sidekick, a goat named Djali, who can spell out words with lettered blocks and communicate what day of the month it is (as part of its act). Claude Frollo lives in the cathedral of Notre Dame, along with Quasimodo, who is a bell ringer that is deaf and blind in one eye. Esmeralda, like Quasimodo, is adopted, but has went off on her own way to find her mother, since she was taken away from her at four months old.

One night, Esmeralda is chased by two dark figures who try to take her, but is rescued by Phoebus, the captain of the archers. From there, she’s smitten by him, while he, though betrothed to someone else, is smitten by her as well. Quasimodo, caught by the captain and his guards (though Claude Frollo got away), is sentenced to be flogged (ironically enough, by a deaf judge who bears no sympathy toward him). After the flogging, and after rocks are hurled at him by the crowd, who detest his appearance (i.e., his sunken neck and bowed legs), Esmeralda gives him water to drink–the only moment of kindness he ever experienced in his life.

But Claude Frollo is not done yet, and throughout the story, he plots to take Esmeralda again and again, and at every attempt, tells her he can save her (such as when she’s thrown into prison), or else leave her to the gallows. But because of his selfish and malicious schemes, many of the characters’ lives fall into shambles, leading to a very tragic ending.

But there is a moment, after Esmeralda is rescued by Quasimodo from the executioners, where she is staying in the tower of Notre Dame, that we see Quasimodo almost like a superhero. At night, convinced that they are doing the right thing, truands swarm the streets of Paris trying to break into the cathedral. In this moment, the prowess and larger-than life qualities of Quasimodo come to life (perhaps for readers at that time, it would be like reading the marvel character Hulk).

The book is a powerhouse of visuals and metaphors, and while reading it, I learned a lot about the history of France, and what the harshness of those times were like (i.e. the merciless sentences and executions, the poor prison conditions, the impoverishment people faced, etc.). Though it is a tragic tale, it is also riveting and emotional, and I found myself engrossed in the characters and plot, often visualizing the scenes as if they were from a movie without wanting to put the book down.