First Impression Journal

By: Andrew Carandang

The first few pages of "A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have really caught my attention. The novel has been really good so far, with the characters that are introduced and the story line behind it which ties everything together. My initial thoughts were that it would be challenging because of the vocabulary, but I as read further more into the novel I am starting to understand by what is meant by each character. I am curious with what will happen between the protagonists John Watson and Sherlock Holmes and the chemistry they have together.

In the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to a young man named John Watson. He is usually the one narrating the novel. His personality makes him very interesting, he is outgoing, hardworking, ambitious, and intelligent. His life background at this point is that he got his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of London, then went on to study at Netley where he took a course on becoming a surgeon in the army. After his hard work and dedication at Netley, he became an assistant surgeon and was sent to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan, he was hit by a bullet and had fallen ill by the enteric fever. He was brought to the British lines and was relieve of his duties. In England he searches for a place to stay and this where he is introduced to Sherlock Holmes.

When Sherlock Holmes is introduced into the novel, he is depicted as weird and quiet but a very intelligent man who works tirelessly to become successful in his field. He and John met by both needing a place to stay so they are recommended to room together and split the cost of living in the apartment. When they are settled in, Sherlock goes right into his work which again shows his dedication and tenacity. So John questions his findings and asks what his profession  is. When he comes out that he is a detective, the novel got so much more interesting. This is where John and Sherlock click and start to embrace each other more. They both have the same work tenacities as each other and that is why they have good chemistry.

I am glad we have chosen this novel because as person who likes mystery and suspense this book is right for me. As I read further into the novel I hope to enjoy what happens next.







By: Andrew Lumia


My first impression of reading "A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle I find his novel very
interesting and very detail of telling the story of what's happing and the environment around them.
The novel opens with John Watson giving a first-person narrative about the contemporary events in his life. He explains that he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1878 from the University of London but was immediately assigned to wartime duties as Assistant Surgeon and sent to Bombay.

He then traveled to Candahar. The campaign was quite unfortunate for him as he was struck by a bullet in the shoulder and had to be dragged back to British lines by his orderly

One day at the Criterion Bar he ran into an old acquaintance named Stamford, Stamford had been a dresser at Barts. Both men were happy to see a familiar face and began chatting amiably. Watson spoke of his various misadventures and his current need for a new residence.

Stamford replied that another man at the chemical laboratory where he was working had also told him that very day that he sought a roommate.Watson inquired about the details of this man Stamford explained that Sherlock Holmes was a very strange man and that while he was not actually a medical student and "his studies are very desultory and eccentric" he also had "amassed a lot of out-of-the-way knowledge which would astonish his professors."


Watson was pleased to hear that he potential roommate was studious and quiet, and asked Stamford to introduce them. Stamford agreed and the two of them made their way to the hospital. Along the way Stamford spoke more of Holmes at one point curiously stated that he would bear no responsibility if the living situation did not work out for Watson. The latter was surprised at this statement, and prodded Stamford for more information. For Stamford, Holmes was too scientific and could tend toward cold-bloodedness.

He did, however, have a "passion for definite and exact knowledge" and conducted strange experiments. The two men arrived at the laboratory and entered the room where Holmes was working. As soon as Holmes saw the men entered he jumped up with glee and announced that he had found "a re-agent that is precipitated by haemoglobin." Stamford introduced Watson to Holmes, the latter remarking that Watson had clearly been in Afghanistan recently.


Watson and Holmes discussed their vices and shortcomings with each other; Holmes said that he "got in the dumps at times, and didn’t open his mouth for days on end" and Watson revealed that he was prone to laziness, weak nerves, and ungodly hours for rising. As the conversation was pleasing to both parties, they agreed to meet the following day and visit the available rooms.


This first chapter of the novel gives insight to Holmes as a character. As readers, our first impression of Holmes is the same as Watson's first impression of Holmes. He is seen as eccentric, energetic, bright, and excitable. Holmes is pleased with his discovery and self-confident about its significance and putative success and is glibly forthcoming about his own shortcomings. Watson appears to be quiet and amiable, albeit somewhat passive. He is also quite intelligent and perceptive.


The two men accept each other's description of their own idiosyncrasies and conclude that living together might work. It is already apparent that they are complementary; Doyle has created one of the pleasing and enduring novel. Overall I found this novel very interesting and me and my group are looking forward of reading more of "A Study in Scarlet"

By: Jonathan Chu

The novel “ A Study in Scarlet ” is a great fantastic piece. The first couple of pages have really shown me interest. There are several unique characters that have been introduced. The story line of this novel is very creative, it shows a lot of suspense and adventure throughout the story. There were also many themes I noticed while reading the book, for instance the friendship between Holmes, and Watson, you can tell they respect each other. My first initial thoughts of this novel were that it was going to be very long and boring to read; however after the first chapter I was drawn into the book, I was mesmerized by the story, and the characters, by the time I was finished reading I have already passed 20 pages.

The novel first opens with a first person narrative of a young man named, John Watson. His character has many different personalities, which make him more interesting to read he is intelligent, rational, calm, and steadfast. He explains that he received an Doctors degree in 1878, from the University of London, he then goes to Netley and studies there as a surgeon, After all time and his hard work at Netley, he became an assistant surgeon and was sent to Afghanistan. During the time he spent in Afghanistan, he was unfortunately hit by a bullet and had fallen ill by a serious fever. He was brought back to England and was relieve of his duties. During his time in England he searches for a place to stay, and he is introduced to famous Sherlock Holmes.

When Sherlock Holmes is first introduced into the novel, his character is shown to be strange and quiet, but he is a very intelligent man who dedicates his timework continuously to become successful. Holmes and Watson met each other when they both needed a place to stay, they offer to room together and split the cost of living in their apartment. When they have settled in, Holmes immediately goes right into his work, which yet again shows how much he truly cares for his work. Watson begins to question what Holmes does for a living, he then confronts him and question him. When Holmes reveals to Watson that he is a detective, the story begins to get more interesting. At this time Holmes and Watson being to embrace each other more and they start to share the same interest.

I am glad I picked this novel; I was always a fan of the Sherlock Holmes movies and the novels. I love the adventures Holmes and Watson always go on, the suspense until the very end is what made me continue reading, I am eager to finish off the book and I hope my fellow piers fell the same ways as I do.






By: Manpreet Bassi

                     The novel “A Study in Scarlet” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a novel written long ago about the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson. The first twenty pages, which included chapters one, two, and three. After reading this section, I am to write a summary on what I have been reading, so here goes.

                    The novel started with the introduction of Watson and it was noticed that the novel was written in Watson's point of view. The introduction gave me a lot of information on Watson which includes the following: he is a doctor of medicine, he went to school in England he was an assistant surgeon during war and went to Bombay and Candahar to serve the troops. However Watson was shot and became quite sick and due to this he returned to England. There, he did not know how to fit into society properly, was shaken by the events he had seen abroad, and did not have much money after some time. 

                   This is when he met Stamford, a man he knew from the battlefield. Stamford told Watson that another man he knew, Holmes, wanted to buy a place to live and wanted to share it with someone. Interested in this offer, Watson went to meet Holmes. He realizes then that Holmes was a very intelligent man who had great interest in chemistry and solving crime. The two discussed plans of the new place to live and soon moved in together. Watson was quite pleased with Holmes. He noticed that Holmes sometimes worked very hard and on other days, he would do nothing from morning to night. He wasn't bothered by this and enjoyed Holmes' company. 

                   One day, Watson found a book on the table titled the "Book of Life." This book was about how people could tell a lot about others through a single glance. He later came to know, that Holmes wrote that book and that Holmes was in fact a private detective who helped solve crimes.

After this realization there was a man standing outside who Holmes at one look said would be a retired sergeant from the Marines. When the man gave Watson a letter, it turned out that he indeed was a sergeant from the Marines. In the letter, it said that there had been a murder in a house in London and the letter was from another detective, Gregson. Watson and Holmes then left for the house. Upon arrival Holmes looked at every single detail outside and inside the house, including the mud, the dirty windows, the blood stains, and the wallpaper that was coming off. He concluded, after looking at the man's possessions that he was from Cleveland, Ohio. 

              On the wall, the word "RACHE" was written and Holmes knew that it meant revenge in German. After walking around a couple of times and searching up the constable who found the body, Holmes drew out a picture of the murderer and also concluded that the man was poisoned. Everyone looked at him in awe, including Watson, who was extremely impressed. 

            In conclusion, the first twenty pages of this novel were very interesting and I  enjoyed reading this section and learning about Holmes and Watson, and am excited to read the rest of the novel.