I hope everyone enjoyed the Hound of the Baskervilles. For me I found it to be a great read. What are your thoughts on the novella? Compared to the short stories how does Watson's role seem in this story? Better/Worse? Please feel free to weigh in. Looking forward to everyone's responses.

This is the first Holmes mystery I've ever read. It takes a chapter or two to settle into Doyle's 19th century, purple-ish prose, but after that the thrill of the mystery begins.

I say and by jove, Holmes certainly is a conceited character and poor lackey Watson...well...let's just say that Jude Law's boxing version of Dr. Watson in the new Sherlock Holmes film finally gives Holmes the solid punch in the nose that he so deserves. Holmes is a condescending ass at times.

Hound of the Baskervilles, of course, is a classic whodunit that all mystery fans should read at least once. Doyle does a fine job of creating a the perfect gothic backdrop: The gloomy moor, the unpredictable foggy shroud, the treacherous Grimpen Mire, a boggy/swamp that is hell bent on swallowing any living thing that crosses its path, mysterious midnight howling and screams, the dark and creepy Baskerville manor, the moon herself plays an active role here too.

The Baskerville legend seems lame however, but one goes along with it for the thrill of letting old Holmes showcase his talent once more.

A great read."
 

I've never read Sherlock Holmes before because I didn't like his conceited attitude.  I think I liked the Hounds because
it was told from Watson's viewpoint with very little of Holmes actually in it.

I really enjoyed the atmospherics in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Watson is more than just an admirer of Holmes' forensic techniques and crime-solving skills, recording them for posterity.  He is part of the investigation and essential to piecing the story together for readers.  He readily steps up to Holmes' show of confidence in his abilities and does a great job.  

However, I must admit I thought the resemblance to Stapleton that Holmes found in the portrait contrived and unconvincing.

I read Hound for the first time as a young teen, and I've had crush on Sherlock Holmes ever since.  Sure, he's kind of conceited, but, as my mother used to say, it ain't bragging if you can do it.  I like Watson-as-narrator more in Hound than in most of the other stories.  He's often considered Holmes's bumbling sidekick, but he was a combat-wounded war vet.  He was a brave, vigorous guy.