the eye-catching name
I recently ran across a movie on Netflix called Enola Holmes, which was an eye-catching name I admit. Then I noticed it was based on books so I did some research. It’s loosely based on the first book in a series of young adult novels by Nancy Springer. They are about a very much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The more I read about them the more I really was intrigued. Not enough to watch the movie… yet… but the interest was definitely there.
I finally got curious enough to get the first book, The Case of the Missing Marquess. I devoured it in the course of one day. So, yeah, then I had to watch the movie. Simply put, both the book and the movie were absolutely charming. Each in their own way. More on that in a bit.
Now, if you’re expecting Sherlock to be front and center in either then you’ll be disappointed. Because the story is not about him. It’s about a young girl finding out that she has what it takes to be a detective. In spite of her two very prominent and much, much older brothers. And also finding out she’s a lot more like her older brother Sherlock than she, or he, thought.
things I liked about both the book & the movie
I loved the way Enola grew from doubting herself to the knowledge that she was actually very good as an investigator. And the adventures she had while doing just that. Very fun to both read and watch.
I appreciated that there was enough Sherlock without him completely overpowering the story. Okay, admittedly there was a lot more Sherlock in the movie. That’s kind of to be expected when the book was in first person and Enola was the narrator. Oh, and when he’s played by Henry Cavil. In the movie, however they managed to make very good use of Sherlock in the background. All while slowly developing his recognition that, yes, his younger sister does have a very good brain because she appears to be a step or two ahead of him. So much so, that it’s very believable at the end of the movie that he wants to take over from Mycroft as her guardian. Has Sherlock found his apprentice to mold in his own image? Maybe.
The actress who plays Enola is fantastic. She’s cast and played a little older. She’s 14 in the books while 16 in the movie. She fits the book’s description well enough, though. Considering the adventures she gets up to, I’m not sure a 14 year old on film would’ve worked anyway.
I also loved how they expanded the core concept of the book to make a really good family friendly movie. They stuck well enough to the overall plot while tweaking what was needed to bring it all together on-screen. And tease some sequel possibilities at the same time.
one tiny quibble
I’m honestly undecided whether I like the book or the movie explanation for why her mother left. Both have merit. I will admit that the explanation in the movie lends itself more to sequels that involve her mother. The book not so much, but I’ve only read the first one. Maybe that is dealt with later on in the series. However, the movie explanation is a lot more, well, problematical. Especially for a detective, let’s say.
so more please
Seriously, I enjoyed the first book a lot more than I expected while I adored the movie. So, yeah, I definitely plan to read the rest of the books. And look hopefully for more movies.
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