Ratio Holmes and the Case of the Bike and the Books

By Horatio Holmes

Meet Ratio Holmes! He's not really the great, great grandson of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, but all the other kids seem to think he is. Now he's a detective whether he likes it or not. Still, he's creative, good at thinking through facts, and has a wicked smart best friend, Jinju. Together, they might make great detectives a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Keystone Canyon Press
• Release date: May 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953055118

Horatio Holmes

Horatio Holmes, author of the Ratio Holmes series, has grown a lot since his days at Longtides Elementary. Since then he learned to play the bugle (badly), worked as a writer of competitive mathematics problems, even acted in Hamlet playing the very character for who he was named.In other ways, he’s still the same as he ever was: an avid reader, a pursuer of justice, and someone who likes his hot dogs with mustard.

Book preview

RH_BB_Frontcover.jpg

Ratio Holmes

and the

Case of the Bike and the Books

Horatio Holmes

To Alrica, who is my infatuation, but it is about far more than handwriting.

Keystone Canyon Press

2341 Crestone Drive

Reno, NV 89523

www.keystonecanyon.com

Publisher Alrica Goldstein

Proofreader Krystal Carter

Cover Designer Pandowo Limo

Copyright © 2021 by Horatio Holmes

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021934102

ISBN 978-1-953055-10-1

EPUB ISBN 978-1-953055-11-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

Meet Ratio Holmes!

He’s not really the great, great grandson of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, but all the other kids seem to think he is. Now he’s a detective whether he likes it or not. Still, he’s creative, good at thinking through facts, and has a wicked smart best friend, Jinju. Together, they might make great detectives after all!

Chapter 1

The Green Eyed Monster

It doesn’t mean anything, but I happen to think Madison Haltermann is pretty cool. She happens to be totally into foreign graphic novels, and I respect that. Plus, she’s got a nice voice when she talks. And nice handwriting. But see that’s all. I don’t like her, I just like her.

Jinju says Madison is my infatuation. I looked it up. It means I have a crush on her, which I don’t. But still, when Bumblebee Hanfell, black eye and all, came by me at recess waving a graphic novel called The Green Eyed Monster and said, Ratio, go find your girlfriend, I knew he’d done something mean, and I knew to whom.

So I want

Reviews for Ratio Holmes and the Case of the Bike and the Books

[rybeewoods · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My first expereince in Shakespeare. I didn't know what to expect, but in the end I really enjoyed it. I was pleasently surprised.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ha ha, Othello scared me straight. Nor strangler nor stranglee shall righteous Martin be. No sir, now it's back to neck kisses and highly popular hugs, bike rides and long baths, summer sails and D&D, and teasing out symbologies of race and social place and monstrosity and gender and face from Shakespeare plays. The motto of this play could be "It's a good life; don't get all worked up over nothing, let sleeping dogs lie, and some people are just shitheads - forget 'em."

[deckla_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a nice edition, with a readable typeface, and appropriate notes and context, including descriptions of selected performances through 2001.

[jpsnow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's hard to review Shakespeare in a way that's worthy. I'll simply add my observation: so basic and so base.

[soonercatholic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Setting: This play reflects on the love Othello has for his wife on the island of CyprusPlot: Othello's jealous servant Iago schemes to come between the Moor and Desdemona and nearly succeeds.Characters: Othello (protagonist)- a Moor, general in Venice; Desdemona- Othello's wife; Iago (antagonist)- Othello's scheming servant; Cassio- a soldierSymbols: the handkerchiefCharacteristics: a major tragedyResponse: I understood better the performance by reading the play. I also appreciated Shakespeare's clever insights into human nature through all his characters especially Iago.

[girlfromipanema_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Accessible radio version of the acclaimed 2007/8 production of "Othello" (at Donmar Warehouse, London). Ewan McGregor as Iago lets you laugh out loud just to make you feel embarrassed that you even thought it was funny the next moment. I had some difficulties to "get" Chiwetel Ejiofor's Othello (to be honest, I still don't entirely get it, but then there's a reason to listen to it again!).(Radio play recorded off BBC R3; also available from Donmar Warehouse.)

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this seminal tragedy for the first time in anticipation of seeing it next week at The Globe. I'm ashamed to say I have read comparatively little Shakespeare and this is only the sixth complete play I have read. It remains a classic exposition of values of racism, revenge, jealousy and repentance. There are comparatively few characters, which makes it easy to focus on the main four or five and really get under the skin of their motivations.

[frankjl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps Shakespeare's best romance tragedy.

[susanbevans · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read Othello in college and really enjoyed it! Even wrote a ten page paper on the motives of Iago. I have actually never "met" a Shakespeare play that I didn't like.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Othello, believing the report of the lying Iago, believes his wife Desdemona was unfaithful to him. Much of the evidence rests on a handkerchief. It's definitely sad as are most tragedies. Sadly there are far too many people who tell lies with consequences just as devastating as the ones in this play. It also shows the consequences of jealousy.

[ayling_52 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this for A-Level English and really enjoyed it. I love the story of Othello - my favourite Shakespeare as of yet.Iago is one of the best villains I have ever read - I absolutely loathe him but he is so fascinating. People who can manipulate you psychologically like that, tap into people's weaknesses and use them against people - truly very fascinating.

[orix_bluewave · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a sad story.Everyone in this story is very poor.Without crying, you can't read this book.

[nikkles_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is not my favorite Shakespeare play. I just find it so very sad. Sadder then the other tragedies. I can never get past Desdemona smothered to death. So, while this is great literature I simply cannot like it as it makes me too sad.

[beequiet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favourite Shakespeare plays. Had the privilege of playing Desdemona; being in a Shakespeare play really gives you such a feel for what he's trying to convey. As is frequently noted, his messages and metaphors never seem to fade with time. Beautiful.

[takeitorleaveit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

possibly my favorite Shakespeare play. betrayal. destruction. suicide. what more could you need? oh the epitome of artsy fartsy Mr. Shakespeare!

[jwhenderson_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Othello is one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. It stands beside Hamlet, Macbeth and Lear in this regard. Each of these works has its own 'personality' and in Othello this includes the prominence of the title character's antagonist. For it almost seems that this play could have been entitled Iago. Iago demonstrates a superior mind, coldly calculating and planning his actions to achieve his end, the usurpation of Othello. In this he appears to be completely evil. Othello, on the other hand, seems clueless and is easily manipulated. His innocence plays into the hands of Iago. There is much more in this complex drama, including two interesting and intelligent women in Desdemona and Emilia. Emilia stands out as a courageous woman who has been described by some as a "proto-feminist". The conflict between Iago and Othello is stark as Iago's schemes play out. It makes this one of Shakespeare's best plays.

[vinman225 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this play from start to finish, thanks largely in part to Iago. His near flawless scheme against his general was absolutely brilliant. Shakespeare's language, is as eloquent as it is insightful, but that's unsurprising. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale of betrayal.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Iago has to be one of the nastiest villains in all of literature. Good, old, Honest Iago. In a matter of hours, he takes a happily married man and a successful general and turns him into a jealous, vengeful caricature of his former self. Iago uses innuendo to sow the seeds of distrust, then sits back to watch what he's set in motion. When it looks like things are straying off course, a gentle nudge from Iago keeps things moving in the direction he's set. I'd love to believe that people like Iago exist only in fiction, but I fear that there are too many Iagos in the halls of power, intent on corrupting any whose nature is too trusting.

[katieloucks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the rap of this! look it up on YouTube!

[amerynth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've seen "Othello" performed before but never picked it up and read it through... and I'm glad I finally did. "Othello" has a reputation as one of Shakespeare's great tragedies and it is well deserved. The story is well-paced-- full of action and great passages of dialog that move the plot a long. This is one of his plays that never drags.In the play, the villainous Iago plots against the Moor Othello by driving a wedge into his marriage with Desdemonda by convincing Othello that his wife is cheating on him. Iago plays the other characters like chess pieces to achieve his aims and destroying them all in the process.Overall, this tragedy was a fun read... lots of good tidbits in the dialog to pour over, interwoven in a strong and compelling story.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't think there is any point writing a formal review of Othello - there is nothing that a simple country boy such as myself can say that will add in any useful manner to the vast corpus of more worthy comment.It is, of course, marvellous, yet simultaneously repulsive. The manipulation of Othello by the scheming of Iago is dreadful to see. Othello contributes to, indeed almost collaborates in, his own downfall, while Desdemona is left prey to malign forces entirely beyond her control, or even her understanding.Quite frankly, I think I find it too dark and oppressive. There seems no let up, not even much in the way of Shakespeare's excruciating 'comic' roles. Iago may be my namesake (more or less) but, on balance, I think that when it comes to scheming, Machiavellian figures I prefer Bosola, Richard III or even Lorenzo from 'The Spanish Tragedy.

[leslie398 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Despite the great dramatic aspects of this famous play, I really struggled to maintain my interest. I don't know why the language here seemed so much more difficult than in Titus Andronicus… will have to reread this someday to see if it just my inability to concentrate or whether it was actually the play that is the cause.

[wispywillow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not bad. Shakespeare once again shows his ability to take an age-old story and give it the Bard's Twist. However, I didn't like this story as much as Macbeth--where the magnificent Lady Macbeth helps push her husband to his crimes--nor did I like it as much as Hamlet--where the deep psychological issues rooted in Hamlet's character make him come to life in so many ways.Othello is an interesting character, but lacking in character and nobility.

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A tale of all consuming jealousy versus virtue. Well presented by the company.

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Shakespeare has built thefoundation of modern drama. I can totally see in "Othello" the elements of Pinoy telanovellas. This one is a real tragedy (which Pinoy teleseryes lack - tehy always end in happy endings. Funny thing about this are the lines the characters say before they die which is very FIlipino. Characters in Shakespeare does not die easily. Cassio is also very smart, too bad he got a "too honest" wife - another common Pinoy plot but the wife is usually the bad one and the husband is not "too honest" but "too stupid". I still like "Romeo and Juliet", "AMND" and "Twelfth Night" than "Othello" and I believe that plays are better watched than read especially if its a Shakespeare play.

[smiley_13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Beware you are entering heresy: Not one of Bill's best. It was a drag to finsih, Iago's actions seem out of line with motivation, no great set speeches, few memorable lines and Othello's change of heart is too rapid. That said, Shakespeare was a working playwright and it is the academy that has enshrined all his work as great. The Folger Library edition was excellent.

[norabelle414 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

too much talking, not enough happening. This is definitely a play that's better watched than read.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love, jealousy, lust, revenge, ambition -- it doesn't get much better than this. Iago is the consummate villain, dripping in evil. Othello is, of course, an idiot -- albeit a noble one. Very tight plot and narrative. Holds up well after hundreds of years -- that still blows me away.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1603, claustrofobe tragedie, over jaloezie en roddelHuiselijke tragedie; de intrige is belangrijker dan de karakters. Een één-thema-drama.Grote eenheid van tijd en ruimte (behalve I), blind noodlot overheerst. -Othello: neger, nobel en simpel, krachtig, maar geen subtiliteit, beheerst door zijn obsessie (jaloersheid)-Jago: fascinerende, complexe schurk, type machtswellusteling, verstrikt in zijn eigen list, maar geen andere keuze, wel ijskoud monster

[kirmuriel-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is a bit difficult to read Shakespeare in English if it is not ones mother language, but it is still an enjoyable experience. Poor Othello, deceived by his 'honest, honest' Iago.