August 2020: Charles Dickens

Hi all! It seems that Charles Dickens is a perennial favorite for our group to discuss. I *know* we've had at least once before picked him as our monthly author. If anyone wants to dig up those old discussion threads, feel free to link them here.

What have you read by Dickens before and what do you hope to read this August?

FWIW, here are the Dickens's titles that are on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list:
Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol
David Copperfield
Bleak House
Hard Times
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Our Mutual Friend
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Martin Chuzzlewit

Turns out "anyone" is me since I was in the wiki to update it with the new authors and saw some of the past threads there :)

We read/discussed Dickens before in 2010 & 2016.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/83815
http://www.librarything.com/topic/233452

Dickens is one of my favorite authors so I've read a bunch of his books, some of them more than once. My least favorite is A Tale of Two Cities (historical fiction didn't work as well for Dickens as his social problem novels IMHO) and my most favorite is David Copperfield (in good company with Virginia Woolf who called it the most perfect of Dickens's novels).

That all being said, there's definitely some of Dickens's titles I haven't gotten to yet, so I'll aim for one of those in August. Will narrow down on a specific title when August gets closer.

I've been meaning to read more Dickens since first reading three of his novels in seminar in my undergraduate days (lo these many years past).

Turns out my daughter has a Summer reading assignment of Great Expectations, so I'm using that as an excuse to finally fulfill that reading wish. I'm awaiting a used Folio Society edition, but she'll be reading from a prescribed B&N edition so she can annotate in the book itself.

Looking forward to discussions with her and hopefully here, as well!

>4 elenchus: Neat! Always glad when our pick dovetails nicely with other things going on in a reader's life.

Do you recall the three Dickens novels you read previously & what you thought of them?

The three novels I read: Bleak House, Hard Times for These Times, and Little Dorrit. I still own the Penguin paperbacks from the seminar, and generally recall all three fondly but only the barest memory of plot or premise.

I think I found Bleak House to be my favourite, but again no specific reasons.

I also vaguely remember thinking that Hard Times would be the novel least likely to be appreciated by anyone not already a fan of Dickens. The seminar was organised around the theme of social reform during the Industrial Revolution, so the novel fit the seminar exceedingly well (and it was also quite short).

For whatever reason, I've had a similarly vague opinion of Great Expectations but in this case negative. Probably just a reflection of its "popularity" which tends to turn me off as a starting point for any artist. What I do hope is that the characters and prose are fun, a key characteristic of Dickens for me.

I finished A Tale of Two Cities last week.

>6 elenchus: I haven't read the other two, but I actually read Hard Times twice (once in print & once as an audiobook). I'm posting my review from that second reading below, but the tl;dr version is that I agree with you that it's more of a book for Dickens's fans than for the casual reader. Stephen Blackpool's oft-repeated line about life ("'Tis a muddle") is one I find myself quoting a lot, and no one ever knows that I'm quoting something....

Young Sissy Jupe begins school in Coketown, while the circus her father works in is traveling through that small town. The school, founded by Mr. Gradgrind, is so focused on fact to the point of stifling any imaginative or creative thought. Mr. Gradgrind, along with his close friend Mr. Bounderby, are concerned about the bad influence Sissy could have in the classroom as the other school children will now be interested in the circus – this fancy that is the antithesis of everything Mr. Gradgrind stands for in his educational philosophy. When Mr. Gradgrind and Mr. Bounderby decide to stop in on the girl's father to have a word with him, they find that, due to his poor health, Signor Jupe has quit the circus and abandoned his daughter. As it was his wish that Sissy be educated, Sissy decides to leave the circus life behind and stay on with the Gradgrinds. Juxtaposed with the Sissy/Gradgrinds plot is the story of Stephen Blackpool, a working hand for Mr. Bounderby, who is saddled with a drunken wife but has since fallen in love with the saintly Rachel. We follow both plot lines over many years, in which the two stories will often intersect, with sometimes tragic consequences.

Hard Times for These Times is largely in response to John Stuart Mill's concept of utilitarianism, contradicting this point of view by showing how some things in life, like imagination and compassion, aren’t strictly utilitarian but are in the end necessary. Although this is the most sort of "problem" novel I've read of Dickens, somehow it seems almost to cover social problems the least. It focuses so much on the negativity of a purely utilitarian education, that the poverty and other issues of the Industrial Revolution in a small factory town are not expounded upon as much as they could be. Even so, many of the problems touched upon, such as belittling the real needs of workers (while claiming they are just looking for a handout) and the troubles of unionizing or not, are still sadly relevant today. The Stephen Blackpool plot does highlight these issues more, but overall the book is not quite so scathing of the rich and middle-class treatment of the poor as some other Dickens' works (i.e., Oliver Twist).

That is not to say that I did not enjoy this book. Indeed, I loved Dickens’ descriptions (extended metaphors about Coketown and its inhabitants abound) and characterizations throughout. Yes, they're caricatures to some extent but you come to expect that from Dickens and it's one of the things I like about him. And some of the characters he presents here are just so deliciously absurd – the “eminently practical” Mr. Grandgrind, the self-made and blustering Mr. Bounderby, the condescending and scheming Mrs. Sparsit, and the languidly affected Mr. James Harthouse. Rachel, however, is very much the stereotypically angelic female figure - like Lucy in A Tale of Two Cities, Agnes in David Copperfield, or Rose in Oliver Twist. It seems for all his great powers, Dickens can't get away from a female heroine who is so ideal as to become not human but divine – and also incredibly dull to read about. Sissy and Louisa’s portrayals are an improvement from this idyllic picture of femininity, but not by much.

I also appreciated the humor in this book; so much of the narration is tongue-in-cheek and satirical (although less so for the Stephen Blackpool parts). However, I didn't particularly care for the reader on the audio book version as I felt he spoke the narration parts too dryly, making the humor less obvious, although he was excellent in doing the voices for the individual characters.

This is not, as others have mentioned, Dickens’ best work ever, so I would not recommend it if you haven’t read Dickens before. But if you’ve already read some of his better known works, I would suggest giving Hard Times for These Times a try. For as Mr. Sleary says, “People mutht be amuthed. They can't be alwayth a learning, nor yet they can't be alwayth a working, they an't made for it.”

>7 mnleona: What did you think of it? As I mentioned, it's not my favorite, but many people love it.

>8 sweetiegherkin:

That really sounds like the book I was vaguely remembering, and I believe we read it last in the seminar by which time we'd had two full novels to acquaint ourselves with Dickensian prose, character, and humour.

>3 sweetiegherkin: I feel the same way about A Tale of Two Cities (was kind of bored by it TBH) and I also love, love, love David Copperfield. Prior to reading those, I was on the fence about Dickens. I liked his stories but found some way too long (looking at you Bleak House).

I still have 4 of the 1001 books to go so I will plan to join in.

I have started reading some longer books with the Serial Reader app. I find Dickens novels work really well this way as most were originally published in a serialised form. Just a suggestion if you are good with ebooks. Oh, and the basic app is free!

>3 sweetiegherkin:, >11 Yells: Ditto on A Tale of Two Cities--underwhelming. I used to think Bleak House and Little Dorrit were my favorites until I listened to David Copperfield on audio. Nothing compares to the first part of the book told from young David's perspective.

Last month I read Dombey and Son, which was OK, but won't be a favorite. I have two novels left that I have not read: Barnaby Rudge and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. I hope to read one of these in August.

I have just joined this group and as a lifelong Dickens fan cannot resist joining this conversation. I am also an admirer of David Copperfield which I feel is a book that comes straight from the heart given the autobiographical elements of the story. Incidentally while I admired some aspects of the recent film of this novel I felt that it missed out the books deeper meanings in favour of a comic approach.

I feel that it is time to return to Dickens after a bit of a break and look forward to hearing what the final choice might be. Personally I am a fan of The Pickwick Papers which after a slowish start picks up immensely with the arrival of Sam Weller. It's very episodic even for a Dickens novel and this makes it easier to read in a way. One can take breathers without losing the thread.

>10 elenchus: Well, it's good the seminar architect had the class work their way up to Hard Times for These Times. It could put people off from Dickens if that was the only thing they read.

>11 Yells:, >13 kac522: I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling "eh" about A Tale of Two Cities. It seems like it's the most popular (or at least most well known?) of his books after A Christmas Carol. I remember being so disappointed the first two times I attempted it. The third time I was just determined to finish it come hell or high water, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.

edited to fix tag issue

>11 Yells:, >13 kac522:, >14 Maura49: yay, glad to hear see some other super fans of David Copperfield! Maura, you're right that it does seem to the most heartfelt due to its being somewhat autobiographical.

Speaking of Dickens's life, has anyone read a good biography of him? I read a couple that were meant for children (A Boy Called Dickens and Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London), both of which were good but short and possibly somewhat sanitized for the younger audience. I also read The Man Who Invented Christmas, which was also good but not strictly a biography.

>12 Yells: Neat, sounds like an interesting app. Thanks for the info!

>13 kac522: If I recall correctly, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the book Dickens was working on at the time of his death and thus was never completed by him. Is that accurate?

>14 Maura49: Welcome to the group, Maura!

Typically we just pick an author for the month and everyone decides which title(s) to read on their own. Sometimes it lines up that multiple people read the same title and can discuss specifics about it; other times we all read something different so it's almost more like a system of reviewing and recommending to each other.

We're a little loosey-goosey about the timeframes, which is why we've already launched into talking about Dickens a bit, even though it's not quite August yet. (Although it feels like it where I live right now -- 90F today!) We also sometimes loop back to older discussions. Feel free to chime in to any topic thread at any time really :)

>14 Maura49: Hmm, which film version of David Copperfield was this?

This brings up a good question to the group ... has anyone watched any of the numerous screen adaptations of Dickens's works? Any favorites or standouts?

Personally, I've only seen two versions of Great Expectations (the 1998 theatrical release and the 2011-2012 television mini-series) ... and of course various retellings of A Christmas Carol, as those are ubiquitous. At this late hour the only one that I can really recall is one called Ebbie, a sort of melodramatic version in which Susan Lucci plays the Ebenezer Scrooge character. (It's kind of cheesy but I have a fondness for it nevertheless.) Have not yet seen anything based on his other works.

Which reminds me that other authors also like to do retellings of his works as well. Most recently I've read Pippa Park Raises Her Game, which is a middle-grade retelling of Great Expectations with a Korean-American girl as the protagonist. Previously I also read Jack Maggs, which was also a retelling of Great Expectations but I don't recall many particulars anymore. .... And of course there's about a bajillion literary riffs on A Christmas Carol as well! The only one that pops into mind right now is Batman: Noel, which is a graphic novel version as you may have guessed.

>19 sweetiegherkin: Yes, correct; it is unfinished, which is why I'll probably read Barnaby Rudge first.

>17 sweetiegherkin: Re: biographies: I enjoyed Charles Dickens by Jane Smiley. It's part of the "Penguin Lives" series; it's short but covers all the basics.

Many think that Claire Tomalin's Charles Dickens: a Life is the most complete biography. She also wrote a biography of Ellen Ternan: The Invisible Woman, about the relationship between Dickens and the actress. I have not read either book.

>21 sweetiegherkin: My favorite screen versions are:

Bleak House (2005) starring Anna Maxwell Martin and Gillian Anderson (as Lady Dedlock); there's also a very good 1985 version with Diana Rigg as Lady Dedlock

Little Dorrit (2008) starring a young-ish Claire Foy and Matthew MacFadyen; there's also an excellent 1987 version with Derek Jacobi and Alec Guinness.

David Copperfield (1999) starring Maggie Smith (totally perfect as Aunt Betsey) and the film debut of Daniel Radcliffe a.k.a. Harry Potter, as young Davey.

Probably the most faithful rendering of any Dickens novel is the 1982 film The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by the Royal Shakespeare Company, which was a stage play and filmed in front of a live audience. It runs almost 9 hours, and I remember my mother saw it live in London over 2 days.

ETA: the links above should go to the movies, I hope.

>22 kac522: Do you happen to know if it's one of those situations where someone else tacked on an ending, or is it just left unfinished?

>23 kac522: You know what's weird, I feel like I read a fiction book by Jane Smiley a couple of decades ago, but not a single of the titles listed looked remotely familiar. Not particularly relevant to anything else here but it struck me as odd!

Claire Tomalin also wrote a biography of Jane Austen that is touted as being quite good (although I have not personally read it), so she must be quite the biographer!

>24 kac522: Thanks for the many recommendations :) The links do go to the movies.

Ooo, I do love Gillian Anderson and I've been wanting to watch that particular adaptation, but I have to read the book first still!

Both those Little Dorritt adaptations sound well cast; another book on the TBR pile for me yet.

I will have to seek out that film version of David Copperfield ... Maggie Smith & Daniel Radcliffe are selling points, for sure.

Wow, 9 hours for a live play! That's a commitment. I hope your mother enjoyed it. There was another more recent version of Nicholas Nickleby (2002 actually, so not that recent) that looks promising and not as long. Another book for me to read first though.

I forgot in my earlier message about the musical Oliver ... to be fair, I'm not sure if I've seen the film version all the way from start to finish but my sister was in a theater version back in high school so I saw that for certain.

>21 sweetiegherkin: sweetiegherkin

I was referring to Armando Iannucci's 'Personal History of David Copperfield' which came out in the UK earlier this year. Admirably diverse casting and I loved Dev Patel as David but I winced a bit about some of the many changes and omissions and felt that the film lacked depth. It WAS very funny and I'm not surprised that many people loved it.

Thank you for the 'Jack Maggs' tip- must add to my TBR list.

>23 kac522: kac522

I have copies of both Tomalin's books . I think that her biography of Dickens is a good shorter book. I have another by Dickens expert Michael Slater which I have yet to tackle -much longer and more dense writing.

If you have an interest in Ellen Ternan 'The Invisible Woman' is fascinating and in parts quite controversial where Tomalin is making suppositions because evidence is lacking. Both books are very readable.

> sweetiegherkin: Many thanks for the welcome. This looks like my kind of group and with plenty of discussion going on.

>25 sweetiegherkin: The original of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is unfinished, but my Penguin edition has lots of notes and speculation on how Dickens had intended the story line to go, based on the story plan he made for the novel. I see there are several authors who have attempted to finish it, and there was a 2012 BBC production as well, which attempted to provide an ending.

>26 sweetiegherkin: I've read A Thousand Acres by Smiley, but nothing else. Her non-fiction style is very easy to read. I've read Tomalin's biography of Austen; also good, but longer.

>27 sweetiegherkin: My mother enjoyed the play so much that she bought the entire VCR tape set, and watched it several times. I saw that recent version of Nickleby, but for some reason it didn't click with me.

>28 Maura49: Hm, okay, I do sort of recall seeing trailers for this one now, but I didn't watch it. It seems like the reviews from viewers are all over the place, so I guess it's one of those films people either love or hate.

So, I went and looked up my review of Jack Maggs as I couldn't remember much about it. Turns out I only gave it a 2-star rating. However, it does have more than 100 4-star ratings here on LibraryThing. Here's parts of my review of it (the Dickens-related bits):

"When I first read the description of the book provided by the publisher - one that emphasizes the mesmerism aspect - I expected perhaps a magical realism-type book (like Carey's My Life as a Fake) or something akin to a pseudo-scientific novel steeped in the Victorian period's mystical beliefs. It turns out the mesmerism part isn't really as much a theme or bulk of the novel as a concise description of the book would lead you to believe. Then, in between me reading the description and actually getting my hands on a copy of the book, I discovered that Jack Maggs is considered a "parallel novel" with Great Expectations. I got super excited because I am a huge Dickens fan, and I thought that given my past readings of Carey's works, he would be great at re-working some classic Dickens. Turns out, this was a bit of an overstatement as well. Sure, there are similarities between Abel Magwitch and Jack Maggs, Henry Phipp is clearly a stand in for Pip (although there is really not a resemblance between the two characters), and there are even shades of Dickens himself in Toby Oates. But to call this book a re-imagining of Great Expectations is a bridge too far; at best, it draws some influences from the classic novel. And to make a not-so-witty pun, my great expectations for this book were subsequently unmet.

For the positives, Carey does write some very Dickensian-like characters, with interesting names, unique markers, and rich backstories. He also writes numerous passages that are things of pure beauty - rich and evocative in language, and heavy with symbolism. And I wouldn't say that I disliked the book per se, so much that I was disappointed by it not being what I expected and for having a 'plot' that was too distracted and all over the place. I am a little surprised that this book won a place on the 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die list and seems to have largely glowing reviews. Perhaps there is something I'm just missing, but this isn't my favorite book by Carey."

Hope you enjoy it more than I did!

>30 Maura49: Great to have you & I always look forward to good discussions about books! :)

>29 Maura49:, >31 kac522: Thanks for all the info about the biographies. I'm not sure that I'm going to read one now, but I'm definitely making note of this for the future :)

>31 kac522: Neat. I like the idea of having notes on what Dickens's intended to do far more than the idea of someone else putting their spin on it. I recall years ago reading a version of Jane Austen's Sanditon that someone else completed and it was just awful. It was so obvious when the other author took over as the writing took a steep decline.

That's awesome that your mom loved the play version of Nicholas Nickleby so much. Did you watch it also ? If so, I could see how a shorter theatrical version wouldn't quite be up to par.

By the way, has anyone ever watched the show Dickensian? It was recommended to me by someone in my face-to-face book club (back when we still met face to face with people....). I see it only last one season though.

>35 sweetiegherkin: Right, I wasn't thrilled with the recent movie version of Sanditon; it was OK, but I thought it was not very Austen-like.

I have watched the Nicholas Nickleby RSC version on DVD (over several days!), but I didn't see it live. It's different because it was literally filmed on stage (so you see the stage, and if I recall, set changes) but you get used to it rather quickly, and all the performances are top rate.

>36 kac522: Ah, I haven't watched yet. Seems like mostly people like it. But always with screen adaptations, it's never quite what the book was....

Gotcha, makes sense.

>32 sweetiegherkin:: sweetiegherkin - many thanks for further info on 'Jack Maggs'. I do like Peter Carey's books so will give it a go but will bear your comments in mind.

By the way, I was interested to read the conversation about the TV adaptation of 'Sanditon.' Andrew Davies said that he found enough material in Austen's barely begun novel for only a few pages of script. Having struggled through 2 episodes I have to say that his inventiveness lagged a long way behind hers. Very disappointing.

>38 Maura49: Sounds like a plan :)

Yeesh, the TV version of Sanditon is not getting any love here at all. I wonder if the positive buzz I was hearing online was from non-Austen fans. I could see that be a dividing line potentially.

At this point I had read everything he had written so I am planning to read David Copperfield - I have an edition that is an exact reprint of the first serialization, ads, pictures and all, bound in one volume. :)

Who knows what else will catch my eye till then - I am pretty sure I also have an old biography of him somewhere.

>40 AnnieMod:

That sounds like a fun edition: what's the publisher? Did they do other of his titles in the same manner?

I finished Great Expectations and while I wasn't wowed, I found it very satisfying. I've got a few reviews in queue ahead of it, and these days I'm actually finding it more difficult to make time for writing than reading. I'll take that as a good thing, knowing I'll get around to it eventually.

>41 elenchus:

Easton Press, back in 2011 - and as far as I know, that was the only one they did. I wish they (or someone else) had done at least a few more but oh well. It is a fun edition though.

I know what you mean on reviews - I am behind on all of mine again. One of those days.

I have read every Dickens novel, including the unfinished 'Edwin Drood' (which is beautifully written). My favourites are 'Bleak House', 'Pickwick Papers'; 'Little Dorrit', and 'Great Expectations'. My least favourites, 'Barnaby Rudge' (though the riot scenes are brilliantly written) and 'Dombey and Son'.

>24 kac522: My favourite adaptations are the BBC 2005 'Bleak House' with Gillian Anderson; and the 1982 RSC 9 hour tv adaptation of 'Nicholas Nickleby'. You are right that this was originally shown (at the Adelphi Theatre in London, June/July 1980), in two parts, with both parts showing on some Thursdays and Saturdays.

Though young at the time, spending all day and night in the theatre seemed too much for me, so I saw it over two days. I think it was the best theatrical experience of my life. The original cast was slightly different to the tv version that was filmed at The Old Vic in 1982. Originally, Ben Kingsley played Wackford Squeers, Timothy Spall played Young Wackford and the brilliant Graham Crowden played Vincent Crummles.

I also like the musicals 'Oliver' (1968) and 'Scrooge' (1970)!

>29 Maura49: The Michael Slater biography of Dickens is well worth reading, although I agree it is long, detailed and dense. The Slater, Claire Tomalin and Edgar Johnson are my favourite Dickens biographers - all great reads.

I enjoyed Ackroyd's biography too, but his assertion that Dickens relationship with Ellen Ternan was purely platonic seems ridiculous to my mind.

>35 sweetiegherkin: 'Dickensian' was fun but wasn't very popular in the UK, so sadly only lasted one season.

Hello! I've lurked for awhile because I've been super busy! But I think I can squeeze in a read in August! My favorite Dickens has been either Bleak House or Great Expectations. I've read many of his works. I have 3 on my shelf not read: Our Mutual Friend, Dombey and Son, and Barnaby Rudge. I have no preference. Any suggestions as to which one I should read?

>44 Tess_W: I very much enjoyed Our Mutual Friend. I recently read Dombey, and I was underwhelmed. I plan to read Barnaby, as that is one of 2 I haven't read, the other being Mystery of Edwin Drood.

>45 kac522: Thanks! I'll start withOur Mutual Friend.

>46 Tess_W: Oooh, good choice. Looking over the list of characters just brings it all back: the Boffins, the Veneerings, the Lammles, Bradley Headstone. I need to read it again.

When you're done there's an excellent BBC adaptation from 1998 with David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes.

>40 AnnieMod: That sounds like an awesome edition! Enjoy :)

>41 elenchus: Being into reading is always good :) I fall behind on reviews as well but try not to let it go on for too long or otherwise I start forgetting specifics ... and the whole reason I write reviews in the first place is to help me remember!

>43 Rembetis: More praise for the Nicholas Nickleby theatrical adaptation. It's clear I'm going to have track down a copy at some point.

Hm, okay, good to know about Dickensian. I might watch that one of these days also.

>44 Tess_W: Hi Tess! Lurking is fine, reviewing is fine, commenting is fine ... we love it all :)

As for where to start, the three you mention having as unread are also unread by me so I don't have any good input unfortunately. Perhaps just start with the shortest if you're pressed for time?

>44 Tess_W:, >45 kac522:, >46 Tess_W:, >47 kac522: Whoops, should have read further before commenting, seems a choice was suggested and made :) Hope you enjoy Our Mutual Friend!

Just deciding between Great Expectations and Bleak House. I might just start one and see how I go. They have been sitting on my bookshelf for far to long, unread!

>53 emgcat::

I decided to go with Martin Chuzzlewit and am very much enjoying reading it after many years. What a gallery of characters.
It is also interesting to turn to a book that rewards slow reading, having recently cantered through quite a few fast reads.

I just started Our Mutual Friend on Serial Reader. So far so good!

>53 emgcat: Great Expectations was good, but I preferred Bleak House. It's long, but the story is fantastic and I loved the variety of characters. I did see the Gillian Anderson series and it was quite well done.

Just started Barnaby Rudge; am making a list of characters as I go along to keep them straight.

Am midway through Dombey and Son, of the three I asked about, it was the only one I could find. It's a bit daunting at 1004 pages.

>53 emgcat: both are two of my favorites!

>57 Tess_W: Yikes, that is a long one! Good luck and let us know what you think of it :)

>54 Maura49: >55 Yells: >58 Tess_W:
Thank you all very much for your suggestions. I decided to go with Great Expectations as it was shorter before I read your comments >55 Yells: so maybe I'll try and read both. Enjoying it so far.

Dombey and Sons This is classic Dickens, the poor and the oppressed put upon by the rich. It also drastically portrays, in general, the place of women in society at that particular time. I really enjoyed this work of Dickens more than some of his others (The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickelby). Some of the descriptions which went on for 20 pages or so, could have been cut down to one paragraph and the story would not have been lost, but then this IS Dickens! This is now my 4th favorite Dickens. (following: Bleak House, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities) 1004 pages

>61 Tess_W: I'm so impressed that you got through those 1000 pages so quickly! It must have been good then :)

>61 Tess_W: I enjoyed the beginning with young Dombey, but had a hard time with the book after that. Perhaps it was just the wrong book at the wrong time. I'm glad you enjoyed it; Mr Dombey Sr just irked me to distraction, and I had to force myself to finish the book because of him. I realize that the book is about his transformation, but there was no one in the book that I could like; his daughter seemed too good, sort of like Nell in The Old Curiosity Shop.

Right now I'm reading Barnaby Rudge, which is probably one of Dickens' least known and least liked books, and yet I'm finding it a page turner so far! I'm almost half-way through. I do have to write down a short summary of each chapter as I read it, because there are so many characters, as well as twists & turns in plot.

>62 sweetiegherkin: It was good and I'm retired...I don't watch TV, so lots of time to read!

>63 kac522: I agree with you assessment of Mr. Dombey, he is quite a tool! I have Barnaby Rudge here somewhere on my shelves, so LT tells me! I hope to get to it soon.

I liked a Christmas carol, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

I can't believe I never read tale of two cities. I have a copy on my shelf so now's the time!

A little late, but here's my take on Barnaby Rudge:

Dickens' least known and probably least-liked novel was a great read for me. The story is set just before and during the Gordon Riots in London in 1780. These were anti-Catholic riots fueled by the actions of Lord George Gordon. Gordon is one of the few characters from life in the book; the rest are all from Dickens' imagination. Dickens skillfully weaves the stories of several families during this time period and how they are impacted by the growing unrest and riots.

There are quite a few characters to keep straight and none really get developed completely, except for our unlikely hero, Barnaby Rudge. I found the book exciting, and Dickens especially shines in describing the riots and the growing tensions and fear in London during the riots, some of which rings true even today. Even more atmospheric was the description of London as it wakes up on the morning that some of the convicted rioters are to be hanged...absolutely chilling.

I can understand why it's not popular due to the subject matter and because it doesn't have a particularly convincing romantic interest, but it is mysterious and a page turner--almost gothic. And, of course, the essential Dickens plot twist: a character's secret biological parent is revealed near the end.

Critical to my understanding of the time and historical events was my 2003 Penguin Classics Edition, with an Introduction, notes and additional historical material by John Bowen.

>66 kac522: Thanks for the great review! :)

I had an e-audio version of Bleak House downloaded from the library. Wasn't super in love with the narrator so I didn't get terribly far before reaching the return date ... maybe about 3 hours out of the 39 total. Trying to decide now whether I want to check it out again or look for a different audio version ... or wait until I'm done with some other print books before trying this title that way. (I'm leaning towards that option.)

I don't know who your reader was, but I always love listening to Simon Vance. He did a lot of Dickens selections for Blackstone Audio, including Bleak House. I borrowed it from the library and copied to my mp3 player.

I'm afraid to say that I am still reading Great Expectations. A bit late but I'll get there!

>69 kac522: Yes, Simon Vance is awesome! This was David Case (sometimes goes under Frederick Davidson). He also narrated some other Dickens's works, and he's not terrible but also not my favorite. I think it was my mood as well ... might have been able to better concentrate on the story despite not loving the narration if my brain weren't preoccupied by what feels like 100,000 other thoughts.

>70 emgcat: No worries, we are pretty loosey-goosey about actually reading authors within the given month. I'm probably the worst offender in this regard! Still trying to finish Zadie Smith from months ago! (I think she was our chosen author back in May.)

A change in direction for me and I have just finished A Christmas Carol. First time I have ever read it and really enjoyed it. Nice to see the changes in Scrooge after each of his visitors has been. Maybe an annual event for me!

>73 emgcat: Oh, it's such a great read! Even with the basic premise of the story being well known, it's so worth it. I always say I'm going to re-read it each year but most years I run out of time because there's so many new books to read also!

>74 sweetiegherkin:
That was my idea too. I'll let you know if I actually do it next year!

>75 emgcat: Sounds like a plan! :)