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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Loved it all the more by reading it alongside the current BBC TV series with it's wonderful characterisation and acting. Marvelous dialogues transfer directly to the screen such as the moving scene where Dorrit's nefarious attempt to persuade Amy to marry John, slowly drys up as he realises the awfulness of his proposal.
It's a great story of love, mis-directed and unrealised, which keeps up the suspense to the end.
And a perfect read for anyone worried about financial matters today. It all comes right in the end.
It's a great story of love, mis-directed and unrealised, which keeps up the suspense to the end.
And a perfect read for anyone worried about financial matters today. It all comes right in the end.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good themes and morals and masterful use of language, of course. A couple of great chapters on government and bureaucracy. But this one really needed some serious editing. The plot is extremely convoluted with a couple too many twists and the characters are not as compelling as Bleak House.
Where did Little Dorrit learn of selflessness and compassion?
While I appreciated how much better Dickens got at the construction of his novels - compared to “Martin Chuzzlewit”, for example, this one has a much stronger beginning and the wrapping up of the narrative threads at the end is done much more neatly - the title characters’ self-sacrificing nature was a bit much for me to be able to enjoy it. Still four stars because there is so much good stuff in here that three feels like it wouldn’t be enough. It won’t end up as one of my favorite of Dickens’ books, however.
Probably my favourite Dickens so far. It has everything I love about Dickens - quirky characters, dense, sprawling plot, social satire (the Circumlocution Office is basically proto-Kafka) and heaps of atmosphere. And, while female characters are usually not Dickens’ strong suit, Amy Dorrit is actually quite well-rounded. Great read.
Second reading since college. I’m such a softie for a critique on the prison complex and a sweet marriage ending! Pairs well with imagining Matthew Macfadyen in the BBC version.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was spectacular. I adore Arthur and Amy, the Meagles and Pancks. There were really great side characters, too, like the kind Plornish family, Maggy and Daniel Doyce. If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to Juliet Stevenson's version. Her unique narration of Pancks throughout the novel made me laugh out loud. This is my favourite Dickens work (so far!).
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Amazing as usual from Dickens. This was a mammoth read, both in terms of content and length. The plot is very detailed with twists and turns and honestly moments I had to re-read to ensure I knew what was going on. But at the end of it all it is a heartwarming tale of Londoners trying to maintain friendships and love in trying financial times, with financial overlords playing them like pawns...quite relevant as ever. Very interesting reading about the life in a Debtors prison though and. Definitely illuminating of Dickens own views on the government and financial crooks.
"When he saw how pleasure brought a rosy tint into Dorrits face when Maggy made a hit, he felt that he could have stood there making a liberty of the grocers window until the rain and the wind were tired."
..."if the grave could only have been made compatible with the tobacco business and father and mothers feelings!"
"When he saw how pleasure brought a rosy tint into Dorrits face when Maggy made a hit, he felt that he could have stood there making a liberty of the grocers window until the rain and the wind were tired."
..."if the grave could only have been made compatible with the tobacco business and father and mothers feelings!"