Exquisite. I'm bowled over by my first Dickens. <Spoiler> I do wish that I had read it faster though, as towards the end of the book a great deal from the beginning is resolved. It really moved me and upset me, especially the mass atrocities of the Terror. </Spoiler>

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madinhoa's review

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

Very hard to read. Everything is confusing and like a puzzle you have to put together with missing pieces. There are a lot of names that are all very similar and characters that are hard to tell apart. The only interesting thing that happens is in the last 100 pages. I would recommend looking up the spark notes summary and watching it rather than reading the book — it is way harder to read it.

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milton's review

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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rwalker101's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mjake's review against another edition

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sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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baponthecob's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Plot

The characters are really what drives the plot forward I think. It's interesting how sometimes they're introduced as side characters, but later on play a larger role. It ties everything up nicely. I don't know why the ending of this book was so funny to me??? Tragic but? The deus ex machina was just hilarious for some reason. I couldn't take it seriously. It was just so trope-y.

Just the fact that these two guys looked SO similar that they could just? Pass for each other? Please that's so funny

I was much more invested in the characters, and overall, I think the plot did a good job of telling the characters' stories? If that makes sense? It's very tragic, but still in an optimistic way?
My dad tried to get me to read this as a freshman in highschool by advertising it as a "love story" and imo, it really isn't... Some people even call it a love triangle, and I also disagree with that. Yes, there are multiple men who "love" her, but there's no competition. She loves one man and never even considers anyone else. Maybe that's just semantics, but I don't appreciate the false advertising, dad lmao. There's so much more to the story than the half-assed romance
Also the social commentary is still applicable !!! There are still billionaires!! While millions of people are struggling for their basic needs!!! NO ONE NEEDS TO BE A BILLIONAIRE !! And it's disappointing that this book is considered an amazing classic that everyone should read, but it seems like the message has been lost somehow? This is a callout to people who are pretentious about reading certain books but don't take the themes to heart ://

Characters

Lucie Manette: She's lowkey a Mary Sue. Her only personality trait is that she is extremely compassionate and caring for others, and everything she does revolves around her relationships with the other characters. We don't know anything else about her personally, because ever since we're introduced to her, she has dedicated her life to supporting her father and, later on, her husband, Charles Darnay, her daughter, and occasionally, Sydney Carton. Ik this was done on purpose to just show her innate drive to help others, but what did she do for 17 years before she found out her father was alive? Did she just throw all that away? I think it's very sad that she was never really able to live for herself.
She really does pull so hard for such a flat character though lmao. She pulls the most bitches she's got three whole simps

Doctor Manette: I think Dickens did a good job of writing the trauma that has stayed with Manette after those 18 years in prison and even after 5+ years of recovery. Especially the way he describes unhealthy coping mechanisms:

...no doubt it relieved his pain so much...that he has never been able to bear the thought of putting it quite out of his reach. Even now, when I believe he is more hopeful of himself than he has ever been, and even speaks of himself with a kind of confidence, the idea that he might need that old employment, and not find it, gives him a sudden sense of terror...

Damn, that really hit. At the end of the first part of the book "Recalled to Life," it felt so hopeless. He didn't even know if he was glad to be dug out of prison. Maybe it would be easier to just rot away in there. No need to go through the long, arduous process of recovery, unlearning habits, coming to terms with what has happened... He has relapses, times when he recalls his trauma, but he is surrounded by people who care about him and support him. Yeah I kind of kin Manette don't come at me lmao
Charles Darnay: He's pretty boring. I don't even know why Lucie loves him he has no personality. Other than a secret about his identity that she doesn't even know about. I can see why he loves her; she showed him a lot of kindness in court even though everyone else wanted him dead. But yeah their romance/relationship was poorly developed and only existed for the plot.
Sydney Carton: I KIN !!!!! The way Dickens writes his character is just *chef's kiss* I love it. This specific flavor of depression and self hatred produces this off-brand gifted kid burnout/undecided college major vibe and it is IMMACULATE. And the way he knows Lucie doesn't love him and he's just okay with it, not bitter or salty, just happy that she has someone she loves and he just wants her and her family to be happy we stan !!! I would've liked it if they ended up together :(( Also HE REALLY CAME IN CLUTCH AT THE END YALL like he really did not have to do that
The Defarges: Monsieur Defarge is kinda basic I don't really care about him but MADAME DEFARGE !! She's badass. And wise. But also scary and bloodthirsty,,, This couple is morally ambiguous and that's my jam. Also it's nice to see a marriage where it makes sense for them to be together?? Like the have a common goal, and Monsieur Defarge genuinely RESPECTS his wife??? Shocker. It's wholesome until you realize they're,,

about to be responsible for so many,, SO MANY deaths,,,

Jerry Cruncher: tw// domestic abuse
This man is an absolute piece of shit to his poor wife. Homegirl needs to stop worrying about him and praying for him because he DOES NOT deserve it. He repeatedly throws objects at her, hits her, and this in turn teaches his son that it's okay??? It's sad how much his son looks up to him...at first it's a bit wholesome, but really he just doesn't know any other way to be, it's just how he grew up. And because Jerry villainizes his son's mother, he refuses to respect her too... Jerry is his only role model, and he doesn't even realize that he a terrible one.
Jarvis Lorry: I like him he gives me tsundere vibes. "Man of business" my ass we all know he has feelings smh. Also the way he shuts Mr. Stryver tf down !! Stan, honestly.
Miss Pross: We STAN. Raised Lucie, she's so strong, does not take shit from any men. And the way she came in clutch near the end of the book uhhh queen !! The way she's always described as ugly though, that is NOT it.
Mr. Stryver: I hate !!!! him!! Cocky asf and he was about to propose to Lucie and Mr. Lorry said she's not interested. He IMMEDIATELY got salty and said well she's a fool anyway. He sounds like a "nice guy" on Tindr. Fox and the Sour Grapes headass. Lucie and Mr. Lorry are too nice to bust his sack but I will not hesitate smh

I really enjoyed annotating this book :) I pretty much read it as if it were a YA novel and that made it funny and easier to get through. Especially through the exposition bits, those were tough for me. But once it got on to the story/plot it was much better ! I've tried to read this a few times before, because it was advertised to me as a "must-read!!!" by my dad, and I think it's good that I didn't get far back then. I was only picking it up because of someone else telling me to; I wasn't actually interested. This time, I picked it up intending to read it and understand it just for myself, and that really improved my experience! I don't think I would have appreciated the message or the characters as much as I do if I had read this at any other point in my life.

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