Reviews

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

jtwindsor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

sandra_buckwell's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

pinksreads's review against another edition

4.0

Quite the heartbreaking story.

Reading this along with Les Miserables was honestly an experience and a half, because of all that I learned about the terror inflicted by different eras of the French Revolution. Stories of love, stories of war, stories of poverty and grandeur, all merged so seamlessly to form this book.

Spoiler

Sydney Carton has more personality than Charles Darnay, fight me. But honestly, we never saw much of Charles Darnay except his trial in the beginning and his 'nobleness' across several scenes like respect for the Manettes, immediate response to his assistant's letter of distress, abandoning his flawed aristocracy etc. But that's such a 2D way of writing a character. He's good, we know. What next?

Best parts of the book: the epic beginning of the story, character introduction of Dr. Manette through his account at the Bastille, the intertwining of Jerry Cruncher's gravedigging exploits with the events unfolding in Paris, Carton's last words, how literally everything came full circle in the end.

Sometimes, the writing dragged on, but I've been told that that's just Dickens in this book. Makes me wonder how the lovers of his general writing style received this book. I would've liked a little more in-depth character development for Darnay, and more insight into Mr. Lorry's life because he was such a wholesome character played such an integral part in the historical context, with his frequent travels between England and France. Otherwise, this book does it.

A solid 3.75 stars from me!

mikayllawilson's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

4.0

hkanzler's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

kmover's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

I have not been a fan of Charles Dickens, with the possible exception of "A Christmas Carol" because his books are long and extremely, maybe even excessively descriptive, because description is what increased his income.  I found myself really loving this book as his descriptions  sometimes gave character to inanimate objects or foreshadowed the action or added to the emotional tone of the scene.  I appreciated his sly wit and gentle sarcasm.  I now know why he is taught as a master in high school and beyond.  I just wish the high school English currículum would choose this book rather than _Great_Expectations_.

isa_08's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

I didnt like the way it was written kinda hard to understand but the ending was sad.

phantomwise's review against another edition

2.0

It's slow in places and I was unsure what rating to give it. I still don't think it deserves four stars, not the whole book, but I think it's entirely possible the last two chapters are among the most giving, horrifying things I've read. I liked them a lot.

wolfgold's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

stelhan's review against another edition

3.0

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

3.5. The parts of the novel set in Paris were much more compelling than those set in London. The final page was brilliant.