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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Well, this book had a lot of ups and downs-admittedly, more downs that ups for most of the book. Yet, it's getting 4 stars. Let me explain...
Starting this novel, I was LOST. I didn't really know what the book was supposed to be about, and had no particular interest in subject matter because of that. I read the book because a YA novel I read recently made a lot of references to it (and I've read some reviews/comments from the author that it is supposed to be paralleled to the story itself), and I thought that's decent motivation to read a classic. But, "Clockwork Angel" only referenced emotional story lines, while the book really does devote a lot to political unrest in France at that period. That part of the story is the part that threw me for a loop when starting the book-it was hard to get into the mode of understanding something that was written in an outdated style while trying to understand something that's always confusing to me, even in modern times: politics. And all the other confusions reading something written this long ago-words I'm not used to, words that have different meanings than they do now, different spellings, etc. Add to that long run on sentences that last a page. All of that, I wasn't quite used to for what I've been reading recently. However, as always happens, my mind adjusted after the first chapter or so and then it wasn't much of a problem after that. The writing felt a little odd-I think there was supposed to be a lot of humor in it, unless I was reading it wrong.
However, in some ways, I was still wandering in the plot line a little. There were a lot of different story lines and characters, and jumps between individual personal story lines (which were always the easier to understand and get into) to overall arching political situations/conspiracies, etc., so that it felt a bit like there was a discord (am I using that word right?) between the two that weren't meshing well together or that I didn't see how they related to each other/why they were in the same novel, etc.
So, I read most of the novel 3/4th in that regard-thinking it was OK, but not highly impressed because it seemed a little all over the place and not very cohesive. I still had my favorite character, Sydney Carton, from his first speaking scene, but he seemed to have little point for most of the book. Luckily for me, he actually got a lot of well deserved attention by the end, like Snape. ;p More than that, by the end, *everything* made sense. Everything, and every character, and every scene, had it's place, and it all got perfectly dropped into place nearing the end. Which is why this book got 4 stars instead of 3.
It was interesting that the main villain was basically a woman, although a strong character, and person. She was misguided, but I still liked her, at least as a character.
And, I didn't know that this famous quote came from this classic, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." Done by my favorite character-in fact, all my favorite quotes from my same favorite character-so I'll just end with them:
"And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, head of ashes that I am, into fire."
"I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me."
(I wanted to put one more, but I forgot to highlight it myself in my kindle, and I can't seem to find it online, so...)
Starting this novel, I was LOST. I didn't really know what the book was supposed to be about, and had no particular interest in subject matter because of that. I read the book because a YA novel I read recently made a lot of references to it (and I've read some reviews/comments from the author that it is supposed to be paralleled to the story itself), and I thought that's decent motivation to read a classic. But, "Clockwork Angel" only referenced emotional story lines, while the book really does devote a lot to political unrest in France at that period. That part of the story is the part that threw me for a loop when starting the book-it was hard to get into the mode of understanding something that was written in an outdated style while trying to understand something that's always confusing to me, even in modern times: politics. And all the other confusions reading something written this long ago-words I'm not used to, words that have different meanings than they do now, different spellings, etc. Add to that long run on sentences that last a page. All of that, I wasn't quite used to for what I've been reading recently. However, as always happens, my mind adjusted after the first chapter or so and then it wasn't much of a problem after that. The writing felt a little odd-I think there was supposed to be a lot of humor in it, unless I was reading it wrong.
However, in some ways, I was still wandering in the plot line a little. There were a lot of different story lines and characters, and jumps between individual personal story lines (which were always the easier to understand and get into) to overall arching political situations/conspiracies, etc., so that it felt a bit like there was a discord (am I using that word right?) between the two that weren't meshing well together or that I didn't see how they related to each other/why they were in the same novel, etc.
So, I read most of the novel 3/4th in that regard-thinking it was OK, but not highly impressed because it seemed a little all over the place and not very cohesive. I still had my favorite character, Sydney Carton, from his first speaking scene, but he seemed to have little point for most of the book. Luckily for me, he actually got a lot of well deserved attention by the end, like Snape. ;p More than that, by the end, *everything* made sense. Everything, and every character, and every scene, had it's place, and it all got perfectly dropped into place nearing the end. Which is why this book got 4 stars instead of 3.
It was interesting that the main villain was basically a woman, although a strong character, and person. She was misguided, but I still liked her, at least as a character.
And, I didn't know that this famous quote came from this classic, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." Done by my favorite character-in fact, all my favorite quotes from my same favorite character-so I'll just end with them:
"And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, head of ashes that I am, into fire."
"I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me."
(I wanted to put one more, but I forgot to highlight it myself in my kindle, and I can't seem to find it online, so...)
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-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
The only way I'll ever actually hear that story in any way :-) Another literature thing where the story is good, the characters are excellent, but the language takes too much focus. I like it in audio form though, especially with some really good readers in this edition.
I read this in high school for English class and hated it the first time. I never had any idea what was going on while I was reading. But then in class we'd go over it and our teacher would explain all the wonderful elements of this book and I learned to appreciate it. The next time I read it, I understood what was happening, and how beautiful everything in the story was flowing together. If you struggle with this, have patience and try reading it more than once. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book takes real investment and commitment on the part of the reader, but then the reader is rewarded with a powerful literary experience that enriches the life of the heart, I think!
I am most certain that a lot of this story's details slipped by me. I am not afraid to admit that Dickens was maybe a little bit TOO descriptive and that I was often confused. I will most definitely have to read this story again in a couple years.....