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ayphyx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
argamnials's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.75
My first foray into literature about the revolution, and I think it will be hard to beat. It damns and sympathizes with the revolution all in one breath, and gives it the credit due as the most alive time in history (for most), while not saying away from its frenzied bloodlust.
The characters are excellently written - Sydney Carton is one of my new favorite characters in literature, as is Madame Defarge. Mr. Lorry is a fantastic foil to the passion of those two, with the English sensibility turned to 10. I do think that Dickens does what most writers of the 18th and 19th centuries do, which is to exalt some characters to pure virtue - it works sometimes better than others, and in this case Dr. Manette and Lucy are both infallible. It creates good tension with the forces outside of their control, but also makes them feel just like set pieces, although set pieces around which a fantastic story are told.
Carton's sacrifice at the end was so beautiful, especially against his arm length proclamation of love earlier in the book. His ride to the guillotine in the arms of, to the reader, an absolute stranger, was one of my favorite bits of fiction I've ever read. So impactful, cried real hard.
Only taking away quarter star, due to the Manette's (Lucy especially) feeling 1 dimensional. Contrasting with the other characters, she just felt like a character who was an object for love, who was interesting only in that she's sad and beautiful.
4.75 stars for me - a book that has lasted in memory for all this time for a reason.
Beware of furiously knitting women.
The characters are excellently written - Sydney Carton is one of my new favorite characters in literature, as is Madame Defarge. Mr. Lorry is a fantastic foil to the passion of those two, with the English sensibility turned to 10. I do think that Dickens does what most writers of the 18th and 19th centuries do, which is to exalt some characters to pure virtue - it works sometimes better than others, and in this case Dr. Manette and Lucy are both infallible. It creates good tension with the forces outside of their control, but also makes them feel just like set pieces, although set pieces around which a fantastic story are told.
Only taking away quarter star, due to the Manette's (Lucy especially) feeling 1 dimensional. Contrasting with the other characters, she just felt like a character who was an object for love, who was interesting only in that she's sad and beautiful.
4.75 stars for me - a book that has lasted in memory for all this time for a reason.
Beware of furiously knitting women.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
halaagmod's review against another edition
Absolutely insufferable. Dear Lord.
Full of flat and annoying characters, dry and longwinded paragraphs drone on for pages about absolutely nothing, horrible pacing, pointless conflicts, coupled with a love triangle that really adds nothing to the plot and makes no sense when the whole point is the characters being caught up in the middle of the French Revolution. It's clear Dickens was more concerned with his writing and making the story sound good when reading aloud than making an interesting and coherent story with any level of depth.
It's probably a classic for a reason, but honestlythat one fucking kid that got ran over by a cart to show the cruelty of the ruling class probably had a way nicer fucking time than I did trying to read this shit. Ugh. Waste of time.
Full of flat and annoying characters, dry and longwinded paragraphs drone on for pages about absolutely nothing, horrible pacing, pointless conflicts, coupled with a love triangle that really adds nothing to the plot and makes no sense when the whole point is the characters being caught up in the middle of the French Revolution. It's clear Dickens was more concerned with his writing and making the story sound good when reading aloud than making an interesting and coherent story with any level of depth.
It's probably a classic for a reason, but honestly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Death of parent
quixie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
The opening and closing lines of this novel are just incredible, so is the plot. The prose was bit hard to get through, and I didn’t connect much with the characters. Also, I felt that the book could have been 1/3 shorter. There were several ghastly scenes that made me audibly gasp and I learned a lot about the French Revolution. Overall, incredible book, just a little difficult to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
andrea1975's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
acogna's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Dickens proves again his masterful command of the English language. His world of Two Cities is humorous, blunt, treacherous, emotional, but full of hope and faith in humanity. I genuinely tear up whenever I think of this ending, and the love it inspires in any kind of reader. A magnum opus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Child death
barefootbeauty99's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, War, and Classism
silverthorn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape
ephalent's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
frantically's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
2.75
Classics get way too much leeway for their length because their classics. Dickens shut up challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and War
Minor: Mental illness