Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Being the massive nerd that I am, I've decided that I should spend the next year or so reading all the novels of Charles Dickens in publication order. So, this is where he (and I) started...
I knew pretty much nothing about this book going in, no clue as to plot or characters at all. It was really quite interesting seeing Dickens develop his style and ideas even over such a relatively short time, after a slightly shaky start there was a clear improvement as it went along, the plot stopped being quite so episodic and our main character a little less farcical and a lot more lovable, and by about halfway I was thoroughly enjoying it. While not all of the major characters were particularly vivid, I found myself absolutely loving both Mr Pickwick and Sam Weller and the relationship between them, and of course a lot of the minor characters were great fun as can be expected from Dickens. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
I knew pretty much nothing about this book going in, no clue as to plot or characters at all. It was really quite interesting seeing Dickens develop his style and ideas even over such a relatively short time, after a slightly shaky start there was a clear improvement as it went along, the plot stopped being quite so episodic and our main character a little less farcical and a lot more lovable, and by about halfway I was thoroughly enjoying it. While not all of the major characters were particularly vivid, I found myself absolutely loving both Mr Pickwick and Sam Weller and the relationship between them, and of course a lot of the minor characters were great fun as can be expected from Dickens. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.
Just a reminder why I dislike Dickens. Long winded and too many minor characters coming in and out. Just a long boring book. But I am not giving up on my goal find something in Dickens that I like. I am going to try Oliver Twist now, many people have told me it is their favorite book, so maybe I will like this one
This wasn't my favorite book by Dickens, mostly due to his tendency throughout the book to have characters tell random, chapter-long stories that would have been good short stories on their own, but I felt distracted from the narrative of the whole story. Also, the character Tupman more or less disappeared by the end of the book, with only a sentence in the last chapter to explain his fate. As Tupman was one of the main characters for much of the book, I felt he deserved better. However, I did enjoy the book, and I thought there were quite a few really funny moments.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
It is now October. I am still approximately 250 pages into it. I have not picked up this book in at least two weeks, probably more like three. I don't think I'll ever finish it. I just don't care that much.
August is Dickens' Month! Let the first book you start in August be by Dickens! Hurrah for dorky reading pursuits!
August is Dickens' Month! Let the first book you start in August be by Dickens! Hurrah for dorky reading pursuits!
Re-read this classic after a gap of nearly 40 years and enjoyed it even more than when I had read it first!
My summer project is to read all of Dickens' novels in chronological order. This was the first. It is better than I remember. On to "Oliver Twist."
There were several times throughout the unfolding of this book where I thought "Dang, Charles Dickens is getting SCANDALOUS up in this Victorian novel."
In the years of having little children at hime, I became a fan of Dickens. This was one of my favourites. Very early 1800's vibe to it and it was not as dark as the books to come.