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flamingo_and_owl_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.25
isobelline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The obscure Dickens
I knew going in that this was the most unpopular novel by Dickens and I can kind of see why. It's Dickens trying to write a Walter Scott novel.
I liked this one fine, but it did get boring at times, especially during mob scenes. One thing that I really disliked was how he constantly sexualized Dolly, even saying at one point that she was especially pretty while in distress (gross!). We get it, Charley, you want to fuck Dolly Varden, get over it!
Overall, this is one of Dickens' more politically conservative novels (he really just wanted to vent about Chartism), so I think history will be even more unkind to it than it is now, but still there's a lot to love here (Grip, the talking raven, is a standout).
P.S.: Sim Tappertit is such a wild character. I want to put him under a microscope.
I knew going in that this was the most unpopular novel by Dickens and I can kind of see why. It's Dickens trying to write a Walter Scott novel.
I liked this one fine, but it did get boring at times, especially during mob scenes. One thing that I really disliked was how he constantly sexualized Dolly, even saying at one point that she was especially pretty while in distress (gross!). We get it, Charley, you want to fuck Dolly Varden, get over it!
Overall, this is one of Dickens' more politically conservative novels (he really just wanted to vent about Chartism), so I think history will be even more unkind to it than it is now, but still there's a lot to love here (Grip, the talking raven, is a standout).
P.S.: Sim Tappertit is such a wild character. I want to put him under a microscope.
amyingomar's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
davidsandilands's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
weyburn13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
shadowsmoon's review against another edition
4.0
Oh Charles, You are just amazing. I still have that table reservation for you if you fancy turning up one day.
It took me a while to comprehend the sheer amount of complexity in this book and I'm not going to lie, the middle section challenged me beyond words. But I have to say by the last few chapters I had realised how utterly attached I had become to the characters. There are also so many moral views and nuggets of profound wisdom in this novel that I was moved deep inside at times.
Apparently it's one of his least read books, which, I can understand why. But the characters are just as entertaining and intriguing and I defy you not to fall in love with them. It has taken me a long time to read this book, whilst I've been doing other things this year, but it has spanned most of the first half of the year and I still think about it and miss the journey.
Charles, I need that dinner date with you.
It took me a while to comprehend the sheer amount of complexity in this book and I'm not going to lie, the middle section challenged me beyond words. But I have to say by the last few chapters I had realised how utterly attached I had become to the characters. There are also so many moral views and nuggets of profound wisdom in this novel that I was moved deep inside at times.
Apparently it's one of his least read books, which, I can understand why. But the characters are just as entertaining and intriguing and I defy you not to fall in love with them. It has taken me a long time to read this book, whilst I've been doing other things this year, but it has spanned most of the first half of the year and I still think about it and miss the journey.
Charles, I need that dinner date with you.
kiri_johnston's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.5
alfredgd's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The best book Dickens had written up to this point in his career, though it still has some glaring issues: the structure is quite lazy, many of the plot points are dull, and the wrap-up is about 5 chapters too long. Unusually for Dickens, the characterisation is quite weak. The only real standout is Sir John Chester, all the rest (excluding the titular) are at most one-dimensional and broadly forgettable. Barnaby himself is a fairly interesting case, and probably a key factor in the shortage of adaptations of this one: I don’t think one could portray Barnaby on screen without it being horribly offensive. It somehow doesn’t feel so in Dickens’s hands, which is testament to the power of his (often grating) sentimentality. On the good side, this is the most tightly plotted Dickens to date. We get a bit of foreshadowing and quite a lot of intrigue straight from the off, which pays off handsomely with the superbly written riots in and out of London. An enjoyable book that maybe outstays its welcome and ought to lean into its strengths a little more.