Take a photo of a barcode or cover
pagesandstitches's review against another edition
4.0
This collaborative short novel by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins is hilarious and spooky by turns—I quite enjoyed it!
teresatumminello's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I haven’t read [a:Bill Bryson|7|Bill Bryson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578597522p2/7.jpg]’s walking-memoir (or seen the movie), but I've seen it described as a hilarious account of his hiking with an inept sidekick, so I’m tempted to say it’s been done before with this possibly exaggerated but true story of the walking tour [a:Charles Dickens|239579|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1387078070p2/239579.jpg] took with his friend and fellow-writer [a:Wilkie Collins|4012|Wilkie Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1192222099p2/4012.jpg].
The two self-styled idle apprentices—one of whom is not constitutionally made for idleness—are taking a break from their employer, Literature. (Though, later, in a delightful, rather metafictional scene, we see them writing.) In the beginning of their excursion, they almost get lost on a foggy mountain after a compass is broken. The true idler, lagging behind, twists his ankle and has to be carried back to their lodgings. They decide to go to Doncaster for the races (horses), though not to watch the races: They are too idle for that. I loved the descriptions of what the non-idler sees from afar as he walks away from the throng. In between these adventures, we are treated to two creepy ghost stories (later published separately as “The Dead Hand” and “The Bride’s Chamber”), as well as the true idler's personal history pertaining to his rationalization of idleness.
No lines of demarcation point out who wrote which section and I found it fun (and distracting) to try to figure that out. While I feel sure of the authorship of some sections, it isn’t always clear: I’m guessing their respective styles rubbed off on each other to a certain extent during the collaboration.
I haven’t read [a:Bill Bryson|7|Bill Bryson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578597522p2/7.jpg]’s walking-memoir (or seen the movie), but I've seen it described as a hilarious account of his hiking with an inept sidekick, so I’m tempted to say it’s been done before with this possibly exaggerated but true story of the walking tour [a:Charles Dickens|239579|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1387078070p2/239579.jpg] took with his friend and fellow-writer [a:Wilkie Collins|4012|Wilkie Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1192222099p2/4012.jpg].
The two self-styled idle apprentices—one of whom is not constitutionally made for idleness—are taking a break from their employer, Literature. (Though, later, in a delightful, rather metafictional scene, we see them writing.) In the beginning of their excursion, they almost get lost on a foggy mountain after a compass is broken. The true idler, lagging behind, twists his ankle and has to be carried back to their lodgings. They decide to go to Doncaster for the races (horses), though not to watch the races: They are too idle for that. I loved the descriptions of what the non-idler sees from afar as he walks away from the throng. In between these adventures, we are treated to two creepy ghost stories (later published separately as “The Dead Hand” and “The Bride’s Chamber”), as well as the true idler's personal history pertaining to his rationalization of idleness.
No lines of demarcation point out who wrote which section and I found it fun (and distracting) to try to figure that out. While I feel sure of the authorship of some sections, it isn’t always clear: I’m guessing their respective styles rubbed off on each other to a certain extent during the collaboration.
bigbookmaus's review against another edition
2.0
Dickens ain’t my cup of tea and neither is Francis Goodchild or Thomas Idle.
They should’ve just stuck with the ghost stories! (literally the only part that made reading this a tiny bit enjoyable).
They should’ve just stuck with the ghost stories! (literally the only part that made reading this a tiny bit enjoyable).
emilywrites's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
ninjamuse's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices was co-written by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins and features two characters (Mr. Goodchild and Mr. Idle) that are stand-ins for these two. It is told over the course of what was originally five issues of Dickens' journal Household Words and depicts an "idle" (but actually quite frantic) vacation, with long walks/hikes and explorations of inns and other places. In the course, it also includes two long standalone stories--both gothic ghost stories, one that appears to be primarily by Collins and one that appears to be primarily by Dickens.
The book as a whole is certainly a minor work. It has lots of moments of humor and is rarely dull, but at its best still falls short of just about the worst of any Dickens novel. The two largely standalone stories that are told in the course of it are fun, perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book. In general, mostly worth reading for the completist but a lot more that is worth getting to before this.
The book as a whole is certainly a minor work. It has lots of moments of humor and is rarely dull, but at its best still falls short of just about the worst of any Dickens novel. The two largely standalone stories that are told in the course of it are fun, perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book. In general, mostly worth reading for the completist but a lot more that is worth getting to before this.
pixie_hallows's review against another edition
3.0
So, not the greatest work of either Collins or Dickens even though there were a few things I enjoyed about this short story. Overall I found it too rambling without plot or moral.
readingisadoingword's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
An episodic diary account of the two idle apprentices - to be taken as alter egos due Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
They make a tour of the North of England taking in mountain walks, ghostly encounters and the Doncaster races.
Vaguely amusing but at times a bit dry. The ghost stories were the most engaging part for me and Thomas Idle's rant about horses.
Quick read but not a favourite Dickens.
They make a tour of the North of England taking in mountain walks, ghostly encounters and the Doncaster races.
Vaguely amusing but at times a bit dry. The ghost stories were the most engaging part for me and Thomas Idle's rant about horses.
Quick read but not a favourite Dickens.
isayhourwrong's review against another edition
3.0
Yk this was cute. I loved how much of an old marries couple dickens and collins came across, and although I struggled with the prose a fair bit I liked it. The ghost story that was in the 4th chapter was also very fun.