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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
One of my favorite books of all time. Charles Dickens does a phenomenal job of not only telling a captivating story but also writing such deep meaning into it. He is a master at the craft of writing. There are themes of sacrifice, love, justice, and vengeance, but most of all, this is a story of redemption.
On a purely practical level, I can't think of any other author who uses symbolism and foreshadowing as well as Dickens does. Christians will also recognize many allusions to the Bible, and one of the main themes correlates directly to the redemption story of Christ.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. The writing style takes a bit of getting used to, but once the reader is accustomed to it, it is not a difficult book to read. While the first line is often recognized as the more famous line, my favorite line is the last one: "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.”
On a purely practical level, I can't think of any other author who uses symbolism and foreshadowing as well as Dickens does. Christians will also recognize many allusions to the Bible, and one of the main themes correlates directly to the redemption story of Christ.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. The writing style takes a bit of getting used to, but once the reader is accustomed to it, it is not a difficult book to read. While the first line is often recognized as the more famous line, my favorite line is the last one: "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.”
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
Read this for school, and I honestly really liked it. I cant say I would’ve read it if not mandatory or gotten through the beginning? But the shit I did in class made me really enjoy how much analysis and social commentary this books holds and still carries.
A Tale of Two Cities takes place during the late 1700s. Recently released from the Bastille, Dr. Manette meets his daughter for the first time. The novel takes place leading up to and during the French Revolution. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. The only reason I rated it a 4 out of 5 is because of the slow start. It didn’t feel like the story really began until about halfway through. On the other hand, I loved the characters and their development throughout the story. In addition to the story, I really enjoyed Dickens’ use of diction and figurative language. It is absolutely unmatched compared to most other authors. This includes the deservedly iconic introduction that perfectly sets up the setting and provokes the right emotions from the reader.
Spoiler
By far the best and most emotional moment of the story was when Carton sacrificed himself at the end to save Darnay, which completed Carton’s character arc.
Dickens has a wickedly funny turn of phrase as well a great ability to tell a tale. What a fabulous read.
I’m going to have to reread this at some point. I listened to it this time and was more than 60% through when I finally started recognizing names and characters. It was the last 4-5 chapters that really drew me in to the story.
Update: I reread this and loved it. I had to use spark notes to understand most chapters but once I got it, it was a great story.
Update: I reread this and loved it. I had to use spark notes to understand most chapters but once I got it, it was a great story.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It would be nice to think that Dickens' social criticism is no longer topical, but sadly it is the story about a time long ago when the "shadow has been cast over some of [the] best and brightest young people... solely because of the actions of their parents." That is, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." Second quote from the book, first from Obama's statement on DACA.
A 'Classic' That Lives Up To Its Hype A book fully deserving of the 'Classic' label, full of characters that are always drawn and never caricatured, and the two cities themselves becoming something more than buildings, etc, and becoming characters in their own right.