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lankylad9's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book quite difficult. The description of the riots is historically quite interesting but the storyline is poor and has even more coincidences than is usual even for Dickens. There are some amusing characters and observations but overall I found this book quite boring and disappointing.
martinbihl's review against another edition
4.0
Dickens regains his form after the stumble of "Curiousity Shop". Great characters, great villians, and a great story - and if he pulls his punches a little at the end, well, who can blame him. He'll finish it properly in "Tale of Two Cities".
One more thing - as an American, it was fascinating to learn about the Gordon Riots (the background for this tale). Because we're so preoccupied with our own revolution, we never hear about the chaos caused by it elsewhere.
One more thing - as an American, it was fascinating to learn about the Gordon Riots (the background for this tale). Because we're so preoccupied with our own revolution, we never hear about the chaos caused by it elsewhere.
gzofian's review against another edition
2.0
My least favourite Dickens so far. It didn’t seem to have the sharp socio-economic eye of other texts, not so much to say about the human condition. I learnt about the Gordon riots, and there is a lineage to current divisions, but it was not a gripping read.
karen_unabridged's review against another edition
4.0
This is one Dickens' novel I couldn't put down and I ended up really enjoying it. It's definitely one of his lesser known works but maybe it's better because of it.
dnglvr's review against another edition
After finishing Little Dorrit and Bleak House, both excellent books, decided to read all of Dickens in order of publication. Not surprisingly he continues to improve as an author with each successive novel. Barnaby Rudge is his fifth book set historically in the times of anti-Catholic riots in England. This is his most complex novel of the first five with interesting characters, excellent story telling, entertaining dialogues, and well done social criticism.
lottiezeb's review against another edition
Barnaby Rudge is the worst Dickens novel by miles and I say that as someone who has read all of them, including Martin Chuzzlewit and The Old Curiosity Shop. More like........................Barnaby Trudge, am I right?
annaekwan95's review against another edition
3.0
It's a Dickens! I have to like it!
But really, no I don't.
Barnaby Rudge has a lot of what Dickens does well - side characters with hilarious quirks, observational humor to rival our own Jane Austen, a cast of characters (many of which are named John) whose stories all tie up nicely at the end of the book.
It's just not one of his better novels. There's a reason no one reads this in high school, when Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities are options. I enjoyed this book at times, but really, I was ready to be done by the end. The most interesting part is the bit about the riots - that really was a page turner, and a part of history I really didn't know about. But I sort of slogged through the rest (sorry Barnaby - you and your raven are cute but pretty uninteresting).
So yes. If you love Dickens, you'll probably like this book. It's got his quirks and humor, as well as spry observations. But don't come into it expecting one of his masterpieces - I found this mildly forgettable within the canon.
But really, no I don't.
Barnaby Rudge has a lot of what Dickens does well - side characters with hilarious quirks, observational humor to rival our own Jane Austen, a cast of characters (many of which are named John) whose stories all tie up nicely at the end of the book.
It's just not one of his better novels. There's a reason no one reads this in high school, when Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities are options. I enjoyed this book at times, but really, I was ready to be done by the end. The most interesting part is the bit about the riots - that really was a page turner, and a part of history I really didn't know about. But I sort of slogged through the rest (sorry Barnaby - you and your raven are cute but pretty uninteresting).
So yes. If you love Dickens, you'll probably like this book. It's got his quirks and humor, as well as spry observations. But don't come into it expecting one of his masterpieces - I found this mildly forgettable within the canon.
fletcherflute's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars-
My tenth Dickens!
I have to preface this by saying I would NOT recommend this novel until you have read a few of his others. This one is very different to the majority of his work.
I think I also say this because it is not his most engaging endeavor. The characters are overall less eccentric and forgettable (except for Barnaby and Simon)
Despite that, it is historically really fascinating, and the title character is portrayed quite well. It hasn’t aged perfectly (such as calling Barnaby an idiot- which at the time was a technical term and not an insult) but gives an interesting account of both the Gordon Riots and towards Victorian attitudes on history.
I watched a review recently that discussed how Dickens portrays these riots as not purely religious, but as a desperation for power. It’s easy to see how the poor, the sick, or the societally oppressed would turn to these riots as a desperate attempt to claw onto any power that they feel they have.
Mrs. Rudge is also one of Dickens’ more interesting early female characters. It’s too bad that Dolly is so silly, because clearly the author is showing increased capability in writing interesting females.
Because the riots are slightly confusing, it can be hard to know who to root for, and who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. There are some clearly good characters like Barnaby and Mr. Varden, but really everyone else is somewhere in the gray area. I think with the way books are normally structured, we expect “big reveals” and “true colors” to be shown, but overall, everyone in this novel is seen as they are. They’re complicated and they don’t always make the right decisions.
With all of that, I think that Dickens really hits on some interesting themes in this book, and his writing overall serves his message. It’s a bit harder to get through than most of his other books, but I think it’s worth it for a Dickens fan. I’ve grown a bit of a soft spot for it.
My tenth Dickens!
I have to preface this by saying I would NOT recommend this novel until you have read a few of his others. This one is very different to the majority of his work.
I think I also say this because it is not his most engaging endeavor. The characters are overall less eccentric and forgettable (except for Barnaby and Simon)
Despite that, it is historically really fascinating, and the title character is portrayed quite well. It hasn’t aged perfectly (such as calling Barnaby an idiot- which at the time was a technical term and not an insult) but gives an interesting account of both the Gordon Riots and towards Victorian attitudes on history.
I watched a review recently that discussed how Dickens portrays these riots as not purely religious, but as a desperation for power. It’s easy to see how the poor, the sick, or the societally oppressed would turn to these riots as a desperate attempt to claw onto any power that they feel they have.
Mrs. Rudge is also one of Dickens’ more interesting early female characters. It’s too bad that Dolly is so silly, because clearly the author is showing increased capability in writing interesting females.
Because the riots are slightly confusing, it can be hard to know who to root for, and who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. There are some clearly good characters like Barnaby and Mr. Varden, but really everyone else is somewhere in the gray area. I think with the way books are normally structured, we expect “big reveals” and “true colors” to be shown, but overall, everyone in this novel is seen as they are. They’re complicated and they don’t always make the right decisions.
With all of that, I think that Dickens really hits on some interesting themes in this book, and his writing overall serves his message. It’s a bit harder to get through than most of his other books, but I think it’s worth it for a Dickens fan. I’ve grown a bit of a soft spot for it.