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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Another classic under my belt, I feel accomplished. I went for this one as I am very familiar with Oliver and Great Expectations but not of this one (bar the opening line).
I must say though, I’ve always struggled with Dickens writing style - I know this could partly because it’s Victorian era, but even putting that aside, I often find that he goes to great lengths to be overly descriptive and I can get lost in it finding it hard to concentrate. I mention this more as a failing on me, because as a result, I feel like I end up not enjoying his books as much as I could.
That said, a fantastic beginning and a powerful ending. I love the commentary about class, and think it’s very clever at how it examines tensions between rich and poor, showing how and why those come to boiling points. And yet, revolution comes, and the people you feel sorry for then become the menace.
As a Londoner who loves Paris, I also loved jumping between the UK and France. I found the story of the father fascinating and scary. And omg, the trial scenes had me on the edge of my seat.
If I had a better grasp of Dickens writing style, I’m sure I would’ve found so much more here - but at the same time, I’m just happy I can finally put this book down haha.
I must say though, I’ve always struggled with Dickens writing style - I know this could partly because it’s Victorian era, but even putting that aside, I often find that he goes to great lengths to be overly descriptive and I can get lost in it finding it hard to concentrate. I mention this more as a failing on me, because as a result, I feel like I end up not enjoying his books as much as I could.
That said, a fantastic beginning and a powerful ending. I love the commentary about class, and think it’s very clever at how it examines tensions between rich and poor, showing how and why those come to boiling points. And yet, revolution comes, and the people you feel sorry for then become the menace.
As a Londoner who loves Paris, I also loved jumping between the UK and France. I found the story of the father fascinating and scary. And omg, the trial scenes had me on the edge of my seat.
If I had a better grasp of Dickens writing style, I’m sure I would’ve found so much more here - but at the same time, I’m just happy I can finally put this book down haha.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
“The great grindstone, Earth, had when Mr Lorry looked out again, and the sun was red on the court-yard. But, the lesser grindstone stood alone there in the calm morning air, with a red upon it that the sun had never given, and would never take away”
And also
“I’ve known myself to be quite undeserving. And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what sudden mastery you kindled me, heap of ashes that I am, into fire—a fire, however, inseparable in its nature to myself, quickening nothing , lighting nothing, doing no service, idly burning away.”
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was great! I enjoyed it. There were similarities to great expectations (also by dickens). Unrequited love, the selfless giving from one man to another are two that immediately come to mind.
When I read this in high school, my reception was somewhat cool--though I did appreciate the romantic tragedy of the narrative more than Dickens's other works. Of course, its quotation in Dark Knight Rises heightened its tragic quality for me, and I remember returning often to the novel's final pages. It makes an incredible appeal for the Revolution, no?
challenging
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
What a fun time! And a nice introduction to Dickens too! Definitely a new favourite classic, several scenes in this book are so masterfully well-written, and so picturesque, that they are just stuck in my brain. Dickens was a real master in his use of sarcasm and satire (I did actually laugh during my reading), and in the setting of the tone, the foreshadowing and the parallelism he draws... what a talent! Also, very unexpected, one of the characters made me almost cry three times?!
I would suggest this to someone who wants to start reading Dickens' works, it's also one of his shortest books :)
Edit: upping this to five stars because it's been almost a year since i read it for the first time and i love the story and Dickens' prose just as much
I would suggest this to someone who wants to start reading Dickens' works, it's also one of his shortest books :)
Edit: upping this to five stars because it's been almost a year since i read it for the first time and i love the story and Dickens' prose just as much