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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
This is again one of the best books I have ever read ...something to be said for required reading in H.S. I might have never read this book if it hadn't been a requirement but having had to read it I am happy to have done so.
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses, encloses its own secret; that every room, in every one of them encloses its own secret; that every beating heart, in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there, is, in some of its imaginings, a secret to the heart nearest it!” p19
The above paragraph piqued my attention and so began my love for this tale, propelling me in all manner of interest and emotion. Perhaps I have a voyeuristic tendency to know the secrets of others or to understand how the human heart ticks. Perhaps this is to bring some sense of validation or reassurance to myself that actually, all humans have are complex and actually unknowable.
Charles Dickens has created incredibly memorable characters in
A Tale of Two Cities, individuals with their own histories who find themselves brought together in the most amazing of ways, intertwined in more ways than they know. Set against the backdrop of London and Paris in the late 18th century French Revolution (of which I confess I knew precious little about), this tale has all the elements of a moving drama and honestly left me quite speechless and reflective come the last pages. In fact as I sit here now typing these words I am still reflecting on the magnitude of this tale.
I had no idea really of everything that the French Revolution contained and represented. Wow, I was really blown away by the tenacity of the people in overturning the governing powers and wonder at the collective psyche and oppression that leads to a revolution of this magnitude. Quite the sheltered boy here in the land down under in the 21st century. Loved this para…
“I had never before seen the sense of being oppressed, bursting forth like a fire. I had supposed that it must be latent in the people somewhere; but, I had never seen it break out, until I saw it in the dying boy.” p 364
I am propelled on a couple of journeys from this read. One is to understand the French Revolution in some way and the second is to determine which of Dickens’ novels I should read next. A Tale of Two Cities was my first and definitely won’t be my last. 5 amazing end of year stars.
The above paragraph piqued my attention and so began my love for this tale, propelling me in all manner of interest and emotion. Perhaps I have a voyeuristic tendency to know the secrets of others or to understand how the human heart ticks. Perhaps this is to bring some sense of validation or reassurance to myself that actually, all humans have are complex and actually unknowable.
Charles Dickens has created incredibly memorable characters in
A Tale of Two Cities, individuals with their own histories who find themselves brought together in the most amazing of ways, intertwined in more ways than they know. Set against the backdrop of London and Paris in the late 18th century French Revolution (of which I confess I knew precious little about), this tale has all the elements of a moving drama and honestly left me quite speechless and reflective come the last pages. In fact as I sit here now typing these words I am still reflecting on the magnitude of this tale.
I had no idea really of everything that the French Revolution contained and represented. Wow, I was really blown away by the tenacity of the people in overturning the governing powers and wonder at the collective psyche and oppression that leads to a revolution of this magnitude. Quite the sheltered boy here in the land down under in the 21st century. Loved this para…
“I had never before seen the sense of being oppressed, bursting forth like a fire. I had supposed that it must be latent in the people somewhere; but, I had never seen it break out, until I saw it in the dying boy.” p 364
I am propelled on a couple of journeys from this read. One is to understand the French Revolution in some way and the second is to determine which of Dickens’ novels I should read next. A Tale of Two Cities was my first and definitely won’t be my last. 5 amazing end of year stars.
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Always an excellent read. I read and reread passages every time I open this book to absorb all the meaning, the humour, the forshadowing, the description. This book is as topical today as it was when Dickens first wrote it. One of my all time favorite reads- it never disappoints.
This will be a short review, as it has been years since I read this. However, out of all books I read while in high school, this one was by far my favorite. The characters were witty and the plot was well thought-out. If you have not had a chance to read this classic, I urge you to put it at the top of your list!
I don't suppose there is much to add about Charles Dickens that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say that I loved this book. I read it as part of my "learn about history" reading quest ("The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", "Sashenka" (set during the Russian revolution) and this book set in the French revolution). I don't suppose there is much to add about the human history of mass slaughter either, so I'll say nothing here on that.
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this book - one of my all-time favorites.
I read this in high school, and was enthralled from the first sentence. I just reread it by listening to it on audible, and was skeptical that I would be drawn in again -- especially at first because it took so long to set up all the characters and events. However, the magic happened, of course. One thing that stood out in the audio version was the Bible verse that played on Sidney's mind, which was so pivotal in his sacrificial act and was very important to the mental state of the British at that time.