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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Book 92 out of 200 books
"Nicholas Nickleby" by Charles Dickens
"Nicholas Nickleby" is the third novel by Charles Dickens, published in Serial from 1838- 1839 and then in book form the same year it ceased serialization. It is the story of two characters, the main and title character Nicholas Nickleby, who works as an assistant to a stingy schoolmaster Wackford Squeers, and Smike- who is a student under Squeers, being poor even in the end, he dies, without achieving his hopes and dreams to be with Nicholas.
MY THOUGHTS:
I have to admit that this was the better novel than "The Pickwick Papers" because of the ambitious story and the sympathy of Nicholas to all the characters, especiallySmike.
This story starts off with Godfrey Nickleby, the grandfather of the main character. And fast-forward (I forgot some of the plot of this novel), Nicholas Nickleby is introduced. I admire Nicholas because he doesn't even get corrupted by the injurious practices of the schoolmaster Squeers and his other loathsome uncle Ralph.
The story is slow-paced, mostly episodic where Nicholas and Smike go on adventures together. But in the end, it is all tragicomedy in my opinion, because Smike passes away due to *illness (I forgot) but Nicholas and Kate, her sister, do end up with better romances of their own in the end. Most of the bad characters in this book are dead in the end.
Overall, the concept of this book is great but it could've been a shorter one. This book wasn't all that perfect too because I got bored with the pacing of this novel. I'd gladly recommend this book as a beginner novel to Dickens.
"Nicholas Nickleby" by Charles Dickens
"Nicholas Nickleby" is the third novel by Charles Dickens, published in Serial from 1838- 1839 and then in book form the same year it ceased serialization. It is the story of two characters, the main and title character Nicholas Nickleby, who works as an assistant to a stingy schoolmaster Wackford Squeers, and Smike- who is a student under Squeers, being poor even in the end, he dies, without achieving his hopes and dreams to be with Nicholas.
MY THOUGHTS:
I have to admit that this was the better novel than "The Pickwick Papers" because of the ambitious story and the sympathy of Nicholas to all the characters, especiallySmike.
This story starts off with Godfrey Nickleby, the grandfather of the main character. And fast-forward (I forgot some of the plot of this novel), Nicholas Nickleby is introduced. I admire Nicholas because he doesn't even get corrupted by the injurious practices of the schoolmaster Squeers and his other loathsome uncle Ralph.
The story is slow-paced, mostly episodic where Nicholas and Smike go on adventures together. But in the end, it is all tragicomedy in my opinion, because Smike passes away due to *illness (I forgot) but Nicholas and Kate, her sister, do end up with better romances of their own in the end. Most of the bad characters in this book are dead in the end.
Overall, the concept of this book is great but it could've been a shorter one. This book wasn't all that perfect too because I got bored with the pacing of this novel. I'd gladly recommend this book as a beginner novel to Dickens.
I love Dickens, but Nicholas Nickleby was excruciating. It's indulgent, maudlin and written without any sense of focus or control; one gets the sense that Dickens literally had no idea what he was doing from one chapter to the next (which he may not have, as he was writing it in installments).
Since I just can't bear to give the author of Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Bleak House and Tale of Two Cities one star, I'll settle for giving Nicholas Nickleby two.
Since I just can't bear to give the author of Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Bleak House and Tale of Two Cities one star, I'll settle for giving Nicholas Nickleby two.
3.5 Stars
Nicholas Nickleby is amongst the Dickens' works I've enjoyed most but perhap because I've read so much Dickens at this point I can't help but point out that it's length is wholy superfluous. This whole account could have been reduced greatly without the story having to relinquish any depth.
Obviously Dickens was paid by the word and took advantage of this. It is of course also the case that his novels were published in parts in newspapers and so it was a lot easier to draw out the narrative as the novel was consumed in parts and the readers had to wait for each new installment.
In Nicholas Nickleby we follow young Nicholas whose father has just died after the stresses of a bad investment and consequent poverty have overcome him. Nicholas, his sister Kate and their mother go to London to meet with their uncle Ralph. Their uncle is however very different from their kind-hearted father. Their uncle turns out to be a creature for whom money is the only thing worth living for.
Upon their first getting to know each other the differences of character between Nicholas and Ralph cause a violent dislike of one another and it is their rivalry that will fuel this story.
The story is a typical Dickens and is inhabited by a host of striking characters, drawn out to the fullest in order to become full charicatures.
The plots and twists follow in rapid succession and there is very limited charcater development though we do get to see Ralph develop a level of regard for one charcater in this novel.
As with all Dickens there is a bit too much of the "happy coincidence" involved so that evil plots will almost always end up thwarted.
An enjoyeable read, definitely recommend the audiobook as it will really bring these charcaters to life.
Keywords: classic, London, hard times, rivalry, mysterious parentage, funny
Nicholas Nickleby is amongst the Dickens' works I've enjoyed most but perhap because I've read so much Dickens at this point I can't help but point out that it's length is wholy superfluous. This whole account could have been reduced greatly without the story having to relinquish any depth.
Obviously Dickens was paid by the word and took advantage of this. It is of course also the case that his novels were published in parts in newspapers and so it was a lot easier to draw out the narrative as the novel was consumed in parts and the readers had to wait for each new installment.
In Nicholas Nickleby we follow young Nicholas whose father has just died after the stresses of a bad investment and consequent poverty have overcome him. Nicholas, his sister Kate and their mother go to London to meet with their uncle Ralph. Their uncle is however very different from their kind-hearted father. Their uncle turns out to be a creature for whom money is the only thing worth living for.
Upon their first getting to know each other the differences of character between Nicholas and Ralph cause a violent dislike of one another and it is their rivalry that will fuel this story.
The story is a typical Dickens and is inhabited by a host of striking characters, drawn out to the fullest in order to become full charicatures.
The plots and twists follow in rapid succession and there is very limited charcater development though we do get to see Ralph develop a level of regard for one charcater in this novel.
As with all Dickens there is a bit too much of the "happy coincidence" involved so that evil plots will almost always end up thwarted.
An enjoyeable read, definitely recommend the audiobook as it will really bring these charcaters to life.
Keywords: classic, London, hard times, rivalry, mysterious parentage, funny
Slloooooow listen, but I'd never caught Nicolas Nickleby in either written or tv/film adaptation form, so everything about the plot and characters came as a surprise. The long "acting on the stage" interlude made me laugh, knowing that Dickens fancied himself a bit of an actor. The baddies were bad, the angelic sister blameless, our protagonist manages to bumble into secure employment and happiness, and all's well that ends well. Not the most memorable set of characters or storyline.
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is always the joy for me to read Dickens, and especially a new-to-me piece of his work. This was such a wonderful read, even though it does touch on some very dark subjects and it doesn’t feel as strong as some of his later work. And of course, no other Dickens novel can compare to David Copperfield, my favorite book of all time.
There is so much to think about in this novel and I’m sure I can’t fully and adequately express it all now. But a few things that really stood out to me were the great humor throughout the book, and yet, at the same time, the moments that would’ve fit right into our current #metoo movement. I’m not sure why, but I was a little shocked at how relevant some of these moments of men harassing and even assaulting women felt. Perhaps it’s in part because I’m also reading a book about Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, but the treatment of women and Dickens’s ability to empathize with them is probably the most salient and memorable aspect of this novel for me.
After years of reading his work, I begin to wish that I had started reading Dickens chronologically from the start. As it is, I have read his works in a very mixed up way, but that of course has not at all dampened my enjoyment of it. It is interesting to see how this novel slots in between the others of the same time period, and of course how his work matures over time. This one feels a bit like a cross between Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. And it contains some of the most wonderful and colorful Dickensian characters, some of whom I believe we see reflected in other, later creations. Mr. Crummels especially stands out to me as a proto-Mr. Macawbers, (who is perhaps my favorite Dickens character ever) so It was especially wonderful to see you this earlier incarnation of him.
I could go on and say a lot more about this book and how much I enjoyed my experience of reading it, but this review might start to become quite as long as the book itself. I’ll just end by saying I can’t wait to read this again in years to come, and to also continue my journey of reading all of Dickens’s work.
There is so much to think about in this novel and I’m sure I can’t fully and adequately express it all now. But a few things that really stood out to me were the great humor throughout the book, and yet, at the same time, the moments that would’ve fit right into our current #metoo movement. I’m not sure why, but I was a little shocked at how relevant some of these moments of men harassing and even assaulting women felt. Perhaps it’s in part because I’m also reading a book about Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, but the treatment of women and Dickens’s ability to empathize with them is probably the most salient and memorable aspect of this novel for me.
After years of reading his work, I begin to wish that I had started reading Dickens chronologically from the start. As it is, I have read his works in a very mixed up way, but that of course has not at all dampened my enjoyment of it. It is interesting to see how this novel slots in between the others of the same time period, and of course how his work matures over time. This one feels a bit like a cross between Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. And it contains some of the most wonderful and colorful Dickensian characters, some of whom I believe we see reflected in other, later creations. Mr. Crummels especially stands out to me as a proto-Mr. Macawbers, (who is perhaps my favorite Dickens character ever) so It was especially wonderful to see you this earlier incarnation of him.
I could go on and say a lot more about this book and how much I enjoyed my experience of reading it, but this review might start to become quite as long as the book itself. I’ll just end by saying I can’t wait to read this again in years to come, and to also continue my journey of reading all of Dickens’s work.
3.5 stars.
There is some fantastic character work here although a couple of the younger females were rather too saintly and bland.
The first half or so of the novel felt rather like a series of vignettes rather than a novel but things came together more in the second half.
Overall, an enjoyable Dickens but not my favourite by him.
There is some fantastic character work here although a couple of the younger females were rather too saintly and bland.
The first half or so of the novel felt rather like a series of vignettes rather than a novel but things came together more in the second half.
Overall, an enjoyable Dickens but not my favourite by him.
Just couldn't finish this one for some reason. I used to really enjoy Dickens, but this one had a really slow start and I gave up.