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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Slow to get into it but it turned out to be very compelling. Really enjoyed it!
About a hundred pages into this book, I thought some of the characters were pretty familiar. I hadn't realized that Dickens repeated character types so much. Then, about two hundred pages in, the plot became familiar, and I realized that I had read this book a long time ago. But it was still fun, and I still cried when Smike died (Rosebud's a sled!) even though I remembered it coming. I love Dickens.
It's with a weary heart that I end my patient, obdurate reading of one of the great Victorian novels. Flowery syntax aside, let me confess that I meant, at many times, to abandon reading. The punctuation and epithet of this book were very trying to me. I couldn't understand parts of the book at all. It became a very boring read too often. In the end, my unusual patience prevailed and I now declare that this was a not completely futile experience.
It was justly so that the book ended where it did. Had I ditched this book I would be under the impression that all would end well. Alas it did not. Nicholas Nickleby would have earned 4 stars had the character called Smike - my fondest character in this book - not had a link with the Nicklebies. All grumblings aside, all imagined or inherent grievances aside, I wouldn't say no to a second Charles Dickens novel.
It was justly so that the book ended where it did. Had I ditched this book I would be under the impression that all would end well. Alas it did not. Nicholas Nickleby would have earned 4 stars had the character called Smike - my fondest character in this book - not had a link with the Nicklebies. All grumblings aside, all imagined or inherent grievances aside, I wouldn't say no to a second Charles Dickens novel.
What a sweet and fun book. Dicken's answer to what today we would cal the "rom-com." Still filled with societal cautions and injustices as with other Dicken's books; yet done so in a hopeful setting.
One common criticism of The Pickwick Papers is that it has no plot. This novel is the antithesis of Pickwick, it has too much plot. At 1020 pages in length this is the largest book that I have ever read, and it really felt like it.
Dickens is the master of setting and characterisation. However, sometimes he can get so caught up in describing the mood and the presence of a location that half the chapter is gone before any dialogue is even uttered.
This novel contains, in my opinion, one of Dicken's most tragic characters, Smike. Smike will break your heart ad infinitum. There's lots of evil and mean characters in here that are very boo hiss which is just what we want and of course our hero Nicholas is flawless.
This is definitely a Dickens novel for Dickens readers. This wouldn't be a very good novel to begin with as it's... very Dickens.
Dickens is the master of setting and characterisation. However, sometimes he can get so caught up in describing the mood and the presence of a location that half the chapter is gone before any dialogue is even uttered.
This novel contains, in my opinion, one of Dicken's most tragic characters, Smike. Smike will break your heart ad infinitum. There's lots of evil and mean characters in here that are very boo hiss which is just what we want and of course our hero Nicholas is flawless.
This is definitely a Dickens novel for Dickens readers. This wouldn't be a very good novel to begin with as it's... very Dickens.
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nicholas Nickleby is the 3rd of Dickens’ works I’ve read as part of my #ayearofdickens2021 challenge. It fits nicely after the Pickwick papers and Oliver Twist and seems to marry elements of the two preceding works.
The story primarily follows the fortunes of the Nickleby family - Nicholas, his sister Kate and his mother. Having fallen on hard times after the death of his father Nicholas and his family are compelled to seek assistance from his Uncle Ralph. Ralph is a selfish, plotting moneylender and reluctant to help the family. He takes a particular dislike to Nicholas, which only grows as events progress.
The story is similar to Pickwick in its relatively episodic nature - we follow Nicholas as he moves around the country trying to make his living. He encounters a cast of wonderfully varying characters. There are light hearted moments with the Kenwigses and Crummles and darker moments back in London with Ralph and Gride etc.
It’s similar to Oliver in exposing the cruelty and deprivation suffered in Yorkshire Schools and following the fate of poor Smike who had, throughout his life,been neglected and cruelly treated.
Nicholas and his sister Kate are charming and likeable and offer good contrast to one another. Mrs Nickleby is a character similar to Mrs Bennet from Pride and Prejudice - wholly self absorbed and holding a higher opinion of herself than is justified.
For me it was the characters that made this enjoyable. I wanted Nicholas and Kate to prosper, I felt love and sympathy for Smike, I hated Ralph, Wackford Squeers and Sir Mulberry Hawk. The Cheerybles, Browdies and Newman Noggs were all good friends to Nicholas and humorous in their own unique ways.
In this novel Dickens once again examines class injustice and the lot of those in poverty. He exposes the hypocrisy of the rich but also recognises genuine charity and good nature when it appears. There’s a character for almost every shade of humanity here and they all contribute to the Nicklebys’ story.
I enjoyed following the fortunes of Nicholas and Kate, but for now Mr Pickwick still has my heart.
The story primarily follows the fortunes of the Nickleby family - Nicholas, his sister Kate and his mother. Having fallen on hard times after the death of his father Nicholas and his family are compelled to seek assistance from his Uncle Ralph. Ralph is a selfish, plotting moneylender and reluctant to help the family. He takes a particular dislike to Nicholas, which only grows as events progress.
The story is similar to Pickwick in its relatively episodic nature - we follow Nicholas as he moves around the country trying to make his living. He encounters a cast of wonderfully varying characters. There are light hearted moments with the Kenwigses and Crummles and darker moments back in London with Ralph and Gride etc.
It’s similar to Oliver in exposing the cruelty and deprivation suffered in Yorkshire Schools and following the fate of poor Smike who had, throughout his life,been neglected and cruelly treated.
Nicholas and his sister Kate are charming and likeable and offer good contrast to one another. Mrs Nickleby is a character similar to Mrs Bennet from Pride and Prejudice - wholly self absorbed and holding a higher opinion of herself than is justified.
For me it was the characters that made this enjoyable. I wanted Nicholas and Kate to prosper, I felt love and sympathy for Smike, I hated Ralph, Wackford Squeers and Sir Mulberry Hawk. The Cheerybles, Browdies and Newman Noggs were all good friends to Nicholas and humorous in their own unique ways.
In this novel Dickens once again examines class injustice and the lot of those in poverty. He exposes the hypocrisy of the rich but also recognises genuine charity and good nature when it appears. There’s a character for almost every shade of humanity here and they all contribute to the Nicklebys’ story.
I enjoyed following the fortunes of Nicholas and Kate, but for now Mr Pickwick still has my heart.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not one of Dickens best works. Parts of the story a reminiscent of other Dickens works.
Well Dickens doesn't shy away from the meanness the humanity might posses. Although the roles a little too black and white, but I think they were much ahead for the times he lived and wrote this book in.
Who can comment on Mr Dickens work.
Entertaining story.
Who can comment on Mr Dickens work.
Entertaining story.
Dickens is one of my favorite authors, but this one isn't my favorite. The characters are a little too stereotypical, and Dickenson gets a little too preachy at times. The story was a okay just really difficult to get into.