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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
My first Dickens novel! (Sad, I know.) The story itself was a little underwhelming, but I enjoyed the character development and was pleasantly surprised at how good a writer Dickens is. This might be my first, but it will definitely not be my last!
hopeful
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
It was a challenging story to get accustomed to, since I had extremely high expectations for Charles Dickens. I was completely enthralled by the characters, and see some factual resemblance in the way the scene was set during that time and our everyday lives, in comparison to the present. The ending was a banger.
Found this a bit of a struggle. Sometimes Dickens can be a bit wordy. The story was interesting and I was definitely sympathetic with its central point of view. The direction of the story is fairly obvious and some of the characters, in typical Dickens style, are caricatures - which I generally enjoyed. Whilst it was obvious enough where the story was going, I was happy with the ending.
I've finally managed to read another Dickens novel (this one is assigned for one of my Oxford tutorials) and his storytelling is as witty and charming as I remember it being when I read GREAT EXPECTATIONS a few years ago.
I mean...it wasn't bad...
it was alright my b. not a ton of drama, just classism
it was alright my b. not a ton of drama, just classism
I love all things Dickens. When an author is able to reconnect all the seemingly insignificant details in a piece I find that so appealing as a reader. Dickens is the master at this. My favorite Dickens still remains A Tale of Two Cities but I think Hard Times might just be my second.
It's been a while since I read any Dickens, so perhaps I had just forgotten -- but I was amazed by how political this is. Factory conditions, divorce laws, you name it. Wow.
It's also among the smaller of Dickens' novels, so might be a good choice to start with, if some of the other behemoths intimidate you.
It's also among the smaller of Dickens' novels, so might be a good choice to start with, if some of the other behemoths intimidate you.
“the proceedings of a Noodle can only inspire contempt” - Mrs. Sparsit
well then, hard times must be a noodle, because i sure do feel a lot of contempt regarding the ending
well then, hard times must be a noodle, because i sure do feel a lot of contempt regarding the ending
Dickens, to me, probably never wrote a 'hard to read' novel in his life. By 'Hard to read' I mean in terms literary opaqueness or some unpleasant feature that makes reading it a chore. Of the 3 (now 4) Dickens books I have read, this was the hardest to finish but not because of my two other definitions. Unlike his other books, Dickens injects little humour which is usually what I look for in his writings. What I did find was Dickens kicking the metaphorical door down on the sentiment (or lack thereof) of utilitarianism in the mid1800s. Dickens has a knack for characters; even when they are archetypes such as these there are flashes of truly great character writing (the devilish dissipation or Harthouse, the uncertain mind of Louisa). This books comes from many angles concerning money, power, love, education, class but I believe it boils down to this: we cannot all be out for ourselves and using those Facts to ignore the plight of other people. Or, to put it even more trite but true, " We must love one another, or die".
Dickens had MANY things to say in this book and some themes struck home and some...did not.
But. As always, a solid, earnest, read.
One question...I really did not fully understand Mr. Bounderby's widow lady, ol' whatsherface. Maybe alluding to something contemporary?? To sparksnotes!!
Dickens had MANY things to say in this book and some themes struck home and some...did not.
But. As always, a solid, earnest, read.
One question...I really did not fully understand Mr. Bounderby's widow lady, ol' whatsherface. Maybe alluding to something contemporary?? To sparksnotes!!