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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My second Dickens read, the first being Great Expectations, and I feel this doesn’t live up to the mark. I didn’t find the characters likeable, I didn’t sympathise with them or even dislike them, and I think indifference is likely the worst thing a writer could want. That being said they were written beautifully, alike the settings and overall imagery that Dickens evokes. I think I enjoyed this not because of the characters or the plot but solely for the art of Dickens’ masterful style. The socio-political undertones were also interesting, they were (mostly) subtle, but well-written into dialogue and description. Overall great work, but overshadowed by Great Expectations in my opinion.
I remembered loving this book in high school, but that's about all I remembered about it, so with Dickens' bicentennial this year I thought it was worth a re-read. I'm still not sure why I loved it so much at the time - I think my teenage self must have really sympathized with Louisa's emo-ness. But of course it's a great book. My problem is that I just can't seem to connect to Dickens. I think of him as a male Austen - witty, satirical, critical of society, with both farcical characters and sympathetic ones that evoke your compassion, at times long-winded. Heck, Dickens even managed to write two female characters incredibly well (Louisa and Sissy), which I wouldn't have expected from a male writer of the time. But, unlike Austen, I just don't get into it. I think I feel about Dickens the way most men do about Austen - I see all the dry and dull traits and can only appreciate, but not fully enjoy, the excellent traits. I see and appreciate all Dickens' humor, but I don't have enough connection to snort out loud like I would with Austen.
I did get more into the novel toward the end though, as the plot became suspenseful. All in all, my conclusion for the moment is that I appreciate Dickens, though I can't yet love him. I may give Tale of Two Cities another go, though, as a second chance.
I did get more into the novel toward the end though, as the plot became suspenseful. All in all, my conclusion for the moment is that I appreciate Dickens, though I can't yet love him. I may give Tale of Two Cities another go, though, as a second chance.
Definitely my favourite Dickens thus far, what a delightful story this was, on so many levels. I must say that I didn't quite get Dickens until this one, his characters often seemed a little too caricatured, and it was hard to take some of his tricks seriously, but here it all came into focus and worked so beautifully and my ideas about Dickens are transformed. He deals with such urgent social issues with such a light touch really, you don't feel flogged with it like you do (a bit) with Orwell, for example. It's an amazing feat to highlight the insufferable attitudes of the accidentally fortunate towards the accidentally unfortunate without resorting to bitter devices, and honestly, I feel as though everyone ought to read this book, because many of those insufferable attitudes persist. What a humanitarian he was. And it's rare that a book makes me laugh out loud, and regularly chuckle to myself. I enjoyed this immensely, though it was hard to get started, but after some time I found the rhythm of it and it was a delight all the way to the end.
slow-paced
Hard to get through at times. The fact that he was paid by the word for the publications I think is most obvious in this book. Everything is described with five different descriptors. Unlike the other books of his I can't get through.. this one has something that caught me. It feels closest to its own book as if it had been written that way and I quite enjoyed the intrigue it swept me toward. This book has nothing on Drood or Carol but its decent
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first Dickens book, I was not expecting to like it that much. My one qualm is that some of the storylines were ended way too quickly, like Harthouse just up and left? Just like that? It made the ending fall a little flat, but other than that it was thrilling.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Charles Dickens' Hard Times is situated in the fictional Coketown, but the setting is of distinctly Victorian concern. Tom Gradgrind raises his children through his ultra-materialistic worldview, where the brain is paramount and the heart should be ignored. The result is a depressed daughter and thieving son, each of whom cause his tactics to come crashing down. Somber satire, the novel condemns Gradgrind's initial methodology, which destroys imagination and feeling, in addition to ultimately causing pain to those who truly seek a different life. Mr. Bounderby, of a similar ethos based in "facts," exploits his workers (called "hands") and limits their individualism, as they are depicted as unable to read or think for themselves. His own rags-to-riches origin is ersatz, carefully manufactured in order that other should sympathize with him, rather than accurately condemn him. Dickens is often metaphorical, as was much of his later writing, although the novel can suffer from pacing issues.
This was hard for me to get through. But the imagery was beautiful.