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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
I definitely had a hard time getting through this book. I found that the plot was tedious and unfulfilling, that the characters were insipid and lacked depth, and that the relationships between the characters were dispassionate.
Firstly, the overall plot of the novel was uninteresting and lacklustre; I do not recall a single stirring or exciting occurrence happening throughout. This may be effectively demonstrating the way the characters’ lives are ruled by ‘Facts’, and therefore their lives are monotonous and dull; yet to a reader, this simply causes one to lose interest.
I did not think the characters were presented and described very clearly or meticulously, which meant that I did not become emotionally attached to any of them in the way that one should when reading a book. There was some pathos evoked for characters such as Louisa and Stephen who suffered individually for the faults of others, and I did feel quite joyous when Bounderby was revealed to be quite a fraud. Nevertheless, I did not enjoy the book very much due to my lack of deep consideration for the characters.
One aspect I did enjoy, and fervently admired, was Dickens’ writing style. The many metaphors and imagery that he used were exceptional and inspiring. I particularly liked the way he compared the spirals of smoke to the coiling of snakes, and the monotony of the mills to the workings of elephants. The comparison with the snakes hinted at a sense of unrest and dishonesty within the town, which was then elucidated by the revelations that Bounderby lied about his upbringing and that Louisa was ardently unhappy about her marriage to Josiah. In addition, I thought that the imagery of the elephants could allude to the circus introduced at the beginning of the novel. Elephants were used in circuses as a form of entertainment, and the way Dickens compares the mechanisms of the mills to the footsteps of elephants, highlights this allusion. There is also a sense of irony that elephants are used in circuses when the town is based on ‘Fact’ and openly discourages any form of amusement or fancy. In this way, I thoroughly revered Dickens’ prose.
Regarding the blurb, I thought it was quite misleading. The blurb inferred that Sissy Jupe would have a more significant influence on the Gradgrind family yet I did not feel that she was a very important character. Arguably, she was the person who caused Louisa to deviate from her rigid and strict lifestyle; however I do not think she made a big impression on Louisa, and she did not have a very significant role in the novel thereafter.
Overall, I regret choosing this book as my first Dickens novel. I found the plot weak and the characters insubstantial. Nonetheless, Dickens’ prose kept me reading, and it will certainly stir me to read his other, hopefully more interesting, novels.
Firstly, the overall plot of the novel was uninteresting and lacklustre; I do not recall a single stirring or exciting occurrence happening throughout. This may be effectively demonstrating the way the characters’ lives are ruled by ‘Facts’, and therefore their lives are monotonous and dull; yet to a reader, this simply causes one to lose interest.
I did not think the characters were presented and described very clearly or meticulously, which meant that I did not become emotionally attached to any of them in the way that one should when reading a book. There was some pathos evoked for characters such as Louisa and Stephen who suffered individually for the faults of others, and I did feel quite joyous when Bounderby was revealed to be quite a fraud. Nevertheless, I did not enjoy the book very much due to my lack of deep consideration for the characters.
One aspect I did enjoy, and fervently admired, was Dickens’ writing style. The many metaphors and imagery that he used were exceptional and inspiring. I particularly liked the way he compared the spirals of smoke to the coiling of snakes, and the monotony of the mills to the workings of elephants. The comparison with the snakes hinted at a sense of unrest and dishonesty within the town, which was then elucidated by the revelations that Bounderby lied about his upbringing and that Louisa was ardently unhappy about her marriage to Josiah. In addition, I thought that the imagery of the elephants could allude to the circus introduced at the beginning of the novel. Elephants were used in circuses as a form of entertainment, and the way Dickens compares the mechanisms of the mills to the footsteps of elephants, highlights this allusion. There is also a sense of irony that elephants are used in circuses when the town is based on ‘Fact’ and openly discourages any form of amusement or fancy. In this way, I thoroughly revered Dickens’ prose.
Regarding the blurb, I thought it was quite misleading. The blurb inferred that Sissy Jupe would have a more significant influence on the Gradgrind family yet I did not feel that she was a very important character. Arguably, she was the person who caused Louisa to deviate from her rigid and strict lifestyle; however I do not think she made a big impression on Louisa, and she did not have a very significant role in the novel thereafter.
Overall, I regret choosing this book as my first Dickens novel. I found the plot weak and the characters insubstantial. Nonetheless, Dickens’ prose kept me reading, and it will certainly stir me to read his other, hopefully more interesting, novels.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Let it be."
Hard Times is a book set in the time of Industrialization. It revolves around a set of characters that include: workers, politicians, bankers, thieves, and a set of women who I believe define feminism for that day and age. They are strong and willful and infinitely wanting more.
The Plot: Somewhere in the middle, the plot started to stagnate. It festered little, using the same sentences in different places. What I like most about Dickens' books are his way to always stay true the plots. Every loose end is amended to. Every character's story becomes fulfilled.
The Characters: Almost drowning in depth. Louisa and Sissy are my favorites. Louisa is cruel and intelligent. Sissy is passionate and loyal. Both are characters to admire as they continue to build themselves as the story goes on. Mr. Gradgrind is the character that I believe to be the most changed by the end of the story. Even the villain, Mr. Bounderby, had moments where his ideology clicked into place. Tom, aka the whelp, is pathetic, sad, and devastatingly real.
I still enjoyed Great Expectations more. There is character that could even appeal to Miss Havisham. However, Hard Times is beautifully well-written and a quiet, simmering read that makes you wonder what people are really like deep in their core.
Hard Times is a book set in the time of Industrialization. It revolves around a set of characters that include: workers, politicians, bankers, thieves, and a set of women who I believe define feminism for that day and age. They are strong and willful and infinitely wanting more.
The Plot: Somewhere in the middle, the plot started to stagnate. It festered little, using the same sentences in different places. What I like most about Dickens' books are his way to always stay true the plots. Every loose end is amended to. Every character's story becomes fulfilled.
The Characters: Almost drowning in depth. Louisa and Sissy are my favorites. Louisa is cruel and intelligent. Sissy is passionate and loyal. Both are characters to admire as they continue to build themselves as the story goes on. Mr. Gradgrind is the character that I believe to be the most changed by the end of the story. Even the villain, Mr. Bounderby, had moments where his ideology clicked into place. Tom, aka the whelp, is pathetic, sad, and devastatingly real.
I still enjoyed Great Expectations more. There is character that could even appeal to Miss Havisham. However, Hard Times is beautifully well-written and a quiet, simmering read that makes you wonder what people are really like deep in their core.
reflective
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
Hard to read.
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well written with some gorgeous descriptions, even though I find Dickens' overly long sentences to always frustrate me and so I can never appreciate his work as much as others do. Nevertheless, the narrative is almost as interesting as other stories I have read of his. In terms of characters, however, Josiah Bonderby is perhaps the only character truly on par with those found in tales such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations. Not bad, but not outstanding.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
surprisingly I liked this book but doesn’t mean I don’t still wanna fight the ghost of charles dickens
the girls getting the good happy ending while all the shitty characters get bad endings? a bit too nice but I like it just the same