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anshikatrivedi_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Some persons hold, that there is a wisdom of the Head, and that there is a wisdom of the heart.
People must be amused.....they can't be always working, nor yet they can be always a learning.
eesh25's review against another edition
3.0
I have a complicated relationships with Dickens' novels. On one hand, I love the way he winds his sentences to say the simplest thing in a very clever way. On the other hand, I hate that the guy seems incapable of writing a straight sentence and that his character talk on and on... I don't have the attention span to read and understand a sentence that goes around in circles for 10 fucking lines! That said, and as frustrating as it was to be reading this book at times, there are some things I really liked.
Hard Times, for those who don't know, is set in Coketown in the highly utilitarians times of 19th century England. The characters, very deliberately, have been constructed as caricatures, representations, of certain types of people of the time.
There's Thomas Gradgrind, a father of four who cares only for Facts and has raised his children to deal with nothing else. There's his eldest daughter, Louisa, who is conflicted by her emotions, the mere presence of them, because she was never taught to understand them. There's his son Tom, who has grown to resent his father for the life he was given. There's Josiah Bounderby, a capitalist factory owner (and utter bastard) who sees his employees as nothing more than Hands, without individuality. There's Stephen Blackpool, one such hand who only wants a simple and satisfying life. And finally, we've got Sissy Jupe, the daughter of a circus entertainer who, due to circumstances, comes to live with Thomas Gradgrind.
A lot of characters, I know. And there are still a few others I haven't mentioned. And they all have a role to play. Their lives are entwined. And they all come together in this setting to paint a very pessimistic picture of the life in this town. Which was what Dickens wanted to do. But it can get a little to dim when nothing good seems to happen to anyone and all the good guys lose.
Also, reading a pretty bleak book with a lot of characters, but none I particularly cared for, was not my idea of fun. Also, in an attempt to show the flaw of Thomas Gradgrind's philosophy of 'Facts, Facts, Facts', Dickens may have favoured the opposite too much as we see people like Sissy or Stephen or Rachel as the only ones who are truly wise about the world. Also, sometimes an overly rational nature, or lack thereof, is more about personality than upbringing. And there's nothing wrong with either. The world needs all kinds of people, after all.
Overall, this was a decent read that took me forever to get through. And I can see why some might adore it while others would find it unbearably dull. It's not for everyone, but it's still worth a try.
Hard Times, for those who don't know, is set in Coketown in the highly utilitarians times of 19th century England. The characters, very deliberately, have been constructed as caricatures, representations, of certain types of people of the time.
There's Thomas Gradgrind, a father of four who cares only for Facts and has raised his children to deal with nothing else. There's his eldest daughter, Louisa, who is conflicted by her emotions, the mere presence of them, because she was never taught to understand them. There's his son Tom, who has grown to resent his father for the life he was given. There's Josiah Bounderby, a capitalist factory owner (and utter bastard) who sees his employees as nothing more than Hands, without individuality. There's Stephen Blackpool, one such hand who only wants a simple and satisfying life. And finally, we've got Sissy Jupe, the daughter of a circus entertainer who, due to circumstances, comes to live with Thomas Gradgrind.
A lot of characters, I know. And there are still a few others I haven't mentioned. And they all have a role to play. Their lives are entwined. And they all come together in this setting to paint a very pessimistic picture of the life in this town. Which was what Dickens wanted to do. But it can get a little to dim when nothing good seems to happen to anyone and all the good guys lose.
Also, reading a pretty bleak book with a lot of characters, but none I particularly cared for, was not my idea of fun. Also, in an attempt to show the flaw of Thomas Gradgrind's philosophy of 'Facts, Facts, Facts', Dickens may have favoured the opposite too much as we see people like Sissy or Stephen or Rachel as the only ones who are truly wise about the world. Also, sometimes an overly rational nature, or lack thereof, is more about personality than upbringing. And there's nothing wrong with either. The world needs all kinds of people, after all.
Overall, this was a decent read that took me forever to get through. And I can see why some might adore it while others would find it unbearably dull. It's not for everyone, but it's still worth a try.
darlingfleur's review against another edition
4.0
[Read for IB English] I took a star off because there were some parts that bored me but the ending was so unexpected and I enjoyed it - 4/5 stars
raxorrr's review against another edition
2.0
my fourth Dickens novel. if i had to rank the novels I've read by him, this would probably fall at the bottom, not because I disliked it but it's mediocre compared to the others.
to begin with, the book is a social critique of the effects of industrialization on individuals and society. about how the era brought forth an emphasis for profit over well-being and about how through utilitarian philosophy, the human soul and emotions are neglected. I liked the message as a whole but it felt a bit overt. most chapters started with a blunt criticism of coketown, the dwelling of the main cast. something along the lines of "Coketown's dreary ambiance and decaying walls ensured that its residents were deprived of sunlight." this is my own rendition of it but it might just as well be an excerpt from the novel.
the characters are all representations of a certain theme being conveyed by the author. the twist (iykyk) was something i did not see coming, but it made so much sense. i wasn't a fan of the main conflict since it emphasized the presence of minor characters too much which felt odd. a focus on the central figures would have better relayed the message. i also felt the crime itself wasn't grave enough to throw light on the issues he sought to address. it could've been done a lot better.
overall, i had fun with the story and it was a quick read (although my tracked dates would say otherwise). probably wouldn't read again though :) next is hopefully Great Expectations or Bleak House
to begin with, the book is a social critique of the effects of industrialization on individuals and society. about how the era brought forth an emphasis for profit over well-being and about how through utilitarian philosophy, the human soul and emotions are neglected. I liked the message as a whole but it felt a bit overt. most chapters started with a blunt criticism of coketown, the dwelling of the main cast. something along the lines of "Coketown's dreary ambiance and decaying walls ensured that its residents were deprived of sunlight." this is my own rendition of it but it might just as well be an excerpt from the novel.
the characters are all representations of a certain theme being conveyed by the author. the twist (iykyk) was something i did not see coming, but it made so much sense. i wasn't a fan of the main conflict since it emphasized the presence of minor characters too much which felt odd. a focus on the central figures would have better relayed the message. i also felt the crime itself wasn't grave enough to throw light on the issues he sought to address. it could've been done a lot better.
overall, i had fun with the story and it was a quick read (although my tracked dates would say otherwise). probably wouldn't read again though :) next is hopefully Great Expectations or Bleak House
cyprille's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mojioooi_07's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kjmil's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wlaraia's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
midwifereading's review against another edition
3.0
Compared to some of his other books, this one seems almost light-hearted. Only, it's not. It's hard to explain. I really like the contrast of various characters, and the plights of Stephen Blackpool and Louisa Gradgrind.
“Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts; nothing else will ever be of any service to them.”
― Charles Dickens, Hard Times
Thus, the book essentially begins, building its characters, who believe such nonsense, from scratch. The rest of the book plays out the consequences of raising human children essentially without humanity. Along come characters who upset that ardent belief in Fact, and open wide the door for Faith, Hope, & Charity to show themselves to the victims of Fact, and bring disruption and healing.
Nothing is tied up perfectly neat and tidy, but neither is it left all in shambles. Some characters see their faults, learn, and change. Others suffer dreadful consequences. Still others just keep going on in their old way, but alone.
I would love to have read this in college course, and get more out of it via class discussions and professors. It seems ripe for that sort of thing.
I love Dickens.
“Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts; nothing else will ever be of any service to them.”
― Charles Dickens, Hard Times
Thus, the book essentially begins, building its characters, who believe such nonsense, from scratch. The rest of the book plays out the consequences of raising human children essentially without humanity. Along come characters who upset that ardent belief in Fact, and open wide the door for Faith, Hope, & Charity to show themselves to the victims of Fact, and bring disruption and healing.
Nothing is tied up perfectly neat and tidy, but neither is it left all in shambles. Some characters see their faults, learn, and change. Others suffer dreadful consequences. Still others just keep going on in their old way, but alone.
I would love to have read this in college course, and get more out of it via class discussions and professors. It seems ripe for that sort of thing.
I love Dickens.