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adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Old Curiosity Shop was, like all Dickens novels, originally published serially. The shop of the title houses Little Nell and her grandfather at the beginning of the story. The plot chiefly concerns the trials of Nell as she cares for her impoverished and gambling-addicted grandfather; and of Kit, a young man employed in the shop who adores Nell. There are many intricate subplots, villains, and virtuous heroes. Lawyers, often villainized by Dickens, get the treatment. I’d rate this book 5 stars were it not for the tear-jerking soap-opera handling of Nell’s death. Despite this relatively minor complaint, highly recommended.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perhaps 3 or 3.5 stars. Certainly not among Dickens' best work. An unfortunate number of middle chapters had me yawning. Couldn't help comparing to Oliver Twist which I think is a much superior work. Nonetheless still very much worth reading for the first and last thirds, and if you like Dickens' style.
The two most memorable characters are Daniel Quilp the dwarf and the unnamed grandfather.
The rest of the characters are standard Dickens fare (which isn't necessarily a complaint). Most of them have their charms.
There are several scenes that stick out in my mind and made me glad to read this book:
-Quilp overhearing criticisms of him during a tea party in his own home, attended by his mother in law and other ladies; Quilp's horrendous punishment of his wife for this.
-A shadow enters Nell's room and she makes the dark discovery that her grandfather is so addicted to gambling that he crawled into her room at night to rob her. This scene was a great spook and thrill.
-When the party finally arrives to rescue Nell, but finds she has died two days before.
The two most memorable characters are Daniel Quilp the dwarf and the unnamed grandfather.
Spoiler
The end of the former is somewhat unsatisfying, given he is framed as a demonic or inhuman force (why else was he able to drink literally boiling rum and stay up all night sitting in a single position chain smoking a pipe?), but dies falling into a river when attempting to escape justice in the dark. I suppose we are to feel that he deserved this unceremonious death, but I am unsure of it. As for the grandfather, I expected his death but failed to expect Nell to go first. I was weary of a happy ending where the suffering and labour of the journey was for all to end well, and Dickens does not disappoint in this regard.The rest of the characters are standard Dickens fare (which isn't necessarily a complaint). Most of them have their charms.
There are several scenes that stick out in my mind and made me glad to read this book:
Spoiler
-Quilp overhearing criticisms of him during a tea party in his own home, attended by his mother in law and other ladies; Quilp's horrendous punishment of his wife for this.
-A shadow enters Nell's room and she makes the dark discovery that her grandfather is so addicted to gambling that he crawled into her room at night to rob her. This scene was a great spook and thrill.
-When the party finally arrives to rescue Nell, but finds she has died two days before.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quite a depressing tale about a grandfather with a gambling habit, a meek granddaughter and an evil dwarf (yes really).