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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my favorite dickens novel. do not know how I got through it I was an astonishing child. very very obsessed w eugene wrayburn and mortimer lightwood I wanted to be them. not sure if this is tightly plotted but I liked the maybe-loose plot 10/10
3 and a half stars. Gripping start, but then dropped off a bit. Some great characters and I enjoyed the "stalker-teacher" sub-plot.
5 stars-
Simply some of Dickens’ finest writing. The plotting is so complex and so compelling, and the setting is always intriguing. The character work is some of the most impressive of his whole career, and the thematic unity is exquisite. Jenny Wren, Lizzie Hexam, Bella Wilfer, and Bradley Headstone are some of his finest creations.
I had one small issue with the ending- I felt that one of the big reveals of the novel cheapened one character’s development, but I could never expect Dickens to forego his happy endings. Overall, this should be on the short list of any Dickens project. It’s right up there among his masterpieces. There are so many moments that we can see a new, even more mature Dickens emerging, and it’s a shame that this was his final completed novel. He was truly at the height of his literary power here.
Simply some of Dickens’ finest writing. The plotting is so complex and so compelling, and the setting is always intriguing. The character work is some of the most impressive of his whole career, and the thematic unity is exquisite. Jenny Wren, Lizzie Hexam, Bella Wilfer, and Bradley Headstone are some of his finest creations.
I had one small issue with the ending- I felt that one of the big reveals of the novel cheapened one character’s development, but I could never expect Dickens to forego his happy endings. Overall, this should be on the short list of any Dickens project. It’s right up there among his masterpieces. There are so many moments that we can see a new, even more mature Dickens emerging, and it’s a shame that this was his final completed novel. He was truly at the height of his literary power here.
Sorry Mr. Dickens, but I just couldn't get past your Podsnaps and Veneerings. After all, we know what a veneer is. A covering. A false front. Perhaps the Podsnaps go the way of the milkweed when the pod snaps? Frills into the wind. I made it through Chapter 14 of the first book and that was a struggle.
Read in Donner Book Club. Definitely worth reading with a group since there are quite a few storylines to keep track of, but I did feel it was wrapped up well in the end.
Surprisingly, this is the first unabridged story I have read by Dickens, I really had trouble connecting to the story and to the characters. Many of the twists had me rolling my eyes. I also admit, there were a couple times I became lost within the story and having to do a quick google search to get me back on track.
The story did have intrigue and some of the characters interesting. Overall, however, I found the book meh.
The story did have intrigue and some of the characters interesting. Overall, however, I found the book meh.