A review by serendipitysbooks
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

funny mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
I recently found myself craving a little Dickens. Considering it’s #victober the timing seeemed ideal. I opted for Our Mutual Friend, his final finished work, solely on the basis that it was the highest ranked book that I hadn’t read on a random internet “Best Books by Charles Dickens” list. While it wasn’t my favourite, it did deliver many of the things I love about Dickens.

A lengthy and meaty plot, with plenty of fascinating subplots. In other words the sort of book I can really get absorbed in.

A delightfully discursive style. Dickens is not succinct but I have a real fondness for his lengthy sentences, the way he uses so many words to convey exactly what he means.

A cast of colourful and memorable characters, including- or perhaps especially - the villains. Dickens’s skill at exposing human foibles is unparalleled. And, although they were crafted more than 150 years ago, his characters are still recognisable and relatable to the modern reader. Sadly rich people didn’t stop behaving badly at the end of the nineteenth century.

So much humour. Often of the sardonic variety which I love. And frequently involving pompous self-important characters revealing their true natures.

A biting critique of the social ills of the age. In this case the focus was especially on greed and money. Having one character read The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire was a not-too-subtle way of drawing parallels with the decadence and corruption in British society. Using a dust heap as the source of a fortune is another symbolic poke at the wealthy and how they make their money. 
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