A review by pershie13
The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens

emotional hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a great holiday read that I read in a few days around Christmas. It covers the story of John and Dot, a married couple with a large age gap who are coming upon their wedding anniversary. They take in a stranger to their house. Meanwhile, they also have relationships with a poor man named Caleb and his blind daughter Bertha, as well as a grumpy toymaker Mr. Tackleton. Tackleton is about to get married to a girl named May. Meanwhile, Caleb works for Tackleton and is essentially his daughter's eyes, describing the world around her since she cannot see. This story shows the love and tension in their various relationships while following the general format of Dickens' Christmas short stories. This was a fun read with a great ending, and I enjoyed picking up this quick read toward the end of the year.
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