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angieinbooks 's review for:
Our Mutual Friend
by Charles Dickens
I bought this book in 2003 after the recommendation of a friend. I know this because the receipt for the book purchase was still ensconced at the beginning of chapter 4, which is probably where I originally abandoned it. And it traveled with me--unread--when I moved to a different country, where it sat on a shelf taunting me that I'd yet to read it. Well, no more! I have finally finished this novel. And I did struggle to get through it again, but I was rescued by my library and the audiobook they had in the collection. Simon Vance, sir, you were an incredible man to spend ~31 hours of my life with. Thank you for helping me get through this book.
I have two degrees in literature--with a specialization in 19th English literature--and I've read very little of Charles Dickens' works. So I wasn't quite sure what to expect and whether or not this is a typical narrative style or something that is unique to this book. I definitely do not remember him being so funny. But this was a really hard book to get into. There's a cast of dozens of characters and Dickens like to spend time with each of them before returning back to the story. For example, Chapter 1 is about characters A, B and C. Chapter 2 introduced D, E, F and G, etc. And it isn't until Chapter 8 that you get a glimpse of A. And, well, it's hard to keep everyone straight initially and also get a foothold/interest in their story when they won't factor in again until Dickens' next cycle through.
But I was rewarded for sticking with it. Again, thank you, Simon Vance and Toronto Public Library! Because while I can't say I loved this story or these characters, I love the way Dickens is critiquing his world and the things Victorians--particularly Victorians with wealth and status--valued. And I also loved the way Dickens played with words and phrases. It's a really rich novel. So even though I didn't love it, I'm really glad I finally read it. Now it can go back to my shelf where it will mock me no more!
If this review was based solely on Simon Vance's performance it would get a full 5 stars. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Easily.
I have two degrees in literature--with a specialization in 19th English literature--and I've read very little of Charles Dickens' works. So I wasn't quite sure what to expect and whether or not this is a typical narrative style or something that is unique to this book. I definitely do not remember him being so funny. But this was a really hard book to get into. There's a cast of dozens of characters and Dickens like to spend time with each of them before returning back to the story. For example, Chapter 1 is about characters A, B and C. Chapter 2 introduced D, E, F and G, etc. And it isn't until Chapter 8 that you get a glimpse of A. And, well, it's hard to keep everyone straight initially and also get a foothold/interest in their story when they won't factor in again until Dickens' next cycle through.
But I was rewarded for sticking with it. Again, thank you, Simon Vance and Toronto Public Library! Because while I can't say I loved this story or these characters, I love the way Dickens is critiquing his world and the things Victorians--particularly Victorians with wealth and status--valued. And I also loved the way Dickens played with words and phrases. It's a really rich novel. So even though I didn't love it, I'm really glad I finally read it. Now it can go back to my shelf where it will mock me no more!
If this review was based solely on Simon Vance's performance it would get a full 5 stars. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Easily.