Yep, lol. Charles Dickens was required reading when I was wee. My aunt, the nun, was a lover of his books. I did enjoy when we read together. It had special meaning for me. I do not fancy him otherwise, though.well named, then
Charles Dickens
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That is one of my all time favourite books. In high school everyone else was complaining and looking for Coles notes.
I knew the first couple of pages off by heart when I was a kid. My aunt and I again, lol. She told the story to me in her own telling....which helped a lot.
The first line and I was hooked. "it was the best of times. It was the worst of times."
No book has ever had such a perfect first line.
"the man in black fled across the desert" so es in second.
And I think the last paragraph. "It is a far far better thing...." Best.ending.ever.
I read A Christmas Carol every year. Recently read Oliver Twist and liked it. Not sure where to go next. Suggestions?
Arkay Lynchpin
Preserve wildlife; pickle a squirrel.
No, 'Rarnaby Budge' by Charles Dikkens. That's Dikkens with two Ks, the well-known Dutch author.
Tale of Two Cities is my suggestion.
Read the Pickwick Papers. It was published as a serial story in the newspapers at the time and the collection of misadventures, along with the wacky characters, makes this a very funny, entertaining read (IMO).
Unfortunately i'm unfamiliar to Dickens' works. Could you please recommend me some of his books to have a look at?
Well, like Kurbdog said above, I'd recommend Tale of Two Cities. But there's a bunch of Dickens I have yet to read. Lately I've been trying to read the lesser known works, such as Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, Martin Chuzzlewit, etc., because stories like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, have been told so many times through movie and television adaptions. I want to read the stories I don't know.
Finished Nick Nickleby the yudder day. All and all, a solid, engrossing read. One of his funnier works, goofy episodes like in Pickwick, but some heavy melodrama as well. I gotta admit (embassingly) to misting up a little over one character's death. Won't say who, no spoiler here.
Speaking of spoilers, in regards to these old classics (if you haven't read em), I'll tell yez a rule I have--one you may wanna practice yer damn selves: save the introductions and forwards for afterward. Tell ya, those stuffy old academic blowhards who write em often give away key plot points and endings. I would have MUCH rather not been told about
..till after, and find out on my OWN, thanks.
Speaking of spoilers, in regards to these old classics (if you haven't read em), I'll tell yez a rule I have--one you may wanna practice yer damn selves: save the introductions and forwards for afterward. Tell ya, those stuffy old academic blowhards who write em often give away key plot points and endings. I would have MUCH rather not been told about
Ralph's suicide
..till after, and find out on my OWN, thanks.
I'm going to read Our Mutual Friend after End of Watch. Dickens is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
Arcadevere
Gentle Lady From Brady Hartsfield Defense Squad
Okay A Christmas Carol is my fave Charles Dickens. No one can beat this wonderful piece that affect my whole life gradually after reading it
Tell us what you think when done Our Mutual Friend. I found this one to be a bit of a harder read but well worth the effort. I believe that both he and Stephen King have the ability to draw out real characters which makes the story a thousand times better.
Agree. I loved A Tale of Two Cities. I cried.
I've only read one Charles Dickens book: Oliver Twist. I have mixed feelings about it. While I did like the book, but for different reasons then most (I'd assume.) I like how he told the story and all, but for me what I disliked the most about this story was Oliver. Only in the beggining of the story was I fond of his character, but as time dragged on I found myself slowly starting to dislike him. For me what made this story were the villians. I loved Fagin. I even liked Bill Sikes, well, until towards the ending of the book. Then he went down hill for me.