Charles Dickens - some books i've got, but not read yet!

[E38Ross]

as per another thread i recently posted here i absolutely loved David Copperfield, a tale of two cities, great expectations, christmas carol and nicholas nickleby.

i have a few more of his novels i've never read but what are your thoughts on the following:

Oliver Twist (obviously a classic so going to be a good'un, i expect!)
Martin Chuzzzlewit
The old curiosity shop
Barnaby Rudge
Hard times
Bleak house
The mystery of Edwin Drood

all are books i've got yet never read....are they any good (baring in mind the books i've read!)

thanks again

Ross.

[N Dentressangle]

If you like Dickens then it's all good, isn't it?

Of those, Oliver Twist is an easy read and moves at a good pace (for Dickens).

If you like C19 novels, Thomas Hardy's worth a look. Jude the Obscure is a good story, although beware of the fatalistic misery of Hardy - you need to be in a good mood when you start!

[TooLateForAName]

Hard Times and Bleak House would be my choices.

Hardy? You need to be holed up in the middle of nowhere, with plenty of whisky and no sharp objects or rope.

[E38Ross]

Hard times a bit of a depressing read then?

Heard bleak house is a tough read?

[Pobolycwm]

N Dentressangle said:

If you like Dickens then it's all good, isn't it?

Of those, Oliver Twist is an easy read and moves at a good pace (for Dickens).

If you like C19 novels, Thomas Hardy's worth a look. Jude the Obscure is a good story, although beware of the fatalistic misery of Hardy - you need to be in a good mood when you start!

Fatalistic misery of Hardy.......that sums his books up quite well, but I wouldn't call them depressing, I guess in the 19 c life was hard going, infant mortality, work house, child labour, early death etc being the order of the day. Mayor of Casterbridges' funeral wishes distinctly minimalist and uncluttered.....I'm tempted to write them into my will......haven't sold the wife yet though

[Pobolycwm]

N Dentressangle said:

If you like Dickens then it's all good, isn't it?

Of those, Oliver Twist is an easy read and moves at a good pace (for Dickens).

If you like C19 novels, Thomas Hardy's worth a look. Jude the Obscure is a good story, although beware of the fatalistic misery of Hardy - you need to be in a good mood when you start!

Fatalistic misery of Hardy.......that sums his books up quite well, but I wouldn't call them depressing, I guess in the 19 c life was hard going, infant mortality, work house, child labour, early death etc being the order of the day. Mayor of Casterbridges' funeral wishes distinctly minimalist and uncluttered.....I'm tempted to write them into my will......haven't sold the wife yet though

[Silver]

Bleak House is hard going. I had to study it at Uni and gave up which is rare for me. I tried to read it again a couple of years later with the same result.

Oliver Twist, Chuzzlewit and the Old Curiosity Shop are more enjoyable. I haven't read the others.

I know Great Expectations is probably the best known of Dickens' books but it's for a reason - it's excellent. There's so much going on on so many levels that it's a great read. I know the OP has read it but if anyone else is thinking of venturing into Dickens this is a good start plus the story is so well known it makes it easier to start with.

[E38Ross]

Silver said:

Bleak House is hard going. I had to study it at Uni and gave up which is rare for me. I tried to read it again a couple of years later with the same result.

Oliver Twist, Chuzzlewit and the Old Curiosity Shop are more enjoyable. I haven't read the others.

I know Great Expectations is probably the best known of Dickens' books but it's for a reason - it's excellent. There's so much going on on so many levels that it's a great read. I know the OP has read it but if anyone else is thinking of venturing into Dickens this is a good start plus the story is so well known it makes it easier to start with.

thanks. I've heard that about Bleak House.

I'm currently really into Brighton Rock (Graham Greene), so much so I've almost finished it! Next will be another Dickens book or Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.....I'm undecided.

Great Expectations is a cracking read, I found A Tale of Two Cities to be just as good, from what I recall (it was around 7-8 years ago I read it!), and David Copperfield is also amongst one of my favourites. 'Twas a long one though!

Edited by E38Ross on Thursday 22 November 22:11

[Silver]

E38Ross said:

I'm currently really into Brighton Rock (Graham Greene), so much so I've almost finished it! Next will be another Dickens book or Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.....I'm undecided.

Brighton Rock is great! I really enjoyed it. I got into Graham Greene a couple of years ago and am slowly reading through the backlist.

I've never read Crime and Punishment but heard a lot about it. Might give it a try.

[tertius]

E38Ross said:

Silver said:

Bleak House is hard going. I had to study it at Uni and gave up which is rare for me. I tried to read it again a couple of years later with the same result.

Oliver Twist, Chuzzlewit and the Old Curiosity Shop are more enjoyable. I haven't read the others.

I know Great Expectations is probably the best known of Dickens' books but it's for a reason - it's excellent. There's so much going on on so many levels that it's a great read. I know the OP has read it but if anyone else is thinking of venturing into Dickens this is a good start plus the story is so well known it makes it easier to start with.

thanks. I've heard that about Bleak House.

I'm currently really into Brighton Rock (Graham Greene), so much so I've almost finished it! Next will be another Dickens book or Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.....I'm undecided.

Great Expectations is a cracking read, I found A Tale of Two Cities to be just as good, from what I recall (it was around 7-8 years ago I read it!), and David Copperfield is also amongst one of my favourites. 'Twas a long one though!

Edited by E38Ross on Thursday 22 November 22:11

Nonsense, Bleak House is wonderful, probably my favourite Dickens of all. Certainly far prefer it to Great Expectations.

[E38Ross]

i ended up watching the BBC series of Bleak House.....fantastic!

I found I also have Little Dorrit which I didn't think I had. I'm currently 1/2 way through Oliver Twist which is fantastic....i can't remember the end at all so it's really good. I'm very torn what to read next. lately, as you know, i read brighton rock, i also re-read a christmas carol and now am reading oliver twist which are all books you could (if you wanted) read in a couple of days and fancy an "epic".

I'm torn so help me out....Little Dorrit or Martin Chuzzlewit!??

thanks

[tertius]

E38Ross said:

i ended up watching the BBC series of Bleak House.....fantastic!

I found I also have Little Dorrit which I didn't think I had. I'm currently 1/2 way through Oliver Twist which is fantastic....i can't remember the end at all so it's really good. I'm very torn what to read next. lately, as you know, i read brighton rock, i also re-read a christmas carol and now am reading oliver twist which are all books you could (if you wanted) read in a couple of days and fancy an "epic".

I'm torn so help me out....Little Dorrit or Martin Chuzzlewit!??

thanks

Easy, Little Dorrit.

[N Dentressangle]

tertius said:

Easy, Little Dorrit.

Another vote for Little D. Try not to laugh at 'that' scene.

[E38Ross]

Little Dorrit it is then, after Oliver Twist.

[E38Ross]

Is chuzzlewitt not that enjoyable a read? what about barnaby rudge? not really heard much about that to be honest.

Edited by E38Ross on Saturday 29th December 22:19

[tertius]

Both poor (for Dickens) IMO.

[E38Ross]

thanks tertius. I'm only about 80-90mins away from finishing Oliver Twist; may wait a few days before starting Little Dorrit, but i'm looking forward to it.

[E38Ross]

Finished Oliver twist last night, great read!

Tertius, or any other for that matter, have you read either dombey and son or the pickwick papers? Any good? I'm popping into waterstones later.

[tertius]

E38Ross said:

Finished Oliver twist last night, great read!

Tertius, or any other for that matter, have you read either dombey and son or the pickwick papers? Any good? I'm popping into waterstones later.

Yes, I have - I've read all of Dickens ...

I'm not a huge fan of Pickwick Papers, it was his first "novel" and is not really a novel more a series of loosely linked episodes.

Dombey and Son is good though very dark.

My personal favourites are Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend and A Tale of Two Cities. Drood was probably going to be his finest novel had he not died partway through it.

[E38Ross]

Thanks again Tertius. May look at getting our mutual friend as I don't think I have it. Hmmm, now, our mutual friend or little dorrit