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Charles Dickens

47 replies

IlsaLund · 26/02/2011 23:38

I have just read Great Expectations for the first time and I loved it - I found myself sneaking back upstairs to read another chapter when I had five minutes.

It's the first Dickens I have read - can anyone recommend which one I should read next?

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BalloonSlayer · 27/02/2011 15:37

Ooo I am not sure about Hard Times. It's one of the breast-beating ones.

Although I suppose you don't want to read all the best ones first and get disappointed.

IMO the best is David Copperfield, followed by Great Expectations.

I actually LOVED Dombey and Son. I cried buckets, when the thing-that's-totally-obvious-is-going-to-happen happened, I wasn't prepared at all and I was heartbroken. I haven't read it again, I don't think I could cope.

MissM · 27/02/2011 15:31

Not read any Hardy other than Tess as a teenager (sorry), but you MUST read A Tale of Two Cities as your next Dickens. It is brilliant, and just thinking of the final lines brings tears to my eyes...

Original poster
IlsaLund · 27/02/2011 14:32

Thanks all - I love Hardy. Far from the Madding Crowd and Return of the Native are my favourites

I'm worried that I may have peaked by reading the best Dickens first!

I think I shall go with Hard Times next

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catinthehat2 · 27/02/2011 14:24
Grin
Ooopsadaisy · 27/02/2011 14:20

Hahaha - I knew we'd break you down catinthehat2!

I loikes 'em aaalll ya seeees. And I luuuuurves the ol' West Coooooooontryyyy aaaaaccent.

We'll have to agree on Hard Times, as well.

KurriKurri · 27/02/2011 14:13

Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House and Little Dorritt would be my recommendations.

I also love Hardy - just in case anyone was thinking you can't like both Grin

catinthehat2 · 27/02/2011 14:11

I loikes Under The Greenwood Tree. I really & truly feel it is going against the grain of the universe, but the big novels suck, and the small ones are just wonderful.

Becaroooo · 27/02/2011 14:07

ooops I will admit to thinking Tess of the D'ubervilles is ok Smile

Ooopsadaisy · 27/02/2011 14:05

catinthehat2 - Far From the Madding Crowd? The Woodlanders? Return of the Native?

All brilliant for me.

I know I am almost committing treason by not liking Dickens, but it just leaves me cold and wanting to hurl the book against a wall. Strange.

Becaroooo · 27/02/2011 14:05

Hardy? Nope.

Elliot? Better...Silas Marner is pretty good.

Gaskell? Very good.

Brontes??? Didnt like Mansfield Park. Wuthering Heights is dreadful....not a single character with any redeeming features at all! But Jane Eyre is one of my faves. Wonderful book.

Austen? Sense and Sensibility far better than Pride and Prejudice IMO

catinthehat2 · 27/02/2011 13:58

"Have you read any Thomas Hardy? Now that is literature"

Naaah.

I laughed so hard at the "Done because we are too menny" I couldn't take big Hardys seriously ever again Grin

Small HArdys are fine and worth reading of course.

Becaroooo · 27/02/2011 13:56

Oh, and if you like the comedy of Dickens may I suggest P G Wodehouse?

Code of the Woosters is a good place to start Smile

Becaroooo · 27/02/2011 13:55

Great Expectation is by far his best book - apart from A Christmas Carol which I always read on xmas eve! Smile

I read David Copperfield and enjoyed it....its by far his most personal book, semi autobiograpical actually.

I also liked Martin Chuzzlewit and A Tale of Two Cities.

Ooopsadaisy · 27/02/2011 13:54

I thoroughly dislike Dickens but had to do loads for my degrees.

Hard Times is the only one I've really enjoyed. Characters I could actually care about and circumstances that I could relate to.

I find Dickens patronising and pedantic.

Have you read any Thomas Hardy? Now that is literature.

bloomingnora · 27/02/2011 13:51

Hard times! Good shout! I agree that they may all pale a little in comparison to GE.

bloomingnora · 27/02/2011 13:51

I second David Copperfield. Bleak House is excellent too.

catinthehat2 · 27/02/2011 13:51

I love GE.
I always come away from a DIckens novel feeling as if I can actually be a better person.
Hard TImes? Bleak House?
Neither are as perfect as GE - there are some huge flaws with the characters (you will want to punch Esther, I guarantee), but the sheer Heart of these books beats away.
Nicholas Nickleby for a shorter novel, but it's not up there with GE -(I think you picked a diamond first, now you need to explore emeralds & sapphires).

Lilymaid · 27/02/2011 13:50

Our Mutual Friend also good, but long. IMO Great Expectations is his best book. Some are rather mawkish (e.g. Oliver Twist, Old Curiosity Shop).
Don't forget to read A Christmas Carol in December.

QueenBathsheba · 27/02/2011 13:48

I had always wanted to read Great Expectations after seeing the series on TV as a kid. I have just finished the book.

What about David Copperfield.

cheekeymonkey · 27/02/2011 13:44

What about the pickwick papers?

Original poster
IlsaLund · 26/02/2011 23:47

Grin I love Joe - I've enjoyed this book so much - I've actually been laughing out loud at some bits.

I've just downloaded lots of Dickens to my Kindle - which one shall I read next?

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cheekeymonkey · 26/02/2011 23:44

What larks Pip!