Which Dickens?

31 replies

delphinedownunder · 30/10/2011 01:20

I have never been able to read Dickens and it's time to try again. Which one would you recommend?

OP posts:

toptramp · 31/10/2011 22:49

I second Cinderella on a Tale of two Cities being the only book to make me weep; an absolutely amazing story. Go for it! A Christmas Carol is lovely too but a Tale of two cities is much more rich and wonderful.

CinderellaSweepsUp · 31/10/2011 09:18

Great Expectations is very accessible, good story, not over long and iirc doesn't have too many silly side stories.

I used to dislike Dickens, but read Tale of Two Cities for the first time in my early twenties and it was one of the few books that have ever made me weep not sure if that's a recommendation or not!

David Copperfield and Bleak House both enjoyable but hefty.

KurriKurri · 30/10/2011 10:41

I enjoyed Bleak House (big and fat, takes a bit of getting into, but absolutely worth it)

I also love Nicholas Nickleby - good story.

Little Dorrit also a good story.

You have to make a bit of a pledge to ignore the irritating 'comedy talk style' and also the ridiculous names of the light relief characters- Dickens does like to labour his comedy sometimes! - But he can also be genuinely funny, and as social commentary his books are fascinating and compassionate.

VirgoGrr · 30/10/2011 01:00

Hated hated hated Dickens having been force-fed it at school.
However, have revisited some out of choice and actually appreciated the style in Great Expectations and David Copperfield.

Your OP doesn't sound like you're champing at the bit to get started though, I have to say.

Also, at BOF's boss ^

LeBOOOf · 30/10/2011 01:43

That reminds me of my smart-arse boss at the bookshop a few years ago. A customer asked at Christmas if we had that book, and the boss passed him a copy. "Can you wrap it?", asked the customer. "Certainly, sir", he replies, clearing his throat. He then launched into a rhythmic rendition of "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Ittybittysmum · 30/10/2011 01:37

A Christmas Carol. Really. It's the only one I've ever read and enjoyed

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