'Little Dorrit' readalong

I read these chapters a while ago, so I need to reread them again to get up to speed. Here are a few random thoughts, as I go through a chapter at a time.

Chapter 18. I am finding William Dorrit very annoying, so much so, that I'm making sarcastic comments in the margins of my book. His superior attitude to his brother Frederick is irritating. He is incredibly condescending towards him, and feels superior to him. Frederick probably has a harder life in comparison to William as William's every need is taken care of; he is completely cosetted by Amy.

William feels slighted over Mr Chivery senior's lack of respect towards him, due to Amy's rejection of young John's advances and he goes into a tirade of self-pity and Amy wears herself out trying to mollify his hurt feelings, even staying up all night by his bedside and soothing him. (Insert sarcastic comment here!)

Once he has wallowed enough in self-pity, he does spare Amy a thought and acknowledges her hard life inside the prison... barely. But it's still all about himself.

I like this description which ends the chapter; 'The spikes had never looked so sharp and cruel, nor the bars so heavy, nor the prison space so gloomy and contracted. She thought of the sunrise on rolling rivers, of the sunrise on wide seas, of the sunrise on rich landscapes, on the sunrise on great forests, where the birds were waking and the trees were rustling; and she looked down into the living grave in which the sun had risen, with her father in it, three-and-twenty years...'

This reflects how enclosed and stifled her life is in this confined, dark place. Poor Amy!

I've managed to finish July's chapters today. Definitely confusing and I've had to use Shmoop but I'm enjoying the book.

I still have two chapters to read so I will be back later today when I’ve done that!

Place-marking for the next installment!

I've just finished June's chapters - yes, I know it's nearly the end of July!! Nothing to add to your general chat. I feel a bit confused about several of the elements and am not sure how it will all come together. But there's still plenty of time for that, right?

Oh I’ve had this on my shelf for a very, very long time.

I can’t get away from the Victorian Age at the moment and am reading The French Lieutenant’s Woman before I get back to Dorrit. It’s interesting that John Fowles has picked up on the preference for the childlike woman; Charles Smithson thinks of his conventional fiancé Ernestina as being like a child (not envy). If he marries her I’m going to throw the book across the room - although I am aware it’s a pick your own ending sort of book so hopefully this can be avoided.

There's an index of characters at the front of my edition; it's very useful!

I wrote down the main characters and have to admit it's made a difference reading the book

I’m really enjoying following and hope I’ve caught up by the next chat. I’ve finished two other books and not replaced them so hopefully will be ready.

Just checking - is it chapters 19-25 for July?

Yes, I agree, Piggy. They probably did marry young out of necessity. It's sad that Little Dorrit's slight stature and childlike appearance is due to malnourishment.

I'm thinking Dickens was the Woody Allen of his time, all this obsession with young girls that is acted out in his art, with the elderly protagonist managing to bag a nubile young thing. (See 'Manhattan' where Allen's 42 year old is dating a 17 year old) I agree the obsession with Little Dorrit's tiny stature and child like demeanour is a bit creepy.
I do rather like the mild mannered Arthur though (maybe because in my minds eye he's Matthew McFadden as in the adaptation) and I love Flora and her terrible delusions.

Piggy I don't think Katie has done another read along. She may have mentioned LD in passing. When I messaged Katie about Bleak House (to see if she was going to finish her commentary) she said she wouldn't do another one as it was just too time-consuming !! Which is a shame as I really enjoy her observations and enthusiasm. She brought Bleak House and,, especially, OMF alive for me.

Having followed Katie 'Books and Things' for her readalongs of Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend, I must say I'm missing having someone to explain it all to me and get me enthused about certain characters as well go along! One thing I've come to realise is just what slow burners Dickens' books are, so I'm going with the flow and letting him sow the seeds of the characters and the story. Definitely seems to be a lot of social commentary in Little Dorrit - the prison, Tattycoram's back story, etc. I find Flora hilarious! So Arthur has ruled out Flora and Pet - does this mean he's destined to fall in love with Little Dorrit? Given how she's described as child like (even the word 'Little' is a bit jarring) and how she has made herself a slave to her father and family, so far I don't think that's a particularly appealing prospect. Also loving Affery Flintwich and looking forward to finding out what her 'dreams' are all about.

I couldn't imagine a more irritating person to be confined with. Oh wait, I can. Flora.