Dickensalong 2023 : The Old Curiosity Shop

[Piggywaspushed]

Come along and join me in this year's Dickens readalong.

We have chosen The Old Curiosity Shop which was originally published by Dickens across 88 weeks in his won periodical.

Obviously 88 weeks is a bit much for our modern concentration spans and multitasking minds , so I propose an 8 month read. There are 73 chapters in total, not split into volumes or books (thanks for this Dickens!!) but I found little stars every few chapters so think these indicate breaks:

January - Chapters 1- 8
February - Chapters 9- 16
March - Chapters 17 - 26
April - Chapters 27 - 36
May - Chapters 37 - 45
June - Chapters 46-53
July - Chapters 54 - 63
August - 64 - end

I hope that's all OK. It's not as long as some of the others we have done so 8 instalments seems to work.

All welcome - old curiosities, and new!

I'm ready as well.

Morning!

All I remember about this section

The schoolmaster is found again. He is saintly and good, and quite the nicest character in Dickens.
Quilp is dead. Then he is not dead. He is quite the nasties character in Dickens.
The single gentleman remains quite the most enigmatic character in Dickens.

Mrs Jarley got married.

There is an ominous number of churches, churchyards and children's graves.

Morning!

Yes to all of your observations, Piggy!
I read this section a week ago and am struggling to think of anything more than what you came up with.

I did think that there is a distinct air of impending doom concerning the well-being of Nell and if she will rally round or not.

It’s Dickens spinning his wheels again, isn’t it? I can’t help feeling that the inspiration wasn’t really flowing for this section. Not very much happening at all, except for Nell being pious and good and Quilp being Very Bad.

It did occur to me that, although he's clearly a villain, he’s still played somewhat for laughs. Strip away the language a bit and he’s basically a horrible coercive controller to his poor wife and abusive to the whole household - his MIL thought he was going to murder her. But somehow it’s not handled with total seriousness; there's an undercurrent of playfulness in Dickens's language that undercuts Quilp's genuinely terrible behaviour.

I read over those chapters again this morning to refresh my memory, because I genuinely couldn't remember what went on. (Wheel-spinning is right!) On that note, Dickens is really beginning to try the reader's patience. What on earth is going on with Nell and Grandfather? Who is she and why did they go on the run in the first place? Who is the single gentleman? The revelation had better be worth all the suspense!

I found the chapters with Quilp much more interesting than those with Nell and Grandfather, even reading them again within a short space of time, they are a good read. Particularly the scene when he comes back from dead and gives everyone such a shock. He is absolutely awful, a vile little man.

I agree with Terpsichore that Dickens is aiming for comic effect and it undercuts the awfulness of his behaviour. It's a bit pantomime (My nose isn't flat, it's aquiline!) I can't think of another Dickens character like him. The man with the moustache that waggled when he was up to mischief in Little Dorrit was very tame in comparison. Quilp is a whole bundle of awfulness.

Left it a few hours to see if I had anything to add.

No.

Not got much to add either, the story just seems to be trundling along with not a great deal going on. Did like the Quilp part though!

I don't have anything much to add either.

No more wandering for the pilgrims I hope now that they're reunited with the schoolmaster. It's been taking quite the toll on their health. Nell is more melancholy, and I think we finished on her reading the bible amongst the tombs, though her loneliness extending to following the sisters around one of the previous towns was quite sad.

I liked the tea party scene where Sally Brass and Quilp both took pleasure in the discomfort of Sampson.

They have a massive grudge against Kit.
I wonder what they have in store for him?

Poor Kit.

Quilp obviously wields a strong influence there, too. I'd like the character of Sally Brass, in a way anyway, if not for the cruelty to their servant.

Just reactivating the thread for tomorrow!

All set!

Even though I started this thread, MN does like to hide it away from me!

As most of us spotted, terrible forces have closed in on poor Kit. The only hope I have for him now comes form the surprise quarter of Dick Swiveller. And the mystery bachelor, of course.

Probably Dickens did not intend me to feel more worried about Kit than Nell? Her bits are so maudlin.

There's a great lie about the pony. Off to track it down!

I love the pony. I think he’s my favourite character.

Found it!

feeling that his best friends deemed him guilty- that Mr and Mrs Garland would look upon him as a monster of ingratitude- that Barbara would associate him with all that was bad and criminal - that the pony would consider himself forsaken-

Poor Kit! What a stitch-up! I felt very sorry for him. He's such a nice chap. I hope he can get out of prison but who is going to save him? It has to be the single gentleman. I think Dick Swiveller might end up redeeming himself and do good. He was so nice to the little servant girl, 'The Marchioness'. I also love the pony.

Well this section was a cliffhanger at times wasn't it? Poor Kit! Hope Dick and the marchioness can help him. Is anyone else getting a sense of foreboding regarding Nell? That talk about her looking so unwell...

Dick is easily swayed, isn’t he - fundamentally I think he has a good heart, and will repent of his ill-judgment in associating with the Brasses. He was very kind to the Marchioness.

Yet again, though, Dickens shows that he can be terribly, terribly dull when he’s trying to be pious. I’m very sorry for Little Nell and her useless old twit of a grandfather, but find it very hard to be interested in them. Events back in London are much more exciting (and funnier - sorry!).

Yes, I have really noticed that with this book especially, maybe because Nell is also a child?

Quilp continues to be truly disturbing.

I think hopefully Dick and the marchioness will find a way to save Kit, but how is Dick going to get Sophie Waggles back? (Or whatever she’s called.) I really couldn’t give two hoots what happens to Nell at this stage, but don’t want Kit to be transported or even hanged for a minor theft that you probably couldn’t even get the police to leave the station for in our time.

Plus, he didn't do it!!

He wuz framed! Poor Kit!

Yes to the parts featuring Nell being very dull. I think that Dickens has worn down my sympathy for her at this stage. I'm nearly out of curiosity (ha!) about why herself and Grandad went on the run.
If I ever read this again, it will be to read the London sections, especially the ones with Quilp and there will be much skimming over Nell and Grandad, except for the one passage where Nell discovered Grandad stealing their money. That was good.

I think Sophie (Cheggs?) got married, didn't she?

Cheggs née Wackles 😂

Terpsichore is on the ball :)
She could have been Sophie Swiveller!