Dickens - where to start?

[sophy]

Having managed to get through my life so far without reading any Dickens have decided to make this my winter project.

Need recommendation for the best one to start with please.

I would say...just pick any off the shelf, close your eyes and pick at random! Everyone has different suggestions. I started with Tale of Two Cities myself.

I read Barnaby Rudge years ago after seeing it on TV. I seem to remember a raven.
A question I'm trying to solve for a friend - who is the Eponymous "Our Mutual Friend". It's a book I don't appear to have.

I second 'Our Mutual Friend'. One of his greatest, I think. But yes, maybe it's one you need to get round to gradually after reading a few others as a warm-up!

'Nicholas Nickleby' is very funny, if you want something slightly lighter (though with serious themes - the whole thing with poor Smike, etc).

I've become completely fascinated by Dickens's life and how his fiction was completely bound up in his own experiences and psyche, to a much greater extent than many other (most?) writers of his day. I'm not sure I would have liked him as a person, but wow, what a great writer....

Great Expectations or David Copperfield for a beginner.

I was a Dickens virgin until about 3m ago when I started Great Expectations

Unfortunately I am STILL reading it

IMO it is a great story but by God does he go on and on

Great for before bed though... one chapter max and I'm off in the Land Of Nod

I have tried so many times to get into Bleak House, but still haven't managed past Chapter 5. And I LOVED the adaptation, it's so obviously a brilliant story but ...

However, would second Our Mutual Friend, which I adored.

I love Dickens. I have practically all of them. I love the fact that he goes off on tangents and just rambles on. I love David Copperfield and Great Expectations and Bleak House. When I read Stephen King I am reminded of Dickens in the way that he goes off on tangents too.

I have a colleague who I think of Wemmick (spelling) he has what I imagine a letter box mouth to be and aged Ps

David Copperfield is my favorite, but I would have thought Pickwick Papers is a good one to start with.

I think it was the first novel he wrote..

Can I cast another vote for Hard Times? It is short but I also think it's one of his best.

Great Expectations and David Copperfield also cracking.