IGX

I consider myself fairly well-read, but have never read Dickens. I've spent the last week trying to read "Tale of Two Cities", but I keep falling asleep at page 1.

Is there a better book to start on, or are they all this dry?

lasalle wrote:I consider myself fairly well-read, but have never read Dickens. I've spent the last week trying to read "Tale of Two Cities", but I keep falling asleep at page 1.

Is there a better book to start on, or are they all this dry?

I think they're all that dry.

lasalle wrote:I consider myself fairly well-read, but have never read Dickens. I've spent the last week trying to read "Tale of Two Cities", but I keep falling asleep at page 1.

Is there a better book to start on, or are they all this dry?

Start with A Christmas Carol. If you don't enjoy that, you're gonna have a hard time with Dickens. FWIW, I had the same difficulties with him.

I must be boring b/c I thought tale of two cities was great. I also read Fathers and Sons and Brothers Karamazov during the same period so who knows.

I think the two best stories are David Copperfield and Great Expectations, in that order. The Pickwick Papers is the funniest book I have ever read.

protobuilder wrote:I must be boring b/c I thought tale of two cities was great. I also read Fathers and Sons and Brothers Karamazov during the same period so who knows.

thats rascist!

Come on, Oliver Twist is great. You can even download it as an audiobook, and listen to it while you commute or do boring stuff.

Hey you might consider sending a message to Andy1776...he actually knew Dickens and he might be able to provide a little insight that will make reading a bit more enjoyable.

Cliffs Notes

protobuilder wrote:thats rascist!

How do you know that's not my nephew you Dickensian cunt?

baffled wrote:

protobuilder wrote:thats rascist!

How do you know that's not my nephew you Dickensian cunt?

If you can't be racist against family, who can you be racist against?

"I was pecked by paupers" is so-so

Terry B. wrote:

baffled wrote:

protobuilder wrote:thats rascist!

How do you know that's not my nephew you Dickensian cunt?

If you can't be racist against family, who can you be racist against?

Start at home, where you're comfortable. Then branch out.

It's the only way.

My third grade teacher used to say "I'll slap the Dickens out of you" which was funny to us kids but at the time, it wsan't as funny as it is as an adult when you realize her name was Mrs. Shakespeare.

protobuilder wrote:My third grade teacher used to say "I'll slap the Dickens out of you" which was funny to us kids but at the time, it wsan't as funny as it is as an adult when you realize her name was Mrs. Shakespeare.

well that is a little rude

The earrings, haircut, tattoo?

Where did things go wrong for you?

Dickens, like many classic authors, is an acquired taste. You need to start slow and learn his style, then move forward. I read Our Mutual Friend and enjoyed it, but I'd read Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, and Oliver Twist first. And just because A Tale of Two Cities is his best work doesn't mean it's good to read. It means it's well crafted, good characterization, etc.

So Start with A Christmas Carol and move on to some of the others, I suggest Great Expectations. I also suggest reading it in serialized form, the way it was originally published. That way, you tackle a fraction of the novel, let it soak in, then hit it again a week or two later. Like dating a stripper.