A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

[Nicolle]

Sorry for the delay, my computer has been down and it's hard work doing this on the iphone!

[Veljko]

Just finished the first book. What a pleasant read! How could I have not read this before?
The writing is just superb. The story... well, no story yet. Hopefully something will happen. I guess I am particularly ignorant here, I don't know where this story is going (which is rare, with a classic like this... you usually approach it with a good idea about the plot...).

[Nilgün]

well I just start it. very well Dickens description of the tale.

[Heather L]

Read this one in January, and while it was a little slow going in the beginning, I found it hard to put down by mid-book. In fact, I stayed up until 4am one night to finish it.

[Nicolle]

I started this a few years ago and ended up putting it back down.

[☯Emily , moderator]

Once you get past the first book, the story picks up. I didn't have a problem with the first section because of my interest in history, but I can see how many would find the beginning difficult.

[Lauren]

The first book? EEP sounds super long!

[Michael]

I just finished the first book, it was a little confusing and I'm not sure where the plot is at this moment. Glad to hear that it picks up in the next section.

[Slow Man]

this book sounds daunting. i have a copy sitting there staring at me. when will it ever get read? like many of us always say, 'someday'

[Jessica]

I want to read this with you all but I'm trying to finish Les Mis atm (about half way through!). I was going to read them both simultaneously but I think that might just confuse me! I've been meaning to read this for a long time, I will join in once I have finished Les Mis :)

[Melissa Knight]

Finished the first book. For people who are worried about the length, the "book" is just a collection of like five chapters. It's basically the prologue, not really a whole stand alone book.

[Melissa Knight]

“A WONDERFUL fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. " I loved this part. You can't ever completely know another person, even those closest to you. When they inevitably pass on, your chance to know them better is gone forever! Depressing but true.

[Carrie]

I read this several months back and LOVED it! It is a long book but well worth the time. Enjoy! :)

[Agata Weronika]

Just started reading :-) I'm allowing myself time until the end of January. My first Dickens, hope I enjoy it!

[☯Emily , moderator]

Aqueda, the book gets progressively more interesting. Don't be concerned if the first part drags a little. It is my favorite Dickens book.

[Lauren]

Thank you for clarifying the length.

[Veljko]

Half way.
*** SPOILER ALERT
Just kidding. Nothing to spoil.
So far, nothing happened beautifully.
Or (?)
nothing happened, beautifully.
Because it is just beautiful: amazingly narrated. With 'it' being 'nothing'.
But oh, the writing. He can tell a story. Because he has me reading, even when he is not telling a story.
Hopefully, he will tell a story...
I shall keep on reading...

[Melissa Knight]

Done! The ending is very very suspenseful! Also, I had a bit of a cry.

I know it's long, but it's definitely worth finishing.

[Nilgün]

Aqueda wrote: "Just started reading :-) I'm allowing myself time until the end of January. My first Dickens, hope I enjoy it!"

you will love it. if you love jane eyre ;)

[Nilgün]

it just interesting to tell some one "your life is not that wath do you know" mmmmm...

[Lauren]

I really enjoyed this. Like many people said the first book has no action, and while the second book was beautiful there was very little action but the third book... I considered calling in sick so I could finish it.

[Joanne]

Glad to hear people are enjoying this one. I wasn't going to read it, because I was trying to read short books to make my Goodreads yearly challenge, but then I made it and had half a month to go.

So I've started it and just finished the first book. I have no idea what the plot of this novel is, so it should be interesting figuring out the story as I go along just like any other book.

[Joanne]

Couldn't do it, had to give up.

[Ellen]

I love this book!
For me the first five chapters are a little rough, but once I was introduced to "the cobbler", I had problems putting it down.
The ending is as beautiful as anything I've ever read...I just sat and cried at the ending.
Are his other books this fabulous?

[☯Emily , moderator]

I personally think that this is Dickens best book. Dickens got paid by the word, so many of his books are super wordy. Great Expectations is not bad, so perhaps you can try that one next.

[Tony]

"A Tale of Two Cities" was the first Dickens I read, and I still love it more than any of his others (I'm working my way through the whole works...)

"It was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and touched her face with his lips, he murmured some words. The child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard him say, “A life you love.”

Tears me up every time.

[Holly]

I really loved this one.