Dickensians! discussion
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Discussions About Our Next Main Group read
I will be happy to read whatever, but I would really love if we didn’t pick TOTC or Oliver Twist, both of which I read this year already. I have read Great Expectations (it’s when I fell in love with Dickens) and I want to reread it, but it would be at the bottom of my list too. I’d love to read anything else really. My top 3 choices are Martin Chuzzlewit, Pickwick Papers, and Little Dorrit.
And I’m reality I would be easily persuaded that something not on my top 3 is better. These are just the ones that have been high on my list for awhile and sound good at the moment. I plan to read all his works and I’ve enjoyed them all immensely, so I will gladly defer to the experts if they feel strongly about a title!
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I wasn't sure whether or not to say anything about my own preference, as I genuinely will be happy to read any of them with everyone!
If anyone is not sure, I'd say the middle ones are more complex, with many interweaving storylines. His early work tends to have long angry diatribes, which he learned to refine. After the complexity of the middle novels, he then responded to his public's wishes, and concentrated on a simpler storyline, though he still included lots of mystery and surprise. And the last completed one has everything :)
But reading this through again, please don't be put off the early ones. There's something to be said for reading them all in order ... and Nicholas Nickleby is an absolute delight!
I will also be very happy with any but my top choices would be Dombey and Son, which I've been meaning to reread for a while and have in a lovely new edition, or Little Dorrit now that Ashley has mentioned it!
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AYES:
Martin Chuzzlewit - 5
The Pickwick Papers - 3
Dombey and Son - 6
Little Dorrit - 7
Our Mutual Friend - 2
Great Expectations - 3
Bleak House - 5
The Old Curiosity Shop - 2
Barnaby Rudge - 1
NAYS:
A Tale of Two Cities - 2
Oliver Twist - 2
Nicholas Nickleby - 2
The Pickwick Papers - 2
The Old Curiosity Shop - 1
Bleak House - 2
Hard Times - 1
How exciting to be choosing another book! I really enjoyed the chapter a day approach, so I'm pleased this will continue. I probably wouldn't read Nicholas Nickleby again just yet as I've just finished it with the Victorians! group.
My top choices would be Martin Chuzzlewit, Our Mutual Friend or Little Dorrit, all of these I read over 20 years ago so they're certainly due for a reread.
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And info on what people would prefer not to read this time will also help! Thanks.
Pamela how did you find Nicholas Nickleby? That is one that doesn’t scream to me to be read soon. It sounds more formulaic, similar to some of his more popular reads. Others seem to have something a little different about them, which sounds more appealing. I do plan to read NN at some point, though, so I’d love to hear your thoughts! Especially if there were good characters you loved!
I read Oliver Twist earlier this year so I think it is way too soon for a reread-so I say Nay to that one.
Ashley wrote: "Pamela how did you find Nicholas Nickleby? That is one that doesn’t scream to me to be read soon. It sounds more formulaic, similar to some of his more popular reads. Others seem to have something ..."I actually found it quite similar to David Copperfield, but as an earlier work it seemed less skilfully put together, a bit more disjointed. However, it does have some wonderful characters and some very funny laugh-out-loud moments.
Most any of the books would be good with me.My preferences are:
- Great Expectations
- Little Dorrit
I prefer not to read:
- The Picwick Papers, books that are suppose to be humorous, never work well for me.
I agree about The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, I'm currently reading it in another group, and am really enjoying it.I would like to nominate Bleak House or The Old Curiosity Shop
Although, I've not read as much Dickens as I'd like, so I'm open!
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Coincidentally, I linked to my review of Nicholas Nickleby in our reviews thread, earlier this evening. (My reviews are always pretty full, Ashley, and usually have to be cut to fit the space!)
It is the book I had in mind for our second read, but then I thought perhaps a second coming-of-age book with a young male hero may not be such a good idea. I'm finding all your suggestions really interesting and helpful. And this way at the moment is better than a message to all members. It seems more fair that those who are active members have a bigger say :)
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It was! All his early novels were spontaneous - they grew organically. He knew the number of episodes, and might have an idea how he would end up, but no idea how he would get there. Like modern-day soap writers, he would respond to audience sales, and kill off a character, or introduce a new one, accordingly. David Copperfield, on the other hand, was very carefully planned out.
But I love the sheer exuberance and energy of that very early writing.
I am just freeloading here, getting by on my memory of the books and Jean's excellent summaries, so it doesn't matter to me which one you pick.
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I would gladly reread Nicholas Nickleby but will also be happy to wait until later when others are ready for it. I'd also enjoy a reread of Great Expectations. This one is always a favorite.
I would love to read, for the first time, Dombey & Son or Bleak House.
I'd prefer to leave The Pickwick Papers until a later date (although I would reread it with the group). It wasn't a favorite, although it's Dickens, so it's not bad.
Who am I kidding?...….I'd be good with whatever the group decides.
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LOL....yeah, Dickens is like that, Jean. There are no definite noes.I'd put The Pickwick Papers more into the no category. It leans that way.
For the next group read, I will vote for Great Expectations, Dombey & Son and Bleak House.
It's been long enough since I read any other Dickens books (other than A Christmas Carol) that I'm probably game to go with whatever the group here chooses. :) I've wanted to take on Bleak House for a while, though, so you can give that one a point from me.
I say nay to both Nicholas Nickleby (which I'm presently reading and soon to finish) and A Tale of Two Cities
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My picks would be Martin Chuzzlewit, The Pickwick Papers, Little Dorrit. My negative is The Old Curiosity Shop only because I recently finished it- (loved it by the way!)
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I am trying to work my way through the ones I have not ever read, so I would be pleased if The Old Curiosity Shop, Dombey and Son or Barnaby Rudge won. On the other hand, I recently read Martin Chuzzlewit and didn't like it much...so if the group read that one I would be glad to give it another stab and see if I can find what I missed. (I was not in a very good place personally, which can really affect how we see the books we are reading). I can say unequivocally that I will be joining in no matter which book is chosen.
I read Little Dorrit a couple of years ago and would definitely reread it with the group.
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How nice that that top four vote-getters in the Yea pile don't overlap with the Nay votes!
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I would like to read Great Expectations. I am willing to read anything the group chooses, and am looking forward to our September read.
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It's really good to hear how many will be joining in whatever is chosen, and I'm getting excited at the few top ones :)
Dombey and Son or The Pickwick Papers would be my main choice. I have to say Nay to Bleak House, at least for right now...
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I would love to reread my favorite, but since it's the last completed novel maybe too early in our group readings? Anyway, I would love to reread Our Mutual Friend, Dombey and Son or read for the first time Martin Chuzzlewit.I got to nay the excellent Bleak House because I read it in the last year and Hard Times because I didn't like it that much (still Dickens, but on the other hand reading it as a group might be very enlightening, but not right now).
I’m not surprised to hear the comments on Nicholas Nickleby. I had the same thoughts. It sounded like a young man coming of age, like many of his more popular novels. I agree it might be fun to do something different. I’m sad to hear some not as positive things about Pickwick Papers. It’s one I’m very excited to read. I’m not sure why. It’s not the only one I’m excited to read, so I would not be sad if we didn’t read it, but I want to read it some time (it can be on my own) so I’m a little sad to hear it’s not quite as beloved as I thought it might be.
Ashley, I really enjoyed The Pickwick Papers. It's funny.
Ashley, I loved The Pickwick Papers too, it was the book that got me into Dickens years ago.
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Your favourite is the one I consider to be his best :) Good to see a fellow fan - although my "favourite" is impossible to say. It usually happens to be the one I'm reading ;)
Ashley - The first time I read The Pickwick Papers (decades ago) I did not enjoy it at all. But a reread just a couple of years ago was an absolute hoot! You must have come to it in a better frame of mind I think Rosemarie, to recognise its worth immediately. I'd put off my reread for years, so it came as a delightful surprise to enjoy it so much.
I think all those years ago I was expecting a fully developed novel, with lots of depth and meaning, but what The Pickwick Papers actually is, is a series of linked cameo sketches with a few ongoing characters - and many episodes are hilarious! In fact it's a little like his Sketches by Boz.
I'll always have a soft spot for Nicholas Nickleby too, and in some moods that's a definite favourite! It's one I'll pick up to cheer me up, much in the same way that David Copperfield does. It is so exuberant! I just couldn't stop laughing at one episode in it, even though I was reading it outside, in public ... But it has a lot of heart, and tragic moments ... Oh now I want to read that one over again! But yes, even though they are several novels apart in his oeuvre, it has similarities to David Copperfield, so it may be better to wait awhile.
Updated the list, by the way, and new contributions are welcome!
Pickwick is delightful on audio, read by the wonderful Patrick Tull. But I didn't get the charm of Sam Weller till I saw the BBC series, which is available through my library and maybe even on YouTube. He steals the show in every scene, and I finally understood why readers demanded this character, who was supposed to be a one-time appearance, become a regular.You are right, it's episodic, no real plot, therefore not very representative of Dickens as a whole. I was surprised how much of the humor and satire holds up, for instance Election Day.
I’ve always wanted to read Bleak House. I also felt that it is likely a difficult read, given there is complex narration in the first and third person. Thus reading with a group would likely make it more understandable for me.
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I've added your wish John :) Yes, alternating viewpoints takes some getting used to, and there several storylines moving through the novel. Both dramatisations I've seen simplify it by making it one main story, with several sub-plots but it's not like that at all to read, really, (unless you race through bits).
I don't think it's difficult (especially knowing which others you've read!) - but it is nicely complex :)
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I love that series! Although it's quite old now (1985), I too loved the portrayal of Sam Weller by Phil Daniels. He was the perfect archetypal cheeky cockney, full of schemes. When I recognised the actor in later TV programmes such as mystery dramas, it was hard to relate this somehow.
Charles Dickens introduced the character of Sam Weller to improve sales, and it certainly did just that! I can't imagine The Pickwick Papers without him :)
For anyone who loves The Pickwick Papers, you might enjoy Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi, which Dickens edited - there are some adventures of the young Joseph, travelling around and running into comic chracters, which are very similar to Pickwick and which I am convinced Dickens either made up completely or changed a lot!
The Pickwick Papers is the second Dickens I read, I remember laughing out loud, it is a nice change of pace from is later and darker writings.
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Our Mutual Friend sounds like a fun read too! It is a full blown satire, unlike his other novels with some satirical pieces in them?
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Dickensians!
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FOR OUR SPRING MAIN GROUP READ in 2021 Please LINK HERE
September may seem a long way off yet, but as lots of us are missing our main group read of David Copperfield, here's your chance to say which of Charles Dickens's novels you would like to read next with the group.
The poll will be a little different from most groups' polls as we have just 15 main novels by Charles Dickens to choose from (minus one!!) So feel free to use this thread to discuss freely which you'd like to read or re-read, and I'll compile a poll from the general feeling after a few days, when it's clear which books come up repeatedly.
A NOTE - If you didn't join in our group read of David Copperfield, please be aware that we will take our read of the novel slowly. Many have commented how satisfying they have found this "chapter a day" approach, so we'll stick to it :) You can read it however you wish, of course, but comments here in the threads will be at the rate of one chapter a day. Thanks.