July & August BOTM - Bleak House

[Larry]

I finished today...
This was a tale of two books for me. The first half was slow and hard to get into but, especially after chapter 40, I was totally into it and finished the rest within a few days. The story escalates and every chapter after that has drama and surprises that kept me wanting more.

[Cheryl]

Wow well done Larry. I must pull my socks up and get on with it.

[Ian]

Larry wrote: "So, the story really picks up and my I am easily going back to this book more often. I have just finished chapter 54 and as encouragement to everyone.... it was the best yet!! I am now hooked and c..."


I just finished chapter 57, so I am keeping mostly on track with the schedule. I agree, the book really picks up at this point; I wanted to stay up last night and keep reading...lol

[Cheryl]

I still behind schedule but catching up. I am reading this for fun now as opposed to what felt a bit like homework to begin with. That is possibly a bit harsh, it wasn't all bad but it did feel like hard work at times.

[The Damsel in the Library]

I have ten chapters left. It's definitely gotten more action packed, or as action-y as the 1850's could be. Once I'm done I'll get the miniseries.

[Cheryl]

Well done Damsel, I have 15 chapters to go. The characters in this book still make me so angry I won’t be sorry to leave them all behind, although I do like the writing.

[Ian]

I finished this last night; it is one of the first times I have managed to keep to a schedule with a long book. I agree with Larry, it was a bit hard to get into in the beginning, but really picks up.

I found there were too many characters and subplots to keep track of in the beginning, but the characters were very interesting.

Not to sound self-righteous, but it is my personal rule that if I am ever a guardian, I will not try to marry my ward...lol


I'd rate this 4.5/5 and probably rank the Dickens books I have read so far in this order:

1. Great Expectations
2. A Christmas Carol
3. Bleak House
4. Tale of Two Cities
5. Oliver Twist

[Ian]

The Damsel in the Library wrote: "I have ten chapters left. It's definitely gotten more action packed, or as action-y as the 1850's could be. Once I'm done I'll get the miniseries."

I'd really like to watch a miniseries of this. I never realized that the brick-makers wives were the same people the few times they appeared in various chapters. I'll have to see if i have the miniseries on any streaming platforms..

[Morgan]

I have 15 chapters to go but I agree with everyone that the story has been more interesting later in the book. I agree with Ian that there were just too many characters and subplots but I'm glad I can say I read it.

[The Damsel in the Library]

I finished it a couple days ago and have been letting it ruminate (not sure what my rating will be yet).

I agree that it's too long and I'm wondering if it being originally published in a newspaper had anything to do with that; maybe he was obligated to go for a certain amount of time or the readers wanted him to elaborate on some characters, and if he'd done it in a different format it would've ended sooner.

Even though I didn't really believe Esther as a character, her narrative was my favorite because to moved faster than the rest and I had the least trouble keeping track of what was happening with her.

I'm not convinced that Dickens is the author for me. If I do read more of his books, audio is the way to go because it's easier to accept his long-winded-ness if someone else is reading it.

Some thoughts on the ending: (view spoiler)[If it took that long for the case to use all the money, how much would have been in it? Like, a million? I'm sure the lawyers and such weren't being stingy with their bills.
It's nice that Jarndyce realized Esther would be happier with Woodcourt and that letting her go didn't send him into a deep depression, like what probably would've occurred if Emily Bronte wrote it.
Maybe this is a little mean, but I'm totally fine with Richard dying. I never liked him and he just would've dragged Ada down even more than he already did.
Was anyone else caught off-guard by the abrupt end? Did Dickens run out of his allotted space in the paper? (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

I have finished and just In the nick of time!

I have no idea what to rate this one. It was certainly far too long and I seriously doubt I will ever read any more Dickens. That said I did enjoy some aspects of it, the writing was often quite poetic. The characters however - so may very unlikeable people!

I agree with the damsel. Esther’s chapters were by far the best, mainly because as she said, they were the most eventful and easiest to follow.

[Cheryl]

I have just seen your spoiler notes Damsel and I agree with pretty much everything you said, especially Richard! Haha!

I didn't think it was that abrupt an ending though.

Bucket was a man who surprised me. Who would have thought it. Well done him.

[Ian]

Cheryl wrote: "I have finished and just In the nick of time!

I have no idea what to rate this one. It was certainly far too long and I seriously doubt I will ever read any more Dickens. That said I did enjoy so..."

I feel like this book could have been half the length and you would not have noticed. The Smallweed family really added nothing to the story as well as the Coavineses; did it really make any difference to the plot that Charley worked for the Smallweeds? Or that Young Smallweed worked with Guppy? So many of the characters are coincidentally connected, but for no actual reason.

[Cheryl]

Well said Ian, my thoughts entirely!

I rated this one rather harshly in the end, it just wasn’t for me.

I’m really glad I read this book with you guys, the comments along the way really helped me and I feel reassured/comforted (trying to find the right word here!) to hear at the end that I wasn’t alone in some of my opinions about this book, I think that had I read this alone I would be thinking I must be some kind of idiot not to love Dickens.

[The Damsel in the Library]

I watched the miniseries and wow! It's really good and (I know this is a shocking thing to say as a reader) better than the book. It cut out what needed to be cut, tweaked a few things, and everything makes so much more sense and the pace is blisteringly fast in comparison.
The casting is pretty much spot on, with Mr. Guppy, Mr. Jarndyce and George being particular standouts. Esther isn't quite so Esther-y, but Skimpole is somehow worse.
Everything is more dramatic than in the book, I think it's because of how it was filmed/edited, but it added some necessary oomph.
Even if you didn't like the book, I'd highly recommend watching the series. It almost makes me want to reread it. Almost.

[Cheryl]

Almost! Haha!

That is a rare thing indeed to find a programme that is better than the book. I am tempted to watch this myself now. Thanks for reporting back.