Old Curiosity Shop, The: Week 03 - Chapters XI-XV

[Captain Sir Roddy, R.N. (Ret.), Founder]

This is the folder for the third week of the group read and discussion of Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, Chapters XI through XV. I am creating and posting the folder early as Susan and I are on our way out of town for a lovely weekend in Sequoia National Park (here's a link to the park website http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm). Sequoia is home to groves of the largest trees in the world, the Giant Sequoia. These are the most amazing trees that I have ever seen! I wish you all a wonderful and safe weekend and see you next week! Cheers!

[Lynnm]

Have a great time at Sequoia National Park! I'm a bit jealous. I love the big trees!

[Robin P, Moderator]

I agree with last week's comment that so far this is my least favorite Dickens. If this were the first book of his I had read, I would not feel compelled to read another. Quilp is just so evil (only consolation is that I hope he will die of lung cancer from all the smoking!) and Nell and her grandfather are so ineffectual and helpless.
On their travels, there is a wonderful description of morning sights, sounds and smells as they walk out of London into the country. It seems people are kinder in the country, offering the travelers food, places to stay and a ride.

[Hedi]

Sorry, I am a little busy at the moment, but I have not given up on it, might just need the weekend to catch up a little, just started chapter XI. I hope that despite some of last week's comments the discussion will not be dying. :-)

[Lynnm]

I'm still here - have one more chapter to read for the week and I will post. I'm really enjoying it.

[Lynnm]

Some thoughts:

Kit has a kind heart. I really like his character. He's willing to give what little he has to help Nell and her grandfather. And then, when he's given the shilling, he says he'll be there to pay off the rest the next week...and I know he will be.

Obviously, the opposite of Quilp, and sad that Quilp was able to use Kit's name to get Nell's grandfather off of his scent in using Mrs. Quilp to get information from Nell.

Also sad to see Nell having to take the lead in caring for her grandfather. Too much responsibility and care for someone her age - even though we were all a bit confused as to her age and was surprised that she was as old as 14. 14 is still too young to have all those troubles and to have to care for herself and her grandfather.

Wondering how Mr Witherden and Mr. Abel are going to figure into the story.

Again, Dickens is not kind to lawyers. ;)

And yes, the country people do seem kinder than the city folk. Again, Dickens seems to put good vs. bad with nothing in between. Obviously, not everyone in the country is good.

[Zulfiya]

Sorry for the belated comment, but the transatlantic travel is not fun at all. I agree with Lynmn that it is one of the most antagonized novels so far. The division lies not only between the people, but it is obviously drawn between the rural landscape and the urban jungles. Yes, it is an obvious truth that Dickens is a keen observer, but his landscapes are disproportionately idyllic.
Kit is turning into a more likable multidimensional character while Quilp is definitely the example of the evil incarnate.
To tell the truth, Nell is somewhat irritating, but I guess it might be the effect of the airport reading:-) And we know that she is 14, but why does he keep calling her the child? Hmmmmm.

[Hedi]

Zulfiya, I was wondering about the term "the child", too. It seems such a reduction or minimization - sorry, I am not really finding the right word for it - of the person, despite her having to take over all these responsibilities now.

I also like Kit. He seems to be very kind and caring with all he actually is able to offer. Did I get it wrong or is there no Mr Nubbles in the house? It seemed to me as if Kit really tries to be the responsible one and care for everyone.

Mr Brass seems also a little strange and negative to me. Is there any particular reason that he is staying with Quilp in the shop?

I have, unfortunately, not been able to read everything yet, as I am currently very busy around my house, especially with planning my garden, fell asleep the last 2 evenings before really having started to read. :-(
So, I hope this week will be a little less exhausting and I will be able to post my thoughts a little sooner.

[Zulfiya]

Hedi wrote: "Zulfiya, I was wondering about the term "the child", too. It seems such a reduction or minimization - sorry, I am not really finding the right word for it - of the person, despite her having to tak..."

I know that Nell's prototype was Mary Hogarth, his wife's sister, who died at the age of 17. His was deeply attached to her and was devastated by her death(Hmmmm, Dickens was married for a couple of years when she died, and his fascination has a dubious innuendo). I only can hypothesize that he was trying subconsciously to minimize the true reason why and how this character was created; thus, as you said it, Nell is also minimized. It might also shed light on Quilp's strange and freakishly desire to marry Nell. And we also have Dick, who is also driven by matrimonial desires.

[Hedi]

Zulfiya wrote: "Hedi wrote: "Zulfiya, I was wondering about the term "the child", too. It seems such a reduction or minimization - sorry, I am not really finding the right word for it - of the person, despite her ..."

Interesting, I did not know about Dickens's wife's sister. Thanks for that information.

[Lynnm]

Zulfiya wrote: "I know that Nell's prototype was Mary Hogarth, his wife's sister, who died at the age of 17. His was deeply attached to her and was devastated by her death(Hmmmm, Dickens was married for a couple of years when she died, and his fascination has a dubious innuendo). I only can hypothesize that he was trying subconsciously to minimize the true reason why and how this character was created; thus, as you said it, Nell is also minimized. It might also shed light on Quilp's strange and freakishly desire to marry Nell. And we also have Dick, who is also driven by matrimonial desires"

Zulfiya - I just noticed this - thanks for the information. Interesting...

[[deleted user]]

Hey. I'm a little behind as these past couple of weeks I have managed to break not just one, but two kindles and as I only have an electronic copy I was forced to pause for a bit!
I'm enjoying the book. I liked the descriptions of moving from London to the countryside and although people seem nice, I still don't know what Nell and her grandfather plan on doing for food or shelter.
I really like Kit. He clearly cares a great deal for his family although again, I feel they are portrayed in an overly happy and harminous way.
I am struggling a bit to like the characters as they is just so much black and white and little intrigue. I do, however, really enjoy the story and I do want to know what happens to everyone next even if I'm not sure I care!

[Zulfiya]

Heather wrote: "Hey. I'm a little behind as these past couple of weeks I have managed to break not just one, but two kindles and as I only have an electronic copy I was forced to pause for a bit!
I'm enjoying the ..."

It's Dickens we are talking about:-) In 4-5 novels we might deal with the first grey characters:-) LOL.

I share a talent of breaking my ereaders:-) The ole Sony is still working, but I managed to break the newest Velocity Micro twice within one week several months ago.

[[deleted user]]

Zulfiya wrote: "Heather wrote: "Hey. I'm a little behind as these past couple of weeks I have managed to break not just one, but two kindles and as I only have an electronic copy I was forced to pause for a bit!
I..."

I have to admit I am not as widely Dickens read as some of you. I've only read Great Expectations and half of Pickwick (really didn't enjoy it much). I think GE does has some more grey characters so I suspect I'm just not used to it yet!