Great Expectations is one of Dickens' best novels, hence people read it more often than his lesser novels. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Little Dorrit, Bleak House, and David Copperfield are his best in my opinion, and they all follow the theme of poor child going through hard times, makes good in the end. Which is what Dickens himself went through as a child. I am currently plodding my way through Hard Times, which is a slow and somewhat dull read, after reading his other, more-exciting novels, mentioned above.
I tried reading David Copperfield but was bored out of my mind. Quit after around 50-75 pages. Didn't touch another Dickens book for a long while. Then thought hey, maybe I just started out on one of his weaker books. So I googled Best Charles Dickens novel. Guess what was #1? David Copperfield. 😴 I tried A Tale of Two Cities a few years ago, and only lasted about 50 pages before being lost and bored. Haven't given him another try since then.
His style isn't for everybody, no shame in that. I find Dickens very entertaining, but even then it's a big commitment and some of his books have taken me a LONG time to finish. David Copperfield sucked me in and I spent an entire day reading it through, but Bleak House took me months, though I now rank it as my favorite. I believe his stories are rewarding, but I do wish he had trimmed them down some, there are passages that have to be slogged through in even his best work.
A refreshing take on Dickens novels ranked! I appreciate your thoughts. I never thought about a 'name' title, but i think I'm the opposite, 🙃 I'm more drawn to them in order to find out more about the person! I'm just starting out reading his novels after several decades! So I"m trying to decide where to start and after this, I think I won't start with Great Expectations ..as i had expected to 😊 Still haven't decided. I got a few from used bookshop including edward drood.. but didn't know that he never finished it.. so that will prob be the last one i read. Thanks for your thoughts!
People start with "Great Expectations" because it's one of his four relatively short novels. The other three (Oliver Twist, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities) are not nearly as highly regarded.
That makes sense. Some of the longer ones can be intimidating, even though they're extremely rewarding. I do think 'A Tale of Two Cities' is also highly regarded though.
@@Tolstoy111 I am not a Dickens scholar. I'm just someone who loves to read his work. And in that group, 'A Tale of Two Cities' will always be highly regarded.
Great Expectations is one of Dickens' best novels, hence people read it more often than his lesser novels. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Little Dorrit, Bleak House, and David Copperfield are his best in my opinion, and they all follow the theme of poor child going through hard times, makes good in the end. Which is what Dickens himself went through as a child. I am currently plodding my way through Hard Times, which is a slow and somewhat dull read, after reading his other, more-exciting novels, mentioned above.
I tried reading David Copperfield but was bored out of my mind. Quit after around 50-75 pages. Didn't touch another Dickens book for a long while. Then thought hey, maybe I just started out on one of his weaker books. So I googled Best Charles Dickens novel. Guess what was #1? David Copperfield. 😴
I tried A Tale of Two Cities a few years ago, and only lasted about 50 pages before being lost and bored. Haven't given him another try since then.
His style isn't for everybody, no shame in that. I find Dickens very entertaining, but even then it's a big commitment and some of his books have taken me a LONG time to finish. David Copperfield sucked me in and I spent an entire day reading it through, but Bleak House took me months, though I now rank it as my favorite. I believe his stories are rewarding, but I do wish he had trimmed them down some, there are passages that have to be slogged through in even his best work.
A refreshing take on Dickens novels ranked! I appreciate your thoughts. I never thought about a 'name' title, but i think I'm the opposite, 🙃 I'm more drawn to them in order to find out more about the person!
I'm just starting out reading his novels after several decades! So I"m trying to decide where to start and after this, I think I won't start with Great Expectations ..as i had expected to 😊
Still haven't decided. I got a few from used bookshop including edward drood.. but didn't know that he never finished it.. so that will prob be the last one i read. Thanks for your thoughts!
Good luck! I hope you like them!
I have the same quirk with name titles for novels, they never intrigue me, and I don't read them unless they are highly esteemed.
BH is my number one as well - first time I hear someone else with the same view. And ATOTC is my no 2! Haven’t read neither OMF nor LD.
About halfway through Bleak House, haven't read it since grad school, trying to finish but its tough
It has rough patches, but I promise it’s worth it!
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People start with "Great Expectations" because it's one of his four relatively short novels. The other three (Oliver Twist, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities) are not nearly as highly regarded.
That makes sense. Some of the longer ones can be intimidating, even though they're extremely rewarding. I do think 'A Tale of Two Cities' is also highly regarded though.
Not among Dickens scholars. I've heard it reffered to as "ersatz Dickens" The critic Clifton Fadiman called it one of his worst novels.@@RelishBooks
@@Tolstoy111 I am not a Dickens scholar. I'm just someone who loves to read his work. And in that group, 'A Tale of Two Cities' will always be highly regarded.
Nothing wrong with that. @@RelishBooks
@@Tolstoy111 wow I have never heard of anyone say before that a tale of two cities is not highly regarded.
Saying that you didn't like ir appreciate Great Expectations was enough for me no to want to continue listening. Best wishes.
I do like and appreciate Great Expectations. It isn’t at the top of my list, but it is a good book.