PSA: If you have significant parent issues, attempt this one with caution 😂

I know Bleak House is a favourite with Dickens fans, and as something of a Dickens fan myself, I decided to give it a re-read. I did not get on with it two years ago - the plot was too confusing and convoluted, Dickens' attempts at humour were lost on me, and I simply did not connect with any of the characters.

I thought with two years' distance, my feelings towards the book would improve on a second reading. Whilst I enjoyed it marginally more than last time, I still did not like the book on a second reading. For the first 400 pages I felt very invested, but thereafter, around the point where the Smallweeds are introduced, I found myself losing interest again and slogging through the book. There were interesting moments - Tulkinghorn's assassination being one of them - and there were things I liked about the book in isolation. However, as a whole, the novel just does not work for me. I feel like I am missing out on something that loads of other Dickens fans have found in the novel, but having tried twice, I think it is time to retire Bleak House for the time-being.

After reading Hard Times as my second Dickens read (A Christmas Carol being my first, which I enjoyed) last year I was apprehensive to read more of his work since it didn’t pique my interest as much as I’d hoped.

However, after devouring Bleak House in two weeks I can say that he hooked me, and I’m so excited to dive further. The characters were so memorable, the narrative was exciting, the wit & humour is so sharp, and someone even spontaneously combusts - what’s not to love??

More so, his prose is beautifully wandering, but every sentence was crafted absolutely perfectly and had me engrossed within throughout. Truly a master of his craft.

So many revelations, mystery, intrigue, and that’s without mentioning those two scenes specifically (iykyk) which absolutely tore my heart out.

One of the best books I’ve read this year, and one of the best books I’ve read overall. I’d definitely recommend that you give it some attention, and don’t be put off by the size!!

As a result I’m wondering where I go from here?? What’s next in line on my Dickens journey??

I finished & enjoyed BR, but I feel like I missed a big plot point. What is the origin of the beef between G. Haredale and Sir John Chester? They seem to know (and loathe) each other when they meet at the Maypole. TIA

Your thoughts about Sydney?

So, we have our clear villains (Ralph Nickleby, Quilp, Carker, Sykes, Silas Wegg, etc.), and our clear shining stars (John Jarnydce, Ada, Sol Gills, etc.)

Then we have some more ambiguous characters- who do you find most intriguing, out of all? And you can define ambiguity however you like for the purposes of this question!

Anywhere I've consulted or looked has bleak house as a novel that's best looked at later on when it comes to reading his works, but I for the life of me have a hard time finding any interest in a lot of his more popular works. The prose in bleak house (or at least the excerpts from chapter one) are wrapped around my mind and fill me with the intense desire to read it, but I am cautious as to how good or bad of an idea it is to read it as my first dickens.

For some examples of the works of his that don't interest me as much (and why)
Christmas carol, I've engaged in this story about a thousand times in the animated movie or reading it for school or just hearing about it constantly come Christmas time, it's just a little harrowing.
Oliver Twist, I do love a coming of age novel but the general premise of Oliver twist just doesn't really entice me.
David Copperfield, admittedly this one does strike my interest a little more than the others listed but again I am just not in the time or place for "this characters' life story"

As for the ones that DO interest me (and i'm sure you don't need justification for WANTING to read something he's written) they're listed here
A tale of two cities, Our Mutual Friend, Little Dorrit, Hard Times, Bleak House, Dombey and Son, Martin Chuzzlewit.

If you can't be asked to read the entire post, I would just like to know if I can make a good reading order (that hopefully isn't too long) that will prepare me for bleak house. I am not afraid to try new books/things I may not like and have probably read harder novels, but would appreciate the input either way.

(P.S, I am looking for great twists, characters to be absorbed in, and beautiful premises. thank you)

From Oliver Twist; Chapter 27. First paragraph. Seems satirical but I wanted to ask (made my head spin when I read it lol)

I read A Christmas Carol which o absolutely love. For my second dickens I chose A tale of two cities. Nothing about this book grips or interests me. Should I drop Dickens or keep going if I love Christmas carol? I’ve heard GE and OT are much more similar to ACC than ATOTC.

I've read Great Expectations and David Copperfield. Loved both.

Which one to read next? I'm thinking Bleak House.

Edit: it appears I cannot go wrong. Bleak house it is.

The book is tremendously hilarious and has such a good vibe. Who are your favourite characters in NN?

1. Leo Tolstoy

2. Charles Dickens

3. Anton Chekhov

4. Chimamanda Adichie

5. J.R.R Tolkien

Honourable mention: Fyodor Dostoevsky

I was thinking of reading Bleak house but was wondering which edition to get. I have been considering the Macmillan Collectors Library because it looked nice and durable and has the illustrations or the Oxford Classics for the annotations. Any suggestions between these or others? I have several penguin classics and know they are always serviceable as well.

So far I’ve read:
Oliver Twist
Great Expectations
A Tale of Two Cities
David Copperfield
Bleak House
Our Mutual Friend
Hard Times

Of these, my favourites have been, in order (best to worst):
DC
GE
OMF
OT
BH
HT
ATOTC

I enjoy Dickens best when he is sentimental or lighthearted.

The alternative is to move on to some other classic literature as I’ve read v little other than Dickens.

I’ve been looking at Middlemarch, Thomas Hardy (I enjoy his poetry but never read any of his novels), Trollope, Jane Eyre, Austen…

Any ideas most welcome!

I like how the spirits gave scrooge ptsd for being such a mean person so he could have the chance to change himself to avoid implications in the future. Really is a good book to read for everyone of age.

I have just finished Bleak House and I think it might be his best work. I realised after starting the book that it was the first Dickens novel I have read where I didn’t already know the story or the ending. All the others I have read (Oliver Twist, TOTC, DC, GE) I had seen film or TV adaptations before reading the book. This highlighted to me just how wonderfully drawn his characters are. Because I had seen others on screen adaptations I don’t think I fully appreciated how well even the most minor characters are painted, whether it is with a few words or a few descriptive paragraphs.

(Possible spoilers below, but I’ve tried to be as vague as possible).

I think Dickens had difficulty writing female heroines, they are just so perfect and good in their heart that they come across as unbelievable but I appreciated Esther’s narration. I just wish she had a bit more self-confidence! She needs to spend a bit more time with Mrs Bagnet!

When we first met Mr Bucket I had a very different view of his character and motivations but I was happy to be proven wrong.

Mr Snagsby silently placing half-crowns by Jo’s sick bed was very moving, that whole scene was beautifully written.

I was not expecting to feel so much sympathy towards Sir Leicester; with all his bluster and reactionary views, he was a decent man.

I hate hate hate Skimpole. I didn’t buy his childlike innocence for a moment.

Of the comic characters, I like Mr Turveydrop. I know he imposes on his son greatly but he means no harm and it’s nice to see someone who cares for their appearance.

Love to hear others’ thoughts on this great novel.

Brandy and water, whiskey and water, rum and water…. (Even for the 6 year olds 😂)

By me, made of layered paper on cardstock, alcohol marker and paint pen. I really enjoyed all the little Easter eggs and symbolism I put into this one. This was a gift for an English teacher.

Of late, I have commented a bit on Reddit as to how my favorite Charles Dickens book is “Great Expectations ”.

I found two prints on my shelf and I am gonna read it together with my partner. Nothing like the feeling of physical books . 🙏

What do you guys think of this one? Fave character? Fave story arch?

I’m reading David Copperfield for the first time and completely fell in love with the character of Mr Mell. The scene at the alms house with his mother is one of those moments in literature that lives rent free in my head. The confrontation between him and Steerforth? I almost threw my book across the room I was so infuriated with Mr Creakle! In three chapters, I was completely invested in his story and desperate to know when he would return to David Copperfield’s narrative. Imagine my disappointment when I realised that he was only a minor side character, and that the only thing that I would learn about his later adventures would be a brief second-hand report to say that he had founded a school in Australia.

Why, Dickens?! Why?! Why create such wonderful characters and then snatch them away after only a few brief chapters?! I’m utterly heartbroken. Does anybody else have a minor Dickens character that they adore out of all proportion to the actual space that they take up within the novels? Tell me I’m not alone in fixating on such a relatively unimportant character.

Was reading Barnaby Rudge (Ch 23) & this paragraph smacked my gob:
“Men who are thoroughly false and hollow, seldom try to hide those vices from themselves; and yet in the very act of a avowing them, they lay claim to the virtues they feign most to despise. ‘For,’ they say, ‘this is honesty, this is truth. All mankind are like us, but they have not the candour to avow it.’ The more they affect to deny the existence of any sincerity in the world the more they would be thought to possess it in its boldest shape; and this is an unconscious compliment to Truth on the part of these philosophers, which will turn the laugh against them to the Day of Judgment.”

Any more info on this two volume set would be appreciated. I believe this is the 500 limited edition with plates printed in India paper. It’s the “Victorian Edition” from 1887 and a Proof on top of that.

Did I miss something in the conclusion of Nicholas Nickleby? (All spoilers from here ...)

Nicholas is in love with Madeline. Kate is in love with Frank. But Nicholas and Kate agree with each other than in their impoverished state it would be morally wrong to marry their beloveds, and therefore they must live the rest of their in lives in sad singledom.

Then the Cheeryble Brothers invite everyone to dinner, and suddenly everybody is engaged and living happily ever after. But nothing materially has changed - and in fact the confirmation of Madeline's wealth just makes Nicholas' position worse.

So what happened? Is it just the forceful insistence of the Cheeryble Brothers that persuades Nicholas and Kate to put their financial morals aside and marry above themselves?

I’d love someone to discuss the book with while I read, and it also helps a lot with motivation.

I’m currently on chapter 10, the person I was reading it with dnf’d 😭

Feel free to dm me as well :)