I just started reading "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens. I am a big fan of Dickens but have never read this particular novel before (it's sort of long, and a bit of a project to read!). Anyhow, I am quite excited, this book seems like it's going to be lots of fun. Dickens had such a modern sensibility. Very wry, sarcastic, witty, and oh so silly... love 'im.
What's your favorite Dickens novel? and feel free to elaborate on your reasons for liking the book.
And before I forget, here is your letter for today: "O" is for Original Sin. I hope seeing these kiddos having fun will warm your heart and bring you joy :)
Are you a glutton for punishment? Then you should sign up for my spa... er I mean for my site updates by email. I promise, you will regret it!
21 comments:
Oh what fun they are having! "Oh"s are great fun.
My favorite Dickens novel is Great Expectations. I fell in love with it in 8th grade when it was assigned reading. The other kids hated it and I read it in one night... then got in trouble for reading too far ahead. They should have known then that I would become a librarian. The O-mens were there. ;)
Haha, nice! Great Expectations is my favorite as well :)
You were such a troublesome child ;)
I have to say my favorite Dickens story is A Christmas Carol.
Wow, a lotta original sins are about to be committed. Now we have religious lessons in the alphabet.
That is one I have never read! I will make sure that is the next Dickens story I tackle.
Religion is good, so long as everything is misinterpreted.
yay on confusing religion! (as you know, i am a fan of worshipping false idols)
BUT, what's with the owl? are we getting some of the "wise owl from winnie the pooh" mixed in with the bible
Dude, false idols are the best!
Good question about the owl. He sort of hijacked his way into the drawing...
i just noticed the dickens question! (what can i say, i scrolled right down to the drawing!)
indeed, i must say a christmas carol. after all, the muppets made a movie of it!
They did!??! that's so awesome... although those creatures still kind of freak me out.
you must check it out! michael caine is scrooge!!!
I've never heard of that one. Have ot let us know.
Are you going to release these pics in some kind of book?
Sammy: Michael Caine=amazing awesomeness
Mrmanuel: Maybe in the future? right now I'm really playing around, but it would be fun to make a little book :)
Cute and clever drawing!
I don't think I *ever* read Dickens come to think of it! In France, we tended to study French literature I guess. This more an English classic.
Dickens is my favorite author not only because he weaves a fantastic tale full of twists and clever connections but also because he was always making a commentary on social and political issues of the day. He had passion based on his early family struggles with the poor house and living a life that was full of drama.
I have several favorites.
David Copperfield was the first to take me in. The opening lines alone offer so much to ponder. The characters are powerful. Nobody creates characters you simply HATE more than Dickens. It propels the reader to read on just to see them get their pay back.
A Tale of Two Cities taught me more about the French Revolution than all my high school years. I love that book wtih a passion.
Nicholas Nickleby comes next for me but I had a rough start with this one. I tried to read it twice before the timing was right and then I couldn't put it down. More fantastic characters, villians and injustice waiting to be righted. The school chapters made my jaw drop. Cruelty always get my blood boiling.
I did not love The Pickwick Papers but there is one scene or one story in there that was genius. I can't think of the title right now but I read that James Dean used to do it as a monologue when he was auditioning.
Of course, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol are must reads. The very basic for anyone who wants to read Dickens.
A few months ago I read almost all of The Old Curiosity Shop but had to stop because I saw how things were turning out and couldn't bear to continue.
I see that Great Expectations is a favorite but that is one that I liked less than the others. It did give us that crazy, kooky, sad, interesting character Miss Havisham but even she turns out to be a disappointment in the end. I may feel that Great Expectations is not so fantastic because I read it directly after A Tale of Two Cities. I think with Dickens I need to take a break in between books to clear my mind.
And...
"O" for original sin. Another classic.
Drat! Thought I left a comment earlier. Oh well...ain't no sin like ORIGINAL sin!
And my favorite Dickens is Great Expectations also. I am a sucker for a bildungsroman.
Zhu: I bet you would appreciate his writing, although he can be extremely wordy.
Gary: Wow, thanks for such a great and thorough response! I am pushing a Tale of Two Cities up on my to read list, I read it many years ago but have no recollection of it. I think you are right about not reading one Dickens' book after another. I feel that way with a lot of writers, I get the novels muddled together if I read too many of the same writer in one go.
Laura: Original sin is the bestest. Mmmmm, apples...
o.K. I don;t even know what ot say about the O picture. Wisdom hoarding the potential to sin?
Several Dickens books were mentioned that I have never read.....and drat only 2 weeks left in my vacation. What's a Crazy to do?
is it a religious statement that the little boy has also apparently taken a bite of the apple?
(or, naturally, it's a feminist statement that women are not the only ones responsible for original sin)
wow. all your friends must think i'm some bra burning crazy woman ;)
I'll have a cup of forbidden fruit, please. Thank you!
Charles Dickens - well I remember reading only a few of his stories; Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol. "Great Expectations" was depressing, though. And since I'm such a fan of supernatural stuff - always have been, I still like "A Christmas Carol".
Crazy4coens: Read the Dickens! Read the Dickens! :)
Sammy: Ah yes, the original question! who was at fault for our sin. Women are such an easy scapegoat! Man had free will, he didn't have to eat the apple, hehe...
Tara: Coming right up. I have bumped on Christmas Carol on my to read list, that story is such a part of our culture, I need to read the original material.
You know, you are the BEST!
Aw, thanks Pamela!!!
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