A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

To offer a very controversial opinion... I did not care for this book.

Victorian literature is really hit or miss for me. I'm a character reader and if I don't connect with the characters, I find it very difficult to get invested in the story. There's not much depth to these characters and like other popular novels of the period, Dickens fills his story with conversational dialogue. It is through dialogue we learn backstories, plot twists, moral dilemmas, relationships, setting - everything. The narrative we receive is brief and direct. It's not my favorite style, but it's efficient enough.

Because I had a hard time relating to - or indeed, keeping straight - many of the characters, there was no emotional investment for me in the tale of the Manette family and the grievous wrongs they suffered. Even the backdrop of the French Revolution failed to dazzle. Simon Vance has a rich voice and I enjoyed his narration, despite the tedium of the writing (again - this is completely personal to my preferences). Between Simon Vance's narration and my sheer determination to read more Dickens, I was able to persevere through this one, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bored.

All in all, I can see why this story is a classic. I can see why people love it. I would watch a movie of it, where the characters have more emotion and depth to them because of the actors... but this book was solidly not for me.

Though! Of the whole book, I have to give mad props to the scene between between Madame Defarge and Ms. Pross. I found it the most heated, most emotive part of the book and absolutely found myself cheering for Ms. Pross. That last bit, at least, was brilliant. ( )

I enjoyed this classic tale of revenge and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of the bloody French revolution, when anyone’s life was easily forfeit on someone’s malice; justice and compassion gave given way to massacre and paranoia.

Dickens gave the blueprint for modern movies and TV shows. The story with its twists and turns can end on cliffhangers after each episode; character development is thrown in between action; secrets are discovered throughout, but there is plenty left to the end.

We have archetypal characters: the old, tenderhearted doctor who is willing to do anything for his daughter. The angelic, beautiful, loving daughter who obeys her father and is ready to swoon whenever the plot requires to be protected by strong men. The honest, noble young man who is wrongly accused. Comic relief characters; cruel villains; men who have doubts but cannot stop the villainy.

The writing is often flowery, but there are lots of humorous moments, and Dickens excels in delivering the drama. Tale of Two Cities is just right - not overwritten, and the ending is fitting - bith giving the reader a relief and a tragedy as well.

I have listened to the audiobook, excellently narrated by Simon Vance. ( )

over rated ( )

It was my first Dickens, it was not my last. It was summer in Chicago and I was surrounded by lovely albeit unruly children. Oh dear, it was a struggle at times, watching three kids while my wife and their mother were in the city. Still I finished the novel over a long afternoon without drugging my charges.

It is a story of sacrifice, maybe of redemption. I felt for everyone, zealots and drunkards alike. The concluding scaffold scene engendered tears, it has to be admitted. Is there a better novel about the French Revolution, its aspirations and its contradictions?
( )

I found this book confusing to begin with, but it shortly became a page-turner. The ending, especially, was beautiful. One of Dickens' best. ( )