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bigbookmaus's review against another edition
2.0
Dickens ain’t my cup of tea and neither is Francis Goodchild or Thomas Idle.
They should’ve just stuck with the ghost stories! (literally the only part that made reading this a tiny bit enjoyable).
They should’ve just stuck with the ghost stories! (literally the only part that made reading this a tiny bit enjoyable).
ninjamuse's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices was co-written by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins and features two characters (Mr. Goodchild and Mr. Idle) that are stand-ins for these two. It is told over the course of what was originally five issues of Dickens' journal Household Words and depicts an "idle" (but actually quite frantic) vacation, with long walks/hikes and explorations of inns and other places. In the course, it also includes two long standalone stories--both gothic ghost stories, one that appears to be primarily by Collins and one that appears to be primarily by Dickens.
The book as a whole is certainly a minor work. It has lots of moments of humor and is rarely dull, but at its best still falls short of just about the worst of any Dickens novel. The two largely standalone stories that are told in the course of it are fun, perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book. In general, mostly worth reading for the completist but a lot more that is worth getting to before this.
The book as a whole is certainly a minor work. It has lots of moments of humor and is rarely dull, but at its best still falls short of just about the worst of any Dickens novel. The two largely standalone stories that are told in the course of it are fun, perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book. In general, mostly worth reading for the completist but a lot more that is worth getting to before this.
pixie_hallows's review against another edition
3.0
So, not the greatest work of either Collins or Dickens even though there were a few things I enjoyed about this short story. Overall I found it too rambling without plot or moral.
readingisadoingword's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
An episodic diary account of the two idle apprentices - to be taken as alter egos due Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
They make a tour of the North of England taking in mountain walks, ghostly encounters and the Doncaster races.
Vaguely amusing but at times a bit dry. The ghost stories were the most engaging part for me and Thomas Idle's rant about horses.
Quick read but not a favourite Dickens.
They make a tour of the North of England taking in mountain walks, ghostly encounters and the Doncaster races.
Vaguely amusing but at times a bit dry. The ghost stories were the most engaging part for me and Thomas Idle's rant about horses.
Quick read but not a favourite Dickens.
isayhourwrong's review against another edition
3.0
Yk this was cute. I loved how much of an old marries couple dickens and collins came across, and although I struggled with the prose a fair bit I liked it. The ghost story that was in the 4th chapter was also very fun.
pagesandstitches's review
4.0
This collaborative short novel by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins is hilarious and spooky by turns—I quite enjoyed it!
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