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hannahflora's review against another edition
3.0
Too many characters to keep up. Very good book for the time though!
javinki_'s review against another edition
4.0
"Lately I've been reading Darles Chickens" - Matilda (1996), AND Javi (2021)
This was my first Dickens book. I had, of course, encountered him in animated, musical, and muppet formats before, but as far as reading anything actually written by him... nada. How I got an English Literature degree AND the best friend-ship of Dickens superfan Olivia "Sparky" Coleman is beyond me. Anyway, it being a New Year, and therefore the perfect time to try out New and Exciting Things, there seemed no better time to carpe my diems and dive into one of Liv's four copies of 'Bleak House'.
There's a lot of words that have already (probably) been used about it: intricate, moving, beautiful, bleak, house-y, etc. etc. etc., all of which are true. The way Dickens describes both places and people is astonishing, full of bizarre and brilliant metaphors and unnerving insight. Characters especially are either intensely well-written and sympathetic, or ingeniously carved caricatures (although I'd argue that not all of these caricatures necessarily earned the amount of air time they were given.) The plot was a little unevenly distributed, with the first five hundred pages being much slower than the latter five hundred. But once that plot starts a'rolling, it's all DEATH! and mURDER!!1! and intriiiiigue! and Engagements! and MORE deaths!! and MARRIAGE(S). and Revelation after revelation after revelation! and - what's this? Another Death? SURE :) and of course, at long last, —.
...
'Bleak House' was well worth the three weeks it took to read, and I see now why there's such a buzz about this Dickens chap. You best believe I'm picking some 60 page novella to read next, though.
This was my first Dickens book. I had, of course, encountered him in animated, musical, and muppet formats before, but as far as reading anything actually written by him... nada. How I got an English Literature degree AND the best friend-ship of Dickens superfan Olivia "Sparky" Coleman is beyond me. Anyway, it being a New Year, and therefore the perfect time to try out New and Exciting Things, there seemed no better time to carpe my diems and dive into one of Liv's four copies of 'Bleak House'.
There's a lot of words that have already (probably) been used about it: intricate, moving, beautiful, bleak, house-y, etc. etc. etc., all of which are true. The way Dickens describes both places and people is astonishing, full of bizarre and brilliant metaphors and unnerving insight. Characters especially are either intensely well-written and sympathetic, or ingeniously carved caricatures (although I'd argue that not all of these caricatures necessarily earned the amount of air time they were given.) The plot was a little unevenly distributed, with the first five hundred pages being much slower than the latter five hundred. But once that plot starts a'rolling, it's all DEATH! and mURDER!!1! and intriiiiigue! and Engagements! and MORE deaths!! and MARRIAGE(S). and Revelation after revelation after revelation! and - what's this? Another Death? SURE :) and of course, at long last, —.
...
'Bleak House' was well worth the three weeks it took to read, and I see now why there's such a buzz about this Dickens chap. You best believe I'm picking some 60 page novella to read next, though.
fendeviper's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lucardus's review against another edition
4.0
Geniale Passagen, aber auch zwischendurch immer mal wieder zäher Käse. Die Sprachgewalt von Dickens und seine Figuren sind unnachahmlich in dieser Form, die Übersetzung von Meyrink zieren zahlreiche Austrianismen. Insgesamt eine lohnenswerte Lektüre, aber vorläufig habe ich wieder genug Dickens.
luviluv's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
afterttherain's review against another edition
3.0
Is social reform in this novel a real possibility or are we instead left only with tears for harder times?
testaroscia's review against another edition
5.0
First Dickens in a very long time and I loved it. Loved the characters/caricatures, pacing was fine, descriptive passages rich and satisfying. Yes Esther is a saint but how can you not relish aMrs Jelleby, or old Smallweed, Inspector Bucket and old Turveydrop.
dunnadam's review against another edition
4.0
I have finished Bleak House, which I consider an accomplishment. I allowed about a month to finish it and it took two weeks, which I'm happy with. The pace was slow as after every chapter, especially in the beginning, I had to read a chapter summary and occasionally refer to a character list to keep track of who was who. I recommend SparkNotes, they have chapter by chapter summaries and an analysis after every five chapters. I had started to read an annotated edition of the book but there was footnotes every three lines which was ridiculous. One thing with SparkNotes though, they waited until chapter 47 or so to say that certain charters were named for their traits, I feel this could have helped me earlier! For example, Tulkinghorn is like skulking and horn is because he tells everyone's secrets, Bucket collects the information, etc.
I enjoyed the book. I'm not that used to working for my enjoyment but I think it adds to the overall experience by doing the work behind it. I don't think anyone could keep the story and characters straight here without reference and there were times I was reading and not really knowing what was happening, sometimes falling asleep. Dickens introduces so many characters and so quickly that I don't think it's possible to keep up. Even at the end of the book, with the character list and the analysis I still had questions. Where did Richard and Ada come from and who were they in relation to everyone else? Did they have parents?
So many characters and they come and go so quickly, sometimes in melodramatic fashion, like spontaneous combustion. Still what I really liked about this book was that it wasn't a romance like other Dickens I've read, the heroine wasn't perfect, she was physically flawed, and it didn't all focus on the upper class sipping tea and looking through their monocles. There was real people. One element I disliked though was that this is the third Dickens I've read, after Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend and this is the third in a row that features a mysterious benefactor. Speaking of which who was paying Skimpole's bills? The guardian guy seemed to have some strange friends.
Things I liked about the book, there were times when the setting was so real I could touch it. The opening chapter on the courthouse is brilliant. When he's not over-reaching on characters and plot Dickens can really transport you. I also liked the humorous elements, the woman with five kids who made them give all their money to charity and the old man who throws pillows at his wife and has to be carried on a chair everywhere, very imaginative and descriptive.
Overall a great read, a great trip through time for us now, and a wonderful work by the master.
I enjoyed the book. I'm not that used to working for my enjoyment but I think it adds to the overall experience by doing the work behind it. I don't think anyone could keep the story and characters straight here without reference and there were times I was reading and not really knowing what was happening, sometimes falling asleep. Dickens introduces so many characters and so quickly that I don't think it's possible to keep up. Even at the end of the book, with the character list and the analysis I still had questions. Where did Richard and Ada come from and who were they in relation to everyone else? Did they have parents?
So many characters and they come and go so quickly, sometimes in melodramatic fashion, like spontaneous combustion. Still what I really liked about this book was that it wasn't a romance like other Dickens I've read, the heroine wasn't perfect, she was physically flawed, and it didn't all focus on the upper class sipping tea and looking through their monocles. There was real people. One element I disliked though was that this is the third Dickens I've read, after Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend and this is the third in a row that features a mysterious benefactor. Speaking of which who was paying Skimpole's bills? The guardian guy seemed to have some strange friends.
Things I liked about the book, there were times when the setting was so real I could touch it. The opening chapter on the courthouse is brilliant. When he's not over-reaching on characters and plot Dickens can really transport you. I also liked the humorous elements, the woman with five kids who made them give all their money to charity and the old man who throws pillows at his wife and has to be carried on a chair everywhere, very imaginative and descriptive.
Overall a great read, a great trip through time for us now, and a wonderful work by the master.