A Tale of Two Cities

Title: A Tale of Two Cities

Author: Charles Dickens

Pages: 382

Genre: Fiction, Classic

Grade: B

Synopsis: The book starts in the year 1775 leading up to the French Revolution, which began in 1789.  The book starts with Dr. Manette being released from the Bastille prison, where he was falsely held to cover up a rape and murder more than 18 year before.  His daughter comes to Paris to escort him home before the story turns to the gentlemen courting his daughters, the brutality of the French aristocrats and the frenzy of the revolution.

My Review: This is a hard book to summarize as there is a lot that goes on in this book.  At times it was hard to follow and at other times the story was exciting.  I think this is a book that I would enjoy more after a second reading.

Oliver Twist

Title: Oliver Twist

Author: Charlie Dicken

Pages: 496

Genre: Fiction, Classic

Grade: B

Synopsis: Little Oliver is abandoned at a young age and forced to live as an orphan.  The Orphanage keeps the kids on such meager rations that they are all nearly starving.  Oliver runs away from the orphanage and makes his way into London where he finds food and lodging with a group of pickpockets and swindlers.  Due to Oliver's exquisitely fair and honest complexion, Fagin and the artful Dodger are intent on corrupting Oliver and reeling him into the business, while Oliver, in his heart desires to be a good and honest lad.

My Review:  I enjoyed listening to this book and there were only a few times when I found my mind wandering while the narrator droned on during the dryer portions of the book.  When this book was published, it caused quite a stir as the book dives into some of London's dirty secrets. Sometimes when you read a classic you finish the book wondering why or how that particular book is a classic.  This story is interesting and engaging enough that that is not the case.

The Pickwick Papers

Title: The Pickwick Papers

Author: Charles Dickens

Pages: 24 discs (Read 10 1/2)

Genre: Classic

Grade: D

Synopsis:  Mr. Samuel Pickwick is a retired businessman and bachelor that is ready to do a little traveling and have some adventures.  He forms the Pickwick Club and he and is fellow Pickwickians form a corresponding society to report back about their journeys and travels. 

My Review: Well,  this may not be fair because I actually didn't finish the book.  I don't remember the last time that I didn't finish a book, but this one was so long, it had been checked out from library for more than 2 months and I just didn't have it in me to keep trudging.  Generally, this book is well-liked, but I found it quite dry (with a little bit of humor here and there) and I had a hard time following along.  A few times I reviewed summaries of the chapters to get a better idea of the plot, but I was never sucked in to the stories.  If I make it through my current 'to-read' list, and once I've read a few of Dickens' other works then I'm willing to give this one another shot.