The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

This is the discussion thread for the Summer 2024 Group Read A Tale of Two Cities in the category Gutenberg Classic. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

This was my first Charles Dickens novel and I really loved it! It's one of the best classics I've read and the story was so moving. I was hooked on it from the start. I loved all the characters (even the villains) and was obsessed with knowing how it would end. I'm definitely picking up more Charles Dickens novels after this.

Chandni, I'm glad that you liked it so much it has inspired you to read more of Dickens. As someone who has read and enjoyed several of his books, I was shocked that I didn't like this one more. Especially as it is regarded as one of his best. Admittedly, it begins and ends with some of the best lines ever written. I found the plot a bit too melodramatic (even for Dickens) and Lucie to be insufferable. I did really enjoy Madame Defarge and her villainous knitting.

Kai wrote: "Chandni, I'm glad that you liked it so much it has inspired you to read more of Dickens. As someone who has read and enjoyed several of his books, I was shocked that I didn't like this one more. Es..."

I'll admit, I was not intending to read this one, but you might just have swayed me with "villainous knitting"..!

I was thrilled to see A Tale of Two Cities as the Gutenberg Classic for this season. It's long been one of my favorites. It was my introduction to Dickens way back when I was in high school, and I will use any excuse to read it again.

It's a compelling story of resilience and sacrifice.

I have read all of the books in this years group read, including this one. I didnt really enjoy it on last reading but thought that time and maturity might make me like it more. Unfortunately for me it didn't. Dickens is not one of my favourite authors - I feel there are much better classical authors. For me Dickens has drowned huge parts of this book in unnecessary and unrelenting detail. I felt like I was clawing my way through that detail to get to the narrative within it.

It does have it's moments but Give me Dumas or Hugo any day of the week

Marie (UK) wrote: "I have read all of the books in this years group read, including this one. I didnt really enjoy it on last reading but thought that time and maturity might make me like it more. Unfortunately for m..."

If you don't like unnecessary detail, I wonder about your liking Victor Hugo. He has lots of digressions on all sorts of subjects. I agree that Dumas has much more straightforward action. As a former French Lit major, I like all of them.

I have read all of Dickens' novels in The Readers Review GR group and I agree that this isn't one of his strongest. He is much better when describing his own time and place. He does have a weakness for sweet, passive heroines, which gets annoying.

I had not read this book since my teenage years, a very long time ago. It turned out to be well worth the reread. There are valid criticisms to be sure, but there is arguably no more famous and meaningful opening sentence (one long sentence paragraph, in fact) in all of literature. The vengeful Mme Defarge is one of the most infamous characters ever. The knitting is truly villainous! One can never forget the ending, of course, so that was no surprise, but what did surprise me was the humor, which popped up now and again.

This was my first Dickens novel and I must say I'm a bit put off reading more of him. I started out reading a digital copy but I found reading it such a chore that I switched to an audio version instead, which really helped. The narrator was superb! Unfortunately, it didn't change much for me in terms of enjoyment. I think, similarly to Marie, I really struggled with the amount of description (can you tell he was paid by word or not?!?!) and I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the plot because of this. I really am a "plot reader" so I think this novel just wasn't one for me. One thing that did stand out to me though was the "liberté, égalité, fraternité... and death!" line - hilarious! Other humorous sections were less appealing; that whole chapter about everyone being called Jacques quickly became tiring. Still, I'm glad I'm able to cross this one off my list so I don't have to wonder anymore.