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A Tale of Two Cities - Renewed Appreciation of a Book I Have a Deep Love/Hate Relationship With
A Tale of Two Cities by Charlie’s Dickens is a book that came early into my life, in the form of a Penguin Abridged version for “junior readers”. The book came in at about 400 pages , with illustrations and I must have been about age 12.
The long sentences seemed to go on forever, ending without a point . Events happened within a paragraph or a mere mention, that I often found myself going back and rereading the same page over and over to ensure that, indeed, no details were missed . The details were baroque and took over like vines. I did not realize that the details carry the story .
And yet, the characters of Madam and Monsieur DeFarge and the struggles and immense cruelty that the French poor faced held my attention . That , enough, I could grasp. It was Madam DeFarge’s knitting which probably spurred what eventually became my fusion of fiber art and literature in my studies at university .
In the English part of the novel , the sickly sweetness between Lucie Manette and her father. … Lucie Manette in general made me want to chuck the book more then the details . Sydney Carton is a welcome , brooding melancholic alchoholic rain cloud. What was even more annoying was how every man simps for Lucie.
I did not finish the book at 12.
It reappeared in my AP Literature class and I used that old, abridged copy and ran into the same frustrations .
Now I am 32 and took an immense interest in the French Revolution, leading a revisit to this book. I appreciate it now, details included. I still prefer the DeFarges. Lucie makes me want to throw her across the room. It is annoying how perfect she is, and yes, how every one simps for her. Darnay is the chad and Carton is the other one .
Lucie is a foil to Madame Defarge, yet Madame DeFarge is far more interesting .
I have been reading this several chapters at a time per day, alternating between the French and English parts. It helps knowing this was published serially, once a month. Every day, I am excited to read what happens next.
Feel free to discuss anything AToTC here
A Tale of Two Cities by Charlie’s Dickens is a book that came early into my life, in the form of a Penguin Abridged version for “junior readers”. The book came in at about 400 pages , with illustrations and I must have been about age 12.
The long sentences seemed to go on forever, ending without a point . Events happened within a paragraph or a mere mention, that I often found myself going back and rereading the same page over and over to ensure that, indeed, no details were missed . The details were baroque and took over like vines. I did not realize that the details carry the story .
And yet, the characters of Madam and Monsieur DeFarge and the struggles and immense cruelty that the French poor faced held my attention . That , enough, I could grasp. It was Madam DeFarge’s knitting which probably spurred what eventually became my fusion of fiber art and literature in my studies at university .
In the English part of the novel , the sickly sweetness between Lucie Manette and her father. … Lucie Manette in general made me want to chuck the book more then the details . Sydney Carton is a welcome , brooding melancholic alchoholic rain cloud. What was even more annoying was how every man simps for Lucie.
I did not finish the book at 12.
It reappeared in my AP Literature class and I used that old, abridged copy and ran into the same frustrations .
Now I am 32 and took an immense interest in the French Revolution, leading a revisit to this book. I appreciate it now, details included. I still prefer the DeFarges. Lucie makes me want to throw her across the room. It is annoying how perfect she is, and yes, how every one simps for her. Darnay is the chad and Carton is the other one .
Lucie is a foil to Madame Defarge, yet Madame DeFarge is far more interesting .
I have been reading this several chapters at a time per day, alternating between the French and English parts. It helps knowing this was published serially, once a month. Every day, I am excited to read what happens next.
Feel free to discuss anything AToTC here
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