*NO SPOILERS*
The formal read-along of Bleak House has ended, but I'm still plugging away at a leisurely pace. Approaching page 750 or disk 20 (of 989 or 26), I'm starting to feel like this book could go on indefinitely - much like the Jarndyce & Jarndyce lawsuit at the heart of the story. The characters, their stories, and Dickens flowery prose and descriptions are all enjoyable, but it's time to wrap this up and move on.
The first major mystery was revealed a couple hundred pages ago, but wasn't really a surprise. I'd suspected as much all along . A more recent development, however, has taken me quite by surprise and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
Overall, I think Bleak House would be much more enjoyable if I put away other books and gave it my undivided attention. I'll check in again at the end...
I should have joined in as I never read this book. Thanks for the regular updates JoAnn.
ReplyDeleteI probably would have joined this read-along too if I wasn't already tied up. I've seen Oliver twice onstage but have never actually read Dickens. The title of this particular book has always attracted me.
ReplyDeleteHave fun and I hope you're still enjoying the book at the end!
ReplyDeleteDiane - This is a very good book, just sooooo long!
ReplyDeleteE.L. Fay - I think I'd start with something shorter... maybe Great Expectations.
Amanda - Still enjoying, but ready to finish up :-)
I am so sorry it is taking so long for you, but gald that you haven't given up on it.
ReplyDeleteVivienne - Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed Wuthering Heights more!
ReplyDeleteOhhh...sounds like Dickens needed a good editor!!! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard with these big huge books to be reading so many other things at one time. It was a struggle I had with Les Miserables and Brothers Karamazov this year. But...it's also tough to put the other books aside to focus. Hope you find it worthwhile in the end! One day I'd love to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI think you're brave to continue plugging along! I suspect I would've gotten bored before the halfway mark and given up. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteStaci - Dickens may be the most 'wordy' author I've ever read!
ReplyDeleteTrish - Seems like I haven't read a book under 400 pages in a long time, but Bleak House is the longest of the year. I may have to go back to one book at a time next year.
Erin - It's really a good book, but definitely requires a little patience ;-)
You're doing really well! I haven't even picked up the damn book yet!
ReplyDeleteStephanie - LOL! Maybe you should wait for the next readalong ;-)
ReplyDeleteI admire your tenacity, still plugging away! I hope you find it worth the effort when you complete this tome. I loved it, and I even loved the film which you can find from WTTW perhaps.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - Now I can't put Bleak House down! Only 150 pages to go...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're getting through Bleak House. I'm sorry that I missed a read-along on the blogs. I might have tried it, although I read the similarly bulky The Three Musketeers a few months ago, and couldn't have done them both. The big books are a challenge, particularly to those of us who have too much on our reading plates. I've read the first half of Bleak House twice, and not finished it. The first time, I thought it was ok. The second time I absolutely loved it. But both times the books girth stumped me. I need to try it again sometime, maybe on holidays when I have a chunk of time to devote to it. I really want to finish it one of these days. Then I can move on and start reading another Dickens.
ReplyDeleteLouise - What is it about these big, long books that causes us to shy away? I seem to avoid them even more since I've started blogging, yet I love losing myself in a sprawling novel. There are 100 pages to go in Bleak House, and I just can't put it down. Great Expectations is still my favorite Dickens, but I'm really enjoying this.
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