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What are readers saying about The Old Curiosity Shop: a Tale (Penguin Classics)?
| Reviews of The Old Curiosity Shop: a Tale (Penguin Classics) - Page 1 of 2 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-11-27 05:11:42.
(Language: English)
  
Being a bit behind in my reading of the classics, I picked up this book not knowing that it was so sad a story. I greatly enjoyed the story telling and the beauty of Dickens' writing and plowed through the book in just a few days. Now finished with it, I don't know that I would recommend it, but I did enjoy it very much. The tragic death of Nell was nothing less than heartbreaking, but for the rest, justice played itself out. I have to say that I greatly appreciate the fact that Dickens really gives a thorough ending to a story. I have always hated it when a novel just leaves off with no real ending. The only purpose for such a thing is to make room for a sequel and that just bothers me.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-15 12:52:22.
(Language: English)
I just cant control flow of my tears!....No such book had such an effect on me!
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-14 04:42:04.
(Language: English)
As with all Dickens, it contains humor, irony, tragedy...what more is there?
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-12 02:44:47.
(Language: English)
Different from Great Expectations and the like, but still bears the mark of a work of Dickens. At times a little convoluted, but still an interesting read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-30 09:57:24.
(Language: English)
Men and women in Victorian England were about as fanatical about the latest installment of a Dicken's story as people are now about the next episode of 'Lost' or 'Who Shot J.R?' Dickens is simply one of the most wonderful writers of fiction ever. Turning over the final page of one of his books always seems to elicit a sigh of satisfaction that all is right in the world. The Old Curiosity Shop benefits from one of the most vividly painted and abhorent villains in all of literature, namely Quilp who smokes his filthy pipe and downs copious amounts of boiling-hot gin, all the time grinning from ear to ear. And, of course, there's Little Nell - so good and kind.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-10 11:39:10.
(Language: English)
So far so good
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-19 12:22:19.
(Language: English)
Well. This was a classic Dickensian tale of a saintly orphan set against the backdrop of 19th century industrial London. Lengthy read, but Dickens' portrayal of the grotesque, particularly the dwarf Quilp, is riveting. Very reminiscent of Blake's social commentary, could be titled "Little Nell's Songs of Innocence and Experience." Got to love the Marchioness, and Dickens' wonderful penchant for monikers.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-05 10:56:53.
(Language: English)
If you can get through the old English, this is a must-read. Very beautiful writing.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-06 01:37:12.
(Language: English)
Yes, it's episodic, yes it's dated. But Dickens' ability to set a scene is so masterful, that it's worth it!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-03 08:37:04.
(Language: English)
this is my favourite dickens - I loved it when I was a teenager and loved it when I re-read it as an adult.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-30 06:30:21.
(Language: English)
I enjoyed reading this, one of Dickens' earlier novels. The descriptions of Nell and her grandfather's travels through central England (including Coventry and Birmingham) and the travelling people they met are an enthralling insight on aspects of Victorian society. The character of little Nell is endearing but to be honest I found the death scene somewhat contrived. For me, by far the most interesting character is Daniel Quilp. His perverse ways were very well depicted and of all the charactrs in the book I could really hear his voice. I was very disappointed in his end and would rather have seen him answer for his misdeeds more directly. Quilp is closely followed by Dick Swiveller and 'the Marchioness', both interesting multi-dimensional characters. Swiveller's salvation by, and subsequent devotion to the Marchiness is very well done. It is an intersting story line and many good characters. Overall, though, I did not get a feeling for what Dickens was trying to say with this novel.
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Alisia posted a review at 2011-08-31 09:46:38.
(Language: English)
Playful and charming.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-09-26 10:52:55.
(Language: English)
I am normally a huge Dickens fan, but this isn't his best work. The book is overly sentimental... the main character - a little girl named Nell - is romanticized nearly to the point of deification which makes her character seem flat and unrealistic. In contrast, the villain is SO completely despicable and obvious that he seems unrealistic as well. The plot simply isn't that interesting, and the ending is morose and melancholic. I found a few little gems of good quotes in this book, but overall, I wasn't crazy about it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-29 12:48:23.
(Language: English)
This is the most melodramatic heartbreaking tale ever!
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-17 08:06:44.
(Language: English)
This book was very difficult for me to get into. But of course, Dickens is brilliant with his interesting characters. That was enough to keep me going.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-03 01:06:03.
(Language: English)
It is long. I read it when too busy to read it quickly so in the end the length got me down. But as ever with Dickens great characters, a meandering plot, great social commentary. Quilp is an extraordinary character, but so much more interesting than Nell! I really didn't go for the whole perfection thing. Kit and Richard were much more interesting and I was obviously pleased all was well for them.
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Phil posted a review at 2009-05-20 03:10:15.
(Language: English)
One or two people have read this before me I believe... It's a bit of a slog (550 pages with a small fint size) but Dickens really is as good as they say. He talks to you, that is, he clearly narrates as if on stage (as he often did) and this is very much part of his style. His use of language is extraordinary. I think the most similar modern writer (purely in terms of authorial voice) would be Alan Bennett - although the two remain very different of course. Reading classic novels is something one always expects to get round to eventually. There are so many, you'd better start now! I guess that's why we read them occasionally in the book club.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-10 12:13:24.
(Language: English)
If you like Dickens you will like this one. Not as good as Oliver Twist or David Copperfield, but holds to a similar formula. I enjoyed it.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-13 02:30:44.
(Language: English)
good book takes a long time to read because it is written in older english
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-14 05:51:31.
(Language: English)
There are some wonderful characters in this novel, Daniel Quilp, Sampson and Sally Brass, Richard Swiveller and Mrs Jarley. As for Little Nell, well, she was too good to live, so she didn't. I can certainly see where Oscar Wilde was coming from in his "heart of stone" quotation, but it wasn't THAT funny, (though I did giggle a little.)
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-01 01:08:53.
(Language: English)
A suprisingly dull book by Charles Dickens
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-27 06:17:35.
(Language: English)
Seems to be intresting quite long thouhg
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-01 06:47:20.
(Language: English)
Beautiful, as usual. Every page a joy to read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-24 08:08:04.
(Language: English)
Reading a Dickens is somewhat similar to reading a detective novel in a sense that you know certain things: you know certain types of characters will emerge, you know the evil will be punished in the end, you know some episodes are just passing sketches and some others contribute to the grand plot, etc. Yes, his story-telling is still exciting and I just had to finish the book to get on with the rest of my life. But once you read one of his great ones, the rest kind of feels the same. This one certainly did not grip me as hard as David Copperfield.
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Charmaine posted a review at 2011-01-24 04:52:03.
(Language: English)
I enjoyed this book. It is a touching story about a little girl, Nellie Trent, and her grandfather, and their poverty and travails as well as difficult travels, trying to escape the evil Daniel Quilp. Of course there is a myriad of other interesting Dickensonian characters. Although a tad bit long, every chapter is interesting and amazing how Dickens links everyone and ties it all up so neatly. Has there ever been a villain as horrid as Daniel Quilp? ew. My favorite part was when Swiveller and "the Marchioness" end up together and he inherits his aunt's money. *sniffles* I loved that part. C.D. also throws in a good deal of humor. Yep, I liked this book and I think I'll chuck it at someone.
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| Reviews of The Old Curiosity Shop: a Tale (Penguin Classics) - Page 1 of 2 |
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