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Old 07-24-2012, 03:11 AM   #1
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Dickens: What To Read First?
It occurred to me the other day that I've never read a Dickens novel, and while I have a good chunk of the summer left, I figured I should get around to checking him out. Often times, I've had bad introductions to great authors (first Roth I read was Letting Go, first Steinbeck was The Pearl) which have turned me off. So, with that in mind, I figured I should ask AW where you guys recommend I start with Dickens?
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Old 07-24-2012, 03:31 AM   #2
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Wow, this is a tough one. I love Dickens. I love A Christmas Carol, but the first Dickens I read when I was young was Great Expectations, and I was hooked. A Tale of Two Cities is incredible as well. But I think I'd suggest Great Expectations, when forced to pick the first novel to read.
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Old 07-24-2012, 03:36 AM   #3
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I second the vote for Great Expectations. I have read that, Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. I love them all, but yes, for a first Great Expectations. Enjoy! Let us know what you think of it.
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Old 07-24-2012, 03:37 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmi0616 View Post
It occurred to me the other day that I've never read a Dickens novel, and while I have a good chunk of the summer left, I figured I should get around to checking him out. Often times, I've had bad introductions to great authors (first Roth I read was Letting Go, first Steinbeck was The Pearl) which have turned me off. So, with that in mind, I figured I should ask AW where you guys recommend I start with Dickens?
My vote is for BLEAK HOUSE, followed by GREAT EXPECTATIONS. HARD TIMES is his shortest novel and also worth a read.
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Old 07-24-2012, 03:49 AM   #5
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A Tale of Two Cities gets my vote...
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Old 07-24-2012, 04:10 AM   #6
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Great Expectations is my favorite followed by A Tale of Two Cities. And you can't go wrong with A Christmas Carol if you're looking for something short.
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Old 07-24-2012, 05:11 AM   #7
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If you’d prefer a lighter side of Dickens you can try The Pickwick Papers.
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Old 07-24-2012, 06:15 AM   #8
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I would:

1. Read the Norton Critical edition text of whatever you chose.
2. I'd actually start with David Copperfield, or Great Expectations, followed by Bleak House.
3. If you're not a fan of Giant Huge books, try Tale of Two Cities.
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Old 07-24-2012, 10:22 AM   #9
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I add my vote for Great Expectations.

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Old 07-24-2012, 10:26 AM   #10
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Another vote for Great Expectations, with its eerie marshes and mouldering wedding cake

(Can't wait for the new Mike Newell film. Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch and Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham )
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Old 07-24-2012, 10:38 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Medievalist View Post
I would:
3. If you're not a fan of Giant Huge books, try Tale of Two Cities.
GE is not one of his huge three-deckers. It's not significantly longer than Two Cities, although the latter would be a good choice for a first Dickens read, too.

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Old 07-24-2012, 10:53 AM   #12
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I just finished Bleak House which was the first Dickens I've ever read and I'm not sure I would recommend it to be someone else's first.
He's wonderful and by the end of the book I was fully engrossed but it took me a while to get there.

I had no idea what was going on for the first quarter of the book, since it had a fair bit of legal jargon, and stopping to look it up kept interrupting the story for me.
His style of writing (long, convoluted sentences, huge cast of characters) also confused me until I got used to it.

I haven't read any of his other works yet, but I feel like if I read something like Oliver Twist, where I know the basic story already, it would have been a gentler introduction to his style, since I would at least have a vague idea of what was going on from the beginning.

I might just be dense, of course, YMMV, but my suggestion is to try one of his very well known books first.

I'm probably going to read Bleak House again, because I think the whole thing will make more sense the second time around. I really did love it, but I almost gave up before I got to that point.
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Old 08-03-2012, 03:16 AM   #13
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I vote for Great Expectations. A Tale of Two Cities was required reading in my high school English class. So it will always be tainted. A Christmas Carol is seasonal. I'm not familiar enough with his other efforts.
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Old 08-07-2012, 06:52 AM   #14
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Oliver Twist. If you're not too offended by Fagin, it's a great little adventure story, very emotional and suspenseful.

David Copperfield for the same reason, and no Fagin.
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Old 08-07-2012, 07:15 AM   #15
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My favorite Dickens is David Copperfield, but I think Great Expectations or A Tale of Two Cities are probably the best choices to get started with.
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Old 08-07-2012, 07:35 AM   #16
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Old 12-04-2012, 09:52 PM   #17
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I like all of the above mentioned (but haven't read Bleak House) but David Copperfield gets my vote as a good intro.
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Old 12-05-2012, 02:44 PM   #18
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I would also recommend Great Expectations, it just radiates so much of Dickens human warmth. Although it is a bit bleak at times it will make you feel warm around the heart.
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