Excellent summary. I would point out one more pairing. The title speaks of two cities — London and Paris — and the novel provides an obvious contrast about life in the two cities. In one, juries decide; in the other, mobs do. Very reassuring for his English readers. I hear you on David Copperfield, but give Our Mutual Friend a try in 2027,
Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House spring to mind as favorites, but as soon as I say that, Little Dorrit and Pickwick need to be included. My boys have a love of the theatricality of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Christmas Carol is a seasonal favorite. Good plan, Joel! Safest to read them all.
OK. I just finished the Brothers K…loved it. Will go back to Tale of Two Cities….read as “required” years ago. Amazing what 76 years of life does to my perspective on the classics!!!
Great summary and an inspiring reading list for the rest of year. You have inspired me to read ATOTC again. During the Covid lockdown, I came across the 100 Books to Read Before you Die list. The author methodology in curating the list is interesting-
Excellent summary. I would point out one more pairing. The title speaks of two cities — London and Paris — and the novel provides an obvious contrast about life in the two cities. In one, juries decide; in the other, mobs do. Very reassuring for his English readers. I hear you on David Copperfield, but give Our Mutual Friend a try in 2027,
I think I will. I’m planning to read through all of Dickens.
Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House spring to mind as favorites, but as soon as I say that, Little Dorrit and Pickwick need to be included. My boys have a love of the theatricality of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Christmas Carol is a seasonal favorite. Good plan, Joel! Safest to read them all.
That’s what I figured :)
OK. I just finished the Brothers K…loved it. Will go back to Tale of Two Cities….read as “required” years ago. Amazing what 76 years of life does to my perspective on the classics!!!
I at age 72 agree with you!!
It has the best opening and closing lines of a novel I can think of.
Great summary and an inspiring reading list for the rest of year. You have inspired me to read ATOTC again. During the Covid lockdown, I came across the 100 Books to Read Before you Die list. The author methodology in curating the list is interesting-
https://medium.com/world-literature/creating-the-ultimate-list-100-books-to-read-before-you-die-45f1b722b2e5