tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post975938968114932516..comments2024-03-28T09:00:59.909+11:00Comments on The Vince Review: 'Bleak House' by Charles DickensPaula Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-59952830297865689512023-09-24T09:25:37.708+10:002023-09-24T09:25:37.708+10:00Wow, how amazing to live where all those broken he...Wow, how amazing to live where all those broken hearted victims of court cases existed. I'm sure the atmosphere must be as fascinating as you say. I'd imagine every young boy might be Jo the street sweeper. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-64845445252793853402023-09-24T05:21:28.639+10:002023-09-24T05:21:28.639+10:00I live, work and study near Chancery Lane and my n...I live, work and study near Chancery Lane and my neighbourhood is imbued with Bleak House. It’s always inspiring to re-read this novel and I have stood in the new Great Hall at Lincoln’s Inn and expected to the shade of Dickens around every corner.Musclefanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016552415689254988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-42589375570415731992021-01-27T08:08:49.014+11:002021-01-27T08:08:49.014+11:00Hi Trish, yeah, classic Dickens description that j...Hi Trish, yeah, classic Dickens description that just gets straight to the point 😆 Intriguing thought about him being an inspiration for Philip Pullman's far more modern material. Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-20653962945939088632021-01-27T01:56:55.442+11:002021-01-27T01:56:55.442+11:00Love this novel. Mr Bucket calls his fat forefinge...Love this novel. Mr Bucket calls his fat forefinger his familiar demon. He sees Mrs Snagsby's jealousy being like a 'dense atmosphere of dust'. I'd love to think that Dickens's amazing dialogue sewed a seed of inspiration for Philip Pullman and His Dark Materials.Trish Shukernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-6425212725606148882020-10-15T14:42:48.435+11:002020-10-15T14:42:48.435+11:00Hi Emily, you've inspired me to take on A Tale...Hi Emily, you've inspired me to take on A Tale of Two Cities very soon. I haven't read another Dickens since Bleak House, but that will be my next. Always challenging other Dickens tales to live up to Great Expectations and so far only Our Mutual Friend has come close ☺️ Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-1251820445997883072020-10-15T14:40:16.466+11:002020-10-15T14:40:16.466+11:00Whoa, I'm with you there! I was certain she wa...Whoa, I'm with you there! I was certain she was going to marry him, and so relieved when that didn't turn out to be the case. Just another example of weird, Victorian father/daughter figure relationships which can never make it to romance for me 😊Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-64695361104475269732020-10-15T13:32:27.999+11:002020-10-15T13:32:27.999+11:00I love, love, love A Tale of Two Cities - the them...I love, love, love A Tale of Two Cities - the themes of resurrection + the value of life are woven through in a beautiful way, and I honestly think it's Dicken's best work.Emily J M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07049206235290512284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-38905748800803640332020-10-15T13:31:01.307+11:002020-10-15T13:31:01.307+11:00I read Bleak House this year as well! Loved Dicken...I read Bleak House this year as well! Loved Dicken's prose; cried over Jo; but found Mr Jarndyce's relationship with Esther a bit odd/deceptive/patronising?Emily J M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07049206235290512284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-7300580462858838372020-05-04T15:28:57.130+10:002020-05-04T15:28:57.130+10:00That's so great to hear! Thank you, that's...That's so great to hear! Thank you, that's made my day :) I put a fair bit of work into the reviews, to balance pros and cons and describe my impressions. To think they're drawn on for book selection help is fantastic!<br /><br />And I'll definitely review A Tale of Two Cities in due time. I'm intrigued now, by what you say. I know nothing, except that it's a classic doppelganger yarn :) Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-50933997620506791102020-05-04T12:00:23.504+10:002020-05-04T12:00:23.504+10:00A TALE OF TWO CITIES is the all-time favorite for ...A TALE OF TWO CITIES is the all-time favorite for a friend of mine, but I was never able to warm up to it. I'm not sure why, because Dickens is one of my most beloved authors. I'll be interested to know what you think of it. Please review it for us after you read it!<br /><br />By the way, have you ever heard that JARNDYCE vs JARNDYCE was supposed to be based on a real court case in Dickens's lifetime that lasted 112 years? I read that little bit if trivia in the forward of one of my editions - can't remember which one, though.<br /><br />Anyway, I LOVE your blog! You are my go-to source for recommendations when I am choosing a new book to read! <3Rubicon1954https://www.blogger.com/profile/11323111447868872509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-83776873993097703712020-05-04T11:47:48.550+10:002020-05-04T11:47:48.550+10:00Yes, what a heartbreaking story her parents went t...Yes, what a heartbreaking story her parents went through 😢 I found the death scenes of each so very touching. And it could only happen quite that way in the Victorian era. <br /><br />What a huge range of society Dickens managed to include in his story, ranging from Sir Leicester Dedlock at the top to poor Jo at the bottom. <br /><br />As for his other books, I really love Our Mutual Friend too. I've never read A Tale of Two Cities yet though, which I think will be next.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-24463241777327434802020-05-04T11:35:41.291+10:002020-05-04T11:35:41.291+10:00I can never decide which Dickens novel is my favor...I can never decide which Dickens novel is my favorite, but BLEAK HOUSE is definitely in the top two (the other being OUR MUTUAL FRIEND). I've lost count of how many times I've read it, in addition to the film versions. This book really should be required reading for everyone entering law school.<br /><br />And the underlying mystery of WHO are Esther's biological parents is gripping and heartbreaking. The story is so good on so many levels that I see something new every time I read it. Rubicon1954https://www.blogger.com/profile/11323111447868872509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-47550639473285751452020-04-13T10:14:05.804+10:002020-04-13T10:14:05.804+10:00Hi Jane,
It's well worth a re-read just for th...Hi Jane,<br />It's well worth a re-read just for the interaction between Tulkinghorn and Lady D, who were both such pros at holding their cards close to their chests 👍 But as Our Mutual Friend was written later than Bleak House, it seems to me that Dickens had got a bit better by then in some ways. <br />Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-70835507122218712532020-04-13T08:00:01.435+10:002020-04-13T08:00:01.435+10:00There are many people who rank this as their favor...There are many people who rank this as their favorite Dickens novel, but I also prefer Our Mutual Friend to it. That said, I am due for a reread. I've read it twice, but the second time was long ago. I do remember liking Lady Dedlock so much, and Tulkinghorn is a fabulous character.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-55976101861291358132020-03-15T22:48:57.490+11:002020-03-15T22:48:57.490+11:00Hi Carol, I've heard great things about the BB...Hi Carol, I've heard great things about the BBC Bleak House. I'll have to look it up for sure. And yes, I love Our Mutual Friend and will re-read it again myself before too long :) Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-69614529212874146542020-03-14T20:19:30.441+11:002020-03-14T20:19:30.441+11:00I really enjoyed this book & have seen the BBC...I really enjoyed this book & have seen the BBC movie a few times & loved it. Our Mutual Friend isn’t as well known as it should be. It was excellent & I really should re-read it. Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-23686998449321220462020-02-20T10:52:43.037+11:002020-02-20T10:52:43.037+11:00Thanks Brian, it's so true, what you say. And ...Thanks Brian, it's so true, what you say. And the characters cover such a broad social spectrum, all the way from Sir Leicester Dedlock to Jo the street sweeper. It really is a masterpiece.Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533677737021490096.post-69670912028263524072020-02-20T09:09:32.213+11:002020-02-20T09:09:32.213+11:00This one and David Copperfield are my favorite Dic...This one and David Copperfield are my favorite Dickens. It really is a rich book filled with rich characters. As you point out, Jarndyce and Jarndyce says a lot about human nature. <br /><br />Super review of this one. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com