December 2016: Charles Dickens

We'll be finishing out the year with Mr. Charles Dickens as our final author for 2016. What does everyone plan to read this month??

Very excited for this month as I love Dickens. I've read several of his books (some multiple times) in the past -- A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, A Christmas Carol, Hard Times for These Times, and Oliver Twist.

My face-to-face book group is planning to read A Christmas Carol and Les Standiford's The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits for December.

I've only read Oliver Twist so far but have several more on my shelves. I'm currently reading Pickwick Papers, which has its amusing moments but I'm not sure what I think, it's not grabbing me. I may read Christmas Carol during the actual month, since it's short. We'll see where I'm at with my reading at that point, haha.

For what it's worth, Mr. Dickens has TEN books on the 1,001 Books to Read Before You Die list --

Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol
David Copperfield
Bleak House
Hard Times
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Our Mutual Friend
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Martin Chuzzlewit

Happy reading!

Oh, I finished Pickwick. It was pretty funny, and I adore Sam! But the first 200 or so pages were a bit of a drag, he hadn't caught his stride yet. So, if you can trudge past them (it wasn't bad it just wasn't great), I recommend reading it. :P

As I reread Dickens' A Christmas Carol annually during the month of December, I will cling to family tradition and do the same this year. If I have time, I may perchance also read Three Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens. They sound both good & ghoulish.

I will try to read one of the 3 Dickens' novels I haven't read yet: Barnaby Rudge, Dombey and Son or The Mystery of Edwin Drood. I'm leaning toward the first one.

Oh I just bought Barnaby Rudge! :P

Just joined this rodeo late, so probably will read A Christmas Carol this year. Can you believe I'm 60+ years old, have read 7 Dickens', but never a Christmas Carol?!!!

>9 Tess_W:
Dearest Tess:

glitter-graphics.com

>9 Tess_W: You're in for a treat then! I love the original, even if you're used to the story from the myriad variations.

>9 Tess_W: Also, welcome! Glad to have you on board with the group and look forward to hearing your opinions :)

Now that we're well into December and everyone is probably busy/stressing with their all holiday and end-of-the-year activities, I figured it's a good time to check in. :) How's everyone doing with their Dickens read??