Book Review: A Tale of Two Cities

This is the second book by Dickens I have read.  It is a very thoughtful and moving story, but like many of Dickens books, it is not a quick or easy read.  I like to read books in 1 or 2 days.  I started this book once about 5 years ago, and never got past chapter 6 (The Shoemaker).  This time I read it leisurely over a month.  I admit that the first half of the book was still very slow.  I didn't understand the point of all these random characters, and why we needed so much detail about each.  I got bored with years of dinner parties and vague conversations.

Then the French Revolution starts, and all the seemingly random threads of plot begin to weave together.  We read gruesome and harrowing details of the guillotine and the unpredictable people's court that sends tens if not hundreds to their death every day.
 

This book has many great themes; the best being reflected in this line: “The vigorous tenacity of love is always so much stronger than hate.” There are stories of redemption, hate, forgiveness, sacrifice, undying love, and fierce loyalty.  The last half of the book is a roller-coaster ride of emotion changing quickly from elation to defeat and then hope rising again. 

Last impressions: Life's purpose is to love and serve others...(and try to avoid women who knit)

Favorite Quotes:

(Opening paragraph) - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."

"Then tell the Wind and Fire where to stop, but don't tell me."

“The vigorous tenacity of love is always so much stronger than hate.”

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Most disturbing quote: (a man singing as he saws wood) 

"My work is my business. See my saw! I call it my Little Guillotine. La, la, la; La, la, la! And off his head comes!...I call myself the Samson of the firewood guillotine. See here again! Loo, loo, loo; Loo, loo, loo! And off her head comes! Now, a child. Tickle, tickle; Pickle, pickle! And off its head comes. All the family!"

Book Review: A Christmas Carol – by Charles Dickens

I have tried to read a book by Charles Dickens many times now.  I’ve never been able to get far enough into one of his novels to get hooked.  I figured – “This is ridiculous.  I can read 1400 pages of Victor Hugo, but I can’t read 300 pages of Dickens?”

So, even though it is May, and nowhere near Christmas time, I decided to Read A Christmas Carol.

The book is wonderful.  I won’t detail the story; I’m sure most of you know it very VERY well.  Up until now I only knew the Muppet’s version (which is surprisingly true to the book)

Two passages stuck out to me.

“The air filled with phantoms…every one of them wore chains like Marley’s ghost…The misery with them all was clear, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.” – p. 28-29 

This is how I envision Hell.  Imagine finally understanding, finally knowing what people need.  You can see their anguish and you want to help them…but you can’t.  You have no physical body.  You can do nothing.  You can’t lend a helping hand, or dry a tear, or give them money, food, or shelter.  You can’t console them or care for them; you can’t do anything but sit and watch the suffering.  All you can do is sit and bemoan the fact that you had the chance to help when you were alive, and didn’t.  Now it’s too late.

“Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?  It may be that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child.” – p. 74

I see the poor and the homeless every day.  I know that many of them are drunks, druggies, and thieves.  I sit listening to their stories all day and then I go home at night to my house, and my family, with my paycheck in hand.  I’m sure I’ve thought many times like Scrooge, that I am better than them.  I am a “productive member of society” I think to myself.  Luckily, for myself, and everyone else – I am not the one who decides who lives or dies.  This book reminds me that in heaven’s view, I may be more worthless and less fit to live than millions like them.

This book brings humility and perspective to a wanton and self-serving world.  I might need to read it every Christmas...and every June; just to be sure I haven’t lost my way.