tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post6895330107685779036..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles DickensKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-88730383024826530812012-03-21T18:03:51.072-04:002012-03-21T18:03:51.072-04:00I would suggest Great Expectations or Oliver Twist...I would suggest Great Expectations or Oliver Twist, which should be somewhat familiar from screen adaptations and are a good read in themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-29238593372055204542012-03-09T08:59:52.549-05:002012-03-09T08:59:52.549-05:00Which Dickens would you begin with if you had neve...Which Dickens would you begin with if you had never read him before ?<br />By the way, I think you're great to read all the Rougon Macquart ! Have a nice reading.Melainebooksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-69849318098997334202012-03-07T21:38:35.223-05:002012-03-07T21:38:35.223-05:00I can't remember if Martin Chuzzlewit is on my...I can't remember if Martin Chuzzlewit is on my list for this year or not. I've just started The Pickwick Papers though. I'm excited to read some of his early writing.Kristen M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02335598194501733541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-66242271128651879602012-03-07T19:19:24.644-05:002012-03-07T19:19:24.644-05:00I just stumbled upon your blog and am already a fa...I just stumbled upon your blog and am already a fan. We love many of the same authors.<br /><br />I'm currently on a Dickens kick, so I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I'd not given much thought to how he titles his books before. Fascinating!Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02957349442523993974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-67866230797371312372012-03-06T06:53:45.143-05:002012-03-06T06:53:45.143-05:00I'm trying to read more Dickens this year. Cur...I'm trying to read more Dickens this year. Currently into Bleak House, and enjoying it. This one sounds rather good as well.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-45343796139393246912012-03-05T22:42:59.462-05:002012-03-05T22:42:59.462-05:00If you're a Victorian fan, you should give him...If you're a Victorian fan, you should give him a try! He's rather wordy but his satire is great and sometimes he's downright hilarious.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-41381606553392413492012-03-05T22:41:55.185-05:002012-03-05T22:41:55.185-05:00I read Great Expectations in college but then I di...I read Great Expectations in college but then I didn't pick up Dickens again for almost 20 years. . . I did go on a bit of a binge a few years ago and read about four works in a year, but now I'm spreading it out. I find it helps to have seen all the great BBC productions. Audio books in the car make the books go faster too.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-60395996046474098392012-03-05T22:40:27.911-05:002012-03-05T22:40:27.911-05:00Chuck Dickens -- ha! I've never thought of hi...Chuck Dickens -- ha! I've never thought of him that way. And good for you about the ToTC grade! I don't think I ever got an A+ on a lit paper, especially on sympolism -- you have to pretty much hit me over the head with it for me to get it. I usually look it up after I'm done reading on Sparknotes. <br /><br />I do have a few papers from college and I'm too embarrassed to read them.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-21606652970308534392012-03-05T15:55:40.275-05:002012-03-05T15:55:40.275-05:00Kudos on finishing this one -- shamefully, despite...Kudos on finishing this one -- shamefully, despite liking Victorian lit, I've not read any Dickens. I really ought to!Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511122937603890352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-35671625541897975732012-03-05T12:43:54.864-05:002012-03-05T12:43:54.864-05:00I have never heard of this one but I admire you fo...I have never heard of this one but I admire you for the huge amount of his works you have gotten through. I have only read GReat Expectations but I loved it but cant imagine reading as many as you have.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08861424110678889637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-25901134086483140592012-03-05T07:59:46.256-05:002012-03-05T07:59:46.256-05:00I so admire you for your dedication to Chuck Dicke...I so admire you for your dedication to Chuck Dickens. I am proud to say that I grew to love A Tale of Two Cities but it was probably because I was given an A+ on a symbolism paper in HS. Wish I still had that paper - it would be so interesting to read NOW.Carehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478474870247729611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-41487199936095769742012-03-04T23:00:05.728-05:002012-03-04T23:00:05.728-05:00I started Can You Forgive Her? more than two year...I started Can You Forgive Her? more than two years ago and never finished it. I'll give it another shot after I finish the Barchester series.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-49359349739448812672012-03-04T15:44:25.919-05:002012-03-04T15:44:25.919-05:00At the time people jokingly renamed Can You Forgiv...At the time people jokingly renamed Can You Forgive Her? - Can You Stand Her? Having read the book I sort of agree with them. It's an enjoyable read though.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138715309807238198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-63019632089334647452012-03-04T11:42:10.905-05:002012-03-04T11:42:10.905-05:00I hadn't heard about "Nobody's Fault....I hadn't heard about "Nobody's Fault." I agree, much better title than "Little Dorrit." I guess he changed it as he went along and by then it was too late to change the title. His later titles are generally better, and I think this is the point in his career where he started planning the novels out better before he started publishing them.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-64949007704826143952012-03-03T22:29:27.711-05:002012-03-03T22:29:27.711-05:00This one's on my summer reading list, along wi...This one's on my summer reading list, along with The Pipwick Papers and Oliver Twist. I completely know what you mean about the title. I remember thinking it a little strange that Little Dorrit was titled after a character which isn't necessarily as central to the novel as its title would suggest. I prefer Dickens’s original title, which was “Nobody’s Fault." (I have heard from a few others that Martin Chuzzlewit is far less central to “Martin Chuzzlewit,” than Amy Dorrit is to “Little Dorrit,” though.<br /><br />If my memory serves me correctly, this titling issue also occurs in Tolstoy. Levin is just as central a character as Anna, but the novel takes its title from the latter. Hm. Quite interesting.<br /><br />Great post!Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056019091928682664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-5894452227591609122012-03-03T20:12:13.244-05:002012-03-03T20:12:13.244-05:00Jane, I think you're right -- the side charact...Jane, I think you're right -- the side characters are much more interesting and dimensional than either Martin the elder or younger. I think the same thing happened with The Pickwick Papers. I haven't read it yet, but Sam Weller became really popular so Dickens changed the focus of the story.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-27744209768827940892012-03-03T19:01:00.982-05:002012-03-03T19:01:00.982-05:00I also like the idea that this is a transitional t...I also like the idea that this is a transitional title. I wonder if Dickens intended the novel to be more about the Chuzzlewits but then got enamoured with other characters as the writing progressed.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-32025065992924896002012-03-03T18:59:02.919-05:002012-03-03T18:59:02.919-05:00I do want to read Popenjoy! If nothing else, just...I do want to read Popenjoy! If nothing else, just because of the title.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-40444211481678325672012-03-03T18:58:06.644-05:002012-03-03T18:58:06.644-05:00There is something about it in The Eyre Affair! A...There is something about it in The Eyre Affair! A character is kidnapped and murdered, and it changes the novel forever. However, I'm pretty sure Jasper Fforde made up that character. It's supposed to be from a first draft of the manuscript -- which is kind of funny, because Dickens never had a complete first manuscript. He published it as he went along, in monthly installments.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-46143644673021305172012-03-03T17:30:58.164-05:002012-03-03T17:30:58.164-05:00I think Martin Chuzzlewit may have been the last D...I think <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i> may have been the last Dickens novel I read, or tried to read - as I remember, I gave up on it. The answer to <i>Is He Popenjoy?</i> is one of my favorites :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782561487396697870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-6024474666950550552012-03-03T17:29:30.833-05:002012-03-03T17:29:30.833-05:00Isn't this the book that a character was stole...Isn't this the book that a character was stolen from in The Eyre Affair?Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-27177890532511190712012-03-03T16:22:10.240-05:002012-03-03T16:22:10.240-05:00This is one of the least popular (next to last, ju...This is one of the least popular (next to last, just slightly higher than Barnaby Rudge), it was kind of a flop in America because of the anti-American satire -- basically, young Martin goes to the US and everyone spits tobacco and is rude, then he has some very harrowing experiences. But the end result was Dickens needed some quick cash so he wrote A Christmas Carol, which made him more popular than before. So all's well that ends well, I guess.<br /><br />I do hope to read all of Dickens someday, but it's time for a little break. On to Zola and Trollope!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-29192566739431342342012-03-03T16:19:31.498-05:002012-03-03T16:19:31.498-05:00Thanks! I have a box set of the Dickens adaptatio...Thanks! I have a box set of the Dickens adaptations and this is one of them. I'm going to take a little break from Dickens but I do want to watch this. I'm trying to wait until I've read the books before I watch the movies.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-16398619542208773332012-03-03T14:23:56.191-05:002012-03-03T14:23:56.191-05:00I think you're right about the titles - Martin...I think you're right about the titles - Martin Chuzzlewit just sounds so ...unappealing. It sounds like a boring book about an old guy! <br />I'm so impressed that you've read almost all of Dickens now. That is quite an accomplishment, in my eyes!Anbolynhttp://gudrunstights.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-12352950534923188332012-03-03T13:11:24.485-05:002012-03-03T13:11:24.485-05:00Congratulations! I loved the BBC adaptation of thi...Congratulations! I loved the BBC adaptation of this one, but the book didn't call me afterwards in the way others have. I think you might be right to call it a transitional novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com