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Sara's Reviews > Bleak House
Bleak House
by
by
Sara's review
bookshelves: classics, detective, english-fiction, literary-fiction, murder, victorian
Jan 23, 2015
bookshelves: classics, detective, english-fiction, literary-fiction, murder, victorian
Read 2 times. Last read March 2, 2022 to May 23, 2022.
UPDATE: On my second reading of Bleak House, I found myself just as caught up in the story, just as involved with the characters, and just as amazed at Dickens’ ability to weave a world that one can only be sorrowful to leave behind in the end. I closed the book the second time with tears standing in my eyes and with a strong conviction that if you could only have The Bible, Shakespeare and Dickens in your library, you would have the whole of humanity at your fingertips.
**************************
It always feels a bit presumptive when I am trying to review the masters of the novel, a Dickens, Hardy, or Eliot. What can someone like myself contribute, that might matter, to the appreciation of a masterpiece like Bleak House. And yet, I want to effuse about it, I want to praise it, I want to say how completely effective it is and how strangely relevant to our society if you merely put the characters in cars instead of horse-drawn conveyances. I want to tell everyone that within its pages you will find the human condition has changed less than the progress we have made might indicate. At their hearts people are in want of love and understanding, food and warmth, that they are greedy or kind or confused or evil in the same way regardless of the era of their birth.
One of the major characters, Esther, might be painted a bit too perfect and faultless, too sweet and grateful and considerate; but I find myself quite happy with her and wanting to believe that there might exist people who at least strive to be this good. John Jarndyce is one of the finest characters in fiction--a man who does good wherever he can and expects nothing in return, including thanks. And what can one say of Harold Skimpole? He is despicable because he never takes any responsibility for his actions and lives the life of a leech by cloaking himself in the guise of a child. He is a universally harmful person, at whom one chuckles in the beginning, but loathes by the end. A host of fascinating characters (Lady Dedlock, George the Trooper, and Inspector Bucket all shine) people this novel and keep the suspense and interest alive throughout. Because this is Dickens, you can be sure there are villains aplenty, innocents in danger of being squashed by society, and poverty of a level that is appalling. If there is anything Dickens understands it is class division and the inability of the ordinary man to lift himself out of the gutter once life has flung him there.
Then there is the condemnation of the legal system and the sad injustice that is built into its operations. The suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce that is at the heart of the novel exposes in how little measure the legal system exists for the good or benefit of those who find themselves in its grasp. How sad, we are told, to wrap your life up in any expectation of justice or relief from the courts, what a waste of time for anyone but the lawyers who alone seem to profit from the venture.
Dickens knows his craft and provides just the right mix of sentiment, humor and mystery. In turn, I laughed aloud, cried a bit and neglected chores to get to the end of a chapter and the possible nugget of information that might help to solve one of the myriad mysteries presented. He plays with words and images and I could not help noting that the least “bleak” house of all was John Jarndyce’s home that officially carried the name.
Every time I read a true classic, I have to stop and kick myself for having been so long getting around to it. There is a reason these stories have lasted through centuries. There is a reason they do not fade into oblivion along with so many of their fellows. They spoke to the audience they were written for, and, they speak just as eloquently to the audience that finds them today. If I live long enough, I hope to be able to say I have read every Dickens novel. At least now I can say I have read Bleak House, and it was an experience worth having.
**************************
It always feels a bit presumptive when I am trying to review the masters of the novel, a Dickens, Hardy, or Eliot. What can someone like myself contribute, that might matter, to the appreciation of a masterpiece like Bleak House. And yet, I want to effuse about it, I want to praise it, I want to say how completely effective it is and how strangely relevant to our society if you merely put the characters in cars instead of horse-drawn conveyances. I want to tell everyone that within its pages you will find the human condition has changed less than the progress we have made might indicate. At their hearts people are in want of love and understanding, food and warmth, that they are greedy or kind or confused or evil in the same way regardless of the era of their birth.
One of the major characters, Esther, might be painted a bit too perfect and faultless, too sweet and grateful and considerate; but I find myself quite happy with her and wanting to believe that there might exist people who at least strive to be this good. John Jarndyce is one of the finest characters in fiction--a man who does good wherever he can and expects nothing in return, including thanks. And what can one say of Harold Skimpole? He is despicable because he never takes any responsibility for his actions and lives the life of a leech by cloaking himself in the guise of a child. He is a universally harmful person, at whom one chuckles in the beginning, but loathes by the end. A host of fascinating characters (Lady Dedlock, George the Trooper, and Inspector Bucket all shine) people this novel and keep the suspense and interest alive throughout. Because this is Dickens, you can be sure there are villains aplenty, innocents in danger of being squashed by society, and poverty of a level that is appalling. If there is anything Dickens understands it is class division and the inability of the ordinary man to lift himself out of the gutter once life has flung him there.
Then there is the condemnation of the legal system and the sad injustice that is built into its operations. The suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce that is at the heart of the novel exposes in how little measure the legal system exists for the good or benefit of those who find themselves in its grasp. How sad, we are told, to wrap your life up in any expectation of justice or relief from the courts, what a waste of time for anyone but the lawyers who alone seem to profit from the venture.
Dickens knows his craft and provides just the right mix of sentiment, humor and mystery. In turn, I laughed aloud, cried a bit and neglected chores to get to the end of a chapter and the possible nugget of information that might help to solve one of the myriad mysteries presented. He plays with words and images and I could not help noting that the least “bleak” house of all was John Jarndyce’s home that officially carried the name.
Every time I read a true classic, I have to stop and kick myself for having been so long getting around to it. There is a reason these stories have lasted through centuries. There is a reason they do not fade into oblivion along with so many of their fellows. They spoke to the audience they were written for, and, they speak just as eloquently to the audience that finds them today. If I live long enough, I hope to be able to say I have read every Dickens novel. At least now I can say I have read Bleak House, and it was an experience worth having.
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Quotes Sara Liked
“There were two classes of charitable people: one, the people who did a little and made a great deal of noise; the other, the people who did a great deal and made no noise at all.”
― Bleak House
― Bleak House
“Trust in nothing but in Providence and your own efforts. Never separate the two, like the heathen waggoner. Constancy in love is a good thing, but it means nothing, and is nothing, without constancy in every kind of effort.”
― Bleak House
― Bleak House
Reading Progress
January 23, 2015
– Shelved
December 1, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 6, 2016
–
Started Reading
July 8, 2016
– Shelved as:
on-going-or-hold
August 5, 2016
–
4.23%
"Forced to put this one on hold for a while, but now I am back. Started over from page one and off to a good start. Mysterious already!"
page
43
August 10, 2016
–
33.73%
"Who is Esther and what is her connection to Lady Dedlock? That question alone would keep me reading. Lots of characters to keep straight, though. Dickens introduces a new one every few pages."
page
343
August 16, 2016
–
61.55%
"I despise Mr. Skimpole almost more than any other character in the book. He makes me think of our current problems and the way the lack of personal responsibility feeds into them. Always someone else to blame.
The most irritating part of this book is "the little woman" "Dame Durden" "my darling" "my pet". Come on Dickens, we get it, Ester is reliable, Ava is sweet."
page
626
The most irritating part of this book is "the little woman" "Dame Durden" "my darling" "my pet". Come on Dickens, we get it, Ester is reliable, Ava is sweet."
August 18, 2016
–
71.88%
"Richard, Richard, Richard! You are chasing the lottery.
I really despise Skimpole. I dislike him more than Tulkinghorn, which is saying a lot. I think Ester must feel the same way."
page
731
I really despise Skimpole. I dislike him more than Tulkinghorn, which is saying a lot. I think Ester must feel the same way."
August 19, 2016
– Shelved as:
classics
August 19, 2016
–
Finished Reading
March 2, 2022
–
Started Reading
March 4, 2022
–
9.0%
"Second read of Bleak House with the remarkable Bionic Jean and the Dickensians (sounds like a great name for a band). I'm happy that I remember so little of the plot details, and yet I wonder about my memory slipping because it hasn't been that long since I read it."
March 8, 2022
–
16.0%
"I love the complicated plot and the constant cast of characters. This is Dickens at his best."
March 28, 2022
–
41.0%
April 18, 2022
–
64.0%
April 26, 2022
–
69.0%
May 1, 2022
–
76.0%
May 12, 2022
–
86.0%
May 16, 2022
–
92.0%
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
detective
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
english-fiction
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
literary-fiction
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
murder
May 23, 2022
– Shelved as:
victorian
May 23, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-48 of 48 (48 new)
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MomToKippy
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Aug 19, 2016 07:44PM
Lovely as always!
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Excellent review, Sara. I have to say that your statement "the human condition has changed less than the progress we have made might indicate" rings so true. One of the reasons I love to read the classics as they are still so relatable today.
An eloquent review that makes me want to read the Dickens I have neglected and perhaps even reread one I've already read ages ago to see if I've managed to grow into his deeper themes. An inspiring review!
I'm so happy for you that you finished this. Everyone seems to love it. I have a couple of false starts with thi with serial reader app. I'm going to make push to start.
Candi wrote: "Excellent review, Sara. I have to say that your statement "the human condition has changed less than the progress we have made might indicate" rings so true. One of the reasons I love to read the c..."
Absolutely one of the things that draws me to the classics and also what draws me to historical fiction. The times change, but man, apparently, very little.
Absolutely one of the things that draws me to the classics and also what draws me to historical fiction. The times change, but man, apparently, very little.
Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I'm so happy for you that you finished this. Everyone seems to love it. I have a couple of false starts with thi with serial reader app. I'm going to make push to start."
When you get into the right mode you will love this book Andrea. It moves slowly in the beginning, not unusual for a long novel, but once it begins to move it really captivates.
Renata wrote: "An eloquent review that makes me want to read the Dickens I have neglected and perhaps even reread one I've already read ages ago to see if I've managed to grow into his deeper themes. An inspiring..."
There are a number of Dickens I still have to go and several I would love to revisit. I do think perspective changes as we age and great works take on new meaning. Hope you get to some of them soon, Renata.
When you get into the right mode you will love this book Andrea. It moves slowly in the beginning, not unusual for a long novel, but once it begins to move it really captivates.
Renata wrote: "An eloquent review that makes me want to read the Dickens I have neglected and perhaps even reread one I've already read ages ago to see if I've managed to grow into his deeper themes. An inspiring..."
There are a number of Dickens I still have to go and several I would love to revisit. I do think perspective changes as we age and great works take on new meaning. Hope you get to some of them soon, Renata.
Very nice review Sara, thanks :) I finished this recenty myself, and this time round found that Esther was by no means perfect! There was rather too much of her dissembling - "I don't know why everyone thinks I am so ... good, kind, helpful..." (fit whatever compliment you like here) - whilst making very sure that everyone knew about it! Dickens was a master of nuance :)
He was indeed. She fed on the attention, but that sprung from her early life of being so unloved and disregarded. I found it understandable that she would be overly zealous about pleasing people. I agree she was not perfect, what human being is, but I did not take her as an unreliable narrator. I think the others were always assuring her of how kind and good she was, because they felt her need of that reassurance.
Such an erudite, well-written review, Sara. I love Dickens, somehow missed reading BLEAK HOUSE. It is on my TBR list as of you. Be sure to check the personal message I'm sending you.
I missed reading a lot of Dickens, Roberta. Guess that means I have something to look forward to. I think you will enjoy it.
What a lovely passionate review Sara. Your review convinced me that I really need to read this book. Thank you Sara
Great review Sara :O) I totally understand what you were saying, and am seeing it too in Our Mutual Friend. I do want to get to Bleak House, one of these days :O)
And I want to get to Our Mutual Friend. I have only read eight of Dickens works, which leaves me quite a way to go before I can claim to have read them all. One a year at least go onto my challenge list. Eventually maybe I will get there.
How surprising to read my sentiments in your words. "It always feels a bit presumptive when I am trying to review the masters of the novel, a Dickens, Hardy, or Eliot. What can someone like myself contribute, that might matter, to the appreciation of a masterpiece like Bleak House." The classics are there for all to read but few in my neck of the woods take advantage of such inexpensive albeit brilliant entertainment ($1.00 for hardcover at a library used book sale) available to read at a moment’s notice and at all hours of the day or night in just about any environment! This is extremely unfortunate. The purchases and the reading of select used books have given me disparate returns for my investment and on repeat occasions. Why read such a classic only once? My Dickens, Hardy and particularly Eliot novels have remained a staple in my reading for well over 50 years and the reasons for re-reading you well know. No one knows their craft better than Dickens unless it is Hardy and his style of craft or Eliot and her style of craft. As long as my eyes can see and my mind can interpret the print I am going to enjoy the Classics in print. Keep reading Dickens (Hardy and Eliot too) and you will likely find other titles of theirs to your liking –rather in the “it was amazing” category.
Diane wrote: "I'm hoping to get back to this one day soon."
I hope you do. I do understand how such a protracted reading is sometimes hard to fit in. It almost requires visiting the thread every day for several months.
I hope you do. I do understand how such a protracted reading is sometimes hard to fit in. It almost requires visiting the thread every day for several months.
Elyse wrote: "your review is so beautiful Sara - and full extension of your own beauty -Thank you --I enjoyed taking in all that you wrote --
Been afraid of Dickens -- but you add so much love and warmth to the ..."
Thank you so much, Elyse. You are such a sweetheart! Don't fear Dickens, he is easy to read and you will love him. I have two more to go and I will have read them all. I expect to read the favorites over again when I reach that point.
Been afraid of Dickens -- but you add so much love and warmth to the ..."
Thank you so much, Elyse. You are such a sweetheart! Don't fear Dickens, he is easy to read and you will love him. I have two more to go and I will have read them all. I expect to read the favorites over again when I reach that point.
We have a beautiful copy of this in our books here at home, but I have yet to read it. Your review is engaging enough to make it more likely, Sara.
I hope you will read it, Zoey. It is Dickens at his best. Many consider it his best novel, although my heart will always remain with Great Expectations.
Oh my, what a brilliant review - they you've written this Sara, I wouldn't be surprised if you listed this one in your top 10 or even 5 of all time. I've only read A Christmas Carol - embarrassing I know. So this one I will add and read - how can I not??
Margaret M wrote: "This was one of my favourites. Memorable book. Great review Sara"
Thank you, Margaret. So hard to say which is the best, but this one certainly rises to the top.
Thank you, Margaret. So hard to say which is the best, but this one certainly rises to the top.
Mark wrote: "Oh my, what a brilliant review - they you've written this Sara, I wouldn't be surprised if you listed this one in your top 10 or even 5 of all time. I've only read A Christmas Carol - embarrassing ..."
Don't miss the others, Mark. Dickens is wonderful, even if it isn't Christmas.
Don't miss the others, Mark. Dickens is wonderful, even if it isn't Christmas.
You summed the book and the mastery of Dickens perfectly, Sara! I can hardly wait to get to my next book by him. I, too, would like to say that I have read them all.
Thanks so much, Antoinette. He is really one-of-a-kind. Good luck on your quest to read them all. Reading all his novels is doable...reading everything he wrote seems almost impossible. Every time I turn around I find a new short work that I never knew existed. He left us a treasure trove.
Excellent review, Sara. This was my first Dickens and it remains my favorite. It's great to know it's just as good the second time. Have you seen the mini series with Gillian Anderson? It's a wonderful adaptation. I agree with you about Shakespeare, the Bible and Dickens being all you need. I've read 8 or 9 of his and like you want to make sure I get to every one!
I have not seen any of the adaptations of the book and really want to seek at least one of them out. It is almost impossible to watch anything of substance right now because I have time in such small patches, but I have been told both the mini-series are marvelously done.
Fabulous review, Sara. I also want to watch a TV adaptation. Probably the one with Gillian Anderson.