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Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin's Reviews > Bleak House

Bleak House by Charles Dickens
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really liked it
bookshelves: own

I have to say that Goodreads has opened me up to many books that I probably never would have read. Through groups and friends I keep finding books old and new to read and enjoy. Some more so than others.

When I started Bleak House in one of my groups reads I had a feeling that I wouldn't understand a lot of what was going on in the book. And I found out through the same group that there was a mini series about the book. I rushed right onto Amazon Prime and watched the whole thing. Let me tell you this helped me so very much in understanding some of the things in the book. I'm not that smart so certain things or way things are written go right over my head. This is a beautiful book, but I needed a little help.

Upon watching the show I could see some of the things taking shape in the book over the course of a few weeks. No, the show is not exactly the same, but it's almost damn near because hello . . . it's a tome and they made a mini series instead of one movie that cuts half the crap out of a book.

Gillian Anderson played Lady Dedlock perfectly in the show, but that is just my opinion. Lady Dedlock is married to Sir Leicester, he is many years older than her but he is very good to her. Even when he finds out some secrets he was going to stand by her side. This part of the book was very bleak and sad. But those were the days when you couldn't have what you wanted in life. You had to let things you loved go.



My favorite characters in the book are:

Esther,

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Ada,

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and Mr. Jarndyce.

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These were three very caring people. They were fun and nice in the book and in the show. Mr. Jarndyce took in Miss Ada Clare, Richard Carstone and Esther Summerson and he was very good to them.

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Richard was a little flighty to me. He couldn't settle on anything and then he got all wrapped up in the Jarndyce and Jarndyce court case that had been going on since the beginning of time. If the case was ever settled it could help Ada and Richard forever. Or so they thought. Ada and Richard fell in love and they were so sweet to see. But it was hard to watch Richard put himself through so much and getting sicker and sicker.

There are a lot of hard things in the book and they will make you cry. Or maybe it's just me since I cry when I read a lot of books or watch shows.

There are evil people in this book. There are killings, lies, hopelessness, disease, death, sadness - but it's not all Bleak. There are some really happy times. The ending it so very happy and it was so wonderful to see some good things happen to these people that went through so much.

There are also some funny characters and other fun times. Don't think this is just a bleak, dreadful story.

There are revelations made that were happy and sad. I can't give away the spoiler. In any case it made me cry.



But through it all Mr. Jarndyce was wonderful to the three people he took in among other things. And in the end I was so glad to see Esther happy with Mr. Woodcourt. So many things she had to go through when she was young, all of the bad things said about her and revelations she found out were just sad. But even through all of that she was a kind person. She did as many good things as she possibly could. I loved her.

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If you were ever wanting to read this book I would suggest going ahead and take your time. Watch the show like I did if you need to understand what they are talking about at times. I would never have come to love the people I did in the book if I never gave it or the show a chance.

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Reading Progress

April 7, 2016 – Shelved as: to-read
April 7, 2016 – Shelved
April 7, 2016 – Shelved as: own
July 22, 2016 – Started Reading
July 26, 2016 –
page 20
1.97%
July 27, 2016 –
page 105
10.32%
August 5, 2016 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)

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message 1: by Darina (new)

Darina Fab review Melissa


message 3: by Mark (new)

Mark Makes me curious to try the book as well especially with previewing the book with the mini series.


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Mark wrote: "Makes me curious to try the book as well especially with previewing the book with the mini series."

I would never have made it through the book without the mini series. I just don't understand some of the lingo from certain kinds of authors. But the show was so awesome and I made it through all of the parts that I would have been stuck trying to make out :-)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Stephanie wrote: "Great review! Glad you enjoyed it!! You are doing great with all of these door stopper classics!! Woot!! :D"

Thank you, Steph :-). I still say that my favorite classic tome is The Count of Monte Cristo!! I loved it soooooo much ❤


message 6: by Lucy (new)

Lucy I own the book and can't wait to get to it. I have seen the mini series and loved it so much


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin I hope you love the book too :-). I loved the mini series soooo much! I never would have read the book or watched the show if it wasn't for GR :-)


karen great review! this is my favorite dickens!


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Thank you hon bun :-). I'm so glad you loved it ❤


message 10: by Candace (new)

Candace Great review, Melissa! :)


message 11: by Loretta (new)

Loretta Wow! Wonderful review Melissa! :)


message 12: by Paula W (last edited Aug 05, 2016 10:04PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Paula W I agree with your review, but completely disagree about watching the miniseries first. It was a great series, but I tried to watch it as I was reading and got really pissed when the series gave me early spoilers before I was ready. I felt like there were several important scenes that were not given justice in the miniseries, and I cried when I read those scenes in the book. I think it is always best to read the book and then watch the movie/tv series if needed. There is no comparison to the scene the author can put in your mind in a really well written scene, and I think Dickens did this for me without having to watch the miniseries first. Although, I get that Dickens isn't for everyone.


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Candace wrote: "Great review, Melissa! :)"

Thank you sweet Candace :-)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Loretta wrote: "Wow! Wonderful review Melissa! :)"

Thank you so very much, Loretta :-)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Paula wrote: "I agree with your review, but completely disagree about watching the miniseries first. It was a great series, but I tried to watch it as I was reading and got really pissed when the series gave me ..."

Your one of the lucky ones that can understand the writing. Unfortunately, I'm not so I'm glad I watched the mini series after I attempted to read some of it on my own. It worked out wonderfully for me and that's all that matters. If I didn't understand anything in the book or the show, then that would have been horrible :-/


message 16: by Loretta (new)

Loretta Melissa wrote: "Paula wrote: "I agree with your review, but completely disagree about watching the miniseries first. It was a great series, but I tried to watch it as I was reading and got really pissed when the s..."

Agreed Melissa! At least this way you enjoyed it! :)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin I know and that's all that matters to me :-)


Linda Great review Melissa! Sometimes I get the sparknotes online to reference to make sure I know what's going on in a book I think might be more difficult. It's very helpful!! You seem as if you totally know what you're doing with all the great graphics you have in your review!! Thanks! I can't wait to see the movie (but after I read the book!!)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Thank you so much, Linda. That means a lot :-). I hope you enjoy both :-)


Paula W I'm glad you did and that you liked it! It has become one of my favorite books I have read all year. This was one I probably would never have picked up if it weren't for the group reads.


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin I would never have picked it up Paula if it wasn't for goodreads and the groups and I never would have watched the mini series. I would have missed out on something beautiful. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends and groups on here that make me open my horizons.

I never thought I would like The Count of Monte Cristo and I'm nuts over that book now. It's in my favorites. I loved it so, so much! And I read it because of friends and groups. I try to stay open now to different things because you just never know. :-)


message 22: by Loretta (new)

Loretta Melissa wrote: "I would never have picked it up Paula if it wasn't for goodreads and the groups and I never would have watched the mini series. I would have missed out on something beautiful. I'm so lucky to have ..."

Well said Melissa! Well said! Couldn't agree with you more!! :)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Thank you, Loretta. You are sweet :-)


Bionic Jean Lovely review Melissa! I was so happy to see this review of my favourite author, and know that you enjoyed this book too :)


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Thank you so much, Jean :-) I fell right in love with Ester, Ada and Mr. Jarndyce! I mean there are others I liked as well, but these three were just wonderful. And I loved them in that order :-)


Alondra Miller Glad you liked this. This is one of my favorites. I thought it would just be literary and boring, like a a book on my high school reading list. It was so much more and I definitely giggled at times.


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin Thank you hun! Did you watch the movie or show on …uh prime or Netflix. I loved it too. 😊💕 I hope I still have my physical copy 😳. I’ll have to look! My books come and go and I don’t have a clue sometimes


Alondra Miller Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ wrote: "Thank you hun! Did you watch the movie or show on …uh prime or Netflix. I loved it too. 😊💕 I hope I still have my physical copy 😳. I’ll have to look! My books come and go and I don’t have a clue so..."

No; I hardly watch any TV. It is on my watch-list of shows, though. I usually binge-watch a series each year. LOL


Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin I can hardly sit still to binge watch a series any more 😳


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