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Adam Dalva's Reviews > Bleak House

Bleak House by Charles Dickens
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it was amazing

Incredible - blows away any other Dickens that I have read (although it has been a couple of years). Now, there are issues with it: it FEELS long in a way that some great long books don't, which I think is due to the varying narrative stakes of the subplots; Esther Summerson, though delightfully written, is perhaps the most consistently GOOD character in the history of literature - you root for her but it is the rooting of a manipulated reader; and the absurdity of the coincidences is just downright staggering.

But, it's a huge achievement on 5 fronts.

1. On the line level, it's gorgeous. Dickens was on a roll for 800 pages. I am often guilty of skimming through landscape descriptions but not here.

2. The plot should seem Byzantine, but there are confluences of subplots and A plot that are massively satisfying, the love stuff is mostly juicy and good, there is a 70 page sequence toward the end that is so suspenseful that you'll read it in 2 seconds, and it is varied enough in voice that you mostly sail along with it. (A lot of the criticism I've read focuses on the alternating 1st and 3rd person - I really dug that and thought it was an accomplishment.)

3. I think a great book needs to have at least one completely unique scene that just sears itself into memory (e.g. the flood sequence in the Makioka Sisters). This book has it - the spontaneous combustion section is as good and creepy as anything.

4. The most important part for me; This is (even beyond Gaddis) the most generous book with tertiary characters that I have EVER read. 40-50 characters deep, and they are all unique, and well drawn, and quirky, and hilarious. A few favorites are Detective Bucket, who is a mixture of Gene Parmesan and Marlowe; the woman who loves her two ex-husbands more than her current husband; Mr Chadband, a preacher who "runs on train oil"; and the foppish Mr. Turveydrop. Throw in the exceptionally likable main supporting characters and it's a helluva cast.

5. it's really, really, really funny.

Bleak House is, I think, not quite as good as East of Eden, but it slots in with it nicely. It's epic, familially inclined, socially critical, has some great evil characters, and, as far as I have read, is an accomplishment beyond the rest of the author's oeuvre. Recommended, if you can spare it the time and the occasional eyeroll.
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Reading Progress

Finished Reading
November 19, 2013 – Shelved

Comments Showing 1-12 of 12 (12 new)

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message 1: by Jenbebookish (new)

Jenbebookish How does it compare to Tale of Two Cities?


Jasmine My favourite Dickens so far... Splendid review, Adam.


message 3: by Don (new) - rated it 5 stars

Don Excellent book. I think it's his masterpiece.


Melindam My favourite novel by Dickens. & I love Inspector Bucket!


message 5: by Tim (new) - added it

Tim Hey! Makes me want to put it on my (ever-lengthening) to-read list, though it has been in the background for a couple scores. Great review!


message 6: by Tim (new) - added it

Tim Hey! Makes me want to put it on my (ever-lengthening) to-read list, though it has been in the background for a couple scores. Great review!


David Bisset Yes, it is arguably Dickens' best novel.


message 8: by Emma (new) - added it

Emma What a great review. I’ve never read it, but will consider now. The bbc did an amazing adaptation a good few years ago now, but that was excellent and worth a watch.


Stephen Robert Collins This what is known as a Black Comedy it is funny but wasn't meant to be when it was written but the ending is utterly amazing wit


message 10: by spoko (new)

spoko You don't think it feels long because it's, you know, 1000+ pages? ;)


Shishene This novel does not hold a candle to East of Eden which has vastly superior plot, themes, and characters.


Cathie wow you're making me want to read East of Eden! lol I'm LOVING this.


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