February 28, 2012

• I Finally Finished The Pickwick Papers!

  It took one long month, but I finally turned the last page in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers.

  The uniqueness of this book in that it is written in sort of short vignettes was actually its downfall for me.  There were so many little stories interspersed with a whole bunch of characters doing a lot of different things that I couldn’t keep track of everything.  This month was VERY busy for me, and having to take so many long breaks in between reading, I would get lost when I tried to get back into the story.  So, although I made it through, I don’t know that this one will make this to the top of my favorites list.

  With that said, however, I did have some favorite FACTS about this book.

  Number one, while writing this book, Dickens got MARRIED!!! As a newlywed I think its just so cute to read a book written by a newlywed.  I also think its hilariously funny how horrible Dickens is at writing about romantic relationships in this book.  I either feel really bad for his new wife and shudder at what their courtship must have been like, or I think they must have a great relationship and he avoided writing about relationships in that way because he didn’t want everyone saying he obviously wrote about himself.  Maybe he decided some things just needed to be private. 

  Number two, the original illustrator for this book committed suicide soon after getting the contract.  WOAH.  Good thing Dickens wasnt superstitious – he just hired another illustrator and life went on.  I don’t think that being the illustrator of this book contributed to the suicide – I’m sure it was some other personal problems.

  Number three, this book was really hated after its first few installments until the character Sam Weller was introduced in Chapter 10.  Sheesh!  People were hard on this new writer.  This was only his second novel after Barnaby Rudge and no one even read that one!  But, I will admit, Sam Weller was a good character and saved the book for me in a lot of ways too.

  Number four, while writing this book, Dickens started writing Oliver Twist.  Crazy!  I would think its hard enough to write one novel at a time.  But 2? Plus the other little plays and articles he was doing on the side?  Oliver Twist is obviously a well known, well loved book, play, and movie!  I will confess, I actually read Oliver Twist first this year – because it was the one I knew the best – but everyone knows it so well I probably won’t write a whole post about it.

  Number five, as horrible as Dickens was at writing about male/female romantic relationships, he really blew me out of the water with his descriptions of male friendships.  I think the relationships guys have with other guys is fascinating and unique, especially because its just so different from the relationships girls have with other girls.  But he really gave clear pictures of the way men hang out together, argue, move on, support each other, and challenge each other.

  Number six, it’s slightly funny, but I really liked the way Dickens dwelt on (almost obnoxiously) on the use of coaches for traveling.  During this time, trains were coming in, and coaches just couldn’t hold their own very well anymore.  But Dickens obviously loved traveling by coach and wasn’t ready for change.  Authors still do that today – romanticize something old that has been replaced by new technology.  I bet he hoped that he might in some small way sway public opinion and keep the coaches around just a little bit longer.  But my goodness, sometimes I felt he just made them decide to go somewhere just so he could make them go there in a coach!

  And, last, but not a favorite, because its sad, number seven – in the middle of writing this (and Oliver Twist), Dickens sister-in-law died.  He’s a newlywed and now his wife’s sister died.  I don’t know how close any of them were, but I think its safe to assume that there was serious grief.  If it was me, I’d be overwhelmed.  Needless to say, in the process of mourning, Dickens missed his deadline that month for both books.  There was a gap in the publications, but the next month he was back and writing as furiously as ever.  I think it really helps me to remember that this author was a real person going through real life.  It changes the perspective across the board.  I respect him so much for the work he could produce while going through such major life events.

  So, technically next I will move on to The Lamplighter which was originally a farce play he created, but he ended up pulling it before the show opened.  Instead, he turned it into a short story that was apparently better recieved.  However, I have to postpone The Lamplighter a bit.  I’m pretty sure my coworkers at the library will disown me if I don’t read The Hunger Games Trilogy immediately (or at least before the movie comes out).  I’ve told them I had to wait until I finished the Pickwick Papers and they’ve been anxiously monitoring my progress.  So, I’m taking a short break (which we allowed for in the alliteration so that we don’t get dragged by Dickens’ demanding dictation…) but I will be back!

   

  By the way, I was able to check out the most amazing book from the library that is absolutely a MUST for this Year of Dickens –  The Life Of Charles Dickens, the Illustrated Edition by John Forster.  It’s huge and beautiful and chock full of fascinating information.  Good thing I work at the library and get no late fees because I have a feeling this book is staying with me long past the 15 allowed renewals!

  • 9:22 pm
  • 2 Comments