This
was my first foray into Charles Dickens' works and I went in with much
excitement and perhaps too much by way of expectations. The book took me much
longer than expected to finish. Throughout the novel (at least in the first
three-quarters), I failed to feel empathy with any of the characters. It was
only when I neared the end that I became more absorbed with the plot twists. I
would be lying if I said I wasn't deeply moved by the story's ending.
Was it the wordiness of the novel that put me off? Maybe not, because I've read and liked other wordy authors. I think I would blame it on the author's slightly going overboard with sarcasm and sentimentalism in case of this particular novel. As well, his characterization could have gone a little deeper with Sydney Carton. Having said that, I still like his ingenuity in patiently building up suspense to climactic heights near the very end. On balance, I am inclined to give this novel three out of five stars.
Was it the wordiness of the novel that put me off? Maybe not, because I've read and liked other wordy authors. I think I would blame it on the author's slightly going overboard with sarcasm and sentimentalism in case of this particular novel. As well, his characterization could have gone a little deeper with Sydney Carton. Having said that, I still like his ingenuity in patiently building up suspense to climactic heights near the very end. On balance, I am inclined to give this novel three out of five stars.
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