u/GoodKid_MaadSity

Using the phrase “side character” loosely.

I just finished reading Nicholas Nickleby, and I just adored Mrs Nickleby, how silly and flighty she is, the comic relief she provided, her simple good nature.

A few other examples that came to my mind were The Artful, Captain Cuttle, Mr F”s aunt, Mr. Turvydrop, Mrs Snagsby, and Flora Finchling. And all the Pickwickians, of course (though not “side” characters per se).

I know there are so many more! And want to know what you all think.

I just recently watched a great adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, a 4 or 5 part BBC series (the guy who played Peter Pettigrew played Mr. Venus, I didn’t really know any of the other actors immediately). Also currently watching the DC adaptation with Daniel Radcliffe as young David.

But a few I’ve started and just couldn’t, like the most recent Bleak House, and have never found a GE one that grabbed me.

Please be as specific as possible in your answers! So many are streaming on Prime or Disney Plus.

I think every page contains SOMEONE bursting into tears, of happiness, sadness, whatever- nobody does that now (well, maybe not nobody, but at least fewer). At least not the “bursting” part.

Same question - when someone is agitated in some way, they’re always turning colors. Is this just for literary effect or do you think it actually happens often?

I’m curious to know if this stands out to others as it does to me.

My daughter is interning at my workplace this summer and we’ll be in the car for 2 hours together twice a week.

We’re both big readers. She likes YA dystopia, romance, post apocalyptic stuff. Also, fast paced and cheesy teen romance books like The Inheritance Games series. She’s definitely read all the well known books in those genres.

She also likes Shakespeare, and while I wouldn’t want to listen to a play itself, some book that is derivative or imagines his characters in other situations could fit the bill.

I like classic literature, modern literary fiction, stories set in unfamiliar cultures (for me that’s non-western cultures). I hate fantasy, sci fi, and romance.

I’m definitely willing to listen to something I don’t love if she’ll be into it. But I do draw the line at heavy fantasy (she’s not a big fan, either).

We both already tried listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl and didn’t like it, as well as Project Hail Mary.

Suggestions? Bonus points for a British narrator 😊

I only fell back in love with Dickens in the last few months. Since then I’ve read and loved (not in order):

Bleak House

Great Expectations

Our Mutual Friend

Dombey and Son

Pickwick Papers

Little Dorrit

And I read David Copperfield and Tale of Two Cities years ago and don’t want to do a reread.

I just finished Dombey and Son, so I’m feeling as if I’d like I’d like something a bit less dark. (Though the perpetual happy ending is one of the things I like most.) And I’d like something with a different tone so I think Nicholas Nickleby is out.

I started Oliver Twist and wasn’t into it, and I don’t have an interest in Christmas Carol.

Help? I’d love your suggestions as a lot of you have read so much more than I!

I had to go and read an explanation on a website designed for high school students, after reading the last 50 pages like 3 times. I get it now, what actually happened, but it still doesn’t make sense (I’m referring to the secret will specifically) and it felt like it was just written in haste to finish the story.

What I still don’t get though is what caused the house to blow up and kill Mr. Blondois/Rigeau. As far as I can tell, that was never explained. Is it to be assumed that Jeremiah Flintwitch did something to cause it to happen?

I did read that when it was published, Dickens had to write a kind of foot note explanation because it confused so many people, so I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad.

Did anyone else here have the same struggle?