Books & Reading Thread 2026

[Paladin]

Which four have you not read ? I've read the complete works several times except Barnaby Rudge which left me with the impression of being his weakest work. I'll revisit it when I have the time to see if that's a fair assessment.

In March, whilst in the area, I visited St Gallgo's church in Moelfre, Anglesey, where the victims of the Royal Charter shipwreck are buried. The event was the subject of a very moving report by Dickens in his "The Uncommercial Traveller" collection.

My favourite is Bleak House although people underestimate how funny "The Pickwick Papers" is.

Nicholas Nickleby (although I did watch this 8 1/2 hour stage production back in 1982), Hard Times, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit and The Pickwick Papers. I started on The Pickwick Papers but didn't get very far. I think it was after I first read The Old Curiosity Shop, and my disappointment was because I expected similar characterisation and plot complexities.

I read A Christmas Carol every December, but I haven't read his other writings. I will try to at some point. I have the Delphi Complete Charles Dickens on my Kindle. A bargain at less than £2.

Every Novel by Charles Dickens from Worst to Best

a joint ranking by Boze and Rach

bibliollcollege.substack.com

 

[Newman Noggs]

Nicholas Nickleby (although I did watch this 8 1/2 hour stage production back in 1982), Hard Times, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit and The Pickwick Papers. I started on The Pickwick Papers but didn't get very far. I think it was after I first read The Old Curiosity Shop, and my disappointment was because I expected similar characterisation and plot complexities.

I read A Christmas Carol every December, but I haven't read his other writings. I will try to at some point. I have the Delphi Complete Charles Dickens on my Kindle. A bargain at less than £2.

Yes, I think those are the 4 hardest. The Pickwick Papers is the hardest to get your head round because it's a satire (of the Royal Society", I think). Basically 4 piss-heads travelling round trying to make "discoveries" and "observations". Once you get your head round that, it gets rather amusing.

 

[fanatic1]

Still my favourite classic. The 3 Musketeers by Alexander Dumas. Cracking story with incredible pace. Every character is very well drawn out even the minor ones. Many film adaptations throughout the years, faithful to the original, the best being the star studded version with Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch with Faye Dunaway and Christopher Lee as the chief villains.

 

[ballbag]

Read two over the last week. Slowly getting through the TBR shelf.

Fahrenheit 451
I read a lot of dystopian stuff. But I liked this a lot. Probably because out of all the dystopia I've read/watched, this feels like the most plausible scenario we could find ourselves in. Something not enforced by a government, but the slow erosion of society by society itself through inane and constant shite forced into our eardrums and eyes. There are several passages in the book I had to read again, as I really enjoyed Bradbury's writing style (not to start with I might add). The conversation between Montag and Captain Beatty being a highlight, but the contrast in the city and nature. The silences that meant different things in different locations. Definitely one I'll read again.

Enders Game
Nailed the ending. One to ponder on over for the next few days. Really don't want to reveal too much and leave any spoilers. So all I'll say is, the book claims to be a "classic of war and survival", but it is so much more. Its not a story about defeating an enemy, its about understanding an enemy, and possibly understanding them too late.