The Mega Dickens Readalong discussion

Let's discuss The Pickwick Papers!

I'm reading a chapter a day, and I'm really enjoying it. I think it is a great book to read this way. So far, the characters managed to get into trouble every day, it is very funny. :D

I have just finished chapter I, it did make me laugh. What a pickle to find yourself in!

I'm a chapter in and amused but also confused. It may be a bit before I get reaclimmated to Dickens' style.

I think the main thing to note before starting, especially if this is your first time trying dickens, is that the book is character driven rather than plot driven, the way it was published in installments means it comes across more like a selection of short stories that are interlinked.

There is plenty to enjoy.

Although you can see Dickens' style, I find it quite different from his last works and a bit confusing too, I'm in chapter IV.

I started it last winter and then put it aside when I was about 1/3 of the way through the book. Since I returned to it last month, I have seen little kernels of story that Dickens later used to build a whole novel around--very interesting.

I’ve downloaded the audiobook, which I think will lend itself well to the episodic style of the writing. I’ve actually only read PP once. It’s not a favorite. But I’m not going to start it until after Im done with my Victober reading. I’ve set myself a very challenging TBR for Victober, and I’ve already deviated from it by listening to Martin Chuzzlewit. It was next up in the Audible queue and I couldn’t resist Derek Jacobi’s American accent. It’s hysterical.

I just watched the 1952 black and white film The Pickwick Papers.

This was quite fun to watch. It also helped me understand it a bit better.

I am on chapter 10 - poor Mr. Pickwick, losing his innocence of the world!

Well, I finished the audiobook of Pickwick. Hearing it vs. reading it has moved it way up the ladder in my list of favorite Dickens novels. I really recommend it. Rory Kinnear is just genius. Also, there is a really great introduction by Neil Gaiman which helped me understand the nature of the book. I'm totally in love with Sam Weller (Veller?) now!

I have started to read The Pickwick Papers for the third time. The first two times that I read it I always thought of Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass as 'the two young friends of Mr. Pickwick' and I had a hard time telling them apart.
Now - on the third read - it comes to my notice that they are very distinctly different people. Mr. Snodgrass - the melancholic poet with the romantic streak. Mr. Winkle, the sportsman who bluffs his way through many an adventure. A lot of the humour and playfulness depends upon the reader understanding the differences between these two young men. I really don't understand how I can have overlooked this fact for so long.

In 'Charles Dickens, a critical study' by G.K. Chesterton that author claims that Dickens portrayal of characters is never better than in his earlier work. He says that the characters in The Pickwick Papers jump of the page and come to life while the characters in for instance Our Mutual Friend are much more mundane. Since I had such a hard time distinguishing between Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass I tend to disagree with him. I really like the nuances of Dickens' later work and I think that he gets better and better in writing characters.
Don't get me wrong: I love The Pickwick Papers and I think Mr. Pickwick as a character is a stroke of genius. I just think that later characters are just as well-written and even a bit more nuanced.

What do you think? Do you like the characterization in The Pickwick Papers? Have you already read later novels and which characters do you prefer? I would love to know!

Bianca wrote: "I have started to read The Pickwick Papers for the third time. The first two times that I read it I always thought of Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass as 'the two young friends of Mr. Pickwick' and I h..."

You could join the discord group. You'd be a welcome addition there.

Luffy wrote: "Bianca wrote: "I have started to read The Pickwick Papers for the third time. The first two times that I read it I always thought of Mr. Winkle and Mr. Snodgrass as 'the two young friends of Mr. Pi..."

Thanks! I am not really tech savvy, but I'll look into it and join you as soon as possible :-).

If anyone wants to join the Discord group, it's here: https://discord.gg/zaeZ3HCPSf and slightly more active.

I'm about a third of the way through Pickwick now and really enjoying my reread. I'm also listening to the audiobook from Rory Kinnear, which is great. I agree that his characterisation in Pickwick is fun but not as nuanced as his later works. I do have a soft spot for Sam Weller, though!

I am not on the discord group as i cant access it on my phone but i have enjoyedcrereading this one and excited to see Katie has put a reflections video up.

Tim wrote: "I am not on the discord group as i cant access it on my phone but i have enjoyedcrereading this one and excited to see Katie has put a reflections video up."

I also really enjoyed the reflections video! And the book was great :-).