Little Dorrit (the book) has all the qualities I have loved from my other readings of his work but they seem magnified here. His characters are richer. His social commentary is pitch perfect satire transcending his own time period. He is at his funniest and spookiest and the settings he creates never fail in their originality. And the emptiness I feel derives from how much I came to love so many of the characters...Amy, Arthur, Frederick, Lion, Mr. Meagles, Daniel Doyce, Pancks, John Chivery, Maggy...even Tattycoram and Flora.
I have picked up the habit of rereading Susan Hill's chapter on Dickens from Howards End is on the Landing during and after reading his works. I become overwhelmed by this need to see my feelings about Dickens reinforced by her words. She writes "He is mighty." Yes! She writes "...his literary imagination was the greatest ever..." Yes! She writes "After that, it is time I went back to Little Dorrit. Is it the best? I sometimes think so." At this moment, I know so.
15 comments:
It does kind of feel like a loss, doesn't it-- when you finish a book you really love? I think that trying to avoid that feeling is one of the reasons why I tend to read a lot of books at the same time. Glad to see how much you enjoyed Little Dorrit!
I watched the delightful adapatation of Little Dorrit when it was on the BBC a couple of years ago and was in love. I intended to read the book afterwards, but didn't get around to it. Your lovely posts about Little Dorrit have made me keen to pick up my copy that I have left with my parents the next time that I visit.
WOW, it sounds like I need to get this one and read it! Thanks!
So much passion in your post... I really must read Little Dorrit. Did you watch a film adaptation before reading the novel? Did it detract from the reading at all? I saw the previous adaptation with Derek Jacobi and other greats and it was quietly passionate.
I understand how one can feel bereft after finishing a book... you just want to linger within the pages for ever.
Thank you for a moving post :-) I have two or three Dickens that I really must read this year and you've given me another to add to the list.
I know how you feel, I think I was the same way after Bleak House. . . but there's lots more Dickens to read! This year I'm hoping to read either Our Mutual Friend or Dombey and Son. . . maybe Old Curiosity Shop. And when you've finished Dickens, there's Trollope (who wrote more than 40 novels) and Gaskell. . . and George Eliot. . . I'll never finish all the Victorians I want to read!
I loved every minute of the movie adaptation , but I saw it before reading the book, so that may have been a factor. My personal favorite was Mr. F's Aunt. She made me laugh so much!
Dickens is indeed mighty!
mindy - It is good to have something to fall back in that moment or else I dwell on the feelings which I did for a little too long:)
A Bookish Space - I think you will like the book if you liked the adaptation because it is more of a good thing. I also watched the special feature that explained the making of the adaptation which made me respect it even more and forgive all the parts that I didn't like. To see the love that Andrew Davies has for Dickens was all it took:)
Sharon - I recommend it whole-heartedly:)
Rochester Reader - I was reorganizing my Dickens books the other day and had the joy of reading and looking over the wonderful Dickens material you sent me. I keep it all there among the books so I will be able to enjoy them 20 years from now:) I watched the adaptation after which I am glad I did because I would rather compare the book to the movie than the movie to the book (thinking about a movie version while reading the book has proved to be too distracting for me).
Karenlibrarian - Our Mutual Friend is on my list for this year along with Bleak House and, if the trend continues, anything Dickens. I do love Mrs. Gaskell and hope to read Trollope this year. It's so funny because I never thought I would be a huge reader of Victorian lit but here I am:)
Shelley - I think that I would have had the same reaction because the moments I didn't like so much were those that greatly differed from the book. My daughter watched it with me and I think I thoroughly annoyed every time I said 'it didn't happen that way in the book'. Mr. F's aunt was good and I think I liked her much more in the film than the book because she seemed more menacing on the page. My stomach turned every time she handed her crust to Flora...I don't know why but it grossed me out:)
The Heiress read Little Dorrit last term so I must ask her if she kept her copy or sold it back.
Your love of Dickens this winter has left a mark on me. Every time I see his books on the shelf I think of you, Stacy.
Darlene - I have to know...did she love it too? I can take the answer either way. I am just curious to know what others think of it. To have my name linked in any way with that of The Great One is just too much...as another Canadian I know says, "I am not worthy.":)
The Heiress did enjoy it but I really don't think she had time to absorb things like she should have. Her English lit course goes at a roaring pace...one book a week!
You cracked me up with the quote from Wayne's World!!!
Darlene - A book the size of Little Dorrit in one week? That is a roaring pace! I thought you might appreciate the quote but I was hesitant to let you know that sometimes I indulge in really bad comedies:)
Stacy, I'm so glad you like the little tokens I sent you. I have succumbed and am rapidly making my way through the 2008 version of Little Dorrit. It's very good and it has characters and subplots that were ommitted from the 1998 adaptation - which was quite a surprise! If Rigaud is even half as chilling in the novel as he is in the series, I must declare him the vilest Dickensian villain that I have seen so far.
I have started blogging again... do pop over for a visit when you can. I shall be making a start on Pickwick this week, but I fear I shan't be able to read as quickly as you.
Rochester Reader - I have to admit that I thought the film version of Rigaud is much more devious than Dickens' version. There were moments in the book when I actually found myself liking him...if only for an instant...but the actor that plays him in the adaptation really did an awesome job making Riguad absolutely evil. I will be reading Pickwick right along with you. The Vintage edition (I see we will be reading the same) should be arriving today or tomorrow. I plan to really take my time reading it, so I look forward to reading your posts and comparing notes:)
Wonderful! It is quite a hefty book :-)
I shall look forward to reading your insightful observations.
By the way, the actor who played Rigaud also played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Quite a brilliant actor by all accounts. I admire authors who can make you sympathise - or even like - detestable characters.
Rochester Reader - I was wondering what else he might have been in and if he was well-known. He is a very good actor. Not sure if you are watching the series on disc but if you get a chance to watch the special features they are very interesting. They interview Serkis and it was so weird to see him as a normal person:) They also talked about adapting the book and other fascinating aspects to making the series.
Post a Comment