Friday, 6 July 2012

Getting out of a slump with Dickens

I've just not been feeling reading lately.  Part of it as that I've been busy at work with end of year assessments, report writing and parents evenings, but part of it is that I've been in a bit of a general life slump lately.  The kind of slump where I've been eating takeout food far too often, slacking off on household chores, not keeping up with my astrophysics module and not going out enough with friends.

One of the reasons is that I am tired.  It's now only two weeks until the end of the academic year and I've got bone-deep exhaustion that my current unhealthly lifestyle is only making worse.  Simple tasks feel like a lot of effort and I've perfected the art of staring into space doing nothing!

I'm hoping to make some lifestyle changes in the summer, but for now it's a case of getting through the next few weeks.  And I miss the pleasure that reading brings into my life.  I have been reading, but not particularly inspiring books and it's taking me over a week to read each title, under half of my normal reading rate.  I have a bit of free time tomorrow, so I hope to finally finish Prep and then have a mini reading marathon tucked up on the sofa.  I want to get some joy from reading again, I want to think "Oh yes, this is what reading is about."

  


As a bit of a mood boost, I've ordered myself a sixteen book Dickens set from The Book People for £26.  I love the Vintage editions of classics and the Dickens novels are no exceptions.  Despite studying English Lit for a while, the only Dickens I have ever read all the way through is A Christmas Carol and I'm hoping to rectify that.   Those of you that have read Dickens, which of the following titles do you think best for getting out of a reading slump?

1. Martin Chuzzlewit 
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. David Copperfield
4. A Christmas Carol
5. Little Dorrit
6. Our Mutual Friend
7. Dombey and Son
8. Bleak House
9. Great Expectations
10. The Old Curiosity Shop
11. The Pickwick Papers
12. Hard Times
13. The Mystery of Edwin Drood
14. Nicholas Nickelby
15. Barnaby Rudge
16. Oliver Twist
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36 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 July 2012 at 21:19

    I love the covers of the DIckens edition.
    I felt the same way that you did the last few weeks of school. It is bone-weary and mind numbing the end-of-the-year crunch.

    But you will get through it and you will feel better. I promise - until then - be gentle to yourself.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:36

      Believe me, I am counting the days. The summer holiday will be much appreciated and enjoyed.

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  2. anarmchairbythesea6 July 2012 at 21:45

    I've only read A Christmas Carol,Hard Times and Great Expectations and enjoyed them all eventually. For getting out of slumps, probably Great Expectations would be best-it's the most exciting!!

    The covers are beautiful! And I'm being tempted by The Book People's website a lot recently!

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:37

      I am thinking I might try Great Expectations first. And the Book People website is dangerous - I only went on there to buy some end of year presents for the kids! :P

      Delete
  3. Laura6 July 2012 at 21:58

    I'm a tiny bit afraid of Dickens BUT I just want to say that that's an AMAZING deal for all those books! And the Vintage editions are so pretty! *rushes over to The Book People's website*

    I have read the first 9 chapters of Oliver Twist, and to be fair they're quite good. So I recommend that, maybe?

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:38

      The Book People have the best deals, you just have to be lucky enough for them to have an author you're interested in.

      I watched the film of Oliver with my class when we studied Dickens for out Victorian unit (we read A Christmas Carol) and liked it, so I'm sure I'll also like the book.

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  4. Cat6 July 2012 at 22:48

    What a beautiful set - the Vintage editions are lovely. I've just read Our Mutual Friend and can recommend.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:39

      Thanks, will bear that recommendation in mind :)

      Delete
  5. sawcat6 July 2012 at 23:07

    I'm not really big on Dickens (have issues with books and movies based on the books). I've read Great Expectations and Hard Times for school 10+ years ago (still hate GE, but can't remember a thing about HT). But I recently read Little Dorrit, after seeing the recent miniseries and *loved* it. So I've started going to try them based on how I liked the miniseries, which would mean Nicholas Nickleby or David Copperfield next.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:40

      Somehow I managed to avoid Dickens in school, still can't work out how that happened! Little Dorrit is one I am more drawn too, so it will probably be one of the first ones I try.

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  6. Ryan7 July 2012 at 00:15

    I've always thought I've read more Dickens but looking at that list it seems the only one I have actually read is Great Expectations. Shame.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:41

      I feel a bit ashamed to have only read one Dickens. Like you, I thought I had read more, but only know the stories through cultural osmosis!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous7 July 2012 at 05:49

    I haven't fully completed any text outside of A Christmas Carol either, but I did like what I read of Oliver Twist. I mean to finish that at some point, and read other Dickens works.

    I hope that you get back that equilibrium and are very happy with your reading. :)

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:45

      Oliver seems one of the less daunting titles, probably because I associate it with a children's film.

      I will be fine as soon as two weeks are up, until then I'm just trying to be kind to myself.

      Delete
  8. Loni7 July 2012 at 13:55

    Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who liked David Coperfield more than Great Expectations?

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:44

      I'll let you know in a few years when I've read both Loni :P

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    2. Loni8 July 2012 at 01:32

      I found David Copperfield to be a quicker read than I expected...

      Delete
  9. Sarah7 July 2012 at 15:22

    I've only read A Christmas Carol as well, but I'm reading Great Expectations now and I really like it so far. Young Pip can be pretty funny, but there are some beautiful passages as well.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)7 July 2012 at 17:43

      Great Expectations will be one of the first I read, so I'm glad to see you are enjoying it Sarah :)

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  10. Lindsey7 July 2012 at 20:04

    Those covers are gorgeous...in a dark and slightly creepy sort of way! I read David Copperfield earlier this year. I really enjoyed it but it's long, so you have to be ready to really settle in and sit with a book for a while.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 17:57

      David Copperfield sounds like a great one for my summer holidays then, I'm looking forward to long days snuggled up with a good book. We're not going away so I will be having a staycation surrounded by books :)

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  11. Celeste857 July 2012 at 20:13

    Don't start with Pickwick Papers - I was going to read all of Dickens in succession and died a little with this first one, as it is so long, and not very funny. I echo the Great Expectations and Oliver Twist recommendations as they're both well-paced and wonderful.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 17:57

      I remember trying the Pickwick Papers once as I'm a big Little Women fan, but not getting very far - I will save that one for the end of my literary journey! :P

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  12. Allie7 July 2012 at 20:33

    I LOVE those covers! I'm a sucker for a pretty cover...and matching sets of books. :)

    I'm slowly coming around to Dickens. I know that a lot of people love Great Expectations, so that's usually where people start. Out of the 5 or 6 titles I've read, David Copperfield was far and away the BEST book I read. It's also the best one I've read all year. :)

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 17:59

      I love the covers too and I'm already thinking about how great the whole set will look on my shelves :)

      A few people are recommending David Copperfield, it's nice to see that as it's not one of his really famous books, like Oliver or Great Expectations.

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  13. DMS7 July 2012 at 20:45

    I hope you get out of your reading slump. When life is crazy and we are tired it comes through in all parts of our lives. Hope you get some down time before too long so that you can recharge. :) Hope you enjoy Prep!
    ~Jess

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 18:00

      That's true. I've been kind to myself this weekend and had a lot of rest so I'm feeling less slump-y. I really enjoyed Prep, I just thought it was a bit long.

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  14. Andi8 July 2012 at 01:11

    AWESOME!!! I do love Dickens (as you've probably guessed re: blog name). I plan to re-read A Tale of Two Cities before the summer is out. I hope your slump busts soon! End of the academic year stuff can really drag a person down.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 18:01

      I'm interested in A Tale of Two Cities too - we should read at the same time for encouragement!
      I am trying to stay positive through the end of the year and remain focused on the summer hols and how great they are going to be.

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  15. Unknown8 July 2012 at 15:07

    I've never been able to make it through a Dickens book, but I loved Wilkie Collins (Woman in White, The Moonstone, Armadale, etc)

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 18:02

      I love Wilkie too - I've read Woman in White and Moonstone but not Armadale. I enjoyed both and found them surprisingly easy to read for classics.

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  16. JoAnn8 July 2012 at 15:34

    I hope Dickens is just what you need to end the slump! Great Expectations is my favorite, but I've only read four of them. David Copperfield is next for me... maybe this winter.

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 18:03

      Lots of other bloggers have been recommending David Copperfield to me, so I think you're in for a treat!

      Delete
  17. vithya velaithan8 July 2012 at 16:47

    Wow, this is serious literary stuff you've got there Sam. I hope you enjoy reading them. I've read great expectation and Oliver twist a long time back and can hardly remember the stories now. Hope you get off from your reading slump and get back into your routine as fast as possible.

    Cheers,
    Vithya

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    1. Sam (Tiny Library)8 July 2012 at 18:04

      I hope I enjoy reading them too, I tend to read more classics in the summer hols when I have the time to read slowly and properly appreciate them.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous1 August 2012 at 20:56

    Oh I love Dickens and these look pretty! I think maybe I'll have to do a bit of book shopping! (Sort of) Thanks for introducing me to this set!

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