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A review by tuckmonster
The Old Curiosity Shop: A Tale by Charles Dickens
4.0
Early this year I set a goal for myself to read all of Dickens' novels in the order in which they were published. This is the fourth, after Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. I've also read Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities and a personal favorite - Great Expectations.
First, Dickens is just an amazing writer and reading his novels in order I can really see the progression of his style. This is the first (chronologically) of his novels that I've really just stopped and been taken in by the language. It was there in the earlier works but I think this novel is where he really starts to click as a writer. The various threads of the plot, the way he skips about from place to place then comes back to loop in some new event, his humor, his eye for detail, it all really shines and made this an enjoyable and quick read.
Having read many of his books now, there are certain Dickensian tropes that will either annoy you or they won't - the angelic waif, the dastardly and greedy man who has designs on the waif, the unknown distant (and wealthy) relative, the chance meeting, etc. It does get to be a bit much at times. There's always some mysterious benefactor who will endow some unexpected fortune, there's always a random stranger who turns out to be a long-lost relation, there's always an unexpected twist to deliver the villain's come-uppance, etc. That said, it's very entertaining and very well written. I look forward to reading more of the author's works.
As to the plot, it concerns little Nell and her grandfather, the proprietor of the titular shop. Grandfather cares only for Nell and to make her fortune he becomes indebted to the dastardly Quilp, an evil dwarf who delights in causing misery for others. Nell and grandfather are forced to flee and they encounter various characters on the road, some good, some not. There are sub-plots and related threads concerning Quilp's attorney Sampson Brass and his sister Sally, Richard Swiveller, a compatriot of Nell's wayward brother Fred, Christopher 'Kit' Nubbles, devoted friend and servant of Nell and grand-dad, and various others encountered along the way.
All-in-all it was an entertaining read. I actually enjoyed the bits with Quilp, the Brasses and Swiveller more than the bits with Nell and her grandfather. If you enjoy Dickens you will like this one. If you haven't read him before, it is a good place to start.
First, Dickens is just an amazing writer and reading his novels in order I can really see the progression of his style. This is the first (chronologically) of his novels that I've really just stopped and been taken in by the language. It was there in the earlier works but I think this novel is where he really starts to click as a writer. The various threads of the plot, the way he skips about from place to place then comes back to loop in some new event, his humor, his eye for detail, it all really shines and made this an enjoyable and quick read.
Having read many of his books now, there are certain Dickensian tropes that will either annoy you or they won't - the angelic waif, the dastardly and greedy man who has designs on the waif, the unknown distant (and wealthy) relative, the chance meeting, etc. It does get to be a bit much at times. There's always some mysterious benefactor who will endow some unexpected fortune, there's always a random stranger who turns out to be a long-lost relation, there's always an unexpected twist to deliver the villain's come-uppance, etc. That said, it's very entertaining and very well written. I look forward to reading more of the author's works.
As to the plot, it concerns little Nell and her grandfather, the proprietor of the titular shop. Grandfather cares only for Nell and to make her fortune he becomes indebted to the dastardly Quilp, an evil dwarf who delights in causing misery for others. Nell and grandfather are forced to flee and they encounter various characters on the road, some good, some not. There are sub-plots and related threads concerning Quilp's attorney Sampson Brass and his sister Sally, Richard Swiveller, a compatriot of Nell's wayward brother Fred, Christopher 'Kit' Nubbles, devoted friend and servant of Nell and grand-dad, and various others encountered along the way.
All-in-all it was an entertaining read. I actually enjoyed the bits with Quilp, the Brasses and Swiveller more than the bits with Nell and her grandfather. If you enjoy Dickens you will like this one. If you haven't read him before, it is a good place to start.