Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."

As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment."A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."

As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment."

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray, 18 Nov 2008
By now, most people are aware of the basic plot of this book: young man foolishly wishes that, upon seeing his current beateous youth captured forever in a picture, he could remain in that moment of youth forever, and the picture age in his stead. Not only that, but the picture becomes twisted and cruel as a result of the callous hedonistic behaviour perpetrated by Gray in his perpetual youth. At first, Gray is horrified, but then finds himself submitting to it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic novel, so fantastic that it made me sad that the eminently quoteable Wilde has only written the one. At one point, a bad-influencing friend of Dorian's lends him a novel that Gray is charmed by, a novel that tells of a man who lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with care only for pleasure and enjoyment, and it's this novel that kick-starts Gray's eventual downfall as it affects Gray's behaviour, leading him to eventually describe it as dangerous. Wilde's novel is possibly such a book: it's seductive discussions on hedonism, pleasure, and the real joys of life almost make one want to throw mores out the window and life such a life oneself, or at least wish intensely for a period that one has or could. Henry Wotton, Gray's witty, philosophical influence is a raconeteur, a man of life, who knows its pleasures and derides it's follies, chosing simply to ignore them. It's his discourses that are particularly charming and fascinating. There's obviously a temperance to his message (in terms of the whole arc of the novel), but that's almost neither here nor there. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a superb book, fascinating, witty, supremely intelligent and philosophical, romantic and gothic and chilling also. It's one of those books that might lay a bomb under your life, and it deserves its classic status.



Hard work, 09 Nov 2008
Found this book to be quite boring! The story was weak the characters dull, all in all an unenjoyable read and unnecessarily wordy.

nothing special, 22 Oct 2008
i didn't really like this book. i found all the characters quite irritating, and the story was fairly absurd and didn't really capture my imagination. more than that, i just didn't feel like there was any real depth to the book. there was nothing truly unpredictable, nothing particularly thought provoking. i don't think there's anything particularly impressive or engaging or interesting about the story. i also found wilde's style of writing so flowery, it just felt a bit fake and naff.
i don't think there's anything particularly special about this book, and i wouldn't say it's particularly worthwhile reading it.


A New Light....., 27 Sep 2008
After reading a review of "The Ripper Code" in the TLS, I had to return to my school favourite and reread it. It was fascinating to read it in a new light.

Sublime, 25 Sep 2008
I loved this book, not so much for the cautionary tale or the disintigration of Dorian's conscience, but for the beautiful philosophy embelishing the story; many of the things Henry says, for example, are interesting and thought-provoking theories on life. And I loved how youth and beauty were depicted in the book. The only criticism I would give is that it was far too short for my liking, and I thought that the part between Dorian's youth and his 38th year could've been elaborated on. Though an original, genius story!

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray, 18 Nov 2008
By now, most people are aware of the basic plot of this book: young man foolishly wishes that, upon seeing his current beateous youth captured forever in a picture, he could remain in that moment of youth forever, and the picture age in his stead. Not only that, but the picture becomes twisted and cruel as a result of the callous hedonistic behaviour perpetrated by Gray in his perpetual youth. At first, Gray is horrified, but then finds himself submitting to it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic novel, so fantastic that it made me sad that the eminently quoteable Wilde has only written the one. At one point, a bad-influencing friend of Dorian's lends him a novel that Gray is charmed by, a novel that tells of a man who lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with care only for pleasure and enjoyment, and it's this novel that kick-starts Gray's eventual downfall as it affects Gray's behaviour, leading him to eventually describe it as dangerous. Wilde's novel is possibly such a book: it's seductive discussions on hedonism, pleasure, and the real joys of life almost make one want to throw mores out the window and life such a life oneself, or at least wish intensely for a period that one has or could. Henry Wotton, Gray's witty, philosophical influence is a raconeteur, a man of life, who knows its pleasures and derides it's follies, chosing simply to ignore them. It's his discourses that are particularly charming and fascinating. There's obviously a temperance to his message (in terms of the whole arc of the novel), but that's almost neither here nor there. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a superb book, fascinating, witty, supremely intelligent and philosophical, romantic and gothic and chilling also. It's one of those books that might lay a bomb under your life, and it deserves its classic status.



Hard work, 09 Nov 2008
Found this book to be quite boring! The story was weak the characters dull, all in all an unenjoyable read and unnecessarily wordy.

nothing special, 22 Oct 2008
i didn't really like this book. i found all the characters quite irritating, and the story was fairly absurd and didn't really capture my imagination. more than that, i just didn't feel like there was any real depth to the book. there was nothing truly unpredictable, nothing particularly thought provoking. i don't think there's anything particularly impressive or engaging or interesting about the story. i also found wilde's style of writing so flowery, it just felt a bit fake and naff.
i don't think there's anything particularly special about this book, and i wouldn't say it's particularly worthwhile reading it.


A New Light....., 27 Sep 2008
After reading a review of "The Ripper Code" in the TLS, I had to return to my school favourite and reread it. It was fascinating to read it in a new light.

Sublime, 25 Sep 2008
I loved this book, not so much for the cautionary tale or the disintigration of Dorian's conscience, but for the beautiful philosophy embelishing the story; many of the things Henry says, for example, are interesting and thought-provoking theories on life. And I loved how youth and beauty were depicted in the book. The only criticism I would give is that it was far too short for my liking, and I thought that the part between Dorian's youth and his 38th year could've been elaborated on. Though an original, genius story!

VERY DISAPPOINTING, 04 Dec 2008
Very disappointing. Far too drawn out in quite a few places. Was well into it in parts and nodding off in others.

A great idea, but a little clumsy and clunky in execution.

Brilliant (But depends on which translation you read), 09 Nov 2008
In my opinion this is the greatest novel ever written, in that it is the most complete study of mental anguish and human suffering and redemption.

One caveat is that the only translation worth reading is that by Constance Garnett. It gets a lot of bad press by critics who claim it makes the novel sound very Victorian. I adisagree. I don't know which is the most faithful translation to Dostoevsky original text (I cannot read Russian) but this is so much more superior than the 'modern' translations. My favourite chapter (Part 4 Chapter 1) is totally ruined in the newer versions. And in many cases the new translation make the text unwieldy and inelegant.

Read this book, but do yourself a favour and read the Garnett translation.



Deep and relevant, 29 Apr 2008
Crime and Punishment beautifully captures moods and moments to guide the reader through the book as though we were truly looking through Roskolnikov's eyes. Dostoyevsky understands the danger that lurks in all of us, and the mind's ability to twist and justify actions and thoughts with the greatest of ease if we are thrown off the righteous path. This is reflected beautifully in the most extreme of scenarios that Roskolnikov finds himself in. It would be a challenge to pick this book up and not finish reading it.

Somewhat lacking..., 16 Mar 2008
Basically a story about guilt and redemption written with absolutely compelling characters and depth. The start is tremendously gripping though it starts to lose pace around the last quarter and meanders somewhat. The reason why I score this lowly is because the ideas placed out are a bit thin on the ground when you look at it objectively (I've read shorter books which have a much wider theme), you can't help but think that it could've been written in half the pages and for all the great character's in place, they fail to live up to there potential, that the story doesn't make enough use of them. It would be great if more actually happened as I felt a lot of what did happen was largely (and ironically) inconsequential. It's a little bit tragic that the main protagonist is a bit, to use the modern term, emo.

An unenjoyable read, 07 Mar 2008
I found this book to be unenjoyable. I could appreciate that it is very well written and would have been very ahead of it's time but also found it to be unnecessarily drawn out and convoluted.

It's claimed that, "The genius of the book is the commentary on many aspects of life" but I think it would be far better if the author could have intertwinned this with an interesting plot.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray, 18 Nov 2008
By now, most people are aware of the basic plot of this book: young man foolishly wishes that, upon seeing his current beateous youth captured forever in a picture, he could remain in that moment of youth forever, and the picture age in his stead. Not only that, but the picture becomes twisted and cruel as a result of the callous hedonistic behaviour perpetrated by Gray in his perpetual youth. At first, Gray is horrified, but then finds himself submitting to it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic novel, so fantastic that it made me sad that the eminently quoteable Wilde has only written the one. At one point, a bad-influencing friend of Dorian's lends him a novel that Gray is charmed by, a novel that tells of a man who lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with care only for pleasure and enjoyment, and it's this novel that kick-starts Gray's eventual downfall as it affects Gray's behaviour, leading him to eventually describe it as dangerous. Wilde's novel is possibly such a book: it's seductive discussions on hedonism, pleasure, and the real joys of life almost make one want to throw mores out the window and life such a life oneself, or at least wish intensely for a period that one has or could. Henry Wotton, Gray's witty, philosophical influence is a raconeteur, a man of life, who knows its pleasures and derides it's follies, chosing simply to ignore them. It's his discourses that are particularly charming and fascinating. There's obviously a temperance to his message (in terms of the whole arc of the novel), but that's almost neither here nor there. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a superb book, fascinating, witty, supremely intelligent and philosophical, romantic and gothic and chilling also. It's one of those books that might lay a bomb under your life, and it deserves its classic status.



Hard work, 09 Nov 2008
Found this book to be quite boring! The story was weak the characters dull, all in all an unenjoyable read and unnecessarily wordy.

nothing special, 22 Oct 2008
i didn't really like this book. i found all the characters quite irritating, and the story was fairly absurd and didn't really capture my imagination. more than that, i just didn't feel like there was any real depth to the book. there was nothing truly unpredictable, nothing particularly thought provoking. i don't think there's anything particularly impressive or engaging or interesting about the story. i also found wilde's style of writing so flowery, it just felt a bit fake and naff.
i don't think there's anything particularly special about this book, and i wouldn't say it's particularly worthwhile reading it.


A New Light....., 27 Sep 2008
After reading a review of "The Ripper Code" in the TLS, I had to return to my school favourite and reread it. It was fascinating to read it in a new light.

Sublime, 25 Sep 2008
I loved this book, not so much for the cautionary tale or the disintigration of Dorian's conscience, but for the beautiful philosophy embelishing the story; many of the things Henry says, for example, are interesting and thought-provoking theories on life. And I loved how youth and beauty were depicted in the book. The only criticism I would give is that it was far too short for my liking, and I thought that the part between Dorian's youth and his 38th year could've been elaborated on. Though an original, genius story!

VERY DISAPPOINTING, 04 Dec 2008
Very disappointing. Far too drawn out in quite a few places. Was well into it in parts and nodding off in others.

A great idea, but a little clumsy and clunky in execution.

Brilliant (But depends on which translation you read), 09 Nov 2008
In my opinion this is the greatest novel ever written, in that it is the most complete study of mental anguish and human suffering and redemption.

One caveat is that the only translation worth reading is that by Constance Garnett. It gets a lot of bad press by critics who claim it makes the novel sound very Victorian. I adisagree. I don't know which is the most faithful translation to Dostoevsky original text (I cannot read Russian) but this is so much more superior than the 'modern' translations. My favourite chapter (Part 4 Chapter 1) is totally ruined in the newer versions. And in many cases the new translation make the text unwieldy and inelegant.

Read this book, but do yourself a favour and read the Garnett translation.



Deep and relevant, 29 Apr 2008
Crime and Punishment beautifully captures moods and moments to guide the reader through the book as though we were truly looking through Roskolnikov's eyes. Dostoyevsky understands the danger that lurks in all of us, and the mind's ability to twist and justify actions and thoughts with the greatest of ease if we are thrown off the righteous path. This is reflected beautifully in the most extreme of scenarios that Roskolnikov finds himself in. It would be a challenge to pick this book up and not finish reading it.

Somewhat lacking..., 16 Mar 2008
Basically a story about guilt and redemption written with absolutely compelling characters and depth. The start is tremendously gripping though it starts to lose pace around the last quarter and meanders somewhat. The reason why I score this lowly is because the ideas placed out are a bit thin on the ground when you look at it objectively (I've read shorter books which have a much wider theme), you can't help but think that it could've been written in half the pages and for all the great character's in place, they fail to live up to there potential, that the story doesn't make enough use of them. It would be great if more actually happened as I felt a lot of what did happen was largely (and ironically) inconsequential. It's a little bit tragic that the main protagonist is a bit, to use the modern term, emo.

An unenjoyable read, 07 Mar 2008
I found this book to be unenjoyable. I could appreciate that it is very well written and would have been very ahead of it's time but also found it to be unnecessarily drawn out and convoluted.

It's claimed that, "The genius of the book is the commentary on many aspects of life" but I think it would be far better if the author could have intertwinned this with an interesting plot.



I can't believe people are claiming the style is dry!, 09 Nov 2008
I first read this a couple of years ago as part of an English Lit course, in which we studied in depth the language used.

The first thing to bear in mind is that this book is a product of its time. Of course there's inherent racism (Conrad's dehumanising presentation of the Africans as 'black shadows') but despite this, Heart of Darkness was an absolutely groundbreaking piece of colonial literature.

As to the style, which people have claimed is dry and unreadable (sorry that Conrad didn't have the courtesy to divide the novella into easy bitesize chapters!) it IS dense. But the language is so rich - pick out any one paragraph and you could talk about the literary techniques and the beautiful language used for hours!

The novella focuses on Marlow's journey as he approaches the 'heart of darkness' and eventually encounters the famous Kurtz. It makes social comments that would have been almost inconceivable to the readers of the colonial magazine in which it was first published, before making you, the reader, examine your own morals as it draws to its chilling conclusion.

Don't pick this up expecting a 100-page quick and easy read. But if you take the time to read this and appreciate Conrad's incredible use of the English language (not his own mother tongue!) I guarantee that you will find it worthwhile.

Intriguing but lacks in style , 18 Oct 2008
The concept for "Heart of Darkness" was very interesting. One man goes into the heart of the post-colonial congo to bring back a man who has lost his sanity, and critiques how these colonists treat the native Africans along the way.

But that is where it ends unfortunately, the writing style I felt was very poor, it seemed to be an ordeal more than a book and I felt my mind wondering at certain points. There were quite a few characters, but due to the size of the book (around 110 pages) Conrad seems to have decided to leave out any kind of description throughout the entire story. The overall image I got in my mind was a boat floating in darkness with a few bodiless voices on board and a load of African tribesmen dancing around in the distance.

The build-up to Kurtz was done well however, but when Marlow finally reaches him, the tension suddenly stops and thats it. We aren't revealed the apparently "unspeakable atrocities" that Kurtz has committed, and therefore I can neither relate to him or feel any kind of sympathy for him. The blurb says something along the lines that the story is a fascinating look into the darkness of human hearts when it comes to Kurtz. I did not feel this at all. All I saw was a man rolling around on a bed screaming "The horror! The horror!".

Throwing this aside, the reason I gave the story 3 out of 5 is because of the actual journey of Marlow. I felt that Conrad's take on colonialism, the look into the way that the British ran their companies, and the way that they treated the Africans (although some really horrible and moving imagery here) were very well done. So I'm being a bit lenient.

Other than that, the only thing I can say is that you should try it yourself, and see what you make of it.

No better after 20 years, 20 Aug 2008
I originally read this novel as a first year undergraduate in 1988. I found it dull and very hard work. I still remember having to force myself to read a page or two each night just to get through it. The horror indeed. I recently thought I would try reading it again as, after so long and with more mature tastes I might enjoy it. But no. I gave it my best shot - and then gave up. Maybe I'll have another go in 2028...

Brilliant fable of empire, 26 Mar 2008
An extraordinary book, which was so far ahead of its time that some contemporary reviewers (see above!) haven't caught up with it yet! It exposes the whole vile fallacy of empire - that arrogant pretension to rule over other peoples, all, of course, in the name of humanity and democracy! One of the truly great novels of our time.

Waste of time, 10 Mar 2008
We had to read this book in English and my god it is horrible. I have rarely read a more boing book and honestly I did not manage to read through it. I'm usually crazy about reading and I have read a lot of books, but this one was simply horrible. Both the way he writes and his sometimes hidden criticism of Africa. I think it is waste of time to read this book.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray, 18 Nov 2008
By now, most people are aware of the basic plot of this book: young man foolishly wishes that, upon seeing his current beateous youth captured forever in a picture, he could remain in that moment of youth forever, and the picture age in his stead. Not only that, but the picture becomes twisted and cruel as a result of the callous hedonistic behaviour perpetrated by Gray in his perpetual youth. At first, Gray is horrified, but then finds himself submitting to it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic novel, so fantastic that it made me sad that the eminently quoteable Wilde has only written the one. At one point, a bad-influencing friend of Dorian's lends him a novel that Gray is charmed by, a novel that tells of a man who lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with care only for pleasure and enjoyment, and it's this novel that kick-starts Gray's eventual downfall as it affects Gray's behaviour, leading him to eventually describe it as dangerous. Wilde's novel is possibly such a book: it's seductive discussions on hedonism, pleasure, and the real joys of life almost make one want to throw mores out the window and life such a life oneself, or at least wish intensely for a period that one has or could. Henry Wotton, Gray's witty, philosophical influence is a raconeteur, a man of life, who knows its pleasures and derides it's follies, chosing simply to ignore them. It's his discourses that are particularly charming and fascinating. There's obviously a temperance to his message (in terms of the whole arc of the novel), but that's almost neither here nor there. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a superb book, fascinating, witty, supremely intelligent and philosophical, romantic and gothic and chilling also. It's one of those books that might lay a bomb under your life, and it deserves its classic status.



Hard work, 09 Nov 2008
Found this book to be quite boring! The story was weak the characters dull, all in all an unenjoyable read and unnecessarily wordy.

nothing special, 22 Oct 2008
i didn't really like this book. i found all the characters quite irritating, and the story was fairly absurd and didn't really capture my imagination. more than that, i just didn't feel like there was any real depth to the book. there was nothing truly unpredictable, nothing particularly thought provoking. i don't think there's anything particularly impressive or engaging or interesting about the story. i also found wilde's style of writing so flowery, it just felt a bit fake and naff.
i don't think there's anything particularly special about this book, and i wouldn't say it's particularly worthwhile reading it.


A New Light....., 27 Sep 2008
After reading a review of "The Ripper Code" in the TLS, I had to return to my school favourite and reread it. It was fascinating to read it in a new light.

Sublime, 25 Sep 2008
I loved this book, not so much for the cautionary tale or the disintigration of Dorian's conscience, but for the beautiful philosophy embelishing the story; many of the things Henry says, for example, are interesting and thought-provoking theories on life. And I loved how youth and beauty were depicted in the book. The only criticism I would give is that it was far too short for my liking, and I thought that the part between Dorian's youth and his 38th year could've been elaborated on. Though an original, genius story!

VERY DISAPPOINTING, 04 Dec 2008
Very disappointing. Far too drawn out in quite a few places. Was well into it in parts and nodding off in others.

A great idea, but a little clumsy and clunky in execution.

Brilliant (But depends on which translation you read), 09 Nov 2008
In my opinion this is the greatest novel ever written, in that it is the most complete study of mental anguish and human suffering and redemption.

One caveat is that the only translation worth reading is that by Constance Garnett. It gets a lot of bad press by critics who claim it makes the novel sound very Victorian. I adisagree. I don't know which is the most faithful translation to Dostoevsky original text (I cannot read Russian) but this is so much more superior than the 'modern' translations. My favourite chapter (Part 4 Chapter 1) is totally ruined in the newer versions. And in many cases the new translation make the text unwieldy and inelegant.

Read this book, but do yourself a favour and read the Garnett translation.



Deep and relevant, 29 Apr 2008
Crime and Punishment beautifully captures moods and moments to guide the reader through the book as though we were truly looking through Roskolnikov's eyes. Dostoyevsky understands the danger that lurks in all of us, and the mind's ability to twist and justify actions and thoughts with the greatest of ease if we are thrown off the righteous path. This is reflected beautifully in the most extreme of scenarios that Roskolnikov finds himself in. It would be a challenge to pick this book up and not finish reading it.

Somewhat lacking..., 16 Mar 2008
Basically a story about guilt and redemption written with absolutely compelling characters and depth. The start is tremendously gripping though it starts to lose pace around the last quarter and meanders somewhat. The reason why I score this lowly is because the ideas placed out are a bit thin on the ground when you look at it objectively (I've read shorter books which have a much wider theme), you can't help but think that it could've been written in half the pages and for all the great character's in place, they fail to live up to there potential, that the story doesn't make enough use of them. It would be great if more actually happened as I felt a lot of what did happen was largely (and ironically) inconsequential. It's a little bit tragic that the main protagonist is a bit, to use the modern term, emo.

An unenjoyable read, 07 Mar 2008
I found this book to be unenjoyable. I could appreciate that it is very well written and would have been very ahead of it's time but also found it to be unnecessarily drawn out and convoluted.

It's claimed that, "The genius of the book is the commentary on many aspects of life" but I think it would be far better if the author could have intertwinned this with an interesting plot.



I can't believe people are claiming the style is dry!, 09 Nov 2008
I first read this a couple of years ago as part of an English Lit course, in which we studied in depth the language used.

The first thing to bear in mind is that this book is a product of its time. Of course there's inherent racism (Conrad's dehumanising presentation of the Africans as 'black shadows') but despite this, Heart of Darkness was an absolutely groundbreaking piece of colonial literature.

As to the style, which people have claimed is dry and unreadable (sorry that Conrad didn't have the courtesy to divide the novella into easy bitesize chapters!) it IS dense. But the language is so rich - pick out any one paragraph and you could talk about the literary techniques and the beautiful language used for hours!

The novella focuses on Marlow's journey as he approaches the 'heart of darkness' and eventually encounters the famous Kurtz. It makes social comments that would have been almost inconceivable to the readers of the colonial magazine in which it was first published, before making you, the reader, examine your own morals as it draws to its chilling conclusion.

Don't pick this up expecting a 100-page quick and easy read. But if you take the time to read this and appreciate Conrad's incredible use of the English language (not his own mother tongue!) I guarantee that you will find it worthwhile.

Intriguing but lacks in style , 18 Oct 2008
The concept for "Heart of Darkness" was very interesting. One man goes into the heart of the post-colonial congo to bring back a man who has lost his sanity, and critiques how these colonists treat the native Africans along the way.

But that is where it ends unfortunately, the writing style I felt was very poor, it seemed to be an ordeal more than a book and I felt my mind wondering at certain points. There were quite a few characters, but due to the size of the book (around 110 pages) Conrad seems to have decided to leave out any kind of description throughout the entire story. The overall image I got in my mind was a boat floating in darkness with a few bodiless voices on board and a load of African tribesmen dancing around in the distance.

The build-up to Kurtz was done well however, but when Marlow finally reaches him, the tension suddenly stops and thats it. We aren't revealed the apparently "unspeakable atrocities" that Kurtz has committed, and therefore I can neither relate to him or feel any kind of sympathy for him. The blurb says something along the lines that the story is a fascinating look into the darkness of human hearts when it comes to Kurtz. I did not feel this at all. All I saw was a man rolling around on a bed screaming "The horror! The horror!".

Throwing this aside, the reason I gave the story 3 out of 5 is because of the actual journey of Marlow. I felt that Conrad's take on colonialism, the look into the way that the British ran their companies, and the way that they treated the Africans (although some really horrible and moving imagery here) were very well done. So I'm being a bit lenient.

Other than that, the only thing I can say is that you should try it yourself, and see what you make of it.

No better after 20 years, 20 Aug 2008
I originally read this novel as a first year undergraduate in 1988. I found it dull and very hard work. I still remember having to force myself to read a page or two each night just to get through it. The horror indeed. I recently thought I would try reading it again as, after so long and with more mature tastes I might enjoy it. But no. I gave it my best shot - and then gave up. Maybe I'll have another go in 2028...

Brilliant fable of empire, 26 Mar 2008
An extraordinary book, which was so far ahead of its time that some contemporary reviewers (see above!) haven't caught up with it yet! It exposes the whole vile fallacy of empire - that arrogant pretension to rule over other peoples, all, of course, in the name of humanity and democracy! One of the truly great novels of our time.

Waste of time, 10 Mar 2008
We had to read this book in English and my god it is horrible. I have rarely read a more boing book and honestly I did not manage to read through it. I'm usually crazy about reading and I have read a lot of books, but this one was simply horrible. Both the way he writes and his sometimes hidden criticism of Africa. I think it is waste of time to read this book.

Wonderful set of books, 28 Sep 2008
I was blown away when I ordered this set of Jane Austen books. They are simply delightful - had I known how nice they were, I would have paid twice the price.

The books are just the right size for reading in bed (I cannot read the normal sized hardbacks this way as they are too heavy) and they are small enough to slip into a handbag.

The edges of each page are trimmed with gold colouring and there is a handy ribbon bookmark so you do not need to worry about losing your page.

I cannot stress just how lovely and charming this set is and would make a wonderful gift. I will strive to collect other books in this series because they are the loveliest books I've had.

Great., 31 Aug 2008
I love these books.
I am a huge Jane Austen fan and i received them for my birthday and I love them, they're so beautiful a small.


I'll never let this boxset go again, 29 Jun 2008
The reviewer, who said that the picture does not do this Jane Austen set justice is completely right. The set is beautiful. It consists of a sturdy, fabric-covered box with all of Austen's novels fitted inside. It is a little decadent with gold-tipped pages and little satin bookmarks, but of course it is Jane Austen. And yes, the books themselves are hardback and covered with the same bordeaux red fabric as the box itself.

I recommend the set to any one interesting in reading, or re-reading, Austen's book and any one looking for keeping editions of Austen's works.

One thing, I would like to mention, is that the fond is quite small - as are the books.

Louise.

Great set - fab present to receive, 16 May 2008
I asked for a set of Jane Austen novels for my birthday and was expecting the usual paperbacks - what a joy to find this - beautifully bound hardback, small books with a ribbon page marker, on bright white smooth quality paper (not the usual rough cream/grey stuff we've got used to). They are clear and easy to read, small enough for a handbag. Jane herself would have approved - book's to be cherished and savoured. Nicely boxed and sympathetic to the age it was created in! A lovely gift to receive. Many thanks to my hubby for getting this so right!

Beautiful little books!, 14 May 2008
This set is a must for the Austen fan. These editions are made to last and stand up to repeated readings and schlepping in pockets or purses. They are smaller than a pulp paperback but the print size is nice. The paper is very white and perfectly smooth with just a hint of blue to it

Like another commenter said: I can see Elizabeth Bennett curled up with one.

Elizabeth Bennet is the perfect Austen heroine: intelligent, generous, sensible, incapable of jealousy or any other major sin. That makes her sound like an insufferable goody-goody, but the truth is she's a completely hip character who ,if provoked, is not above skewering her antagonist with a piece of her exceptionally sharp, yet always polite, 18th-century wit. The real point of the book though, the critical question which will keep you fixated throughout, is: will Elizabeth and Mr Darcy hook up? Read this genuine all-time classic and discover the answer while enjoying a story that has charmed generation after generation.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 29 Nov 2008
The book is delightful and I enjoyed it immensely, the only downside of this paperback edition being that pages fall out as you turn them over and read them (only a problem if you drop them, which I did!). But what can you expect for £1.99?

It gives a very interesting insight into Victorian life of both poor and rich, and links what goes on in the outside world with the inner thoughts and the actions of individuals. Wonderful descriptions of people and places. Better than the television production, though rather long and needing a lot of concentration. Well worth buying, well worth reading, and I would have given it 5-star for content, but I marked it down to 4-star because of the many loose pages.

Dickens at what he does best!, 20 Nov 2008
Little Dorrit is a prime example of Dickens' weighty descriptive style and his genius for observation and characterisation. It also, perhaps unusually for Dickens, has a semi-coherent story line.
The book chronicles the respective fortunes of the title heroine, a young women caring for her incarcerated father in the Marshalsea Prison, and Mr Arthur Clennam, a kindly businessman returned lately from the east, who becomes obsessed with the idea that his father was responsible for the Dorrit families woes. An entrie host of characters, good and bad, amusing and obnoxious, accompany the main protagonists on their mysteriously intertwined journeys. The only fault I can find is with the tale's finale, when it seems Dickens grows tired of the story, not actually having a great twist for the climax, and bumps off many of his characters before ending with a rather predictable chocolate tin finish. However, your sense of achievment at having penetrated deeper into the world of Dickens, meeting memorable heroes and villains will probably overcome any misgivings on this score. The scene where Mr Pancks cuts the patriarch's hair is pure genius and the petulant Mr Dorrit, Flora Casby and her objectionable Aunt are another constant stream of entertainment.
Apart from the moral that money will not buy you happiness, Dickens also used this book to launch a scathing criticism against the government and society of the time, represented by the infamous Circumlocution Office and a certain affluent couple named Merdle.
An excellent read for all those who have a reasonable grasp of the English language or have enjoyed other Dickens books.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray, 18 Nov 2008
By now, most people are aware of the basic plot of this book: young man foolishly wishes that, upon seeing his current beateous youth captured forever in a picture, he could remain in that moment of youth forever, and the picture age in his stead. Not only that, but the picture becomes twisted and cruel as a result of the callous hedonistic behaviour perpetrated by Gray in his perpetual youth. At first, Gray is horrified, but then finds himself submitting to it...

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic novel, so fantastic that it made me sad that the eminently quoteable Wilde has only written the one. At one point, a bad-influencing friend of Dorian's lends him a novel that Gray is charmed by, a novel that tells of a man who lives a hedonistic lifestyle, with care only for pleasure and enjoyment, and it's this novel that kick-starts Gray's eventual downfall as it affects Gray's behaviour, leading him to eventually describe it as dangerous. Wilde's novel is possibly such a book: it's seductive discussions on hedonism, pleasure, and the real joys of life almost make one want to throw mores out the window and life such a life oneself, or at least wish intensely for a period that one has or could. Henry Wotton, Gray's witty, philosophical influence is a raconeteur, a man of life, who knows its pleasures and derides it's follies, chosing simply to ignore them. It's his discourses that are particularly charming and fascinating. There's obviously a temperance to his message (in terms of the whole arc of the novel), but that's almost neither here nor there. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a superb book, fascinating, witty, supremely intelligent and philosophical, romantic and gothic and chilling also. It's one of those books that might lay a bomb under your life, and it deserves its classic status.



Hard work, 09 Nov 2008
Found this book to be quite boring! The story was weak the characters dull, all in all an unenjoyable read and unnecessarily wordy.

nothing special, 22 Oct 2008
i didn't really like this book. i found all the characters quite irritating, and the story was fairly absurd and didn't really capture my imagination. more than that, i just didn't feel like there was any real depth to the book. there was nothing truly unpredictable, nothing particularly thought provoking. i don't think there's anything particularly impressive or engaging or interesting about the story. i also found wilde's style of writing so flowery, it just felt a bit fake and naff.
i don't think there's anything particularly special about this book, and i wouldn't say it's particularly worthwhile reading it.


A New Light....., 27 Sep 2008
After reading a review of "The Ripper Code" in the TLS, I had to return to my school favourite and reread it. It was fascinating to read it in a new light.

Sublime, 25 Sep 2008
I loved this book, not so much for the cautionary tale or the disintigration of Dorian's conscience, but for the beautiful philosophy embelishing the story; many of the things Henry says, for example, are interesting and thought-provoking theories on life. And I loved how youth and beauty were depicted in the book. The only criticism I would give is that it was far too short for my liking, and I thought that the part between Dorian's youth and his 38th year could've been elaborated on. Though an original, genius story!

VERY DISAPPOINTING, 04 Dec 2008
Very disappointing. Far too drawn out in quite a few places. Was well into it in parts and nodding off in others.

A great idea, but a little clumsy and clunky in execution.

Brilliant (But depends on which translation you read), 09 Nov 2008
In my opinion this is the greatest novel ever written, in that it is the most complete study of mental anguish and human suffering and redemption.

One caveat is that the only translation worth reading is that by Constance Garnett. It gets a lot of bad press by critics who claim it makes the novel sound very Victorian. I adisagree. I don't know which is the most faithful translation to Dostoevsky original text (I cannot read Russian) but this is so much more superior than the 'modern' translations. My favourite chapter (Part 4 Chapter 1) is totally ruined in the newer versions. And in many cases the new translation make the text unwieldy and inelegant.

Read this book, but do yourself a favour and read the Garnett translation.



Deep and relevant, 29 Apr 2008
Crime and Punishment beautifully captures moods and moments to guide the reader through the book as though we were truly looking through Roskolnikov's eyes. Dostoyevsky understands the danger that lurks in all of us, and the mind's ability to twist and justify actions and thoughts with the greatest of ease if we are thrown off the righteous path. This is reflected beautifully in the most extreme of scenarios that Roskolnikov finds himself in. It would be a challenge to pick this book up and not finish reading it.

Somewhat lacking..., 16 Mar 2008
Basically a story about guilt and redemption written with absolutely compelling characters and depth. The start is tremendously gripping though it starts to lose pace around the last quarter and meanders somewhat. The reason why I score this lowly is because the ideas placed out are a bit thin on the ground when you look at it objectively (I've read shorter books which have a much wider theme), you can't help but think that it could've been written in half the pages and for all the great character's in place, they fail to live up to there potential, that the story doesn't make enough use of them. It would be great if more actually happened as I felt a lot of what did happen was largely (and ironically) inconsequential. It's a little bit tragic that the main protagonist i