peyton_'s review against another edition
2.0
This is like every other Dickens book or classic from the 1800s. Class systems and gender expectations are paramount and characters try to navigate society. I’ll be honest, this book immediately lost my focus and interest. Every time I tried to get back into it I found myself wandering from the book again. It was a real struggle.
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
A typical character driven Dickens novel, but not with all the happy perfect ending that is normal with Dickens.
carlq's review against another edition
4.0
Bleak House follows the story of Esther Summerson, a young girl who knows little of her history or heritage who, after the death of her care-taker finds herself as a ward, along with cousins Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, under the guardianship of John Jarndyce.
Whilst the story explores many different narrative points and has a number of different sub-plots throughout, the primary through-line that ultimately connects all the characters is that of the court case "Jarndyce and Jarndyce", a long-running and seemingly never ending court case that is conflicting over the owed inheritance due to multiple conflicting wills, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare are beneficiaries of one will with John Jarndyce another. However, despite this being the ultimate through line that carries on through the entire tale the stories focus remains entirely upon its many characters throughout.
The story of Bleak House is told through two primary perspectives. One, a first hand exploration of the story by Esther who writes about her perspective of the events in the past and the story along with her feelings and emotions towards the characters around her, the rest of the story exploring all the other character tales is from an omniscient narrator who follows a number of additional characters and tells their stories and connections without the personal and emotional additions.
Bleak House has a great and varied cast of characters that offer different points of view from all social, political and career points. This allows the story to explore the world and offer a commentary on many of the social and political standings of the day whilst drawing the reader into the everyday lives of a varied range of characters.
Overall, Bleak House is a long but enjoyable read thats strength lies within its great varied characters and manages to remain both surprising but comforting throughout.
Whilst the story explores many different narrative points and has a number of different sub-plots throughout, the primary through-line that ultimately connects all the characters is that of the court case "Jarndyce and Jarndyce", a long-running and seemingly never ending court case that is conflicting over the owed inheritance due to multiple conflicting wills, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare are beneficiaries of one will with John Jarndyce another. However, despite this being the ultimate through line that carries on through the entire tale the stories focus remains entirely upon its many characters throughout.
The story of Bleak House is told through two primary perspectives. One, a first hand exploration of the story by Esther who writes about her perspective of the events in the past and the story along with her feelings and emotions towards the characters around her, the rest of the story exploring all the other character tales is from an omniscient narrator who follows a number of additional characters and tells their stories and connections without the personal and emotional additions.
Bleak House has a great and varied cast of characters that offer different points of view from all social, political and career points. This allows the story to explore the world and offer a commentary on many of the social and political standings of the day whilst drawing the reader into the everyday lives of a varied range of characters.
Overall, Bleak House is a long but enjoyable read thats strength lies within its great varied characters and manages to remain both surprising but comforting throughout.
gracerennie's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
erintby's review against another edition
4.0
I was amazed how many characters he kept introducing, and then somehow they all actually related to the plot. I was very impressed.
toloveisdestroy's review against another edition
5.0
A house not so bleak after all. As per always, Charles Dickens doesn't disappoint in this equally happy and sad tale.