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gntis's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
littlelifewrecker's review against another edition
2.0
I started this one last December and never finished it so I decided to try again this year. I don’t know why but it was just hard for me to connect with the story. Richard Armitage is one of my favorite narrators so I really don’t know why. I may need to try this one in another format because I feel like I just couldn’t get into it this time.
writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Charles Dickens 1844 novella that concerns the disillusionment of Toby "Trotty" Veck, a poor working-class man. When Trotty has lost his faith in Humanity and believes that his poverty is the result of his unworthiness he is visited on New Year's Eve by spirits to help restore his faith and show him that nobody is born evil, but rather that crime and poverty are things created by man.
For December for book club we picked two short books, and since it's the holidays we decided one of them would be The Chimes by Charles Dickens. I had never read it, and overall I find Dickens can be tedious to read, even though I've enjoyed movie adaptations of several of his books, but I wanted to give this one a try. This story felt similar to A Christmas Carol in some ways, so it was inevitable that the two would be compared. While The Chimes is about the new year with resolutions and change being the major themes of the story, there are the sequences where the main character sees what the future could be like for his loved ones, and that reminded me a lot of A Christmas Carol. It's not a pretty picture, but of course I wasn't expecting it to be, this is Dickens after all. This story is more heavy handed and dreary feeling than A Christmas Carol and I did not enjoy it as much, but the overall theme and message was a good one that I could appreciate.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
For December for book club we picked two short books, and since it's the holidays we decided one of them would be The Chimes by Charles Dickens. I had never read it, and overall I find Dickens can be tedious to read, even though I've enjoyed movie adaptations of several of his books, but I wanted to give this one a try. This story felt similar to A Christmas Carol in some ways, so it was inevitable that the two would be compared. While The Chimes is about the new year with resolutions and change being the major themes of the story, there are the sequences where the main character sees what the future could be like for his loved ones, and that reminded me a lot of A Christmas Carol. It's not a pretty picture, but of course I wasn't expecting it to be, this is Dickens after all. This story is more heavy handed and dreary feeling than A Christmas Carol and I did not enjoy it as much, but the overall theme and message was a good one that I could appreciate.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
firstimpressionsreviews's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
First Impressions
I got The Chimes on Audible last year as I wanted to try the narrator, Richard Armitage as well as read some of Charles Dickens’ other holiday offerings.
Novel Impressions
I have mixed feelings about this story. In true Dicken’s form, the writing is superb, and the author brings depth to the Victorian era. However, I think I went in expecting something akin to A Christmas Carol and get my holiday warm fuzzies on. That is not the case with The Chimes. I found it to be a depressing tale of humanity and as far away from a Hallmark Christmas special as you can get.
Audio Impressions
Richard Armitage is a fabulous narrator and can’t believe I am just getting around to listening to his narrations. He has a clear voice with perfect diction, making it very easy to fall into the story.
Final Impressions
Overall, The Chimes is classic Dickens, and could see myself listening to it again.
I got The Chimes on Audible last year as I wanted to try the narrator, Richard Armitage as well as read some of Charles Dickens’ other holiday offerings.
Novel Impressions
I have mixed feelings about this story. In true Dicken’s form, the writing is superb, and the author brings depth to the Victorian era. However, I think I went in expecting something akin to A Christmas Carol and get my holiday warm fuzzies on. That is not the case with The Chimes. I found it to be a depressing tale of humanity and as far away from a Hallmark Christmas special as you can get.
Audio Impressions
Richard Armitage is a fabulous narrator and can’t believe I am just getting around to listening to his narrations. He has a clear voice with perfect diction, making it very easy to fall into the story.
Final Impressions
Overall, The Chimes is classic Dickens, and could see myself listening to it again.
brig_berthold's review against another edition
4.0
I will tell you, I did not expect what I received.
This was a last minute decision for me. Audible.com offered this short title to its members as a Christmas gift and I, for one, cannot refuse a free book. Seeing Dickens, I was certain to receive a well written story, complete with a melancholy exposition, dismal rising action, and a strong moral. What I did not expect was an altogether unforeseen resolution which left me bounding with joy. The finale of this tale will leave you having learned the lesson with feelings of contented, emotionally charged, gratitide for the author's humanity.
Trudge through this brief example of Dickens' mastery of craft as compelling characters are allowed a happily ever after, rather than the socio-economic crucifix so common in this author's cannon.
This was a last minute decision for me. Audible.com offered this short title to its members as a Christmas gift and I, for one, cannot refuse a free book. Seeing Dickens, I was certain to receive a well written story, complete with a melancholy exposition, dismal rising action, and a strong moral. What I did not expect was an altogether unforeseen resolution which left me bounding with joy. The finale of this tale will leave you having learned the lesson with feelings of contented, emotionally charged, gratitide for the author's humanity.
Trudge through this brief example of Dickens' mastery of craft as compelling characters are allowed a happily ever after, rather than the socio-economic crucifix so common in this author's cannon.
fr_eddie's review against another edition
3.0
Ti è piaciuto "Canto di Natale" e odi i poveri? Questo è il libro perfetto per te!
Caro Charles, capisco che mi vuoi fare il messaggio di non perdere mai la speranza, ma, tra tutti i personaggi, mi spieghi perché quelli con le visioni da incubo sono gli stessi poveri a cui i ricchi rubano il cibo, si divertono a insultare, rendono la vita una merda? Tra perdere la speranza ed essere un pezzo di merda, penso ci sia qualcuno che stia peccando di più. Povero Trotty, lascialo in pace.
Lo consiglierei? No. Il messaggio è carino, è abbastanza scorrevole ed è corto, ma se proprio devi leggerti qualcosa del genere vai a leggere "Canto di Natale".
A meno che a te le persone che provano a fare del loro meglio non stiano sul cazzo
Caro Charles, capisco che mi vuoi fare il messaggio di non perdere mai la speranza, ma, tra tutti i personaggi, mi spieghi perché quelli con le visioni da incubo sono gli stessi poveri a cui i ricchi rubano il cibo, si divertono a insultare, rendono la vita una merda? Tra perdere la speranza ed essere un pezzo di merda, penso ci sia qualcuno che stia peccando di più. Povero Trotty, lascialo in pace.
Lo consiglierei? No. Il messaggio è carino, è abbastanza scorrevole ed è corto, ma se proprio devi leggerti qualcosa del genere vai a leggere "Canto di Natale".
A meno che a te le persone che provano a fare del loro meglio non stiano sul cazzo
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
less known than A Christmas Carol, but still a nice quick read. did find my interesting drifting towards the beginning
bigjohnspud's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nokisuu's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook because of Richard's voice acting. He really gives his all for every role he does.