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The Old Curiosity Shop
Nov. 1st, 2013 06:03 pm“For if Dickens has one gift above all others, it is surely his ability to inspire in readers the feeling that existence, however terrible, is wonderfully and infinitely preferable to non-existence; that even the consciousness of death is better than no consciousness at all.”
-- Peter Washington, introduction to “The Old Curiosity Shop”
I opened up a Charles Dickens slot in my reading life with “The Old Curiosity Shop”. I was thinking about starting with Oliver Twist, but as I had read it in college, I decided to break in a new story, and this one has been on my short list for years. One of his best, it seems. It is always fondly spoken of.
I question the wisdom of opening more reading slots, feeling a desire to try to keep down the number of books that I am juggling in the air. It takes a while to complete a circuit, more time than I like. But I have been hankering for Dickens for a long time now, and I decided to force the issue. This gives me six reading slots. I would feel better if there were only four books, but time’s winged chariot draws near, and I would rather get a little taste of the books that I badly want to read rather than holding off for months.
* * *
Having begun the novel, I am reminded anew why one should read Dickens. Although his plots may not be the best and most convincing contraptions, his characters and scenes just swallow you whole. Yes, I will be keeping Dickens with me from now on.
-- Peter Washington, introduction to “The Old Curiosity Shop”
I opened up a Charles Dickens slot in my reading life with “The Old Curiosity Shop”. I was thinking about starting with Oliver Twist, but as I had read it in college, I decided to break in a new story, and this one has been on my short list for years. One of his best, it seems. It is always fondly spoken of.
I question the wisdom of opening more reading slots, feeling a desire to try to keep down the number of books that I am juggling in the air. It takes a while to complete a circuit, more time than I like. But I have been hankering for Dickens for a long time now, and I decided to force the issue. This gives me six reading slots. I would feel better if there were only four books, but time’s winged chariot draws near, and I would rather get a little taste of the books that I badly want to read rather than holding off for months.
* * *
Having begun the novel, I am reminded anew why one should read Dickens. Although his plots may not be the best and most convincing contraptions, his characters and scenes just swallow you whole. Yes, I will be keeping Dickens with me from now on.
