Volume of Views: Dickens, Bronte, and Their Baffling Cohorts

Introduction:

As humanitarians of the word, readers often find themselves connecting with certain books and resonating with their stories. Yet, there are times when a book fails to capture our fancy, leaving us with a sense of disappointment or even disgust. This article will explore a discussion on a few of these unpopular books, including Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. The aim is to highlight why some readers are not fond of these works and to open a dialogue with others who may share similar feelings or, perhaps, disagree and love them despite their shortcomings.

The Illness of Great Expectations

Charles Dickens - Great Expectations: Some readers, including me, found Great Expectations to be a puzzling read. The main character's journey, as described, did not resonate well with me, and the book's concluding notes took an unexpectedly bleak turn. This was further amplified by the song-like recitals of 19th century English, which, to my ears, came off as rather tedious. These elements combined to make the experience of reading it an arduous task, and quite frankly, not something I would relish doing again. However, it might be interesting to hear from those who adore the book and can provide insight into how they find the narrative engaging and rewarding.

Chronicling the Woes of The Goldfinch

Don DeLillo - The Goldfinch: My recent experience with The Goldfinch took a familiar turn into the uncharted territory of struggle. Despite being a consistent admirer of Charles Dickens, this particular book ended up perplexing me. The narrative is dense and definitive, often requiring external aids such as Cliff Notes simply to delve into and understand, a departure from the usual reading experience. The first two pages of the Cliff Notes cover nearly three-fourths of the book, making the prospect of tackling the remaining content a challenge. The latter part, though not without its merits, could not compensate for the arduous effort required to reach it, making the journey toward the much lauded closing chapters a strenuous one.

Religious Texts in Controversial Contexts

The Bible: Moving away from literary classics to religious scriptures, one can easily stumble upon works that no longer resonate with current readers due to their outdated and often contradictory content. My personal take on The Bible is rather critical. While certain sections are indeed poetic and offer moments of great reflection, much of it has deeply historical and cultural relevance that may not be apparent or overpowered by its dated views. Concepts such as support for massacres, incest, and plagues, as well as beliefs that are contrary to the laws of physics or self-contradictory, make it challenging to appreciate. This religious text, in my opinion, has a rather outdated world-view and suffers from the style of much more leisurely times, such as the interminable lists of begettings, plotlessness, and repetitious nature of the gospels. The length of the Bible, 1145 pages, further adds to the challenge of wading through it, making it seem almost insurmountable.

Tangled Tales: Charles Dickens Yet Again

Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities, Our Mutual Friend, and Lord Jim: To complete this survey of Dickens' works, I must mention A Tale of Two Cities, Our Mutual Friend, and Lord Jim. A Tale of Two Cities is a remarkable example of Dickens' brilliance, but for me, it bore the brunt of a tedious narrative, leaving me unsure of the plot and its intricacies. With Our Mutual Friend, especially, the narrative complexity is challenging to follow, leading to a situation where I often lost my place in the story. Lord Jim, while a celebrated piece, has an excessive amount of stories within stories, which often made it difficult to stay focused and invested in the narrative. These books, I found, were more than they bargained for, with the story's labyrinthine pathways proving too much of a test for my patience.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, books can sometimes be daunting, and it's helpful to share our experiences to understand different perspectives. As readers, sometimes what may repel one can pique the interest of another. Great Expectations, The Goldfinch, The Bible, A Tale of Two Cities, Our Mutual Friend, and Lord Jim are just a few examples of books that have been praised by many and criticized by others. It's through discussing these varied reactions that we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for literature in all its forms.