Publication Date:June 1990 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days Condition:Excellent condition paperback, no spine creases. Ships from the United States!
Depth required to set up brilliant endingApril 11, 2008 A few reviews here have said the majority of the book is needlessly detailled and long and drawn out. I whole heartedly disagree with them.
Yes, the first two thirds of the book are detailled and cover the events and characters thoroughly but this is essential in setting up the magnificent finale. Without the in-depth back story, the ending would lose all of its power. Granted, while reading this detail you do not realise it is so important (hence maybe the feelings of indifference towards this part of the book) but without it you would not be so invested in the characters. You would not care about what happens to them and would not understand why the events of the past impact so heavily on what is happening to them. I'm not saying I did not require patience to get to the end, i did, but it was thoroughly worth it, and Dickens masterful writing keeps you engaged all the way through, especially in his description of the condition of France during the Revolution, which was a real eye-opener.
This was the first Dickens book I had read and will most definitely be reading every other novel he wrote! Highly recommended.
The best of times, the best of endingsMarch 19, 2008 Yes, its difficult to get into, but the payoff at the end makes it worthwhile. Its the best ending in British literature, also the most uplifting, and the saddest ... Read it and weep, and read it again and again
A Stunning ReadMay 21, 2005 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I had to read this for a course on Dickens at University and I found it an absolutely wonderful read. The start may seem slow but Dickens inevitably and necessarily takes time to paint his characters in intricate detail. The story progresses with Dickens' inimitable style and the ending moved me to tears. A must for any Dickens fan but perhaps not an ideal first read for a new-comer to Dickens (I would suggest Nicholas Nickleby for that).
A Tale of Two CitysOctober 24, 2001 0 out of 12 found this review helpful
Although I do agree that the beginning of this all time classic is a bit slow, I would not confine it to the first 150 pages, indeed all but the last 100 could have been taken out and, substituted for something a little less dull. However, for the last 100 pages it is well worth ploughing through the slow opening. Also this book is an incredible, and (for the last 100 pages) interesting way to increase your knowledge of the French Revolution.
Worth reading, but patience is requiredMay 2, 1999 3 out of 5 found this review helpful
If you can make it past the first 150 pages of the book then you're on your way to enjoying it, it's a good story, but the beginning is torture. If during the first 150 pages some freak had stolen the book from me, I would have been quite happy, and read a box of cereal instead. This box of cereal would have quite impressed me with its entertainment value. So if you like brief suffering followed by a long term pay off, then I recommend this book. The story eventually takes off, and happily you discover that 25 hours of your life have not been lost in vain.
