My work here is done

[litlover12]

From the time my godchildren were little, I've sent them children's books about Dickens, annotated A Christmas Carol for them, and so forth. It appears to have paid off. Their mother reports that my oldest godchild, age 9, picked out and bought David Copperfield at the used bookstore!

My friends, I am a happy godmother.

Comments

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

Isn't that a great feeling? Well done!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

A very great feeling! Now I just hope she likes it! :-) She is pretty young for it, but I think it's a good thing that she picked it out on her own and doesn't feel like anyone's making her read it. Even if she just dabbles in it for a while, that'd be good!

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've read it, myself. I think that's amazing for 9 years old! Like you said, even if she just reads bits here and there, that's great!

[spiderorchid81.livejournal.com]

Good choice indeed! :)

[tempestsarekind.livejournal.com]

Yay! Oh, how nice to know that you've created such an interest.

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely feeling! :-)

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Aww, yay! You have truly succeeded in life! :D

[victoria-tonks.livejournal.com]

I have been meaning to ask you a Dickens-related favour. ;) Namely, I have just finished listening to RA's David Copperfield audiobook - and oh, what a treat it was! - and I think I have fallen a little in love with Dickens. So far, I have read DC, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol. Now, what should I go for next? I own The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, and basically, I mean to read all his novels step by step, but for now I need something which is not very dark and depressing. Do all CD's novels have a happy ending? Maybe it is a silly question to ask, but well, I need to know. :)

So, if it is not too much of a trouble, would you be so kind as to suggest some reading order to me? :)

And well done on the godmothering front! :D

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I'm always happy to answer a Dickens question! :-)

Pickwick is a comic novel with very little plot -- it's more just a string of episodes. As I recall (it's been a while) there's some melodrama sprinkled in here and there, and a melancholy tale or two, but on the whole it's quite a cheerful novel. Oliver Twist has what I would call a bittersweet ending -- things turn out well for the young hero, but the book goes to some very dark places on the way. From what you say, I'm not sure it's the book for you right now.

If you want one that's not too dark and depressing and that DOES have a plot, I think I'd recommend Little Dorrit. It does have some darkness, as most Dickens novels do, but it also has a sense of hope. It's rather like David Copperfield in that way. Maybe also Our Mutual Friend.

[victoria-tonks.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I think I will read LD first; OT will have to wait for my summer holidays.

Thank you again - you have been very helpful!