EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion

Hello all - starting up discussions for the AUGUST 2017 BOTMs. This discussion is for the group's poll selection for the CLASSICS category: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

This discussion will be SPOILER-FREE. If you have read the book and want to discuss, hop on over to the spoiler-filled discussion HERE .

Happy reading!
Kasey

I read this in high school, almost four decades ago. I don't remember much though except that I enjoyed it. I very much look forward to reading it with you all.

Read this for the first time on my own last October. Will be great to discuss it with everyone.

First time reading this ever -- as well as first time participating in a book club! I'm worried that I'm not cut out to read Dickens -- I tried reading Oliver Twist when I was in middle school and couldn't get through it. Really hoping I manage to read A Tale of Two Cities since I've had an unread copy for far too long!

I am listening to the audiobook and it does start a bit slow but it is picking up now.

I read this book in 8th grade - but don't remember anything about it except that the two cities are Paris and London and I liked it. I'm about 100 pages into it and feel it goes from slow to interesting to slow. I'll keep pushing forward - hopefully the interesting sections become more plentiful!

Ive never read this one before, I'm thrilled

First read this about 30 years ago. Would say it's a slow burner but worth sticking with. Love Dickens way of creating characters. His observations on life at the time are spot on.

I tried reading this in High School, right after I fell in love with Austen. I though I would experiment some more with classic literature... and then read ten pages into this and decided to go back to fantasy. I've never been a big fan of dry beginning... and this one is soooo dry.
I'm going to have to muscle through it.

Diane wrote: "I read this book in 8th grade - but don't remember anything about it except that the two cities are Paris and London and I liked it. I'm about 100 pages into it and feel it goes from slow to intere..."

I remember only the "It was the best of times & the worst of times," plus "she sat knitting, knitting & knitting..." Looking forward to seeing again how they fit together.

Haven't read a classic in a long while, so this should be interesting. Hoping to understand it and fly through it!

I just finished the book - and want to encourage those that are struggling that the last half comes together much better than the first half! I liked how the various threads that I struggled through all came together.

I'm having a hard time getting through this one too!! I think classics aren't really my thing, so I love being in this group because it makes me want to push myself.....I'm about a third of the way through, so I know I can do it!!

Tanya wrote: "I'm having a hard time getting through this one too!! I think classics aren't really my thing, so I love being in this group because it makes me want to push myself.....I'm about a third of the way..."

It gets better after the first third as well so it should get easier! :)

I have a hard time getting started, too, mostly because I have to get used to the language most classics are written in. Once I get into it, though, I feel like I get momentum and whip through to the end.

I'm looking forward to reading this. Despite a degree in English Literature, I somehow managed to miss reading this one. The reviews are all fantastic (although many mention that the beginning is a bit tough to get through), so I can't wait to get started. I find that psychologically I always feel intimidated by a Dickens - I have no idea why as I've read a few and ALWAYS loved them. Looking forward to seeing what people have to say about it here 😊

Part 2, Chapter 1..... WTF.
I'm usually perfectly fine with accents, slang, etc... this book tells me different.
I got the kindle version with audio and text, most of the time I use it together. Today, because I'm super behind, I decided to listen while I work. Biggest mistake ever. I had to turn it off, I understood nothing!!
I hope Part 3 comes in quick.... as intrigued as I was by the mystery of the previous chapter, the beginning of part 2 killed me.

Read 53% of it so far and I still have a feeling that I'm missing something or do not understand it fully. It's hard for me to get a feel for this book.

This is the first Dickens' book I read. I'm 14% into it and besides the mistery and hidden information, I just feel that Dickens is sad and grim.

Everyone should be happy to note that I am 76% into this... and it's much more exciting.... it's just so so so depressing.
I'm an escapism reader, and this book is much to real for me to enjoy. It's good, it's just not my cup of tea.

Beginning to read the book today. It is a re-read for me, but I have forgotten a lot.

: )

I had a late start on this book and am struggling as well. I am pushing through more from my determination than true interest. I suppose this is just one example of how it helps to have a group - since others have pushed through, it's encouraging me to keep going too.

-Kristin H

Kristin wrote: "I had a late start on this book and am struggling as well. I am pushing through more from my determination than true interest. I suppose this is just one example of how it helps to have a group - s..."

I only started today Kristin; glad to know I'm not the only one. It took my some time to find a physical copy. I'm not having the best time with the language though, it's confusing me a lot.

This book is definitely not holding my interest either, but I pushed myself through A Clockwork Orange and I'll push myself through this too...

Kristin, F, and Lessa,

Keep going!! There's no shame in starting late!

I honestly only started early because I knew I would hate it at first. I tried reading it years ago, and I remember throwing the book across the room in frustration after just the first chapter. And I was right! I read it sparingly, and only when I felt the crunch of time on me.

But in all honesty, by the time you get halfway through the book, the pace will speed up and you will enjoy it much more. It DOES get better, take heart!