Book #17: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickins

Book #17: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

Ranking Dickens

            At this point in the challenge, Charles Dickens seems like an old friend. If you need a refresher, I have already read David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. Finally, I have made it to Little Dorrit, the last Dickens’ novel I have to read for awhile. I have previously mentioned that Dickens is not the best author to binge read and his novels are best read with a decent amount of space between them. However, since I am extremely stubborn, I made myself read the books on this list in the order they appear in Gilmore Girls episodes and ended up reading these four in the span of six months. This was exhausting because Dickens isn’t exactly light reading. I suppose this is why Dickens’ novels were often originally published in monthly installments such as the case with Little Dorrit. Part of me sees this as smart as it keeps the reader engaged and wanting more, but it also drags out the process. Dickens isn’t like an episode of Scandal; you don’t necessarily have the desire to eagerly await the next installment with a big glass of wine.

            Out of the four Dickens books I have read so far, my rankings stand as: A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Little Dorrit. I believe that Little Dorrit is behind David

Copperfield merely because I read it afterwards. If I read Little Dorrit before David Copperfield, I probably would have liked it more. Most likely, I was burnt out from reading so much Dickens that by the time I came to this book I was just done with him. A lot of the themes and troupes Dickins uses in Little Dorrit, he does so much better in his other books. For example, the main female character of Amy “Little” Dorrit is reminiscent of Dora in David Copperfield. Little Dorrit’s father spends most of his life imprisoned similar to Lucie’s father in A Tale of Two Cities. Little Dorrit and her father are close in a similar manner to Lucie and her father. Arthur Clennam’s “mother” is similar in nature to the mean Mrs. Havisham in Great Expecatations. Furthermore, Amy’s older sister Fanny treats her the same way Pip’s older sister treats him. If Dickens’ other novels were not so great (he really did himself in on this one), maybe Little Dorrit would have stood a chance with me.

Money, Money, Money! (Yes, I am quoting an ABBA song…)

Since Dickens’ is often making a social commentary about money and class in his novels, I thought it be a convenient time to mention my new obsession: Downton Abbey. I know, I am about seven years too late to the party and am going off on a complete tangent here. Everybody has seen this show years ago, but TOO BAD I just started watching it now. I don’t know why I was so resistant to it for so long (there is my stubbornness again) because it is extremely addicting. But clouded under all the drama is a commentary on the British class system and money…just like Dickens! This shows how certain themes and motifs are used continuously throughout story telling. Also, reading Dickens and watching Downton Abbey at the same time made me feel very British and makes me yearn for England. I’ve been there once for a Shakespeare study tour (you’ll hear all about this when we read all that Shakespeare! Yay!) and want to go back desperately. But the more English works I read and more English television shows I watch, the more I attempt to speak in a British accent. I am so sorry to all my friends who have to put up with this. My sister tells me "Leigh, your British accent is you just speaking faster in a higher octave." Sigh....

Gilmore Boys

Since Little Dorrit is centered around a father and daughter relationship, I thought it would be a good time to bring up the father-daughter relationships in Gilmore Girls. We always focus on the mother-daughter relationships in the show, but the father-daughter ones are just as strong. Lorelei and Richard have a complex relationship but at the core, both would do anything for the other. Richard’s presence is huge over the course of the series and his death is omnipresent in the revival. Rory and Christopher’s relationship is not explored as in depth. Christopher is present in Rory’s life, but her loyalties usually side with her mother as she was the one who raised her. I would argue that Luke is more of a father figure to Rory. After all, he is the one that feeds her the most. I feel very lucky that I have such a good relationship with my father; I always have. 

Fun fact: In October 2011, The Guardian released the results of a poll in which readers voted for their favorite Dickens’ novel. Great Expectations won (no surprise, it is pretty great) followed by Bleak House (I’ve never read it, but one of my college English professors always raved about it). David Copperfield won third which surprises me and A Tale of Two Cities made it at four. Little Dorrit was ranked around 11 which isn’t too surprising as many people haven’t heard of it nor is it extremely memorable. It seems that many people had a similar opinion as I did.

Charles, my friend, it has been a fun six months. I've enjoyed (sort of) your stories of poor orphans, imprisoned fathers, and women with fetishes for doppelgängers. But, now, it is time to return to your admirer Leo Tolstoy and finish reading Anna Karenina. Wish me luck!  

Pictures

1.http://www.loyalbooks.com/image/detail/Little-Dorrit.jpg

2.https://a.wattpad.com/cover/111850375-352-k786598.jpg

3. http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/downtonabbey/images/8/83/Downton-Abbey-series-2-cast-promo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131128023506