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Summary: The Greatest English writer's Greatest novel
Review: My first experience with Dickens was in 9th grade, when I was forced to read Great Expectations. I remember the experience as painful and ardous. But after reading A Tale of Two Cities, I realize that my opinion must have been influenced by excessive pouting. There is simply no way that a man who could write something one the level of A Tale of Two Cities could write something tedious. When people say that everything important can be found in this novel, they are not exagerrating. Love, tyranny, triumph over oppresion, the futility of the mob, and, most importantly, self-sacrafice. This is one of the greatest novels ever written, I don't hesitate to say so. Dickens has a singular ability to present an enveloping view of all humanity, all it's triumphs, struggles, and failings, and yet he can still produce characters who don't get lost in the sweep of the plot. In addition to this, Dickens (along with many others, such as Hugo, Dostoeysky, and Tolstoy) marks the transition from the "listing" style of writing (simple list of events written down) to the truly artistic novel. You'll find yourself rolling his words over your tounge, in awe of their brilliance. For your own sake, read it, read it again, and never forget it.
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Summary: Truly a magnificent classic for all time
Review: I love when I'm able to adore a text I've heard about my entire reading life that has been described a masterpiece. Charles Dickens one of the best writers ever. I had to get over my fear of being disappointed over something that has been exhaulted. I was not only NOT disappointed, I gained further trust in myself and abilities as a fine reader. You will too. I envy those who haven't read it yet.
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Summary: A Pleasent Story
Review: In the novel A Tale of Two Cities has many interesting characters. The one I have chosen is Mrs. Pross is a hard working woman and a trustful person but her eyes were swollen and red so she couldn't see very well. A lady was walking down the street and asked her a question that turned into a fight with Mrs. Pross holding the lady tight in her strong arms.
I like this book because it has rich description. I am so glad I read this book because my mom read this book in ninth grade and I'm in sixth grade. I recommend this book because the characters come alive and you feel that your really there. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you do too if you read book!!!!!
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Summary: The history interweaved into the book
Review: "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens was a marvelous novel observed through many aspects. Through Charles Darnay's character, Dickens had interweaved the setting of the novel. The comparison of England and France in 1775 is made apparent by haveing Darnay a part of both of the worlds. This is one of Dickens' best works. He fabulously combined suspense, love, and politics into this novel.
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Summary: Setting
Review: The setting of this book is a realistic reflection of the way that life was in 1775, and it displays the relationship between the French and the English of that time.
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Summary: It was the best of times...
Review: This book starts and ends with two of the most famous quotes in the english language. I must admit I had some trepidation when I first began this book. My qualms were put to rest after the first three chapters. Yes, there are some words we dont use anymore, don't let that discourage you. I looked up a few in the dictionary, so what! This book is one of the best I have ever read. Dickens weaves an intricate tale, giving us seemingly unrelated tidbits which all come together at the end with one pull of his master storyteller thread. Skip the afterward in the Bantam classics version, as it is complete gibberish.
I had thought Dickens would be too verbose to get through. On the contrary, I found this book readable and enjoyed his prose. Do yourself a favor and check out this one. I am going to read more of Dickens in the near future!
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Summary: Wonderful Book - Take your time
Review: A Tale of Two Cities is without a doubt my favorite book I have ever read. I first read it in English class about 7 years ago in high school. Like many other High School students, I did find it very wordy. However, I did not let that put me off from reading the book. Once I got into it, I found it to be an extremely moving story. When I finished it that first time in High School, I thought it was a very good novel, and I understood why it is considered to be a classic.
However, I feel that in order to really fall in love with the story, it should be read again, outside of a classroom setting. In English classes, you have deadlines, and plenty of tasks to do in your other classes. You can't really take all the description and symbols in, you just have to get the jist of it.
It wasnt until I was thoroughly bored on numerous trains across Europe that I discovered how wonderful this book can be. This book should not be sped through. Take your time, and think. After a while, you'll actually appreciate all the details, and will understand the characters better as a result.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book to read if you can read it
Review: I must say that A Tale of Two Cities rekindled the flame for reading in my heart - but that only happened through the usage of CliffNotes. A Tale of Two Cities is a wonderfully written book that may be overlooked as boring because of its wordy and monotonous description of exposition at the beginning. After the first chapter, the story remains just as wordy but it becomes gradually more interesting. My only suggestion is to keep the CliffNotes handy - if not, at least keep your friend WEBSTER there right next to you.Once you get past the confusion with WEBSTER, the real forte of this piece is shown. Dickens is actually able to keep this story together over such a long timeframe. Dickens also gets credit for making sure that every single event in this story has a strong role to play (despite that role being written twice as complex than it really should have been). One big suggestion to any reader planning to read this book is to learn about the French Revolution or at least the Reign of Terror (an event inside the French Revolution which happens to be particularly important in this book along with our friend HISTORY BOOK). After utilizing the amazing knowledge you have on the Reign of Terror, you'll be able to make maddening connections that should please our other friend ENGLISH TEACHER. In short (and not altogether coincidentally, in closing), A Tale of Two Cities should be a worthwhile read if you can keep WEBSTER close, HISTORY BOOK closer, and ENGLISH TEACHER very, very far away (which is something you should do anyways out of general common sense).
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Summary: Saving Charles Darnay
Review: Immortalized in movies and frequently quoted in TV trivia games, this classic is set against the bloody tapestry of the French Revolution, preceding and during the Reign of Terror. Innocent people on both sides of the English Channel are swept up in the current of seething passion and agony, from one capital, across water and beach, to yet another capital, in a demented attempt to appease long-denied justice. It is unfortunate that the excesses of the Privileged are counterbalanced by the atrocities of the Oppressed, as centuries of aristocractic abuse are purged in a national bloodbath of revenge run amuck. This tale (originally serialized in newspaper installments) presents a twist on the eternal triangle plot; father-daughter-suitor/husband, as the three men who love Lucie Manette deeply-- but in different ways--struggle to protect their adored angel.
Forged over a few decades, the inevitable chain of events which results in the ultimate sacrifice of self, is revealed in various poignant links--albeit not in perfect chronological order. The sins of the past are revisited upon the innocent (or barely guilty) heirs, as two letters written from prisons produce cataclysmic social results. Devotion, treachery, honor and pitiless vindictiveness are the threads which the author has knitted into his literary Register of personal tragedy which is inextricabley woven into a national horror. This novel provides a great study of the vicious, remorseless cult of the guillotine, along with Dickens'usual parade of memorable primary and secondary characters. A must-read for Dickens' admirers and students of the French Revolution.
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Summary: terrifying and moving
Review: this is dickens' most emotionally powerful novel. the final scene on the scaffold is one of the few times dickens elicits the tears without doing violence to the reader's sensibilities. the tears flow naturally and willingly. the story is nicely structured, and there are no wasted subplots, characters, or even words: everything works towards the single end of telling the story of people swept up in the destructive wave of the french revolution. the greatest achievement, though, is the unyielding atmosphere of disquiet transformed to terror that overhangs the whole book. dickens was always supremely good at creating atmosphere, or "mood", but TOTC is his greatest sustained effort. (that it's also one of his shortest books might have something to do with that!)
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