Rating: 
Summary: slow
Review: It may have been the best of times or the worst of times, but it was certainly the slowest book I ever red. Though the book was slow, Charles Dickens made some great symbolism within the book, Like when the wine flooded the streets, or Madame Defarge's knitting, he symbolized the greatness, and the horror of the French revaluation. But alas, the book was slow, much to slow, but that was understandable, he wrote it as a weekly column in an American newspaper. So for the times, it was the closest thing they had to a soap opera. All and all I thought it was a good book, despite the dreariness, or slowness, and would recommend it to any who would enjoy a good, but thick book. -Luke-
Rating: 
Summary: an incredibly moving book
Review: A tale of two cities is my favorite book so far. Though Dicken's writing is primitive sometimes, he is also my favorite author. A tale of two cities is the only novel that i have ever cried over. I was extremely moved by the end of the book when it came to sydney carton's death. i had a difficult time continuing because my vision had gotten blurry from the continous flow of tears. I think carton was one of the significant characters and it was through him that i enjoyed the book so much.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tale of Two Cities and a Moral Lesson
Review: A Tale of Two Cities takes place during the time of the French Revolution in London and Paris. The French Revolution is a time of turmoil, sadness, and gloom in France for the aristocrats and poor people who die by the guillotine. Rebels who lead the revolution kill many people for unconscionable reasons. The guillotine becomes a large part of the lives of people during the French Revolution, and it takes the place of the Cross. Dickens did a superb job when he wrote A Tale of Two Cities because he is able to make a past revolution come to life. The action of the French Revolution makes the book interesting. Suspense is a major part of the success of A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens uses the suspense of the civil strife to keep the reader's interest in the novel. The author adds twists to the novel, to change the flow of the story line. Charles Dickens changes the line of A Tale of Two Cities when Charles Darnay goes to France to get his companion, Gabelle, out of prison. Darnay is put into prison also. The story moves to France, and the French Revolution becomes the major theme of the story.
Charles Dickens, the author, uses his voice as the narrator of the novel. Dickens' use of a narrator gives the characters in A Tale of Two Cities the chance to develop. One character is not telling the story from their view, and the reader is given a chance to establish their own view of each character. In A Tale of Two Cities, Lucie Manette is an important character. The reader is able to develop their own opinion of Lucie Manette as a cowardly figure because she always goes to her father, or faints, when things in her life are unsuccessful. The contrast of having a narrator would be to have a character from the story tell their opinion of characters, and the reader is forced to look at the other characters in the novel, like the character telling the story does. Lucie Manette could be described as a strong figure, because she was able to live through her husband's imprisonment and her father's resurrection from insanity to a loving and caring person.
Charles Dickens moves the plot of the story along slowly and fills the pages with superfluous information. The plot of the story is great, but the reader loses interest in the novel before it can get to the heart of the novel. The advanced vocabulary of the novel hinders the success of the story. The intimidating word choice of the author causes the reader to lose interest. The flow of the story is awkward, because Dickens does not stay on one subject as he tells the story. He speaks of the present events of a chapter and then refers to past events. Readers become mind-boggled.
Charles Dickens made the characters in A Tale of Two Cities imaginative. The main character of the novel, Sydney Carton, is a prime example of character development. He led a random life. His good friend, Robert Lorry, said, "Carton, your life is like a seesaw. A good spirit one day and a bad spirit the next day." Sydney Carton is an ignominious character but rises to be a man of high self-esteem. He saves Lucie Manette's husband from death by the guillotine, when he gives the ultimate
sacrifice, his life, because he wanted Lucie, her husband, and their child to have a life of happiness. Characters in A Tale of Two Cities live believable lives because their lives are flawed just like the lives of real people. Characters go through trials in their lives throughout the novel, these real-life situations make the reader feel closer to the characters. The reader enjoys and shares the emotions of the character. Dickens does a tremendous job of pulling the reader into the novel. Dickens is an excellent storyteller. He is able to bring out an important lesson of sacrifice, through a horrific story of the French Revolution. Charles Dickens uses Sydney Carton as the sacrificial lamb in A Tale of Two Cities. Sydney Carton shows the reader how someone can put the welfare of another person before your own. When the novel is finished, the reader feels like they have watched a man become a hero. There are strong emotions in the novel. A Tale of Two Cities is a story that will enlighten the heart and give the reader a sense of love, sacrifice, and hope. It is a novel that generations after us can read and be entertained by the emotions and terrifying scenes of the French Revolution.
Rating:
Summary: A miser learns to count his blessings and not his shillings
Review: Although I have read this Christmas classic a numerous amount of times, and I have seen a variety of stage productions; I will never tire of its characters or plot. Charles Dickens' use of descriptive words allows people young and old to comprehend the exact setting and emotions that were taking place in any circumstance. Furthermore, Ebenezer Scrooge was a fictional character that symbolized all of the stinginess, greed, and ill feelings towards men that are truly around today. One of my favorite parts occurs when Scrooge has already transformed into a new man, and he runs around like a-chicken -without-a-head buying presents for people. However, this wouldn't be a very good book if it didn't have a biginning and a middle too, so I am going to summarize the plot without giving away the ending. After years of being a cold-hearted wretch, Scrooge is approached by another Christmas (which is a humbug in his opinion), and would surely be no special event other than his normal greedy rituals. However, this is certainly not the case because his old, deceased partner Jacob Marley pays him a visit. He warns him that if he doesn't change his ways, he is doomed to be weighed down by chains like Jaco already is. Scrooge also learns that he will be visited by three spirits (Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) who will teach him to change both emotionally, economically, and spiritually. Do you think that he will change? I loved this book because it is a gift you can open again and again, and find a new surprise awaiting each time.
Rating: 
Summary: Entirely awful book
Review: Charles Dickens makes characters come alive and stay alive. There is always a character to relate to, despise, pity and love. Great Expectations is one of my all-time favorites. It has depth and meaning and just enough humor to ice the cake. A Christmas Carol is, of course, a classic that can be read and enjoyed by young and old alike. A great way to break into the classics. The reason I give this book 4 out of 5...A Tale of Two Cities. A muttled mess of ideas that never really reach an enjoyable plateau until somewhere in the last 50 pages. By book's end you only wish that the beginning mirrored the end. On the up side, it was a great bedside tome that made it possible to get an early night sleep. Overall though, this book is a must have. Read it, Enjoy it, Share it.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classics
Review: Charles Dickens makes characters come alive and stay alive. There is always a character to relate to, despise, pity and love. Great Expectations is one of my all-time favorites. It has depth and meaning and just enough humor to ice the cake. A Christmas Carol is, of course, a classic that can be read and enjoyed by young and old alike. A great way to break into the classics. The reason I give this book 4 out of 5...A Tale of Two Cities. A muttled mess of ideas that never really reach an enjoyable plateau until somewhere in the last 50 pages. By book's end you only wish that the beginning mirrored the end. On the up side, it was a great bedside tome that made it possible to get an early night sleep. Overall though, this book is a must have. Read it, Enjoy it, Share it.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Special
Review: First I want to steer everyone away from buying this particular version of Dickens' stories. Random House Value Publishing, Inc didn't even take the time to click Spell check or at the least have someone proofread it. Its plagued with spelling errors, and that takes away from the experience of reading anything. I should say that, so far, I've only read Tale of Two Cities, so any thing I say applies exclusively to that. I never did completely get over the thick 1800's language barrier. It was sometimes very distracting. The story is, in general, long winded, mellow dramatic and often times very laborious to read. Its a quaint little story, but I didn't really relate to the characters to much. Most of them were underdeveloped and flaky, almost to the point of seeming cartoony. In fact, the only character that I feel he took the time to develop is Sydney Carton. I really enjoyed the ending. Some good twists here, though the ending was, to me, transparent 75% through the book. All in all, I guess I really wasn't all that impressed. I feel compelled to respect it because its a classic and because of when it was written, but I wouldn't exactly call it a page turner.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Special
Review: First I want to steer everyone away from buying this particular version of Dickens' stories. Random House Value Publishing, Inc didn't even take the time to click Spell check or at the least have someone proofread it. Its plagued with spelling errors, and that takes away from the experience of reading anything. I should say that, so far, I've only read Tale of Two Cities, so any thing I say applies exclusively to that. I never did completely get over the thick 1800's language barrier. It was sometimes very distracting. The story is, in general, long winded, mellow dramatic and often times very laborious to read. Its a quaint little story, but I didn't really relate to the characters to much. Most of them were underdeveloped and flaky, almost to the point of seeming cartoony. In fact, the only character that I feel he took the time to develop is Sydney Carton. I really enjoyed the ending. Some good twists here, though the ending was, to me, transparent 75% through the book. All in all, I guess I really wasn't all that impressed. I feel compelled to respect it because its a classic and because of when it was written, but I wouldn't exactly call it a page turner.
Rating:
Summary: I thought it was a great book suitable for all ages.
Review: Great Expectations was a great book. It was very interesting and it was hard to put he book down once you have started it. I recommend that you read the book if you enjoy good stories about the changes of life.
Rating:
Summary: Entirely awful book
Review: Great Expectations was perhaps one of the worst book ever written. I'm no Dickens' expert, but I do know a little about literature- I don't know how this even passed through the editing stage. It is slow-paced, boring, pointless, and an all-out waste of time to read. I have read challenging books with strong points like this before, and have sometimes enjoyed them, but never have I read a book this pointless and difficult to read, with such a stupid ending. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND VALUABLE TIME ON IT!!!!!!!
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