advice column: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

almitra asked this:

in regards to the Dickens classic: A Tale of Two Cities. It has a wonderful and often quoted beginning, an ending that is not just a page turner, but sincerly thought provoking as well (particularly Carton's last thoughts on his sacrifice before his meeting his date with destiny- the guillotine) but so often I found myself getting lost or bored somewhere in the middle with the longwinded rambling. Am I missing something of great value? Am I being a shallow reader and simply looking for plot action to carry me along? Have you found this to be a common occurance with this work? (well, I guess, I have a few questions for you). And lastly, what is your general impression on the novel as a whole, and in comparason to his other works as well as that of his contemporaries, etc.Oh, I guess another question- I'd take any of your reading suggestions, if there are any you'd like to share, or just what you read or are interesting in.

i don't think you're missing anything, almitra. you have correctly recognized the paradox that is dickens: his writing is both profound and tedious, insightful yet insipid, thoughtful but dreadfully boring. and here's what i think accounts for this paradox: he was paid by the word. no joke; this is why all his books are dreadfully long and dry. but he is an amazing writer, a man who understood the universality of suffering and sacrifice. he certainly represented his era accurately; in this and the fact that he leaves his readers with hope after a treacherous plot, he is well worth the time and anxiety it takes to carry us through the dry spells.
i will not make the judgement call that you might be a shallow reader looking for plot and action to carry you along--that is what some people like in a good read. but you obvious recognize his literary impact and the importance and genius of his writing, so i think you're okay. yes, i have found this to be a common response to this work and many of his others. the only novel of his that i did not have to drudge through was great expectations. as far as comparing him with other writers of his time, he is by far my favorite; though, jane austen wouldn't be a distant runner-up. her characters are well written and developed; who doesn't like darcy, the egotistic prick of a male who transforms into an emotionally-secure sap? good stuff. one last comment: i really, really love russian literature, which is far more dry and tedious reading than any dickens, so perhaps that is why it doesn't bother me so much.

apropos other suggested reading a la moi, i will begin a preliminary list for you, though be aware that it is composed neither with order or preference or other rhyme or reason.

anything Anne Lamott--her memoirs and her fiction are equally entertainig; she writes with a decadence i have seldom encountered
anything Dave Eggers--ahwosg is brilliant; i particularly love that while reading that book i would laugh outloud and receive strange stares
absolutely anything David Sedaris--his cadence is amazing; if you ever get the chance to attend a reading, do it at all costs. it's worth it.
lawrence ferlinghetti--my favorite poet
anything Mikhail Bulgakov--you've probably read my spiel on Master and Margarita already
anything Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn--particularly Cancer Ward
anything Tatyana Tolstaya--a less-known contemporary Russian author
Ralph Ellison--Invisible Man
Zora Neale Hurston--Their Eyes Were Watching God is full of brilliant imagery
Toni Cade Bambara--check out her short stories in Gorilla, My Love
Fitzgerald--Great Gatsby is good, Tender is the Night is better
anything Faulkner, Hemmingway, Morrison, Woolf, LOVE Steinbeck
damn, this is harder than i thought.

right now i am reading A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, because it's neat and also that's the current read for book club; Anne Lamott's new book Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. i just finished Grapes of Wrath for the third time and Master and Margarita for the eighth time, and i have a hell of a reading list for myself this summer, especially since i won't need to do any prep reading for the teaching i won't be doing!!!

this is by no means a complete list; i'll submit this and then think of ten more amazing authors or novels. but i'm happy to keep in regular contact about anything literature-related, so let me know if i can help further.

thank you for your question.
i encourage more questions for my advice column!!! bring it!!!