A Tale of Two Cities Read-Along Update #3: It Gets Better
Having the worst of times figuring our what this is all about? See the master post!
I’m so late with this post, I considered just rolling it into next Monday’s. But, this section was important because it turned things around for me. I was feeling very “I’ve made a huge mistake” (say that in a Job from Arrested Development voice) about this whole thing until after page 200. But I swear, it kept getting better and better. I hope most of you are hanging in there!
Why I got back into #1Tale2Cities in this section:
1. Dr. Mannett & Mr. Lorry
I love the scene where Mr. Lorry talks to Dr. Mannett about this affliction, without actually talking about it. A predecessor of the “I have this friend…” I found these two charming in this scene, and I started to understand the role Mr. Lorry plays in their lives.
2. Madame Defarge and The Vengeance
Still bad-ass. First of all, we learn Mme. D’s first name is Therese, which is also my middle name. Then she acquired a sidekick named “The Vengence.” They also behead a couple people in this section. Madame D. also tells Lucie off, which is all good in my books. Lucie is begging for mercy for her husband and child because sisterhood or whatever and Mme. D is all, cool story, Citoyenne, but I will fully kill your husband in the name of la revolution!
3. Sydney
Yes, his constant grovelling is annoying. In this section, though, I realized what his ultimate role was going to be – and having finished the book, I know I was right. And I love that. I love that this book is somewhat predictable. It’s a comfort read in a way. Pretty good for a book in which people are horribly killed and mutilated and what not.
4. The Grindstone
I just love this:
The great grindstone, Earth, had turned when Mr. Lorry looked out again, and the sun was red on the courtyard. But, the lesser grindstone stood alone there in the calm morning air, with a red upon it that the sun had never given, and would never take away.
But it’s not all good news…
1. Lucie
She still sucks.
That’s pretty much it. I like everyone else except Lucie. I might like Lucie, if I knew anything about her.
The Best of Blogs
Check out these posts from the #1Tale2Cities readers-along:
- Consumed by Ink pulls some great quotes.
- Reading in Winter is officially done with this book!
- Ebookclassics is pretty cranky too.
If you write an update post this week, link it in the comments and I’ll update here in the main post.
Tales Heard Round the Internet
- Ollie Dickens, great-great-great grandson of you know who, says this of TOTC: “I read A Tale of Two Cities over my gap year, and that’s when I began to realise how a big a thing it was – it hadn’t been blown out of proportion, he really did know how to write.”
Tune in next Monday for: the end!
Did anyone else think it got a lot better in this section?
Reading in Bed 
Hrumph, still not totally convinced, but I will finish the book and make a final (cranky) verdict. I agree with what you said about Lorry. He is so faithful and caring, and I didn’t see in the beginning that he would become practically a member of their family. Do you think you will try to read more Dickens in the future?
Yeah, I definitely will. I hear this is a departure for Dickens, so it doesn’t turn me off. Plus, I *have* to read Oliver Twist, the movie was a huge part of my childhood, it’s only right!
Yes, definitely got better. I read the last half much more quickly than the first half. That grindstone quote is a good one! And, I loved that article about the great grandchildren. Who would you want to be the great-g-g-grandchild of?
Haha, no one, because I would get annoyed with people asking me questions about my famous ancestor!
Reminds me of a book I read last year by Herman Melville’s great great great granddaughter. The back cover and marketing didn’t make a big deal about it – good thing, since she’s nothing like him, as far as writing goes! (Tigers in Red Weather)
Oh, I have that book, but haven’t read it. Now, when I read it, I will know who she is!
Good point about people asking too many questions. I wouldn’t like that either.
Honestly, I don’t love any of the characters right now. Perhaps I’ll like everyone more when I’ve finished the book too, but so far all the characters feel very flat to me. Actually Madame Defarge is an exception to that statement… I don’t like her, but she’s certainly an interesting character!
Her story is my favourite. I need a sidekick named The Vengeance.