Questions About A Tale of Two Cities

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I just tried this book yesterday, and barely came trough the first 30 pages. I didnt exactly know who said what, and what there was said. Is it true that this book may be quite a work to read? That i just should try again in som years? Or do you have any tips on how to read this book in a nice way? :)

Sarah A Tale of Two Cities is definitely a challenging novel, so please don't feel discouraged if you're not getting as much out of it as you hoped! It is t…moreA Tale of Two Cities is definitely a challenging novel, so please don't feel discouraged if you're not getting as much out of it as you hoped! It is true that the novel takes a bit of thought and, for lack of a better word, work to get through. But for all the obstacles, I do believe that it was worth every painstaking second!

The best advice I can give you are as follows:
1. Download a dictionary app on your mobile and keep it near you while you read. It's a quick way to improve comprehension. And Dickens really loved his vocab words!
2. If you ever come across a sentence or paragraph which you can't quite understand, the best thing to do is read it one (or two) more times, and just move on. If you can just get the general gist of what Dickens is trying to say, then you're doing great! Try not to get too hung up on parts you don't understand.
3. If there is a point in the plot which is a bit confusing, briefly skim over the section once, lock that moment in your mind, and move on. A Tale of Two Cities is like a drama. The first half is the set up, and may be crazy confusing, but everything comes together in the end to paint one amazing picture.
4. Try going to summary sites like litcharts or sparknotes. I really recommend litcharts, which gives you a detailed summary of what happened in the novel, and also gives analyses. Here's the site: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/a-tale-o...
5. Buy an annotated edition of A Tale of Two Cities. If you get the Barnes and Nobles edition, they'll give you footnotes and endnotes, which really clarify the historical and political situation. I'm not quite sure of Penguin Classics' endnotes, since I stick to B&N, but both companies are very good.

Again, this is a really challenging book. I really hope you decide to push on with Dickens, because he is worth it at the end! But I also completely understand if you want to take a break and lay the novel off to the side for a bit. There's nothing wrong with taking a break from a book!

Best wishes~(less)

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How good a read is this?

Zaphirenia Very highly recommended. Even though I read it as a child, I remember very clearly the impact that left on me. Dickens is one of the greatest writers …moreVery highly recommended. Even though I read it as a child, I remember very clearly the impact that left on me. Dickens is one of the greatest writers of all time and this is certainly a great book.(less)

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Can anyone tell me what exactly did Mr. Cruncher do late in the night out of his home back in England? What did he mean by the word "flopping"?

Rhedyn Cruncher was a grave thief. He stole valuables from bodies, but in this particular instance, he accidentally dug up a coffin full of bricks. By "flopp…moreCruncher was a grave thief. He stole valuables from bodies, but in this particular instance, he accidentally dug up a coffin full of bricks. By "flopping" he meant his wife's praying. ("flopping" onto her knees.)(less)

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What is your favorite character? Also, has anyone else cried reading this book? I just finished it a few weeks ago and, I have to say, those last few chapters were ROUGH. :'(

Christopher Hughes

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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I'm currently studying AS level History and one of the main topics I've been studying is the French Revolution. I'm considering reading this book to get a perspective about the revolution different from the one I normally come across in textbooks, but the length is a bit of a put off. Is it worth reading and do you think it will be useful in A level History? Thanks.

Michaele This is one of the greatest books ever written, but if you want a quick historical perspective on the French revolution, just read the last chapter. I…moreThis is one of the greatest books ever written, but if you want a quick historical perspective on the French revolution, just read the last chapter. It is a book you will want to read when you have lots of time to enjoy Dickens, who is never in a hurry to tell his timeless stories.(less)

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