Martin Chuzzlewit

Had a bargain with my partner: he'd read Mansfield Park if I read two Dickenses.

I started reading Martin Chuzzlewit in November. I finished it yesterday. This is an abnormally long time.

I didn't hate every minute. Young Martin was boring; Mark Tapley and Tom Pinch more fun, but their fates were obvious; the Pecksniffs were the most interesting characters. Jonas Chuzzlewit - boring.

As a study of selfishness and hypocrisy this works - except for the homilies and moral message. But that's of its time. As an exciting read, it didn't work - not for me. There were no surprises. There was no compulsion. No overarching story that forced to read until you finished it. Pecksniff got his come-uppance. The good guys got their rewards. Yay. But so what?

Dickens has a genius for naming characters. And each character is distinct and perfectly drawn. But so what?

So what? Who cares? Why should I care?

Partner said the same about Mansfield Park, which he did read - so what? She got married, so what?

I'm guessing Martin Chuzzlewit was a transitional book for Dickens. Maybe it doesn't work on all levels, but it wasn't a waste of time to read it. Some of his sarcasm, early on in the Pecksniff chapters, was worthy of Jane Austen herself.

I'm going to try David Copperfield next. There must be some reason for his classic status. Maybe he just doesn't chime with me.

Current books: The Benefits of Passion by Catherine Fox, The Portrait of a Lady (again) and Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde. Flora's Lot is a waste of time. Diverting and amusing but that's it.