I have a hard time giving this book four stars instead of five. The pacing dragged a bit in some places and it wasn't my personal favorite from Dickens. But that doesn't mean it isn't a work of genius. The characters, plot, themes, etc are all obviously Dickensonian and wonderful and make this book well worth the read.

Story of Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit will never be my favourite Dickens novel. That is reserved for David Copperfield, Bleak House and the Pickwick Papers, so far. The problem I had, was that I could not fully empathise with the main characters, Clenham and Little Dorrit. My problem I think, was the fact that they were so...good! And not really in an interesting way. Little Dorrit is so self effacing she was practically invisible. I realise that she represents an ideal, but it is an ideal that leads to tedious reading. Clenham, also suffers from that disease of goodness, though much more active and practical. The secondary characters were more interesting, the Dorrit family, flaws galore there. Mr. Dorrit sometimes drove me to moments of inarticulate rage...Fanny was annoying and Tip was a simple idiot. Pancks I loved, that final scene where he confronted his deceitful and hypocritical employer was simply priceless. There are others, such as Clenham's mother. the Flintwiches and Rigaud that were interesting. Tattycoram and her relationship with Miss Wade were all too briefly dealt with, two of the more complex characters (in my humble opinion) really not given much to do. The chapter on the Circumlocution Office was I felt an exercise in brilliance. Bureaucracy in Government indeed. Too much rambling, dragging chapters. Characterization for the most part not compelling. But a good story in there somewhere.

4.5/5 Read for my Charms O.W.L 2019 - (age line: read an adult work). Dickens is to Dickens as Dickens is to Dickens. He's timeless which is why I struggle writing reviews on his novels. There's nothing in the world like a good English classic.