Reflections on Dombey and Son | Mega Dickens Readalong
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- #Dickensalong
In which I discuss my thoughts on Dombey and Son . . .
Spoilers from 25m43s
Dombey and Son, Charles Dickens: / dombey-and-son
The audiobook I listened to: www.audible.co...
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The Schedule
The Pickwick Papers, 1837: October and November 2022
Oliver Twist, 1838: December 2022
Nicholas Nickleby, 1839: January and February 2023
The Old Curiosity Shop, 1841: March 2023
Barnaby Rudge, 1841: April and May 2023
Martin Chuzzlewit, 1844: June and July 2023
Dombey and Son, 1848: August and September 2023
David Copperfield, 1850: October and November 2023
Bleak House, 1853: December 2023 and January 2024
Hard Times, 1854: February 2024
Little Dorrit, 1855: March and April 2024
A Tale of Two Cities, 1859: May 2024
Great Expectations, 1861: June 2024
Our Mutual Friend, 1865: July and August 2024
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1870: September 2024
The Schedule
The Pickwick Papers, 1837: October and November 2022
Oliver Twist, 1838: December 2022
Nicholas Nickleby, 1839: January and February 2023
The Old Curiosity Shop, 1841: March 2023
Barnaby Rudge, 1841: April and May 2023
Martin Chuzzlewit, 1844: June and July 2023
Dombey and Son, 1848: August and September 2023
David Copperfield, 1850: October and November 2023
Bleak House, 1853: December 2023 and January 2024
Hard Times, 1854: February 2024
Little Dorrit, 1855: March and April 2024
A Tale of Two Cities, 1859: May 2024
Great Expectations, 1861: June 2024
Our Mutual Friend, 1865: July and August 2024
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1870: September 2024
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This book gave me all the feels! So many amazing characters and scenes. In addition to those you mentioned - the ball scene at school where Paul doesn't know it's for his benefit and the wonderful prostitute/beggar facing their reflections. And Captain Cuttle replacing his hook with a utensil or tool! You know, it completely flew over my head that Dombey remarried solely to produce another son. 😮 Makes so much sense. And how powerful is it that the "son" is a symbol of patriarchy and sort of a cause of Florence's neglect and misery is so beloved by everyone and such a pure, gentle creature. ❤ Love, love, love this book.
So many great scenes
Totally unapologetic effusive review Katie -loved it! Domby and Son is my favourite book so far in the read along - I’m very sad it’s come to an end but I look forward to David Copperfield now!
this makes me want to re-read this right now!! (It is a great book and it always makes me smile when Mr Toots calls Captain Cuttle, Captain Gills - kind of reinforces that found-family/romantic under-current) Thank you for your thoughts on this!
Yes, I hadn't quite thought of that, with the muddling of the surnames, but that is lovely!
Deffo top 5 Dickens for me as well.
This is my favourite that we’ve read so far. That said, I really enjoyed Barnaby Rudge. The fact that he makes Florence, Paul, Captain Cuttle, and Edith likeable and not caricatures shows how he’s grown as an author.
I found Edith very unlikeable. She was on the same level as Mr. Carker the manager to me. She was so unrepentant even to the end. I found her to be odious.
Thank you for this wonderful review! It was my favourite of the books we have read so far (but still to get to Oliver Twist!). Like you said, there was so much to love in this book, but I shed a tear at the end for Edith.
All I can say is that I still hear Captain Cuttle saying, “Stand by, Wal’r!” in my head and it makes me smile every time.
I so loved reading Domby and Son for the first time many years ago, and was utterly taken with the character Florence. So gentle, forgiving, accepting, loving. I immediately borrowed her married name Florence Gaye as my Google name and incorporated it into my email address (perhaps hoping a little of Florence's beautiful nature would somehow be imbued in me; jury's out). Each time I give my email address I imagine the recipient of it saying "Oh, from Domby and Son!", it hasn't happened yet, alas. I'm very glad you reviewed this underrated Dickens book, and seeing all the comments here has been heartwarming. Thank you for this lovely series of videos. Kind regards, "Florence"
Florence truly is a beautiful character to name oneself after.
Thank you for this! I'm with you re favorite characters. This is my favorite Dickens so far. Of course, it is the only one I've read! Looking forward to David Copperfield and going back to catch Barnaby Rudge at some point. Re your comments about the harmful effects of an obsession with money: It's clear that Mr. Dombey's "money is everything" perspective is damaging to himself and everyone in his orbit. But it's also clear that the lack of money can also be tragic -- which I guess I will see more of in some of Dickens' other novels.
I agree the title was most fitting.
I finished Dombey and Son two days ago! It was a long read for me, but very enjoyable. Thank you Katie for your wonderful enthusiasm and knowledge for all things Dickens. It has motivated me to place a priority on getting through Dickens canon more quickly. Five down, nine to go! You have a lot of great thoughts. If I could add a few thoughts, I'd say that Dickens wrote a letter telling his friend he wanted to show the destructive effects of pride in relationships. Mr. Dombey is consumed by his pride and it ruins his relationships, but Edith is also prideful, and she suffers because of this as well. Mr. Toots reminds me a lot of Tom Pinch from Martin Chuzzlewit. Unpopular opinion-I think I actually enjoyed The Old Curiosity Shop more than Dombey and Son. Thank you for your indefatigable efforts in sharing about Dickens!! You are a treasure!!
Alice and Mrs. Chick are also very prideful. Mr. Carker is full of pride too masked with oozing false humility.
Contrast this with Florence, Paul Jr, and Harriet who are all very humble and forgiving. Also John Carker turns humble after his own wrongdoing.
@@stst77 Love these insightful comments!! One of the character types that Dickens repeats in several of his works is the falsely humble types, like Uriah Heep, Seth Pecksniff, and James Carker. I think Dickens had a strong aversion to hypocrisy.
@@adamhasideas6813 i agree.
I read Dombey and Son for the readalong and absolutely loved it! Very complex and once Edith was on the page I got why you are constantly gushing about her as a character. I also really liked Alice. I was talking to someone about the novel and I said that Carker felt like the moustache twirling villain, but Mr Dombey (and patriarchy/capitalism) was the true villain.
So true!
“Moustache twirling villain “ is a good description of Carker, but i can’t describe Dombey as “the true villain”considering he completely repented and became such an attentive and caring man in the end.
Excellent review!I think one of the most memorable moments was Dombey standing on the staircase looking at the footprints of the tradesmen trying to envisage those of Florence.Well said about the death scene of Harker.I'm convinced Tolstoy refashioned this into the climax of his novel Anna Karenina.
Possibly there are qualities common to most humans which minimize the impact of gender writing, such as jealousy, desire, heartbreak, pain, fear, and elation: To name only a few. Additionally, sometimes it seems there are situations people experience regardless of the accidents of their births, including gender, class, race, etc. So, in the novels of Charles Dickens I've read I feel that I can appreciate things beyond the bad cheese Scrouge ate before undergoing a life-changing nightmare (or was it a visitation of angels and ghosts?) Of all those qualities, the one interests me most is the occasional and unexpected revelation that gives life poignancy, if not meaning.
Loved Dombey and Son. Favorite character was Edith. I wished Dickens would have delved into Edith and her mom's past. Would have been very interesting.
Great review, Katie! It was a good book. The narrator on the Audible version was really really good. I absolutely, utterly despised Mr. Dombey. It was difficult to even listen to his words. Dickens nailed is as far as an unlikable character goes. Conversely, the other characters, especially the Captain and Toots, were brilliant. Edith was amazing. I was so happy when she left Mr. Dombey. It made me so sad when he prevented her from showing Florence any affection. Dombey didn’t deserve Florence’s love or kindness.