Tag Archives: Charles Dickens

Book Questionnaire Full of Shame, Loathing and Lying

Posted on June 30, 2010 by sheila

I can’t remember where I initially found this questionnaire, but in re-doing my Categories I found the questions saved in Drafts. I had obviously seen them somewhere, and wanted to answer them eventually. Thought I’d bring it out now. Haven’t … Continue reading →

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Memos from David O. Selznick

Posted on April 30, 2010 by sheila

Excerpts from the phenomenally interesting and addictive Memo from David O. Selznick, part of the Modern Library “The Movies” series, and an absolute must-read for any film fan (or history-of-Hollywood fan). Selznick grew up in the fledgling movie business and … Continue reading →

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Today in history: February 27, 1807

Posted on February 27, 2010 by sheila

“Believe me, every man has his secret sorrows, which the world knows not; and oftimes we call a man cold, when he is only sad.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Beautiful. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born on this day, in 1807, … Continue reading →

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Christmas Carol:

Posted on December 13, 2007 by sheila

A guided tour. Wonderful observations, I love the point about feeling Dickens’ need to keep going, (in regards to the briefly mentioned detail about Marley’s gaping lolling jaw – a detail not referenced again). God, he was good. And the … Continue reading →

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Reading and Watching

Posted on November 19, 2007 by sheila

– finished Bleak House yesterday morning. My God! What a book! – started and finished The Road yesterday. Could not put it down. What a horrifying story. Scary, too: there were 2 moments in particular when I literally gasped out … Continue reading →

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The Books: “A Tale of Two Cities” (Charles Dickens)

Posted on September 13, 2007 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction A Tale of Two Cities – by Charles Dickens One of my favorite books ever. The interesting thing to me is: You know how you’re forced to read books in high school? And sometimes you’re … Continue reading →

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The Books: “Great Expectations” (Charles Dickens)

Posted on September 12, 2007 by sheila

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction Great Expectations – by Charles Dickens I was torn on which excerpt to post today! This book is so rich, so full – it spans many years – There were times when it made me … Continue reading →

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“Dear Madame”

Posted on May 30, 2007 by sheila

Dear Madame, you make an absurd, though common mistake in supposing that any human creature can help you to be an authoress, if you cannot become one in virtue of your own powers. – Charles Dickens, letter to reader, Dec. … Continue reading →

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“a large loving mind”

Posted on May 30, 2007 by sheila

He is a very great loss. He had a large loving mind and the strongest sympathy with the poorer classes. – Queen Victoria, journal entry – 2 days after the death of Charles Dickens, June 11, 1870

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Routine

Posted on May 30, 2007 by sheila

I don’t go upstairs to bed 2 nights out of 7 without taking Washington Irving under my arm. – Charles Dickens

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Re-Reading Tale of 2 Cities

Posted on January 4, 2007 by sheila

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Sydney Carton: ” a mirage of honourable ambition, self-denial and perseverance”

Posted on September 7, 2006 by sheila

Re-reading Tale of 2 Cities right now – and this passage struck me. When his host followed him out on the staircase with a candle, to light him down the stairs, the day was coldly looking in through its grimy … Continue reading →

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Dickens’ Monsters

Posted on September 4, 2006 by sheila

More from George Orwell’s essay on Dickens. The fact that Dickens is always thought of as a caricaturist, although he was constantly trying to be something else, is perhaps the surest mark of his genius. The monstrosities that he created … Continue reading →

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Orwell on Dickens

Posted on August 29, 2006 by sheila

I’m in the process right now of reading George Orwell’s mammoth (and unbelievably good) essay on Charles Dickens. It is dense, exciting – and it’s making me want to pick up all of those books again. I re-read Great Expectations … Continue reading →

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From Great Expectations

Posted on April 24, 2005 by sheila

I read this today in Great Expectations: That she had done a grievous thing in taking an impressionable child to mould into the form that her wild resentment, spurned affection, and wounded pride, found vengeance in, I knew full well. … Continue reading →

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Reading Great Expectations

Posted on April 20, 2005 by sheila

My reading of Great Expectations moves along at breakneck speed. Things are getting much more serious now. Pip has discovered who his benefactor has been all of these years, and is having an extended panic-attack about it. One of my … Continue reading →

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Re-Reading Great Expectations

Posted on April 14, 2005 by sheila

I am having such a good time with it that I never want it to end. Not only is it mysterious, and interesting … but also hilarious. I love the “voice” of Pip. There’s one long section when Mr. Pocket … Continue reading →

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Commonplace

Posted on March 5, 2005 by sheila

An excerpt from Michael Schmidt’s great book “LIves of the Poets”. I love this. [William Cullen] Bryant became a big noise in American journalism, a champion of liberal causes, and a catalyst. When [Charles] Dickens arrived in New York, he … Continue reading →

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The Perfect Imaginary Dinner

Posted on January 4, 2005 by sheila

As I mentioned, I did do a post on “People I would like to dine with, living or dead” But I’m gonna re-launch it, and re-format it, following El Capitan’s lead. Like Emily, this list would probably change on a … Continue reading →

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“God bless us … EVeryone!”

Posted on December 12, 2004 by sheila

Yesterday I drove many many miles to see my dear old friend Brett perform his one-man version of Christmas Carol. He does all of the characters, and he does it as though he is Charles Dickens himself – Dickens used … Continue reading →

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