Coeur de Joy

I just recently finished reading Nicholas Nickleby. I've read Dickens before, but it was always required reading, and I just skimmed through to get what I needed out of it for a class. But this time was a life changing experience. I can truthfully say that I am now obsessed with Dickens.

Austin and I went to Barnes and Noble on Saturday night, and after selecting his WWII history book, he found me in the literary fiction section holding no less than 9 Dickens novels. I was in severe distress trying to pick the next one to read, and couldn't bring myself to put any of them back on the shelf. He calmly told me that he would buy me one for each holiday, starting with St. Patrick's Day. So in just a few days I will be getting David Copperfield. Or maybe Bleak House. Or maybe The Pickwick Papers...Good thing Austin will just be making the decision for me.

And as excited as I am to read every blessed word that man has ever written, it's hard to imagine I will love any as much as I loved Nicholas Nickleby. The story is one of the most heart wrenching and tragic, but at the same time so heroic and good. Dickens has a way of creating the most wretched, evil, horrible characters who do unspeakable things, and then contrasting them with characters that represent the goodness and charity that exist inherently in mankind. Just when you think all hope is lost, he restores your faith in humanity.

Even if you don't want to tackle the massive book, the movie is wonderful too. It obviously doesn't do the story total justice, considering that at least twelve characters are left out for the sake of time and simplicity. And it just can't represent the giving nature of the Cheeryble Brothers. Or the villanous evil of Wackford and Mrs. Squeers. Or the hilarity of Vincent Crummles and the infant phenomenon......so maybe just make sure you watch the movie AND read the book. It's more than worth it.