Matthew M. Conroy reviewed Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
Review of 'Dombey and Son' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
At this point, I've read all but four of the novels of Charles Dickens. This is definitely one of his lesser works. It starts really well, with excellent writing, characters and descriptions. But about halfway through, it plateaus, and then coasts for a long time -- hundreds of pages -- and then ends. Oh, there is a little excitement with Edith and Mr. Carker toward the end, but this is too little, too late.
I think Dickens blew a chance to have a really exciting story: he could have paid some attention to Walter after he sails. Walter could have had all sorts of interesting adventures, involving wild characters, as he sailed and then was shipwrecked, and rescued, etc. Similarly with Uncle Sol in his travels.
But, no. Dickens just has them go away, disappear, be taken for lost, and then has them simply show up near the end of …
At this point, I've read all but four of the novels of Charles Dickens. This is definitely one of his lesser works. It starts really well, with excellent writing, characters and descriptions. But about halfway through, it plateaus, and then coasts for a long time -- hundreds of pages -- and then ends. Oh, there is a little excitement with Edith and Mr. Carker toward the end, but this is too little, too late.
I think Dickens blew a chance to have a really exciting story: he could have paid some attention to Walter after he sails. Walter could have had all sorts of interesting adventures, involving wild characters, as he sailed and then was shipwrecked, and rescued, etc. Similarly with Uncle Sol in his travels.
But, no. Dickens just has them go away, disappear, be taken for lost, and then has them simply show up near the end of the book, safe and sound, and they don't even tell us their stories. Quite disappointing.
