Hoggirl Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 If you were going to do one this year and one next year, which one would you do first and why? For a boy, if that matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Great Expectations is a little easier, imo. Two Cities is very bloody, very descriptive of some really heinous (albiet true) acts that were perpetrated upon the French people (and by them). First, which fits better into what you're doing with history at that time (we're going to Two Cities once we reach the American Revolution)? Also, which can your dc handle better (terrible personal story full of sadness and things, or really bloody national issues with terrible personal story)? Because I find Great Expectations easier to stomach (I love both books btw), I would go with that first. However, if you're doing this in history and you've reached the revolution Two Cities would be more pertinent and let your dc what was going on over the pond at the time (as well as some pretty funny comments regarding the American Revolution from a foreign perspective). Why are you waiting a year between them? Or did you mean, one before December and one after January? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) I would go with Tale of Two Cities for a boy. Having read both, I think Great Expectations would appeal more to a girl - it is more touchy/feely, thoughtful, etc. Tale of Two Cities is more action packed. It's also a wonderful book to read after studying the American Revolution in order to compare/contrast the two revolutions: why one worked and why one wasn't so successful, what was the basis for the rebellion of each, how did the leaders promote rebellion and get the general publics' participation, what did the leadership do after the revolution? But if you haven't gotten to the American Revolution, you might go with Great Expectations and save Tale for later. Both are great books. Edited September 23, 2009 by CynthiaOK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) We covered that in the spring of last year. We are about to hit the US Civil War and are currently reading The Red Badge of Courage. We are going to re-read A Christmas Carol, and I wanted to do one other Dickens. We are primarily doing American literature this year. We have many other things we are reading and didn't want to spend too much time on Dickens...that was why I was doing one this year and one next. ETA: Good grief! Subject line should read "past," NOT "passed!" Edited September 23, 2009 by Hoggirl I am a moron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I would go with Tale of Two Cities, for purely selfish reasons. They spent WAAAY too much time on Great Expectations in my 9th grade high school class, and if I never have to read it again, it'll be too soon. It bored the heck out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendall Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I read all the threads on which Dickens and Tale of Two Cities had the most votes, so that is the one that we did. It was the favorite book for both of my boys last year (14, 16.5). I did not expect to like it myself, but I did. I think I skimmed the gory parts, because they tend to haunt me. My younger, more reluctant reader son had trouble following it sometimes, but it was still his favorite book. He even listened to an MP3 of it after reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in PA Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I have read both and Tale of Two Cities gets my vote. The last several chapters of the book had me on the edge of my seat! For a boy I would definately choose it over Great Expectations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncmomo3 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 :iagree:I also vote Tale of Two Cities, but OH! how I loved Great Expectations...poor Pip, dear Joe. It is so full of fantastic characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 A Tale of Two Cities is great. I have tried several times, but have never made it more than halfway through Great Expectations. It's boring beyond belief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 :w00t:Tale of Two Cities! Tale of Two Cities!! I like Great Expectations just fine, but you can't miss A Tale of Two Cities. Yep, it's a bit gory and scary, but really Miss Havisham is pretty darn strange and scary herself, and GE is about 300 pgs longer than it needs to be. IMHO of course...:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 A Tale of Two Cities. I own Omnibus III, which I can use to help guide us through it. Thanks for sharing your opinions. I love this board! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-FL Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 . . . GE is about 300 pgs longer than it needs to be. IMHO of course...:D :iagree: Wasn't Dickens paid by the word for the serial work???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Dissenting view here. Great Expectations is a must-read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 LOL! We'll probably do it next year. I can only handle so much of it at a time! I was wondering (I probably missed it) how did your ds do on his math placement test for the private school after having had CD Algebra I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 LOL! We'll probably do it next year. I can only handle so much of it at a time! I was wondering (I probably missed it) how did your ds do on his math placement test for the private school after having had CD Algebra I? He's in Geometry! Yeah, Prof Mosely! And Spanish 2. Yeah, Latin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Now go check out my Zumba question on the general board! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 :iagree: Wasn't Dickens paid by the word for the serial work???? I always joke with my step-dad (who worships all things Dickens) that Dickens was a pulp rag writer who never used one word when he could use ten.:lol: I do like Dickens of course, I just like to watch my step-dad change colors. Can you even imagine dinner with Dickens and Hemingway together!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Can you even imagine dinner with Dickens and Hemingway together!? I have to admit that that would be an interesting dinner indeed. Perhaps we could invite e.e. cummings to further add to the fun! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 (edited) , Edited October 2, 2009 by Orthodox6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I would go with Great Expectations. But that is because I absolutely loved that book and hated A Tale of Two Cities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I absolutely loved Pickwick Papers, too! I had forgotten than one...I can see a new read-aloud in the future. Thanks for the reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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