2. Vote on choice of novels.
a. A Tale of Two Cities
1859
History
Secrets & mysteries; revenge & sacrifice
135,000 words
Pros:
Perfect for the format we are using
Lots of interesting threads that are pulled together
A bit of everything-- love, action, mystery
Characters to love and hate... and some to figure out
Easier to read than the other two
Cons:
Starts a bit slow
Lot of characters
Can get bogged down in some descriptions
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
b. Ivanhoe
1820
Adventure
Honor & treachery; knights & chivalry
193,000 words
Pros:
More action than the other two
Unusual roles for some stereotypical characters
Cons:
Stuffy language...harder to read
Very long
In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by
the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest,
covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys
which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster.
The remains of this extensive wood are still to be seen at the
noble seats of Wentworth, of Warncliffe Park, and around
Rotherham. Here haunted of yore the fabulous Dragon of Wantley;
here were fought many of the most desperate battles during the
Civil Wars of the Roses; and here also flourished in ancient
times those bands of gallant outlaws, whose deeds have been
rendered so popular in English song.
c. Pride and Prejudice
1813
Manners
Prejudice and pride; love and wit
121,000 words
Pros:
Witty
Strong female character
Cons:
Very wordy
Complex language...harder to read
Little action
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may
be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well
fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered
the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
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