Katie, your enthusiasm for Dickens is truly inspiring. I finally, at age 54, made my first foray into Dickens, having always felt rather intimidated by him. Took your advice and started off with Great Expectations. Absolutely loved it!! He’s truly a league of his own. Am going to devote the next 11 months to reading all the rest of his novels, so that by the time I turn 55, I can celebrate the accomplishment of a long-standing reading goal! Moving on to David Copperfield next. Terribly excited about this journey. I think it’s going to be a very enjoyable year of reading.

I love your enthusiasm for Charles Dickens. I feel it too. He is my favorite author by far. It is amazing that over 150 years after his death he still has such a large following. Thank you for your insights!

Excellent tips Katie! I especially love, "Don't take Dickens seriously." I know that has been my problem previously, so that is a relief!

How to read it in amounts is very helpful as you are so right reading it in small chunks is better than reading a few pages at a time

Currently reading DOMBEY and SON. ♥️

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

My second favourite Dickens - enjoy :)

@hyacinthh6900

Жыл бұрын

@@katiejlumsden Fabulous! It is a wonderful story: From precious Paul, Walter, so sweet Florence, devious Mr. Carker. Combination audio and follow with my book. Been an enjoyable time! ♥️ Wish I had appreciated and known what an amazing author CD was years ago. This is only my second story by him. Trying to make up for lost time now. :)

@stevenfullman5646

Жыл бұрын

Loved Dombey and Son.

@user-rd8tw8jh7n

2 ай бұрын

Me to

Pickwick is hysterical and I’ve just a few chapters in. Your video today was so informative, and I must say that I’m not sure that I would have attempted Dickens without your insights over the last couple of years. Thank you Katie!

@DressyCrooner

Жыл бұрын

It's the funniest book I've read in my entire life, with the possible exception of Ulysses by James Joyce.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

@lw3646

Жыл бұрын

​@@DressyCrooner yes, I found Nicholas Nickleby really quite funny but the PickWick Papers is the best. The court trial farce, the obscene corruption at the by-election, the way Mr PickWick accidentally is always getting into some kind of mishap. The only change is near the end when he finds himself in a debtors prison and meets all kinds of misery and suffering there. You wonder of the sudden death of his sister in law was the cause of that.

Great recommendations. The length is daunting but for me any book over 700 pages I normally give myself 2 - 3 months to read it. I think I will try David Copperfield next.

I guess I am weird I absolutely love Charles Dickens books.

One thing I think Dickens did so well was coming up with names for his characters, when you say them out loud each one just feels so right. Mr Pickwick - quite a fun word to say. Florence - smooth and kind of elegant, implies quite a feminine person Mr Murdsone - the word murd is quite harsh and the word stone implies a rigid and hard personality Estelle - sounds quite posh Uriah Heep - oh dear.... Steerforth - a little aristocratic Peggotty - the word peg makes you think of a washerwoman or something, someone humble but probably nice. Tiny Tim - a small vulnerable person Scourge- quite a harsh sounding name Mr Jingles- probably quite a funny lively character Arrabella - probably quite pretty, the word Bella being Italian for beautiful. Mr Winkle - sounds quite comical and pleasant, reminds us too of the word twinkle Pip - probably, perhaps agricultural Wackford Squeers - horrible, the word wack implies a beating and Squeers is really unpleasant, sounds slimy and wrong Mr Gradgrind - a hard grinding character Stephen Blackpool - solid name.

Always appreciate your insights on Dickens. He is my favorite classic author. I like your point on not worrying about understanding every line, paragraph, or reference. Sometimes I am too fastidious and feel I have to re-read until I understand. I am currently listening to Dombey and Son on audio book and reading Edwin Drood for the first time ever.

Great tips, I love your enthusiasm for Dickens, it has made me want to read all of his books. I will be starting The Pickwick Papers very soon.

December 2023 & going to start Bleak House soon and thought this bid would be helpful and not was it ever !! 😅thanks Katie. Great sage advice and insightful delivered with fun 😊

Excellent video! I shared it on my Facebook. My father read the classics aloud to us with lots of different voices during my childhood. I got used to encountering words I didn't understand and just enjoying the story. I hope teachers take the time to read aloud in class so that students get that experience if they don't benefit from that at home.

I love Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. I need to reread Great Expectations to give my opinion of it. I read it a long time ago in high school. I read A Christmas Carol every Christmas.

Wonderful way to approach Dickens!He is an incredible author and never fails to entertain or make you laugh with his true to life observations of how silly yet endearing the human race can be.💝

Great tips for the Dickensalong! Thank you for helping us get started on the right foot.🧡

I’m reassured that my view of Dickens is not as odd as I thought. I love A Christmas carol and Bleak House, but I started with The Old Curiosity Shop and I don’t remember the humour in it at all. The title sounded fun, but I guess you don’t judge a book by its title! I an on the #dickensalong but have been slow to get started. Thank you for making classics more accessible and relatable Katie! 💖

Really great thank you, that was very helpful advice. My friend and I read books together, like our own mini book club, and we have just decided to read A Christmas Carol. We are just finishing The Idiot so it looks like Dickens will bring us a bit of light relief.

Oh my; you’re absolutely right about reading Dickens when young. Just plunging in and going with the tide is a fantastic experience and led me to a life-long love of this author.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

That's just it :)

All great advice, above all "enjoy the ride" and not overthink him. I am looking forward to finally watching this 2020 David Copperfield adaptation later this month.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

I loved the adaptation - I don't think everyone did because it does really play havoc with the plot, but it was so thoroughly fun and Dickensian.

Fantastic tips .I now feel more relaxed about reading Dickens . Thanks so much, and yes please, more videos like this.

Looking forward to this two-year Dickens-Reading-Journey! Thanks for the list/links of adaptions. I like watching and reading Dickens through the autumn/winter season....and the spring and autumn season as well. =)

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

I love how much you love Dickens. This channel is my go-to for any Dickens content 😁 Especially because omg the reason why I love Dickens is because he's FUNNY but nobody I know seems to know that. No other author has made me laugh so much. But exactly as you said, the perception that he's a high brow author to be analysed and studied is what people think. Dickens' novels are basically written soap operas. I read them like episodes hahaha

So helpful, thank you! I started the audible of The Pickwick Papers today, so the bit about not really understanding what's going on at the beginning was very reassuring 😊

I second the part on reading by instalments; I did that myself and was able to finish a Dickens novel in ~a month.

I read Great Expectations a while ago and liked it but recently started reading Our Mutual Friend and didn't understand the beginning at all so DNFed it. With your helpful tips in mind, I'm going to try it again, but first - Pickwick Papers. Thank you for this valuable video!

Thank you Katie. These are very helpful tips. I’m listening to The Pickwick papers and enjoying it. It is quite silly. I am hoping to follow along with you on your Mega Dickens Adventure.

Thank you!! I'll start a Dickens books today on audio!

Not getting bogged down in details or looking things up on your first read is good advice for any book where you expect not to understand everything, whether it be archaic, experimental, jargonistic or in a foreign language. There’s a lot to be said for immersion and enjoying the ride. Then you can go back and unpick it afterwards.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Exactly :)

This was so interesting! I love Dickens but you brought up many points I hadn't thought about before, like the novels being read aloud. Just finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for Victober so excited to get onto Pickwick next after getting a couple of library holds out of the way.

I finished the 2nd part of "Little Dorrit" (2 books) few weeks ago by audiobook after having read the 1st book early this year. Many (great) characters in this very good novel but despite the difficulty to remember all the plots I think it's true you Can read Dickens Taking your time....🙏🤩🤗

I love that you said he’s weird and loves a list!! I appreciate BOTH those things 😂This was very useful, thank you Katie 🥰❤️

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

I appreciate these things very much, too XD

Currently reading Bleak House ❤

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

A wonderful Dickens! One of my favourites.

I am looking forward to the Dickens readathon...l recently listened to the Pickwick Papers while I was cross-stitching...there are so many laugh-out-loud moments. l totally agree with you; enjoy his stories, and don't get bogged down. I purchased a physical copy, and it arrived today...l am so excited to reread it 😊

Lots of great tips Katie! My first Dickens was Bleak House, possibly not a good place to start but I loved it and read it twice in one year! Still have 6 of his novels to read and am taking part in the readalong currently reading The Pickwick Papers for the first time and loving it. I rarely read editions with notes and couldn’t agree more that they aren’t necessary and often distracting when reading classics of any kind.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Bleak House is such a wonderful read :)

This is what I've been searching for! Thanks for sharing

I'm so excited to see you doing this 🙌 I'm currently reading his works in publication order too (I'm reading Martin Chuzzlewit right now) so I’ll follow along as I can 😄🖤🙌

I've only read three novels and I'm reading the Pickwick Papers now. I also borrowed the audiobook from the library, but I prefer to read the Ebook.

Thank you for these great tips, has helped me a lot!

Thank you for these 10 succinct tips that are spot-on for enjoying Dickens! Your thoughts and encyclopedic knowledge of this quirky author make this video superb and a must watch for anyone thinking about reading Charles Dickens. I am working my way through Sketches of Boz, and just about everything you said applies to this collection of ditties from the pen of this great author. I appreciate you, Katie.

@rachy5384

Жыл бұрын

My sentiments exactly :)

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much :)

You are dead right, read them any way you like…But read all the Dickens and read ‘em often!

Dickens was an entertainer. He still is. I agree, he'd write for the Soaps, Hollyoaks because it's bonkers and a bit serious. Lol

So glad to have stumbled upon your channel and am loving your content and all your genuine reviews, recommendations. Keep up the great work and looking forward for more such videos. Take love, Dona.

Thank you!! So many helpful tips!!

This was fantastic. I read a Dickens each Victober, this one is Oliver Twist.

Great video, fantastic tips, thank you!!

That was really helpful thank you 🙌❤ I'll enjoy reading it now! 😌

Love your videos and this one is too good for the beginners. Loving the read along.

This was really helpful Katie. I am currently reading Great Expectations, I have started in January part of a read along but put it aside. I have restarted it and I am really enjoying it.

Love this! I started reading Dickens work in publication order earlier this year. I'm going slow. Looking forward to joining the Discord channel.

The best Great Expectations adaptation was David Lean's 1946 film. By far!!

Thank you, that was very helpful, I have read The Christmas Carol and The Tale of Two Cities, and I did the musical Oliver in school years ago. That is my full experience. I have decided to try Great Expectations, I was really happy that you thought it was a great book to start with and I had decided to do it as an audio, I was relieved you thought it was good idea. I have been a bit nervous about it. Crossed fingers.

Right. In my opinion, it's best to be in the proper frame of mind before picking up a Dickens novel. I like to be ready for some whimsy before reading a Dickens novel. I might pick up a Dickens novel after an (over) serious book like an Ernest Hemingway novel, to break the spell. But if I want to seriously examine some characters in depth I might look for something other than Dickens novel.

I recommend that people who enjoy reading Dickens novels should watch the most-recent BBC video productions of his novels. Little Dorrit for example comes as a 7-disc set which I borrowed from our local public library. It's a long haul, but well worth it. I also watched Great Expectations in the BBC production DVD form, and watched the TV series of the book in the 1960s. The BBC productions of Dickens' novels give you a different perspective of the book, and of Dickens's writing, the plots, the characters, and what kind of world Dickens actually lived in and wrote in, as the BBC productions spare no expense to ensure their props and dress are totally accurate to that time. Read the books AND watch the BBC movies, for a more-thorough appreciation of Dickens' genius.

Copperfield and Expectations are my two favorites. I know the novels are long but I suggest rereading over time. You will get so much more out of his very rich writing upon a second reading. Copperfield is so much fun. Mr Micawber, Peggoty, Uriah Heep, Aunt Betsy, Barkis, Mr. Dick, and Steerforth, are some very amusing and unforgettable characters in Copperfield. I think Dickens loved David Copperfield best because David was the man that Dickens aspired to be. Of course, we all come up a little short when compared to David Copperfield.

Hi, thanks so much, I love your channel. I so love charles dickens and I'm so glad you are doing a charles dickens readalong

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

thanks very much :)

I enjoyed your video and found it helpful and insightful. I am a Dickens fan but have not read everything yet. I never thought of him as a weird writer, because Im used to him. But now you say it, he is odd and quirky for his own time. I guess that's why I like him too. This year I'm going to read Bleak house for the first time... looking forward to it. Keep up your nice videos...😉

This is great thanks! I think I might listen to the audiobooks with my son who is 12 currently 🤔

That was very helpful! I have read Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol but his other books are so intimidating. I started Little Dorrit and quit after p. 65 approx. but I will try again after what you have suggested. Thanks!

I love your teapot earrings

Not only am I a confirmed anglophile but I cannot seem to get enough of the writings of Charles Dickens as well, for my own part! Subsequently, my style of writing seems to manifest in itself not a few desultory tokens of his somewhat antiquated manner of prose, not according to my own opinion, I assure you but to that of all too many others of younger peers, whose own attempts at securing a literary education had largely been sadly neglected; thereby of it's consisting solely of a superfluity of anonymous gaps and gulfs, consistent with the unhappy result of a misspent or misdirected youth, albeit not necessarily an impeccunious one. But, by all means, go on! I find your voice of a remarkably soothing quality and genuinely wish to hear more! When your superb presentations appear in volume form, I promise to order a copy!

Dickens Dickens Dickens what more can I say about this great man love your family friend John ❤❤❤

Thank you for your wonderful video

I love Dickens but not Austen near as much. I'm very much enjoying your videos!

Katie, thanks for the great tips for reading Dickens! I'm having my class, who is just starting Great Expectations, take a look at some of your tips!

This was helpful. I've read and loved A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield. I guess Great Expectations is next on the list.

I just recently ordered Penguin Popular Classics versions of his novels and they don't have annotations, so I was worried about not understanding some aspects of the texts. Glad I stumbled on your video. Thank you so much!

Great video as always. I’m currently reading The Pickwick Papers & your advice about not getting too bogged down with all the characters & plot twists was really helpful 😀

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

Two of my favorite BookTubers are also reading Dickens (along with Tolstoy) as a long-term project. They're a bit bogged down with one of them currently tho likely they'll be back in two months or so with another. It is in my opinion a terrific opportunity for the rest of us since otherwise just picking up a Victorian classic and reading for enjoyment remains a bit eccentric without background. I, personally, am unlikely to join either group, regrettably, because of other big projects to which I'm committed. Thx Kate: enjoyed and think it helpful.

Such excellent advice, Katie. I'm an old Dickens hand and a highly critical one, but it's only fair to say that the really good bits always substantially outweigh the toe-curling ones. Also with you on Jane Austen.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much :)

this was really helpful thanks

Fantastic video and recommendations! I kept nodding my head and laughing and you are SPOT ON about how to read Dickens. My first two reads were Great Expectations and Tale of Two Cities. I loved them both. Then later A Christmas Carol, which is perfect year round, imo. Last year I read Our Mutual Friend and it was my favorite of the year. I think so far the only book I haven't liked of his is Oliver Twist.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much. Oliver Twist is very much my least favourite Dickens, too.

Such great tips. I remember attempting The Pickwick Papers when I was younger and probably wasn’t the best choice. I like that your first tip is to have fun - I think that is something we forget when reading classics in general! I will be taking part in the mega Dickens read along but just for some select books. I read Great Expectations and I have read (and taught) A Christmas Carol many times but that is about it. I am hoping he’ll become a favourite author! Look forward to more videos like these if you do them.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Jack :)

@DressyCrooner

Жыл бұрын

Try The Pickwick Papers again. It's my favourite Dickens so far and is absolutely hilarious. However it's unlikely someone too young would get the humour so you are probably right that you attempted it too early.

I love this video... I have never read a Dickens but I would very much like to... I've decided I'm going to give a Christmas Carol a whirl this December 😊 I'll let you know how I get on

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Enjoy :)

I think David Copperfield is maybe the Dickens book I have re-read most often. I'm thinking about finding out where you've got up to in your Dickens mega-read and catching up with you from there.

I'm so glad that I took your advice and read the David Copperfield and Great Expectations first before starting on his others works. I started Our Mutual Friend back in like April, got to about 30% and put it down and have just now picked it back up and it took a bit to relearn all the characters/plots. Also with the audiobooks, because they are classics a lot of famous actors and actresses read them which makes them more fun!

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Agreed - there are so many great audiobooks of Dickens out there. Hope you're enjoying Our Mutual Friend a little more on a second read :)

Okay, first...is your shirt pages from a book? Now, thank you for this video! I've put off Dickens until now because I would try a few pages and not like his writing style and give up. I'm two-thirds through Great Expectations. It was slow going in the beginning but now I'm really enjoying it. The Hamlet scene and Wemmick's castle are two of the most delightful things I've ever read. It's so helpful to know he's weird!! Can't wait to join you with some of the books.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Yes, it is the first few chapters of Oliver Twist 😆 And totally. Wemmick is my favourite.

currently listening to Bleak House by the wonderful Miriam Margoyles

These are great tips and it occurred to me while watching that many of these tips - Dickens is weird, It’s supposed to be fun, Accept that you aren’t going to understand everything - could be applied to reading Joyce’s _Ulysses_. I live Dickens in audiobook form.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Hmm maybe I should try Ulysses after all!

@DressyCrooner

Жыл бұрын

@@katiejlumsden I find that Ulysses and The Pickwick Papers are superficially quite similar, but Ulysses is of course a lot more difficult - but so much fun! I'm reading it right now and I'm on the last episode :)

Terrific video! I also love Dickens very much. My favorite is Bleak House and I would like to recommend the Audible version recently narrated by Miriam Margolyes, she is superb!!! I am currently reading your favorite novel OMF for the first time! I prefer Dickens in physical book form before listening and/or watching an adaptation. But I agree, that is not for everyone. (i do make a list of characters for each novel😉) and thank you for the links above!

@sarawilson9155

Жыл бұрын

Miriam Margolyes does a gold standard reading of Bleak House. I love it very much.

@michaelpinder844

Жыл бұрын

@@sarawilson9155 Very true. Miriam Margolyes is outstandingly good. Her Bleak House characterisations are spine tingling and mesmerising.

wonderful and great thanks alot

I wouldn’t say Sickens is weird; eccentric is how I see him. I spent a year with Dickens a few years back, and I fell in love. Thanks for this review, you’ve made a new subscriber.

That’s great! I read Great Expectations last year and it has fundamentally changed me as a reader. It’s in my top all time favorites I think! I will be beginning David Coperfield this month. I attempted A Tale of Two Cities but I Fowler so confused I’m the language somehow felt more challenging. I sadly gave up.

Thanks!

I love so much about this video Katie! I'll chat about it in a voxer message soon I'm sure.

Interested to hear you mention The Posthumous Memories of Bras Cubas as it is on my TBR pile/shelf/wall. Loved Piranesi and the Ruth Ozeki book but a weird book I didn't like at all was Ice by Anna Kavan: weird and dodgy with it.

Thanks for these tips! Until recently, the only Dickens I had read was A Christmas Carol. I remember loving (and being a bit surprised by) Dickens' sense of humor and really enjoying the experience, but then I just never picked up any others. Finally, on a whim, I decided to listen to David Copperfield (read by the wonderful Simon Vance) and now I'm in love! I'm so looking forward to more, and to sharing Dickens with some of the students I read with. When I do introduce them to him, I will certainly bring them to this video first.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

So glad you've been enjoying Dickens :)

Here are my tips. 1. Just read, even if it is difficult to read just one. Once you finish a book, you get a sense of Dicken's style, and you will get better. 2. You may not understand all, but try to get as much out of it as possible. 3. The strength of Dickens is in imagery. 4. Be open minded and accepting of the idiosyncrasies of the characters. You will empathise better.

Thank you

What a great video! I have a strange relationship with Dickens. I’ve loved some of his short stories and was really enjoying Hard Times but unfortunately never finished it. I think I’ve probably started about three others and just never finished them. I feel like I haven’t found my perfect Dickens yet. I’m hoping to soon. I enjoy his plots and characters but for some reason just never finish. I am going to keep trying until I find the right book for me. Thanks for all the lovely Victorian videos! So far I’m loving some Yonge and Wilkie Collins this year! ❤

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Have you tried Great Expectations yet? That's probably Dickens's novel that has the most in common with Wilkie Collins.

@ABearandaBeeBooks

Жыл бұрын

@@katiejlumsden Yes, I got to page 61 and put it down. I was enjoying it but I just got wrapped up in other things.

Terrific video.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

the intonation of the intro really reminded me of young emma watson lol

People! I am Russian. My native tongue is Russian. I am 37. I do not have a deep knowledge of English. I am out of spoken practice completely. BUT! I have read several novels by Dickens in order to improve my poor English. I have read David Coper, Great Expectation. It was not easy for me. But I finished these two novels. Now I am reading Dombey and Son. My goal is a simple one. I want to learn many words so as to understand other texts. I realized that if I could understand Dickens I would be able to understand everything written in English. Because Dickens is very difficult. I even dare say that he is the most difficult man in world’s history. But Great Exception is a prodigious thing. The plot is overwhelming. The style is tolerable. Maybe, it is the easiest one among his big bricks.

Thanks for this video. I’m reading Dombey and Son for Victober and I’m struggling a little. Since I've read all but 3 of his major novels I have experience with him so I was puzzled why. Your video made me realize that I was rushing and that was the problem. I’m still not sure if I'll be joining in the readalong but I'll definitely use it to push me to read Hard Times and Barnaby Rudge.

@mikesnyder1788

Жыл бұрын

Same here with Dombey and Son! I tried twice to read the book and it just did not speak to me and, like you, I have read all his novels except The Old Curiosity Shop, Martin Chuzzlewitt, and Barnaby Rudge.

@kimhoot2044

Жыл бұрын

@@mikesnyder1788 I did get to a point where I didn’t want to put the book down but I was passed halfway.

@mikesnyder1788

Жыл бұрын

@@kimhoot2044 I did not make half way either time, sorry to say, and at age 75, I am more inclined to reading Martin Chuizzlewitt than attempt a third pass at Dombey.

I enjoyed your Dickens video! Earlier this year, I read “Martin Chuzzlewit”. Although this novel is not his best and not as widely read as others, I thought Mrs. Gamp Is one of his funniest characters. As an American, I was also amused by Dickens’s satire of the United States in the first half of the 19th century. What do you think of “Barnaby Rudge”, another one of Dickens’s less well-known novels? I have not read this one yet, but I would like to read all of his novels.

A real great and informative video, thanks Katie! Can you do a similar video about Thomas Hardy? I've tried multiple times to read his books and haven't been able to continue reading them.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

Good thought - I'll have a think and add to my list for the future :)

@medhatsaadoun3978

Жыл бұрын

@@katiejlumsden awesome! Thx!

I've just started reading my first ever book written by Dickens and my oh my what a discovery! Like you said, I expected him to be serious, gloomy, depressive and he's everything but. I'm reading Hard times and just love it. On the other note, for the life of me I cannot find anything interesting in Jane Austen's novels. There, I've said it. I tried, I really did :))

Reading Dombey and Son. Page 100

@hyacinthh6900

Жыл бұрын

Reading Dombey and Son. Page 699. :)

I'm listening to Great Expectations right now. I remember reading it for the first time when I was 15/16 and loved it! It is still one of my top favorite novels. I love little Dort the movie! I strongly feel the reverse about the book. I was very much looking forward to reading the book after seeing the movie and was very much disappointed. But I think I'll take your advice and try listening to it on audiobook maybe I'll like it much better. Plus to be fair it's been probably around 15 years since I tried reading it so I might see it differently now.

@katiejlumsden

Жыл бұрын

There's a good audiobook of Little Dorrit narrated by Juliet Stevenson that I enjoyed.

I've loved Dickens since I was a teenager, but like any book, any genre, reading is so subjective. I love him, you might not and thats OK! There's no need to tell people not to read him because you didn't like him. I cant stand Tolstoy but I'd always encourage people to give him a try! 😀