Anyone who professes to know me at all, anyone who's known me more than a fortnight, knows that my favorite male author is Charles Dickens.
Charles Dickens
There should be a limit on the amount of talent a single human being can posses at one time. I have always believed this. I always will. It is my only comfort in my own incompetency. And Charles Dickens, in all his sheer genius of mind, is a prime example of this: he unarguably had more than his fair share of talent. His prose is stunning, beautiful, rich, and fluid. He has the power to suck a reader completely out of his day-to-day world and transplant him firmly into his own literary one. His characters are all miniature works of genius: some hilarious, some tragic, some dear and wonderful, and some strange to the point of lunacy. His stories are magical, at least in my own wee mind. They have always held that wonder for me. His works are timeless, ageless, magical, ridden with all kinds of hidden Truth. I said once that his "pen was made of pure genius, his ink pressed from the fruits of originality, and his mind full of sparkling creativity" and I believe that still rings most wonderfully true.
What I've Read
A Christmas Carol
A Tale of Two Cities
Great Expectations
Oliver Twist
David Copperfield (Well. At least half of Copperfield.)
Check out Lèrowen's Writing Challenge to find the list of questions!
Ah, Dickens. I shall never, ever understand why some dislike him. His characters are, like you said, "miniature works of genius." Not to mention his descriptions and mastery of plots!
I'm afraid my list of Dickens that I've read is significantly shorter than yours...Tale and Great Expectations are my only two. When I can find time, though, I am eager to read more of his novels!
I'm starting the challenge late too. I might have to skip a few 'cause I'm so new to writing, but my first post (which will be Day 2) should be up today or tomorrow.
I love Charles Dickens!! I really, really enjoyed Great Expectations!!
I'm afraid I've only fully read A Christmas Carol...but I did start Little Dorrit, once.
There are so many of his books that I want to read, and have waiting for me on my Nook. (Most of which I got for free! And free books in any form are good...especailly when they are B&N Classics editions.) ;-)
Ah, Katie, my Katie. :) I would be jealous of your love for my Dickens, were it not a mirror of my own. ;) Dickens was a genius, and you have described him perfectly:
"his pen was made of pure genius, his ink pressed from the fruits of originality, and his mind full of sparkling creativity"
Ah yes. I like that bit. Especially the part about the ink. :) Were our own inkwells filled with the same liquid, we would all be perfectly content. As it is, I find it easy enough to lose myself in the windings of his novels. :) I'm glad you love him as well as I.