I agree 100%! I remember the first time I read this book, I thought it would be an easy read. I don’t know why, maybe because I could more or less follow a tv version of the story at an early age? Anyway, I was struck by Dickens’s writing style and just how wordy it was. There were parts that I had a hard time understanding, and even to this day, I’ll find myself rereading parts to make sure I got everything.

Oh goodness, where do I begin? I have so many favorite things!

If I had to pick one, I’d say my favorite thing is the characters. Even the characters that I don’t personally like (E.g. Darnay, Stryver, the Marquis St. Evremonde) are written in a compelling, if not entertaining way that makes them fun to read about, not to mention the fact that this story is home to one of my favorite fictional characters ever! If you look at my professor’s name or if you saw my doll repaint in the Bookish Fanart thread before the cyberattack happened, you can probably guess which one that is.

I’m of course referring to Sydney Carton. He was always the character I gravitated toward, even as a little kid watching the tv movie. As an adult, I came to realize just how much I relate to him… so much so that I sometimes joke with my bookworm friends that I’m like a modern female version of Sydney Carton. I see so much of myself in his cynicism, self-loathing, intelligence, and hidden depths, and like him, I fell far short of reaching my full potential.

I swear I’m not pointlessly fangirling! I bring him up because he’s an integral part of my other two favorite things about the book, the message and the ending. I love the themes of hope, sacrifice, and redemption, and I find it inspiring to see that someone can fall that far and still find a way to do something worthwhile with their life.

And how about that ending?! I remember I was soooo mad the first time I read it, but as heartbreaking as Sydney’s death was, I understand why it had to happen.