Marsha Ingrao Always Write

My Review

The Setting:

Charles Dickens is usually a master at describing the setting. Without saying much, he spent described a setting suitable for a story of 600 pages long. Most of the sentences started with the word, “when.” Then the butler breezes in and rambles for several pages saying nothing. zzzzzzzzzzz

Characters:

• Mr. Redlaw – the chemistry professor
• The Swidgers: William, Milly and Phillip – (age 87)
• The Tetterbys – father, mother, 4 boys, and a burdensome baby girl likened to a Cannanite idol. They all seem to be supported by the 10-year-old who sells papers and the unsuccessful business ventures of the father.
• The ghost – who looks just like the professor
• the unclaimed orphan – reminded me of the girl in Where the Crawdad’s Sing only without anyone – EVER!
• Longford, Edmund – the ailing student

The Plot

Like most of the Dickens stories I have read so far there is the tension between those who are well off, but usually unhappy, lonely, uncaring, and stingy, and those who you wonder how someone can live under squalid conditions for more than a day or two.

I woke up after the Swidgers left the professor and I finished reading an episode in the life of the Tetterbys. The ghost visited and was very persuasive in convincing Mr. Redlaw to give up his sad and guilty memories. It sounded like the deal of the century but the ghost always had an evil grin of which the professor was oblivious.

Once his memories of his sister left him, he became the hardened man with the Midas touch. Nearly everyone who met him was cursed by his bargain. While the ghost was the archetype of satan, Mrs. Milly Swidge was the archetype for Christ. The ghost tempted the professor and told lies, Milly gave new life and brought joy.

My rating: 4 stars

After all the complaining I did at the beginning, the story took hold of me and I enjoyed finishing it. It took me several tries to get through it, but I’m glad I persisted. I thought he did a masterful job with the archetypes.

My Past Posts

• The Chimes
• The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain (this post)
• Battle of Life Part 3
• Battle of Life Part 2
• Battle of Life Part 1
• Dickens Challenge Intro

From this point on, comments will be closed on these posts, please comment on my Master Page found HERE.

Your Comments on Past Posts

• “I am totally IN for the Dickens Challenge. Greatly looking forward to it!” “Retirement Reflections
•  “I already have all the novellas and short stories written by Mr. Dickens and am nearly finished reading my second one. I will start posting them soon.” Roberta Writes
• “That’s a good challenge. I’ll try to take part.” Keep It Alive
• “Sounds like a great challenge, Marsha. I read a few of Dickens’ books a while ago.” Natalie the Explorer
• “We’re reading Great Expectations next for our online book club so will definitely join in!” Deb’s World
• “Does listening count? I adore Richard Armitage as a reader (film fans and/or fantasy fans might know him as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit trilogy) – apparently, he is known as “ear candy”. He has read “David Copperfield” for audible and it is magnificent. But that’s not a novella, by all means. He has, however, also read “The Chimes” which might qualify.” Pictures Imperfect
• “I still have to pick mine, so let me know what you choose. I’ll join you!” This That and The Other Thing
• “I am so amazed by your contribution and their continued admiration for this most loved man!” Uniquely Fit
• “As for Dickens, when I was in junior school I read Oliver Twist, it took a good few pages before I found the rhythm of Dickens’ writing, it was a set book I had to read, otherwise, I might have left it before I reached that point. Once I had got to that point I couldn’t put it down, I loved it.” Fenland Phil
• “I work in a school, and have read Romeo and Juliet, Midsomer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth.” Writer Ravenclaw
• Deb’s World – I love the names of the characters, they are spot on! 
• Retirement Reflections Goodreads review I got into a flow and read it in just over two hours. The opening description of the ancient bloody battle threw me a bit. I feared the novella was going to be quite dark. But the full title, “The Battle of Life: A Love Story” and the “Once upon a time” beginning gave me hope for a lighter tale. The intoxicatingly poetic passages, and vivid characterizations, helped make the reading flow (and prevented me from being otherwise distracted…which can sometimes happen)! 
• Roberta Writes – Review One – Christmas Carol, Review Two – The Cricket on the Hearth Hi Marsha a lovely post about this novella. Project Gutenberg is a great place to get the book as it includes a lot of other information about the book and the author. Fantastic. I’ve shared to my FB page devoted to classic books and poems.
• Sadje – You’re way ahead of me. I did get the complete works of Dickens on my kindle but haven’t selected any book to read. Are you doing one book or three as originally suggested?
• Uniquely Fit – I love the pictures you picked that draw the reader in immediately.
• Deb’s World: We’re still working our way through Great Expectations in our on-line bookclub and in our first discussion we noted the names and how descriptive they were.”
• Keep It Alive: “I’ve read the battle of life. Should I write a review?”
• Loving Life: “This sounds so interesting. What a neat challenge.”
• No Facilities: “I am just about ready to make my first post. The Cricket on the Hearth is the first book I’m reading (I joined when there were three to read and I decided to stick with that)/ I didn’t read/choose The Battle of Life so this was a nice post to read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
• Retirement Reflections: “I love these details that you found out about the name Marion. They make great sense. I believe that the name ‘Marion’ as derived from the New Testament can also mean “Wished For Child”, which also fits here. Dickens was incredibly clever! I love how Dickens creatively invented names to reflect the characters assigned to them and to add greater depth and humour to his stories. In Battle of Life, the sister Grace is actually full of grace, kindness and goodwill. The lawyers, Snitchey and Craggs, are exactly that: snitching/conniving and rough/rugged. You can count on Dickens to never provide his characters with boring/meaningless names! 😀 I love discussions like this! As soon as Dickens mentions a lawyer (he included at least one lawyer in 11 of his novels), I automatically expect bloodless Mr. Vohles (Bleakhouse) or cold and forbidding Jaggers (GE)., so I may be jaded in my reading. Early in the Battle of Life, Dickens plays off contrasting views of the world from Jeddler viewing it as a ‘practical joke…too absurd to be taken seriously’ to Cragg and Snitchey’s view of life as a ‘battle for survival won by the craftiest’ to Clemency’s ‘Do as you would be done by”. At least, that was the way that I read it. ❤”
• Robbie Writes: “This has been my least favourite novella to date. My opinion is based on the fact that I think the behaviours of the two sisters and Alfred was unlikely and even unnatural. That being said, Dickens description of the battlefield in the beginning is sterling, the best depiction of a battle I’ve ever read. It is well worth reading just for that. I’ve re-read it a few times already and am working up to drawing it. I thought Snitchey was actually rather a nice character by the end. He was bound by the non-disclosure rules of his profession, but he did his best to behave appropriately with his knowledge. He was very fond of his friend Craggs which was a positive about his character. His wife didn’t seem to be particularly nice. She was well named as Mrs Snitchey.
• Trent’s World: “I just finished this Sunday night. Interesting.”
• 100 Country Trek – “Thanks Marsha…the Dixkens Challenge.. hummm Anita”
• Debs World – “It’s so interesting to see what you’ve been reading Marsha. I just found a great book, Estella, written by Kathy George which is Estella’s (from Great Expectations) side of the story and although the ending is different to both of those written by Dickens, it made for a great read. The author is a huge Dickens fan and mentions a few of his other books in this one. Something a bit different anyway!”
• Keep It Alive – “I’m still not finding time to write a review. After April challenge ends, I’ll do it. 🤞🏼
• Priorhouse Blog – I enjoyed this post and good idea to post in parts – also – connecting with what is on your bookshelf challenge is fun!
• Roberta Writes – “I really liked The Chimes, it was very tragic in the second half. Thank goodness it could all be put right.”
• Uniquely Fit – “Good job on this Marsha!❣️”

Your Posts

• KEEP IT ALIVE – SADJE WRITES A SUCCINCT REVIEW OF THE BATTLE OF LIFE WITH A UNIQUE OPIN ION ABOUT MARION’S DECISION.
• RETIREMENT REFLECTIONS GOODREADS THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST’S BARGAIN
• RETIREMENT REFLECTIONS GOODREADS THE CHIMES
• Donna from Retirement Reflections posted an excellent review on her challenge, What’s On Your Bookshelf for March.
• Donna from Retirement Reflections posted two excellent reviews on her challenge, What’s On Your Bookshelf for May.

Reminder

From this point on, comments will be closed, please comment on my Master Page found HERE.