Charles Dickens bores me. Is that normal?

[kat.]

Something bores us only when we are not able to understand it or when we find it Boring ! By saying so , I mean, Start reading one of his books or even a short piece of his great works and try to understand the basic principles of his writing.I am sure, his authentic description and virtual characterization in his Novels would certainly create a different impression in your Mind !!

Happy reading !
Sekhar
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Come on....it's not about the understanding....it's about the naturalistic style....there are people that like it....and there are people that get bored by the slowliness this style puts onto the novel...
And I hate his comments.....in OLiver Twist he's doing it all the time....he comments the action taking place more or less explaining the irony of the situation...only that ...well I guess everbody would have understood it without his comments....and I am getting annoyed by that.....
however, it's not because we don't understand Dickens....I think I understand naturalism and dickens quite well....t's only that we don't like his style...
have a nice day

[Mopey Droney]

I would consider Oliver Twist second tier blah Dickens, as I would with most of his pre-Dombey and Son books, though keep in mind that in my view second-tier Dickens is still upper-tier Literature. To the point, Bleak House is my favorite, though I am just now reading Great Expectations which may usurp it.
The reason I love Dickens: The way he sculpts his sentences so full of life, how his humor pops and sizzles and zings on the page, and the way he plots his plots tightly.
Most importantly, it is his moral attitude. As George Orwell wrote: "It seems that in every attack Dickens makes upon society he is always pointing to a change of spirit rather than a change of structure. It is hopeless to try and pin him down to any definite remedy, still more to any political doctrine. His approach is always along the moral plane [...] Useless to change institutions without a 'change of heart' — that, essentially, is what he is always saying."
Very good.

[Reread]

I just find his books uninteresting, perhaps I am an anomaly, or does anyone else agree?

No, i completely understand. I just recently tried to read his book, Nicholas Nickleby and ended up skimming through most of his highly detailed descriptions. In the end I gave up and just watched the BBC movie.

[Lynne Fees]

We live in an ADD society. The descriptions in Dickens were written for people with no TV, no movies. If you can somehow get quiet and get rid of distractions, try to really get into it for an hour. If it doesn't work, remember, everyone has his or her own opinions.