The result of the latest Classics Club Spin has been revealed today!
The idea of the Spin was to list twenty books from my Classics Club list, number them 1 to 20, and the number announced today (Tuesday) represents the book I have to read before 31st January 2019. The number that has been selected is…
1
And this means the book I need to read is…
Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
To Paul Dombey, business is all and money can do anything. He runs his family life as he runs his firm: coldly, calculatingly and commercially. The only person he cares for is his frail son, grooming him for entry into the family business; his daughter Florence, abandoned and ignored, craves affection from her unloving father, who sees her only as a ‘base coin that couldn’t be invested’. As Dombey’s callousness extends to others – from his defiant second wife Edith, to Florence’s admirer Walter Gay – he sows the seeds of his own destruction. Can this heartless businessman be redeemed?
A compelling depiction of a man imprisoned by his own pride, Dombey and Son explores the devastating effects of emotional deprivation on a dysfunctional family and on society as a whole.
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I’m glad I have until the end of January to read this book, as it was probably the longest on my list! I’m happy with this result as it’s been a while since I read any Dickens, but I was hoping for Nicholas Nickleby rather than this one.
Have you read Dombey and Son? Did you take part in the Classics Spin? What will you be reading?
She Reads Novels 
I’ll be reading The Earth by Emile Zola. I hope you enjoy the Dickens, he’s an author I just don’t fancy reading.
I hope you enjoy The Earth – I had Germinal on my list and am a bit disappointed I didn’t get that one.
Most of the time I’m a real Dickens fan but Dombey and Son is one I have found hard to get to the end of. I’m hoping you’ll persuade me to give it another go.
This will be my first attempt at reading Dombey and Son, so I hope I don’t find it too hard to get into. Usually I love Dickens, but I’ve struggled with one or two of his books.
I have not read Dombey and Son. Look forward to your review. Good luck!
Thanks, Judy. I’m looking forward to starting it.
Too bad you can’t switch them. 😉 Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks! I’ll just have to be patient and hope Nicholas Nickleby comes up in a future spin.
I always like Dickens. Dombey isn’t one of my favorites, but it is still good. I agree that Nicholas Nickleby is better, though.
I’m glad you liked both of them, even if Nicholas Nickleby is better. I’ll be reading both eventually anyway.
That’s pretty much how I feel about all the books on my list.
I haven’t read Dombey and Son – hope you enjoy it. I’ll be reading Greenmantle by John Buchan.
Thanks. I hope you enjoy Greenmantle – I haven’t read anything by John Buchan yet.
As you are an admirer of The Doctor’s Wife, enough to name your blog after it, you should probably have already read this.Remember?
There are a lot of books I probably should have read by now, but finding time for them all is a problem. I do remember Isabel in The Doctor’s Wife and her references to Edith Dombey.
If you are not happy with the pick, can you exchange it for the other Dickens you do want to read? I mean, you would be exchanging Dickens for Dickens, right?. 🙂 Enjoy either way. Happy reading! 🙂
Thank you! I probably could exchange them if I wanted to, but I would be reading both books eventually anyway so I think I’ll just stick with Dombey for now. 🙂
I am a huge Dickens fan-girl but haven’t read Dombey and Son yet. I thought Nicholas Nickleby was fabulous, however as encouragement for when you do get to it! But any Dickens is worth reading in my book!
I’ll be reading Dombey and Son first, but it’s good to know that I can look forward to Nicholas Nickleby too. I’ve enjoyed most of the Dickens novels I’ve read so far.
This is one Dickens I haven’t read yet, but am considering reading soon. Good luck!
Thanks! I hope we both enjoy it. 🙂
While Nicholas Nickleby is undoubtedly more entertaining, I loved Dombey and think it’s possibly one of his most under-rated novels. Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it – I just wish it wasn’t so long! I’m glad I’ve got until the end of January to finish it.
I really like Dombey and Son; Florence is a pain in the ass but on the whole it’s a very moving book, and the first page is probably next after Bleak House and Great Expectations in terms of best Dickens openers.
That’s good to know. I’m looking forward to reading it, despite Florence (I often get irritated by Dickens’ female characters).
I think if you know what you’re in for, you’ll be fine!
I haven’t read the book but I have listened to a radio adaptation and liked it. I hope you’ll feel the same way about the book, and maybe inspire me to pick up my copy.
I haven’t seen or listened to any adaptations, so the story will be completely new to me. Hopefully I’ll enjoy it and can tempt you to read your copy too. 🙂
That is a long one! I can’t remember if it’s on my shelves as a TBR but something tells me it is. I’ll have a look and let you know!
I’ve had this book on my TBR for years now, so I’m pleased to have been given a push into picking it up and starting it at last.
I really should read more Dickens!
I’ve read about half of his books, so still have a lot to go!
Helen, I am pleased you got a Dickens for the lead up to Christmas, even if it wasn’t the one your really wanted. I really hope you enjoy it – it is not one I have thought of tackling myself. Instead I am very pleased that I will be re-reading the wonderful Emma by Jane Austen.
I think you got a good result with Emma. It used to be one of my least favourite Austen novels until I reread it a few years ago and loved it!