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Hard Times (Revised)
Hard Times (Revised) | Charles Dickens
'Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else.' Coketown is dominated by the figure of Mr Thomas Gradgrind, school owner and model of Utilitarian success. Feeding both his pupils and his family with facts, he bans fancy and wonder from young minds. As a consequence his young daughter Louisa marries the loveless businessman and "bully of humility" Mr Bounderby, and his son Tom rebels to become embroiled in gambling and robbery. And, as their fortunes cross with those of free-spirited circus girl Sissy Jupe and victimized weaver Stephen Blackpool, Gradgrind is eventually forced to recognize the value of the human heart in an age of materialism and machinery. This edition of Hard Times is based on the text of the first volume publication of 1854. Kate Flint's introduction sheds light on the frequently overlooked character interplay in Dickens's great critique of Victorian industrial society. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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mjtwo
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Mehso-so

6-14 Aug 23 (audiobook)
It‘s Dickens, so I am reluctant to pan as the language is wonderful and there were a few memorable characters, but definitely not my favourite. I felt there was not enough going on to be classic Dickens. Hard not to like Stephen and feel sorry for his ending and despise Thomas and rue his escape.

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Sophronisba
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Happy birthday, Charles Dickens! It's a good day to read _Hard Times_, a book that feels peculiarly suited to the world we live in:

“'And he said, Now, this schoolroom is a Nation. And in this nation, there are fifty millions of money. Isn‘t this a prosperous nation? Girl number twenty, isn‘t this a prosperous nation, and a‘n‘t you in a thriving state?‘

“‘What did you say?‘ asked Louisa. . . .

Sophronisba “‘Miss Louisa, I said I didn‘t know. I thought I couldn‘t know whether it was a prosperous nation or not, and whether I was in a thriving state or not, unless I knew who had got the money, and whether any of it was mine. But that had nothing to do with it. It was not in the figures at all,‘ said Sissy, wiping her eyes.“ 14mo
14 likes1 comment
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Sophronisba
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Hard Times is not Dickens's best novel, but it might be the most directly relevant to the current world.

https://newrepublic.com/article/169577/sam-bankman-fried-charles-dickens-hard-ti...

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Tindara
Tempi difficili | Charles Dickens

Un Dickens che sa rivolgersi al lettore con un'armonia di penna incredibile. Il grigio delle strade di Londra si incontra con il mondo delle fabbriche e con la classe operaia del XIX secolo. Una cultura borghese che esplode di concretezza e scientificità, il tangibile che diventa carcere dell'anima e distrugge il sogno. Un semplice capolavoro che nessun lettore o scrittore può perdere. Grazie Dickens. Grazie.

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quietjenn
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Still feeling Dickens, so grabbed this one off the shelf, solely because it was shorter than the other ones there. Am only a few chapters in, but already the names and descriptions of characters are 🤣

57 likes1 stack add
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TheSpineView
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚 3y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Pip2
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Panpan

Fact, this book was a painful read. There were moments that the book was enjoyable to read but this is subpar in comparison to many other of Dickens‘ works that I have read. I wouldn‘t recommend this one. Unfortunately not his best work in my subjective opinion.

282Mikado Sorry to hear that. I read this quite a while ago, but really can't remember it at all. Most Dicken's novels I have read I can at least remember somewhat. Perhaps your pan explains why I'm having “hard times“ recalling this one. 🤔 3y
2 likes1 comment
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rmaclean4
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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November 2020
The Bass Rock: Evie Wyld 4.5 🌟 📖
Such A Fun Age: Kiley Reid 2 🌟 🎧
The World That We Knew: Alice Hoffman 5 🌟🎧
Half Gods: Akil Kumarasamy 4 🌟 📖
The Confessions of Frannie Langton: Sara Collins 3.5 🌟📖
The Vanishing Half: Brit Bennett 3 🌟🎧
Wow, No Thank You: Samantha Irby 3 🌟🎧
The Cost of Living: Deborah Levy 4.5 🌟🎧
Hard Times: Charles Dickens 4 🌟🎧
Magic Lessons: Alice Hoffman 2🌟🎧
Homeland Elegies: Ayad Akhtor

TrishB I loved the Hoffman too 👍🏻 3y
16 likes1 comment
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TheBookHippie
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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🤍

Crazeedi 💗💟💕💞 3y
Cathythoughts ❤️ 3y
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
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rmaclean4
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

A delight. Simplistic and moralistic but he sure can tell a story. 4 🌟

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paulareadsallthetime
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
Panpan

Did not care for this audiobook. It is public domain and was recorded by volunteers. Some did okay and others were dreadful. This is not my kind of book either. ⭐️

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TK-421
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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@Eggs here‘s my #spinepoem1 attempt for #AcrossApril:

Hard Times
Kindred spirits
Gathering
Across the miles
Against the odds
Brave new world

Tanisha_A That's 👌🏽! 4y
Eggs That‘s a keeper 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Leftcoastzen Excellent! 4y
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain Fantastic! ❤️ 4y
Kenyazero I love how this turned out! 4y
TK-421 @Kenyazero Thank you! 😊 4y
64 likes7 comments
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jenniferw88
Hard Times (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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Obvious choice today #hardtimes #newyearnewyou @Eggs

Eggs Yes indeed-good one. You and @TheEllieMo had the same idea! 4y
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EadieB
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Day 21 - #HardTimes #NewYearNewYou #CharlesDickens

I do own this book but have not read it yet!

Eggs From the synopsis, that was definitely hard times!!! 4y
43 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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#GratefulReads Day 20: While I have read quite a few Dickens, being a huge fan, these are two that fit into the category of #ClassicYouHaventRead. I think I now own several of his classic novels that I wish to get to, hopefully soon. 😭😂📚📚📚

OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚❤️ 4y
59 likes1 stack add1 comment
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EmilieGR
Hard Times (Revised) | Charles Dickens
Mehso-so

Very difficult to get through

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Pam.Kokomo
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

#wellreadmom bookclub, February selection.

6 likes1 stack add
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DGRachel
Hard Times (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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Look what arrived today! Thank you Ammy! 😘

#nortoncriticaleditions

OrangeMooseReads YAY! You‘re welcome (edited) 5y
LauraBeth Look at those Nortons 😍😍 5y
91 likes3 comments
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Tove_Reads
Hard Times (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finlands_flagship_library_so_popular_its_runn... Who said people don‘t read books anymore???? Our library is so popular it‘s running out of books!

tpixie 🎉🎉🎉 5y
tpixie What a creative library! “The sprawling facility in the city centre features things like 3D printing gear and sewing machines for creators, rehearsal rooms for musicians, a small cinema and spaces that can be reserved for a variety of uses. There's also a café as well as the possibility to try out VR technology”. 5y
DivineDiana I‘m so happy to read this! My husband was being so pessimistic about the fate of libraries this weekend that I became very angry. 5y
43 likes3 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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I‘ve actually read all of these. Incubus and Girls Night ain‘t are both good, I‘ll just never reread them.

BookwormAHN I would like to give Incubus a new home. 5y
OrangeMooseReads @BookwormAHN email me your information orangemoosereads @ Gmail . Com 5y
DGRachel Are Howard‘s End and Hard Times both Norton Critical Editions? 😍 5y
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OrangeMooseReads @DGRachel yes they are 5y
DGRachel Ooh, I would love either of those if you haven‘t had any other takers! I collect NCEs and I don‘t have either of those. 5y
OrangeMooseReads @DGRachel you can have both 😊 email me your information at the email above 5y
DGRachel Done and THANK YOU!! 5y
OrangeMooseReads @DGRachel you‘re welcome 5y
CoffeeNBooks Is Girls' Night In still available? If so, I'd love to have it! 5y
OrangeMooseReads @CoffeeNBooks yes it is. Email me your information orangemoosereads @ Gmail . Com 5y
28 likes10 comments
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AWahle
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

I'm revising the view I've held on this book for 30 years. I hated it when I had to read it in college. But you have to admire a character who throws shade like Mrs. Sparsit. My new thought is that Dickens is best performed because I thoroughly enjoyed the BBC audiobook. This was my "Read a Book You Hated" for Bookriot's #ReadHarder2018 challenge.

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Lcsmcat
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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#Bookhaul part 2. After resting at a coffee shop, we hit a vintage store and found these beauties. Tom Jones replaces a copy whose spine is falling off. The Dickens match the copy of Little Dorrit that my daughter gave me for Christmas several years ago. None of them even look like they‘ve been read.

GingerAntics Those are beautiful!!! 💙💙💙 5y
writerlibrarian Really nice find 5y
LeahBergen Beautiful! 5y
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Miss_Shush
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
Bailedbailed

Tried. Couldn‘t do it. Moving on

RadicalReader @Miss_Shush best username ever! So happy for you that you were lucky to get it and enjoy it in all its unaltered glory 6y
Miss_Shush @RadicalReader thanks! It‘s fitting, and also an old Looney Tunes reference 6y
4 likes2 comments
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catebutler
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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“Do the wise thing and the kind thing too, and make the best of us and not the worst.”
― Charles Dickens, Hard Times

This May ( @Bagfullofbooks @Bookishsteph1 @PagesAndCup and myself) will be hosting the read-along for Dickens 10th novel, ‘Hard Times‘ over on IG.

For all the details and the reading schedule see the link below:

https://instagram.com/p/BiNEPtdghBa/

#DickensBuddies #HardTimesWithDickens #classicliterature #classics

Centique That‘s a beautiful photo and a lovely cover! 6y
catebutler @Centique Thank you! These are the Penguin English Library (PEL) editions. They are some of my favourite editions to read and collect. 6y
Sophoclessweetheart I just read and studied this for uni x 6y
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catebutler @Wanderingwithwords How fun! What was your final verdict? 6y
Sophoclessweetheart I loved the book. It‘s become one of my favourite Dickens books. It‘s clever and fun but also thought provoking and heartbreaking. I loved it. X 6y
EvieBee Did you start May 1st? 6y
catebutler @Wanderingwithwords I‘m so glad to hear this! I‘m only about 50 pages in, but really enjoying it so far. It would be a great book to study at uni. 6y
catebutler @EvieBee We did! But, honestly you can catch up super fast, we‘ve broken the book down into very manageable sections and it‘s a shorter book. Would love for you to join! 6y
EvieBee @catebutler Okay, going to take a look at it! I have this edition on my Kindle. Have been trying to jump into Dickens for over a decade now. This may be the place. 6y
catebutler @EvieBee The discussions and reading as a group really helps! I‘ve loved Dickens because of this read along group. The first discussion post will be up today on IG. So, do check out Lisa (@the.snow.child) when you get the chance. She always has a fun and interesting discussion post! 6y
48 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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Anna_k8t
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
Pickpick

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epsitawithane
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

#academic_read
It's good in its own way.. coz nothing can beat Oliver twist, david Copperfield n Great expectations(favourite). Character portrayal is very vivid. and it has a lot of symbols and stuff.

Lcsmcat That‘s a beautiful edition! 6y
epsitawithane Yes... thank you 6y
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Sophoclessweetheart
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

This past month I‘ve been reading and studying Hard Times as an historical text for university 😅 I love Dickens so it‘s been illuminating and fun. It‘s all done now though and I‘m swiftly into studying Victorian Manchester 💁🏼‍♀️ Just as fun and includes looking at Gaskell‘s Mary Barton! #booklover #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookblogger #prettybooks #prettycovers #bookish

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TCLinrow
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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1. Gift from work... apparently I'm too happy in the morning😃
2. The Orville, and it's awesome!
3. Tagged above as part of my degree. So far so good, but I'm only just starting it 📖
4. Grey, cold and windy 🌬🌫
5. 5 tattoos and quite a lot of piercings, but mostly ear piercings
@MinDea #HumpDayPost

Maria514626 I love your mug! Irritate away! 😁 6y
Craftylikefox Your mug!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 6y
Cortg This mug is great! I know I annoy people in the morning; both at home and at work! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Lreads The Orville is an awesome show! Star Trek needs to watch it and take notes! 6y
hgrimes haha! I glare my coworkers who wish me a “Happy Monday!”, especially if I haven‘t had coffee yet. I need to get them that mug! 🤣 6y
tammysue Love that mug!! 6y
74 likes6 comments
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Leelee08
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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My name is Lee and my #Litsyhandle is Leelee08.

My handle is pretty self-explanatory.😂 However, here‘s a little secret: Only those closest to me call me Leelee, like my husband or grandmother. I‘ve always wanted to be called Leelee, but it never really caught on with anyone else. So I‘m super glad y‘all call me Leelee! Also, my son was born in 2008. 😊😊😊

LeeRHarry I only allow certain people to call me Leelee 😏 nice to meet another Lee 😊 6y
Leelee08 @LeeRHarry Ditto!😁☺️ 6y
Laura317 My mother is a Lee. My sister is Leigh Anne. I call her LeeLee. 6y
See All 10 Comments
Leelee08 @Laura317 Awww neat!😊 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled My middle name is Leigh and my oldest sister has always called me LeighLeigh (she still does!!). And she‘s the only one who calls me that, so it‘s special! 6y
Leelee08 @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled It‘s a special name!!😘 6y
UwannaPublishme Very cool! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Leelee08 @UwannaPublishme Thank you!🙂 6y
Chelleo We have a LeeLee in our family! ☺️ 6y
Leelee08 @Chelleo Awesome!!😁 6y
76 likes10 comments
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Leelee08
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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A Butterbeer latte and some Dickens.🖤

LorieL Perfection! 😍 6y
AlaMich What does the butter beer latte taste like? (edited) 6y
Leelee08 @AlaMich It‘s delicious and suuuuper easy to make! I wish I could send you the recipe😊 6y
Leelee08 @LorieL Yesssss! 6y
Sophoclessweetheart Sounds delicious! 6y
81 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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1912 Charles Pears illustration of Louisa Bounderby from #HardTimes. I think Louisa is one of Dickens more interesting female protagonists. #DickensianDecember @jenniferw88

Leftcoastzen That‘s s great illustration, need to read Hard Times 6y
KVanRead @Leftcoastzen I quite liked it. 6y
51 likes2 comments
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MeganPagan
Hard Times | Charles Dickens

“...in the day of your triumph, when romance is utterly driven out of their souls, and they and a bare existence stand face to face, Reality will take a wolfish turn, and make an end of you.” -pg. 163

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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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#ThomasGradgrind and his beleaguered children Louisa and Thomas. I recently read this for the first time and really liked it. Many unfortunate parallels to today. #DickensianDecember @jenniferw88

KathyWheeler This is one of my favorite Dickens‘ books. 6y
KVanRead @KathyWheeler I‘m so glad i finally read it. 6y
59 likes2 comments
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MeganPagan
Hard Times | Charles Dickens

“Filled with these thoughts - so filled that he had an unwholesome sense of growing larger, of being placed in some new and diseased relation towards the objects among which he passed, of seeing the iris round every misty light turn red - he went home for shelter.”

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KerriNTurner
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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A little stack of green...

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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

This is the most overt social treatise of all of Dickens novels and as such it reads a little differently from the rest, with ideas and allegory overshadowing character and plot development and him slipping into outright speechifying from time to time. But I loved those speeches and his impassioned pleas are still so relevant today. And certain characters like Stephen Blackpool left their mark on me. All and all a fine novel.

saresmoore Great review! This is one of my favorite books. I‘m due for a reread! 6y
KVanRead @saresmoore Thanks! I‘m so glad I read it! 6y
batsy Your great review and a @saresmoore rec means I'll have to get this soon! 6y
KVanRead @batsy I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 6y
30 likes4 comments
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SaraBeagle
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
Pickpick

In one of his shortest books, Dickens covered some heavy topics. Set during the Industrial Revolution, we see pollution from factories, treatment of workers by the capitalist system, social class and the education system making up part of the back story. And, of course, over the top villains.

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SaraBeagle
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Well, there‘s a quote for our time. No alternate facts, please. #readathon

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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Mic drop 🎤

saresmoore 🙌 6y
KVanRead @saresmoore I‘m fangirling pretty hard right now😂 6y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Still so relevant! 6y
KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! Frustratingly so. 6y
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Dickens is really on a roll here....if only he were on Twitter ☺️

28 likes1 stack add
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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I feel you, CD, I feel you...🤦🏻‍♀️Also, I am def going to be working #SloughOfInanity into my conversations and comments wherever possible 😂

Lcsmcat ❤️❤️❤️ Dickens 6y
KVanRead @Lcsmcat Yep, he is pretty incredible. 6y
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Hey... this guy sounds so familiar to me...

Texreader Such brilliant character descriptions!!! 6y
KVanRead @Texreader I know! I love that about Dickens. 6y
24 likes2 comments
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Here‘s an argument that sadly we are still hearing today.

Lcsmcat 🙁 7y
Creadnorthey Unfortunately the fortune was made by tucking the one hand in the pockets of the 60,000 others. (edited) 7y
23 likes5 comments
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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FinchandViolet
Hard Times | Charles Dickens

"It is said that every life has its roses and thorn;there seemed , however, to have been a misadventure or mistake in Stephens case, whereby somebody else had become possessed of his roses, and he had become possessed of the same somebody else's thorns in addition to his own."

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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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#FootnoteGeek...I love it when I find out the origin of something I've said a million times without ever knowing why!

Libby1 I love Charles Dickens. I usually read one of his books every September as a little tradition. I haven't found one I want to read at the library yet so it may wait until October. 7y
Grrlbrarian Me too, @Libby1 Though for me it's November. I'm doing Edwin Drood this go-round! 7y
Libby1 @Grrlbrarian - I loved Edwin Drood! I used to live in England and liked visiting Rochester, where the book is set. It really brought the book to life! 7y
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KVanRead @Libby1 @Grrlbrarian Fellow Dickens lovers, yay!👏 I haven't read Edwin Drood yet but am trying to make my way through Dickens by reading AB installment a day on Serial Reader. How wonderful to have visited the setting of Edwin Drood! Haven't done that yet but our family's Dickens tradition is to attend The Great Dickens Christmas Faire every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. 7y
sarahbellum I've been reading a Dickens Christmas story every December, but now that I've run out of stories, I've been thinking about moving on to reading one of his books every winter. I wonder what it is about Dickens that makes us want to read him in the fall/winter! I love the Dickens Faire! Do you live in the Bay Area? 7y
KVanRead @sarahbellum Yes! We currently live in Millbrae but we're moving to Noe Valley next month. Where are you? 7y
sarahbellum I'm in Oakland! 7y
31 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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#FootnoteGeek...thought this scene was pure satire. Amazed to learn it's based on real Victorian teaching practice. 😧

LauraBrook What edition is this? I think I need to get it. 7y
LauraBrook @KVanRead Thank you! 7y
KVanRead @LauraBrook You're welcome! 7y
24 likes4 comments
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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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I had heard that this book was one of Dickens' darkest, but so far it seems like one of his funniest. #darkhumor

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KVanRead
Hard Times | Charles Dickens
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Wonder what Gradgrind would think of "alternative facts"?