Have you read David Copperfield or A Tale of Two Cities? Did you enjoy reading either?

Question

I need to pick three nonfiction books for my Sophomore Honors English class. My two choices include Night by Elie Wiesel and The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Toliken. I realize that the last one is a fiction book but my teacher made a exception because I have been wanting to read this for a long time. For my third choice I previously picked "Freakonomics" but now I am having second thoughts and I want to read something more historcial. So my question is which Charles Dickens book should I choose David Copperfield or A Tale of Two Cities? Keep in mind that I have never read any of his work before and I want to make the right choice. Have you read either and which do you perpher? I appreciate the help.

Caitlin: Yes you are right but my teacher also made a list of books that are nonfiction and fiction and any of those books he recommends. Charles Dickens was one.

Answer 1

I haven't read "David Copperfield," but I really liked "Tale of Two Cities." It's got a complicated (in a good way) plot that all ties together by the end, even though most of it seems irrelevant at first. The very beginning and very end passages of it are pretty famous, too. The whole book is pretty deep, well written, and emotional. I read Oliver Twist, but didn't like it nearly as much. Honestly, Two Cities was one of my favorites. My favorite book, though, was, The Silmarillion! I'm a Tolkien freak, even my Y! account is "arvelegthefirst". I loved Silm a little better than Two Cities, but both are probably some of the best books I've ever read. Some other good ones are (in case you change your mind)- Brave New World (Aldous Huxely), Animal Farm (George Orwell, you might have already read this for school though), and (if you enjoy the Silm.) Tolkien's Unfinished Tales.

Answer 2

I thought you needed to read nonfiction. Dickens' works are fiction.

To answer your question about which of the two is better, I haven't read David Copperfield but I did enjoy A Tale Of Two Cities the first time I read it in 8th grade. However, I reread it in high school and realized that although the historical setting is captavating, the characters are all one-dimensional; it's definitely not Dickens' best work.

Answer 3

I preferred "David Copperfield," though it can be tough to read in places, as much of Dickens's work can be! But no matter which book you choose I think you'll like either since both have classic merit.

I've never read that particular Tolkien book, and read about it a bit on YA... must get around to it soon. To be truthful I was gung-ho on Tolkien in my youth, starting with The Hobbit, later the Ring trilogy, which I thought too full of warfare after The Hobbit's gentler scary ways... so I quit exploring him. He was a master at runes and riddles though, wasn't he? and the creation of other worlds...

Pretty different compared to Dickens, but you'll see for yourself. Dickens is a master, too.
Happy reading--

Answer 4

Neither, Oliver Twist is much more entertaining.

Granted, David Copperfield and Tale of Two Cities are literary classic with historical references, so you'll get a good education from that, I suppose.

But Oliver Twist is much more fun to read and study, also has some interesting commentaries on England during the Victorian era, and the caste system.

Just me two cents, or two points I should say ;)

Answer 5

I would choose Tale of Two Cities. It's a more sophisticated literary work and a magnificent story.
If you don't have much time to devote to reading, then go for David Copperfield. It's a simpler read and quite charming.

Answer 6

Both David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities are wonderful, but David Copperfield will probably be more interesting for you. It's touching, beautifully funny and beautifully sad, and one of the best stories about growing-up ever!!!