Dombey and Son

This is the first review which I have submitted to Audible, but I felt that I had to comment on the excellence of the narration. Each character's voice is distinctive and appropriate and the narrative sections are paced beautifully. Dickens wrote rather better books than "Dombey and Son" and the last few chapters are weak, but for David Timson's reading of it fully merits the four stars.

Dombey and Son is not fast-paced so needs an ebullient performance from it's reader to bring it to life.
David Timson manages that admirably and I would highly recommend this audiobook.

There are some wonderful aspects to this book, and some great writing. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of cloying sentimentality - and the attitudes to the duties of children (especially daughters) to parents are dated and often distasteful. I also felt it ran out of steam for quite a while in the last quarter.



I give it 4 stars because it has great moments, but it also needs a lot of leniency of the 'it was written a long time ago' sort.

Whilst not lacking the usual Dickens characters, always good for a laugh, the greatest satisfaction I got from this novel was from the rich and thoughtful narration. Many of his novels are somewhat predictable, but I found that Dickens pursues a very open plotline. There are some detours which are perhaps over long, but the net result is an excellent yarn

If I could give this 6 stars, I would! Beautifully read, David Timson brings Dicken's world alive... every character is true and deep... simply wonderful.

It has been my companion this last fortnight, and I now feel bereft...worth every penny...