The Good Lord Bird (James McBride, 2013)

(458 pages)

Book club selection (via Zach; session held (via Zoom) April 24, 2022).

I was wondering whether this 2013 book would be written the same way in 2022. All-talk wealthy urban whites now are considered  heroes instead of windbags - as unsparingly portrayed in this book. Would the author even use the term "slave" in 2022?  Would it be "enslaved person?"  Anyway.

Author clearly is a good writer, and the book moves right along - gives a glimpse into the world of Kansas-Nebraska when law and order barely existed.  Bad.

Interesting glimpses into slave relationship (even if we have no chance to have a good feel) - the danger of reading; "sir" every time; no backtalking; illuminating conversations about the pain of separation when family members sold down the river (still unimaginable).  Being a slave in any geography at any point in history seems mostly awful.

As Onion deals with Annie - says being invisible as male doesn't make much difference because invisible as a Negro anyway - third parties just see your race. Hmm.

I don't have a good feel for how much John Brown moved the needle.  He certainly was in the 1960s-1970s history books.  His sons play a prominent role. In this telling, he comes across as much like as an insane killer as anything else.

Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman appear.

The Woodlanders (Thomas Hardy, 1887)

(331 pages) 

I continue to very much enjoy Thomas Hardy's novels.

This one is set in a different corner of England - a heavily wooded area (thus the novel's title), with many characters earning a living based on the forests. Towns here are small; townsfolk mostly unsophisticated.

Giles Winterbourne - expert in all tree things, including planting - also operates an itinerant cider-pressing business.

Marty South - also expert, works closely with Winterbourne.

George Melbury - timber merchant who sends his only child, a daughter (Grace), for expensive education and has high hopes for her.

Young doctor (Fitzpiers) has settled in town but stays rather aloof, at least at the beginning.

An attractive, wealthy, young widow (Mrs. Charmond) in a big house.  Also rather aloof.

These and other characters work out their relationships in manner that Hardy accomplishes these things - interesting plot, wonderful descriptions of the local landscape and activities.

The Conquering Tide - War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944 (Ian Toll, 2015)

(542 pages)

Second of a trilogy focusing on the war in the Pacific (first of the trilogy is discussed here).  As with the first - readable, interesting, full of information I didn't know.  Looking forward to #3.

Guadalcanal (August 1942, ends early February 1943) - lengthy, interesting discussion - challenges, risk, inexperience, relative shortage of equipment - seeking to minimize risk of loss, esp of carriers at this stage.

Submarines - tales of the Wahoo.  Submarines were really important - especially as technology and tactics rapidly improved.

Wondering how carriers would function in 2022?  Presumably better attack and defense systems but to what balance?

Tarawa (November 1943) - bloody assault via beach landing, painful lessons; precursor to Normandy.

Improving radar, more effective bombing runs; though not against bunker-type preparation.

Inter-service rivalries - preceded Joint Chiefs - reminds of 9/11, just add one more layer! Challenging for U.S., worse in Japan.

As move through 1943 and into 1944 - incredible improvement by the U.S. in so many elements.  Better tactics - improved accuracy by fighters and bombers.  Incredible increase in manpower and equipment - including carriers and other huge ships.  Submarine efficacy.  Steep learning curve, impressive.  Better airplanes - once-feared Zeroes now so weak.

Japanese limited in manpower - especially experienced, even decently-trained, fighter pilots.  Limited in fuel - wanted to fight near Borneo oilfields.  Losing equipment that can't be replaced.

Big fights on Saipan and Guam (June -August 1944), but eventual success - lots of casualties even if some benefit from lessons learned on Tarawa.  And accompanying naval/air battles pretty much finished off Japan in those areas.  Now within striking distance of the home islands.

Rather amazing - and the author emphasizes - that the huge Saipan operation (starting June 15, 1944) far west in the Pacific is happening within days, literally, of the Normandy invasion - the US did both!

Starts to sound like the war in Europe at this same stage - the war is over for all practical purposes in terms of identifying the victor; losing side hangs on hoping that winning side will get tired and negotiate (perhaps after losing side manages a lucky victory or two).

American performance - including production from the home front - just incredible.

Not just the battles - author continues to give information about the key personalities, leaders.

Japanese soldiers with no-surrender ethos - suicidal. 

Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965)

(494 pages)

This volume included the entire trilogy (the three books flowing from one to the next without interruption).

I found this pretty much a joy to read.  Imaginative is an understatement.  So much detail - the reader can almost believe in the existence of these imagined places.

Leaving home planet - green - for the desert planet of Arrakis (known as Dune).  Under iffy circumstances.

Desert dwellers (Fremen) at the margins of society on Arrakis.  Their religious beliefs, extending all the way to a well-watered paradise.  Their technology for preserving water (all the way to stillsuits).  Dealing with sandworms.  And the spice.  

The Duke and his consort, Lady Jessica (Bene Gesserit); their son Paul (Maud'Dib)).

Baron Harkonnen and his son (Feyd-Rautha).

Stilgar - Fremen leader.  His daughter - Chani.

The Emperor and his Sardaukar.

Smugglers.  Henchmen or brave fighters (helping bad guys or good guys, respectively).

And plenty of other characters.

I haven't checked how this ties into the Star Wars movies - but there's a lot of overlap.  Which of course is just fine.  Book form is quite excellent, and plenty of good spots in the movies as well.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (Michael Pollan, 2018)

Book club selection (via Rose; session held (via Zoom) March 13, 2022).

Another book I wouldn't consider picking up - but this one provoked at least as many interesting ideas per page as compared to any other book club selection.  I liked it.

Also liked a prior Pollan book - "The Botany of Desire"- some overlapping concepts, but not many.

My notes are below - lots to think about.

_____________________

Does mention the botany of desire thesis - perhaps mushrooms learned how to benefit from manipulating humans - seems unlikely.  When author takes the azzies (found near Columbia mouth - the three parks we visited) - this is what he thinks of - communicating with plants (timing of the experience, and conceiving the book?)  (Wife has a painterly experience more specific to her profession.)  End of ch 2 . . . Seems to be the same as my ruminations below about a mere chemical reaction, influenced by one's personal history,

middle aged persons recommended to try (not so much young folks) - ?  maybe more prone to seek/find incremental meaning if not busy enough, not connected enough, "searching" for whatever reason?  Feeling the clock is running out, maybe the job wasn't enough or the family experience wasn't everything one hoped for??

Seems telling that expectations matter so much to the experience that occurs

James's definition of "mystical" - they do try to put some words around it so that it is possible to say the experience is "mystical" - but necessarily vague . . . if religions try to do this, immediate skepticism

Darwin/evolution - what kind of world where one can tap into the main consciousness only if found the right set of chemicals? ["stoned ape" discussion not closely tied to this - hominids finding mushrooms unleashing their brains to put together language - huh?].  That makes no sense to me.

Seems unsurprising that we can stumble upon chemicals that act upon the brain in a fairly consistent way . . . yielding a different experience than available in the absence of those chemicals, but colored by expectations, setting, prior experiences.  Not sure how significant it is.

Except there would be value for folks that are troubled by whatever - without proving anything about consciousness outside the brain - if the experience consistently reinforces the basic values:  the road map thing about trusting, open, being (whatever the fourth item) - "love is everything" - things that might seem prosaic but somehow clarified in this condition?

everyone is "searching" to some extent . . . where does this take us?

I already don't feel up to the task of fully absorbing music, literature, religion - much of this is pretty elevating - not sure why I would want an "artificial" (word chosen intentionally) prop in this enjoyment.

look for:  how this might connect to Eastern spiritualism; Christian mystics; Native American experiences.  Folks get there without drugs . . . 

References to Goethe, Joseph Banks - broader views than modern specialists

1960s - descriptions of LA practitioners making $$ off free samples from Sandoz; Cary Grant's sad story

Some guy named Hubbard credited with spreading around Silicon Valley . . . engineer willingness seems like MLB players looking at steroids.

Leary, Ginsberg - boring to me then and now.  So much blather about change the world, expand consciousness, "squares" refusing to partake.

I emphasize curiosity . . . am I uncurious about this?  Perhaps . . . moreso a feeling that this would be of value, something like religion, to persons who feel something is missing in their lives.  Or looking for something to do.  Or they just enjoy it - there's a lot of stuff people enjoy that I don't understand or desire for myself. Pretty strong reaction that I need to convince myself this isn't useful, at least for me.  why?

Chapter trying to define mysticism - useful - brain is chemical-driven, how much does it matter where the chemicals are sourced?  "Quieting the ego" - less aware of oneself.  Goes on to discuss non-added-chemical approaches that seem to do the trick.  

Discusses how the "trick" as to efficacy might be shutting down brain's default mode . . . the sector where the brain does work when not required to deal with a task.  Might relate to dreaming.  "Default mode" sector identified in early 2000s so not clear.

But might align with evolutionary stuff in Africa book . . . brain development had upside but also consumed so much energy . . . a brain system utilizing shortcuts makes a lot of sense.

Book continues with lots of discussion of the "default mode" issues, how that can start to become a negative if the mind gets "stuck" in defined tracks - addictions, depression (focus on certain harmful issues), etc.  Psychedelics as possibly helping break the cycle.

Interesting discussion comparing children's minds to adults on psychedelics - when very young, much more open to trying out-of-the-box solutions.

Maybe a world of intense specialization makes many of us narrower in some way, makes "breaking out" more important than in less specialized times.

Regaining the sense of awe or wonder (thinking of those Romantic-era scientists).

India in the Persianate Age - 1000-1765 (Richard Eaton, 2019)

(397 pages)

Main premise seems to be what author considers a new and improved thesis - we shouldn't view this era so much on Muslim-Hindu axis, but instead Sanskrit-Persianate.  It's interesting to read about but the difference is pretty subtle for a reader like me. Does point out that Muslim rulers typically were relatively tolerant - even if for practical considerations like inability to regulate behavioral minutiae of a large population over great distances. Perhaps the author is commenting on (chiding) Islamic fundamentalists and/or Hindu nationalists? 

In any event it's a very helpful overview of the years 1000-1765.

Persianate (author's term) rulers arrive in the north, based in Delhi; pushed by Mongols from Persia/Iraq; also from Afghanistan, Hindu Kush. Not always pushed - some saw opportunity.  Expand past the Vindhya mountains into the south; first ring of territory is conquered/administered; further territories are left pretty much alone but required to pay tribute, and take on some Persianate influence.  This is happening starting around 1200.

Deccan peninsula is far from Delhi relative to ability to project power.  Pretty quickly - rebellions.  14th century - Vijayanagar - in the second ring of territories south of the Vindhyas.  Some Persianate forms, but far less influence than further north.  Religious tradition not Persianate - Siva, Rama (evolving, not clear to this reader!)

Vijayanagar as immense; forays into deep south.  1564 - Battle of Talikota - a quick ending to Hampi; what remains of Vijayanagar is centered further south. (Vijayanagar (and the Battle of Talikota) written up in this book . . . which this author dislikes as incorrectly emphasizing Muslim v. Hindu (in his opinion).)

Malabar coast - less influenced by Persianate.  Major trading - mostly due to pepper - all the way back to Roman times.  Tolerant. Syriac Christians, Hindu, Muslim esp around Calicut (the version from Horn of Africa etc,) - even the Islamic influence not so much Persianate.  Not dominated by the various sultanates, not even Vijayanagar.  Portuguese upset the balance.

Sikhs emerge - Guru Nanak dies 1539.  Succession issues.  Amritsar (Punjab).

Discusses the major northern rulers - the Mughals.  Early 16th century.  Babur - Mongol.  Big transition from nomadic/horse to more pastoral life, they didn't always like it at first.  A lucky series of mostly long-tenured, talented rulers.  Abkar.  Jahangir.  Some Europeans at court now.  Jahan (crowned 1628) - perhaps the peak of Mughul power and reach?  Builds Taj Mahal, Red Fort.  Aurangzeb (much less tolerant, more reactionary).  Burning resources in Deccan, Bengal, etc.  Rajasthan. Hard to subdue; expensive; Mughals weakening in general.

At end of book - 1765 -  European presence more and more noticeable; British starting to out-compete European rivals; India growing as part of global trade.

Something missing - there's almost nothing about life of the "common man" anywhere in India - though I guess the book probably doesn't set out to do that.  Lots of discussion about how state revenues were collected, little about taxpayer squeeze, which must have been intense in view of the wealth getting to the top layers.

The Good Soldier (Ford Madox Ford, 1915)

(199 pages)

I very much liked Parade's End, so was quite interested in trying this novel.

Maybe I missed something - but I'm not recommending this one.

An American couple hang out, a lot, with a British couple in Europe.  Florence (wife in American couple) and Edward (in British couple) suffer from heart problems and need to be treated delicately; they spend time at a spa every year.

The books is written entirely from perspective of the American husband.

The author's introduction tells us that he intended to name this "The Saddest Story", but the publisher felt it wouldn't sell.  Author often does describe this as "the saddest story" while recounting innumerable sad things.

Which, for me, is not a recipe for a good read.

Africa - A Biography of the Continent (John Reader, 1997)

(682 pages)

Kind of a strange book - all related to Africa, but bounces around so much (and covering this much territory in one book is of course impossible).  But I much like, enough to do a pretty careful re-read (first read, in 2003, back here).

Maybe too much emphasis on justifying why Africa's population growth and overall development has been slow in comparison to the places where African migrants settled; that it's not due to inferior skills and initiative.  Though I suppose so many non-African experts - and common folk -  over the centuries have drawn that conclusion, that he feels a need to rebut?

Explains why most of Africa was and is generally a challenging place to live - low population densities; growth after periods of "good" years leads to trouble when normal (drier) conditions return.  Conflict, but not large-scale wars (except Egypt).  Lack the manpower; also tended not to own stuff that could be accumulated and fought over.  Seldom enough labor available - a continuing problem.  Unique challenges like the tsetse fly.

A good review of the Portuguese explorers - their rather impressive accomplishments mapping the coast in 15th century and beyond.  Others elbow them out of the picture by end of 16th century.

Influences from abroad not benign - as technologies were developed locally and (more often) brought in from elsewhere, perhaps some sort of sustainable local economic and political systems might have evolved without so much interference.  Seems to lament this quite a bit - but kind of pointless - Africa not the only place where less developed societies get flattened, reshaped by more developed aggressive neighbors.

Though it is so sad in Africa.  Arab slavers bad enough.  Then the system is amped up with the Europeans and the Americas, while the Arabs continue.  Prime labor - always in short supply - is shipped away in exchange for pointless prestige goods, guns, horses that flow to the elite - no motivation to develop local economy and less folks to accomplish it anyway.  (Some of that sounds like more recent foreign aid programs - elite siphon off the goodies; donated goods (especially food) choke off development of sustainable local capacity to supply the same.)

Discussion of how the slave trade affected so much of the continent - even areas far from the coast.  Plenty of complicit locals, but the scale was not driven by locals.

Interesting discussion of South Africa; the Boers; finding diamonds (and gold); solving labor shortages by rather awful methods.

Then the rather amazing late 19th century "scramble", the Congo (again solving labor problems by awful methods), the carving up of states on lines that didn't reflect the locals.

And yet - lots of growth, lots of room for optimism.

Not quite sure how it all fit together, but the book started with lengthy discussions of geologic history and evolution, lots on hominids to humans.  This part was actually quite thought-provoking.  Walking upright; chewing; talking; developing a large brain, taming fire, developing agriculture, on and on - that's a lot to happen!

Interesting idea - that colonial administrators trying to rationalize things post-WWI came on the scene after a devastating cattle plague (rinderpest) and famine - they thought depopulated areas had always been that way - some of the game preserves formerly had human populations, now we think the "natural" state is animals-only.

The Age of Wonder (Richard Holmes, 2008)

(484 pages)

Book club selection (via me; session held (via Zoom) January 30, 2022).

I had read this in 2010, my summary from back then is here.  I think I liked it better this second time around.

Notes used for book club remarks:

Age of Enrichment - starts c. 1800 - how this fit in.  Industrial Revolution and trade preceded . . . knowledge, efficiency, productivity - why we are wealthy today.

General approach - lots of science/technology - this alone made the book worthwhile for me - some of the details about how the pioneers functioned, biographical touches

The difference from similar books:  made far more interesting by linking these developments to how it felt, how it affected thinking about the universe, religion, man's place, etc., biographies

Banks - brought the exotic to life - a different lifestyle - seeing new worlds, new value systems.  Praised by Linnaeus!  Then his long role at Royal Society.

Herschel - size of the universe; likelihood of other galaxies.  Finding Uranus. His sister.  Geography suited to celebrity visitors - fixed location, near London etc.

Ballomania - thinking of today's space entrepreneurs - private wealth funding.  Immediate recognition of military utility.  

Mungo Park. The "unknownness" of Africa.  Imperial considerations.

Davy - Lengthy story but perhaps the most interesting.  The notion that chemistry could explain nearly everything, including workings of the brain and replacement of the soul. That we can invent safety lamps etc to deal with most any problem.  Then discovering how complicated it all is. Important as we consider events of 19th and early 20th century, their optimism was not entirely irrational. Incredible level of interaction with famous poets and others. Defining what “science“ would be going forward, the idea of hope (similar to poetry), looking forward to better things.

Did the Romantic poets and artists inspire the scientists (using the newly-coined term), or vice versa?  Strong synergies, I thought this part was really interesting.

Throughout the book, not this chapter alone, the idea that we knew so little circa 1800s.

When folks look back in say 2222 - how will we look circa 2022?

The ongoing tension with France, the way Bonaparte dominated British thinking. Children were threatened with Boney, not a bogeyman!

Scientists as polymaths . . . Goethe (Sorrows of Young Werther) and study of light.

Frankenstein chapter - this was probably the most interesting - another example of developing a new way of understanding key processes - thinking of Kalinithi and looking at brain lobes.  Vitalism.  Studying the cranium, classifying.  Things we haven't made much progress understanding.

Fear of science destroying wonder - not new.  

The War that Ended Peace (Margaret MacMillan, 2013)

(645 pages)

Discussions of the run-up to World War I are incredibly interesting . . . but I was a little reluctant to take on this one, in part thinking it might be redundant with The Guns of August and The Proud Tower.

And it was, to some extent.

But still - a useful review, lots of analysis was fresh to me.  Good discussion about the situation in Germany, Russia, France, England, U.S., Austria-Hungary, Italy - the alliances that formed and re-formed, some of them rather unusual.

Two things that struck me most - 

One:  the way that the leaders of the various countries spoke of war as all but inevitable.  Seems unbelievable.  But it was so widely believed.

Two:  the problems of identity politics (the various nationalities) in the Austro-Hungarian Empire - did that ever sound familiar!  An ongoing problem - one certainty is that emphasizing nationality (or other identity) in resolving issues isn't going to end well.

Pacific Crucible - War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 (Ian Toll, 2012)

(491 pages)

Christmas gift from PJr & Nedda.  First of a three-part trilogy.

Reviewers have compared to Rick Atkinson's trilogy on WWII in Europe - high praise - and I think it's apt.  Readable; detail but not too much; biographical background on key figures without getting bogged down.  Leaves the reader looking forward to the next installment.

I liked the description of background in Japan - events leading to the war - the mood of the country, as least as the leaders sought to mold it.  1905 naval battle with Russia; then into China.

I don't recall reading about Alfred Mahan - 19th century thinker on naval strategy - sounds like he was incredibly influential.  And probably had great ideas.  Except airplanes came along.

Pearl Harbor discussion.  The incredible speed of Japanese advances in the early months.

The Doolittle raid - gave me new ideas about this - if only the idea of launching bombers off an aircraft carrier, for the very first time, with no practice.  Strong winds on the day of the attack were good/bad news - the good news is that taking off into the wind works better with more wind; the bad news is that the carrier is pitching up and down.  Pilots sought to time the pitching - accelerate on the downward pitch, then catch the upward pitch to get aloft.  Impossibly short runway.  No practice.  It worked, well enough.

Coral Sea - long/hard to follow.  Difficulties of successful reconnaissance; difficulties of hitting bombing goals; useful in next chapter (Midway).

Decryption - didn't know much about this in the Pacific theater but it was crucial (so much attention in Europe).  This was fascinating.

Battle of Midway - with Coral Sea discussion, gave me a better idea of how these aircraft carrier battles took place - where ships never see one another (I think these fleets were nearly 100 miles apart).  Difficulty of hitting targets - but it only took one or a few hits on a given target for complete success.  Utilization of decryption team's input - big effect on Midway battle.   This part was also a great read.

Middlemarch (George Eliot, 1871-72)

(838 pages) 

I absolutely loved the very last sentence of the novel (it refers to Dorothea):  "But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs."

Except I think it's far more than half!  (Maybe because I correctly see myself in that "number?")

Anyway - I originally read this in 2004, I think in a books-on-tape format - good but not optimal - my thoughts are here.  At least I correctly said it was worth a re-read.

Very very much enjoyed the novel this second time around.  George Eliot a favorite. So many characters and plot threads, so well developed.  I took my time.

Depth of characters, no cartoonish among the many leads.

Proust-like in helping see how we all tend to see what we want to see, deceive ourselves a lot or a little - usually not with bad intentions.

Brooke and his nieces (Dorothea - Casaubon; Celia - Sir James Chettam)

Ladislaw (Casaubon's second cousin, works for Brooke at the Pioneer)

Garth Caleb and family (Mary)

Vincy family (Fred, Rosamond)

Lydgate and Rosamond

Bulstrode (married to a Vincy)

Featherstone and relatives

Lydgate unable to pay debts; Fred similar

Fred unable to find a profession; Ladislaw similar; Farebrother not so happy with his profession.

The Mysteries of Udolpho (Ann Radcliffe, 1794)

Another Paul Jr. recommendation.  This was an unusual type of read for me.  I liked it.

Emily St. Aubert is the protagonist.  Orphaned in her late teens early in the story; her aunt is her guardian (I'll call it) but herself makes an ill-advised marriage to an Italian fellow (Montoni).  They all go to Venice; then onto Montoni's castle (Udolpho).

Emily had met Valancourt (and fallen in love with him) while traveling with her father through the Pyrenees.  Entirely separated while at Udolpho, not clear to her what's up with him.

Apparitions at Udolpho, and later at a chateau in France.  Strange music playing in the middle of the night in various locations.  Emily spends time at a nearby convent, meets a strange nun who seems to recognize Emily.

Very early in the book, Emily's father is advising her strongly about the dangers of indulging in grief, emotions in general.  Then for hundreds of pages, Emily is continually plunged into deep grief, fainting, etc.  Even though she's strong, rational.  She did go through some quite amazing scenarios.

Book was immensely popular when first published, and I read that it's considered the first "Gothic" novel (not sure exactly what that means but I think I get the general idea).

In the page 40s, taking a journey for the father to convalesce. Classic romantic descriptions of wild terrain, natural beauty, etc.  How does this tie temporally to Caspar David Friedrich paintings, etc.?  Lots of this type of descriptive writing as they travel between France and Italy and enjoy local scenery.

When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalanithi, 2016)

Book club selection (via PJ; session held (via Zoom) November 21, 2021).

A doctor who wishes to also be an author gets cancer, and writes about it.

Preface is written by a friend - talks a lot about Thomas Browne's "Religio Medici".  This struck me because a quote from the book is on frontispiece of my copy of Bach's Goldberg Variations.  Beautiful description of music (written well before Bach but still).  (Not yet inspired to read Browne's book, however.)

Useful recounting of things we've heard before - doctor as listener, guide.  The awfulness of cancer treatments.  What it felt like with the clock ticking, loudly.

Author in the early going was trying to figure out "the relationship between meaning, life, and death" - lots of discussion about this.  Thinking perhaps he would be the one to figure out the un-figure-out-able.

Husband-wife relationship - a little hard to read - husband never really gave up prioritizing career.  Then the illness intervened.

Dropping author names, similar to Amor Towles.  Ivan Ilych (Tolstoy) as a deep discussion of dying.

Some discussion of religion - the idea of original sin - which I think he described well - forget the theological strangeness, it speaks to something observed in human nature from the beginning.

Having a child in this kind of situation.

You can't read this without the main message being - don't screw up the days you have on trivia.  Not a new idea, but this is a good vessel to express it.

The Old Curiosity Shop (Charles Dickens, 1841)

(555 pages)

I was much interested in this particular Dickens work - partly because of the descriptions in his biography of readers in America - as installations of the serialized book reached American shores, supposedly crowds on the waterfront were shouting "What happened to Little Nell?"

But in the story arc, I found Little Nell a bit flat.  And her grandfather a bit annoying.

Swiveller - an unexpected role!  The schoolmaster plays a key role.  The "small servant" at the law firm, also.  Kit (and his mother), Barbara (and her mother).

The dwarf (Quilp) - drove a lot of action; mostly comic character.  Nell's unkind brother.  The two lawyers aren't very nice.

I read this immediately after the Joseph Conrad novel described below.  OK the two authors are going for different things.  But the difference in character-drawing is so striking.  Dickens characters often one-dimensional, but he's effective at driving a plot using this.  Conrad characters so much more balanced, complicated.  

These are just enjoyable reads.