Mike Walker (5) (1947–)

This is the 2011 BBC radio dramatization which is 8 hours long. I wanted to get a sense of this long and difficult novel before committing the time and energy it would demand. The BBC does a good job though there is no question reading it would be the better experience. The players speak in various English accents, not Russian or German, which as an American I found confusing and weird like listening to War and Peace with Italian accented actors. I now have an idea what the novel is about, not just plot but the ironic connections between fascism and communism; the life of fighting on the front against the enemy; against one's own comrades; plus co-operations with the enemy. If it inspires me to take on the novel remains to be seen.… (mere)

I read and disliked this novel a few years ago. So made a second-try with the magic of a BBC Full-Cast Dramatisation. Normally the BBC can make anything seem pretty good, but there is only so much even they can do with source ingredients. By and large this is a clumsy story that mercifully ends quickly (for Dickens). It still baffles me why it is considered a great novel. If I ever approach this story again it will be through a movie or TV series as generally the worse a novel is the better it adapts to TV.… (mere)