Nicole: We didn't really get to see anything this time round
Jen: Nothing except AWESOME imagery/metaphor! I adore the wine/blood scene, it is the one thing I really remember from reading this book 10 years ago. Although I could do without the guy writing "blood" on the wall, that is a little bit of overkill.
Nicole: I didn't really get that much from it aside from the poverty of the place, and how it is such a free for all.
Jen: Well, the poverty and desperate nature are huge. But also just knowing that this is all happening on the cusp of the French Revolution, and knowing what that will bring the metaphor of the scene is very powerful to me
Nicole: Ha, I'm looking back and I had missed that page where he foreshadows all the blood on the people. Yay, for me not being dim. So, yes...that does make it a bit more poignant.
Jen: Yeah, that makes a huge difference to the meaningfulness of the scene.
Nicole: While there is some good imagery here, I also felt that this is when Dickens starts to get into some serious overwriting.
Jen: Well, you know, the whole paid by the word thing...
Nicole: I wonder if his books would be a quarter to a half as long without it. I did love the way that Madame Dufarge is such a presence right from the beginning.
Jen: I am very much looking forward to reacquainting myself with her
Nicole: Her husband is the shop keeper, and later we find out that his name is Jacques and that he is Monsieur Dufarge. But right away she is a force, and so mysterious with her cryptic head nod.
Jen: Oh, the Jacques! That is a fun bit of confusion/mystery that Dickens is throwing in in this chapter too.
Nicole: It's all coming back to you, huh?
Jen: It is, vaguely. I remember a little about the Jacques, but mostly I remember that there is something to remember, as seems to be the case with most of this so far. I keep thinking, "Oh, that is a thing!"
Nicole: And he stops this time just as we are about to meet the father!
Jen: Such suspense! Such drama!
Nicole: We just glimpse a man making shoes.
Jen: I had such a difficult time not continuing to chapter six!
Nicole: How will we live til Saturday! I know. I wanted to peek. I didn't.
Jen: I peeked at the title. Spoiler alert: it is called "The Shoemaker"
Nicole: Well we saw the he was making shoes. I don't think you got away with much!
Jen: No, my renegade moves were sort of thwarted
Nicole: So Jacques is a bit of a rebel. He wears his own hair, and it's brown and curly!
No wigs. I love that Madame Dufarge lays her knitting down to pick her teeth with a toothpick.
So random.
Jen: It adds so much life to her character, she's that woman who puts down her knitting to pick her teeth
Nicole: Yes. Kind of gross, but endearing. Looking forward to finding out more about them all.
Jen: Me too, I can't wait until Saturday, when we can read more.
