I am very pleased to have finished. This was an uphill climb, at times most arduous. The first 18 chapters lack drive and no character is egregious enough to build tension. On discovering, at that point, that there are 62 chapters, I almost despaired as I like to finish what I start. It does pick up, but I admit to skipping lengthy descriptive passages and digressions. Dickens makes powerful points about gender issues, class issues, commerce and parental responsibility but I was dissatisfied with the ending which whilst every loose end was tied, left untold the reason for the central hinge. Glad to have read it, but it isn't coming to my desert island!