Which Dickens next?

I'm just finished Bleak House, which I really loved, and I read A Christmas Carol years ago. I want to take on another Dickens, but I'm not sure which one. Recommendations? Two caveats: I'd prefer something shorter than Bleak House, and I already own Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby and The Tale of Two Cities. Which one of these would be a good follow up to Bleak House?

Nicholas Nickleby, although its only a tad shorter than Bleak House. Otherwise, Great Expectations would be my pick.

I second Nicholas Nickleby!!!

A Tale of Two Cities - get something exciting in after the lengthy tale that is Bleak House!

Either Nicholas Nickleby or The Tale of Two Cities.

You guys are great . . . and fast!

I see two votes for the Tale of Two Cities, so I think that I'll tackle that one next because I went out of my way to buy it, and I've started it twice. Nicholas Nickleby I got for free, so I haven't invested anything in it yet. I'll put it second on the list. I see no one suggested Oliver Twist. Poor Oliver. :-)

Well, Oliver Twist is, imho, a pretty minor work by Dickens. Heck, I'd even be so bold as to say the same thing about Great Expectations, but there are plenty who would disagree with me on that one...

I read Oliver Twist right after Bleak House at the end of last year. It was nowhere near as enjoyable. In fact, I found it to be one of CD's more dark and depressing works, and very light-on for humour. Still a worthy book but not his best, in my opinion.

Two Cities is okay...Expectations would be my recommendation based on your criteria.

Read them all!

Well, of course I'm going to read them all. But I can't read them all at the same time :-)

A Tale of Two Cities is his worst book. The melodrama is cranked up well past 11.

I really want to pick up Martin Chuzzlewitt soon.

#12 Agreed (at least of the Dickens I've read.) The characters just aren't as vivid as you expect from Dickens either.

Well, but you have to consider Dickens was in rather a tough spot when he wrote Tale of Two Cities, after all it was the best of times, but it was also the worst of times. It's awfully hard to write well in the worst of times.

rimSHOT!

*groan*

but a groan followed by a chuckle. :)