You are definitely onto something. First time I read "Tale of Two Cities" I was sitting in a hostel in Sydney, AUS, polishing off a bottle of wine becuase I realized I had more than I could take out of the country duty free. I finished the wine, then shortly after finished the book. I remember thinking. "Am I just drunk, or was that a really good book?" I still think it's a really good book. Haven't been able to enjoy as much or even finish some of Dickens's other works.