Yes. My only caution to readers using this approach is to be aware that SparkNotes chapter summaries contain pretty big spoilers sometimes. If you hate spoilers then read the SparkNotes chapter summaries after you finish reading the book.

Thanks for sharing your perspective. You should probably remove the spoiler in your comment or use a spoiler warning.

TL;DR

/s

This "paid by the word" myth about Charles Dickens has been debunked many times.

A tale of two cities is a beautiful but very difficult read. You need to know some history surrounding the events of the French Revolution of 1789. Absent that, you need to read the footnotes and endnotes carefully. And you need to read the corresponding chapter summaries by Cliffnotes or Sparknotes as you go through the chapters for better understanding. It'll become easier after a while. And the book is absolutely worth sticking with until the end.

However, I would recommend starting with one of his early and more accessible works like Oliver Twist, then returning to ATOTC and adopting the approach described above. Best of luck!