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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Hilarious, witty and full of characters that feel like friends. It’s a commitment but worth it.
I've been meaning to read this book for many years. A high school teacher of mine said it was his favorite book, and out of respect for him I have avoided watching any movie adaptations until I had read it for myself.
David Copperfield is a commitment. My hardcover edition is 800 pages, and I know that some paperbacks are over 1,000. I ended up listening to it on audio read by Richard Armitage. The book was 36 hours long, and took me from March to July to complete! I think that having it read to me helped me keep going in times where I might have gotten distracted from a physical book.
But enough about the background. I really loved this story! The beginning brought back all my memories of the orphan stories I used to love as a child. Davey has many adventures and trials before ending up with the amazing Betsy Trotwood. I won't say too much more, to avoid spoilers, but I will summarize my favorite things about the story.
Like Bleak House, David Copperfield is so long and multi-faceted, that it feels like a whole reality unto itself. The chapters go back and forth between countless different subplots, as David interacts with the many quirky people he encounters in England. My favorite plots were those involving my best loved characters: Agnes, Emily, Mr. Peggotty and "Peggotty" herself, and my favorite, Betsy Trotwood. They feel like old friends at this point!
I am glad I persevered through this long book and feel it was well worth my time.
David Copperfield is a commitment. My hardcover edition is 800 pages, and I know that some paperbacks are over 1,000. I ended up listening to it on audio read by Richard Armitage. The book was 36 hours long, and took me from March to July to complete! I think that having it read to me helped me keep going in times where I might have gotten distracted from a physical book.
But enough about the background. I really loved this story! The beginning brought back all my memories of the orphan stories I used to love as a child. Davey has many adventures and trials before ending up with the amazing Betsy Trotwood. I won't say too much more, to avoid spoilers, but I will summarize my favorite things about the story.
Like Bleak House, David Copperfield is so long and multi-faceted, that it feels like a whole reality unto itself. The chapters go back and forth between countless different subplots, as David interacts with the many quirky people he encounters in England. My favorite plots were those involving my best loved characters: Agnes, Emily, Mr. Peggotty and "Peggotty" herself, and my favorite, Betsy Trotwood. They feel like old friends at this point!
I am glad I persevered through this long book and feel it was well worth my time.
I was very surprised when reading this book. It's very well written. The story and characters are well crafted and timeless. It could as easily be something that fits in our current society than Victorian England. It is indeed a testament to the skill of the author. It rightfully deserves to be a classic.
Although one of the longer of Charles Dickens' novels, David Copperfield is a highly readable and absorbing story of a boy who does grow up well...despite the false starts of his childhood. We meet David when he is born. His father has died and his mother has the misfortune to marry a harsh man (who arrives in the household complete with an even harsher sister so that David gets the benefit of both an evil step-father and 'step-mother'). Things just keep getting worse. David is sent away to a school with a cruel headmaster. Then, his mother dies and his step-father sends him away to live by-himself in London to work in a warehouse. David - not even ten years old- escapes and sets out to seek his only living relative. The narrative hasn't even covered a quarter of the plot but in these early trials David meets all the -unlikely - people who end up showing him great kindness and help in life: his nurse Pegotty, Tommy Traddles, Mr. And Mrs. Micawber, and his formidable aunt.
Needless to say, much happens and David Copperfield ends well. A great novel and a great read.
Needless to say, much happens and David Copperfield ends well. A great novel and a great read.
This is my favorite novel by Charles Dickens. It is purported to be semi-autobiographical, and the characters are extremely relatable.
- I've been wanting to read this for forever! I was always intimidated by it, but I didn't need to worry. I was captivated from page one. I really enjoyed reading this!
- I love the way Dickens describes things. It is so vivid, and he makes everything so interesting. I love the way he describes Mr. Peggoty's house. It sounds amazing, and I want to visit there.
- In the first half of the book I felt so bad for poor David! His whole world was turned upside down, and things just kept getting worse and worse. It made me want to hold my daughter and be extra kind to her. Why did David's mother marry such a creep!?
- There were so many great characters in this story. I loved Mr. Peggoty, Mr. Micawber, Miss Mowcher, Traddles, Mr. Dick, Agnes, but my two absolute favorites were Peggoty and Betsey Trotwood. They were different, but they made huge impacts on David's life. I loved Peggoty's devotion and love. Betsey Trotwood made me laugh. I loved her stern kindness.
- There were some unsavory characters as well. Uriah Heep was a creep from the beginning! His "humble" attitude and disposition just grated on my nerves, and I wanted to smack him. Steerforth bugged me, but I couldn't really say why until towards the end. He was haughty and wasn't a true friend. He was very self-centered.
- I LOVED the old school illustrations. I want to frame one and hang it in my house. It would be so cool!
- I loved when David broke the wall between author and reader and spoke directly to the reader. It was so interesting to see in a book this old.
- I don't understand David's devotion to Steerforth, even in the end. David idolized Steerforth and put him on an undeserved pedestal to worship. It was weird and drove me nuts.
- David Copperfield is such a romantic. He romanticizes everything! He really sees the world through rose colored glasses, but he does get a few reality checks thank goodness.
- Dora bugged! I think David and Dora had a very shallow relationship. I don't doubt their devotion to each other, but it was a silly marriage. Dora was SO childish!
- Mr. Micawber's letters were a bit tedious to read at times. He is SO wordy! But at the same time, it makes him so endearing.
- I loved how ALL the character's individual stories were wrapped up. It was a nice and tidy ending.
- Great read! I'm not going to shy away from large Dickens books anymore!
- I love the way Dickens describes things. It is so vivid, and he makes everything so interesting. I love the way he describes Mr. Peggoty's house. It sounds amazing, and I want to visit there.
- In the first half of the book I felt so bad for poor David! His whole world was turned upside down, and things just kept getting worse and worse. It made me want to hold my daughter and be extra kind to her. Why did David's mother marry such a creep!?
- There were so many great characters in this story. I loved Mr. Peggoty, Mr. Micawber, Miss Mowcher, Traddles, Mr. Dick, Agnes, but my two absolute favorites were Peggoty and Betsey Trotwood. They were different, but they made huge impacts on David's life. I loved Peggoty's devotion and love. Betsey Trotwood made me laugh. I loved her stern kindness.
- There were some unsavory characters as well. Uriah Heep was a creep from the beginning! His "humble" attitude and disposition just grated on my nerves, and I wanted to smack him. Steerforth bugged me, but I couldn't really say why until towards the end. He was haughty and wasn't a true friend. He was very self-centered.
- I LOVED the old school illustrations. I want to frame one and hang it in my house. It would be so cool!
- I loved when David broke the wall between author and reader and spoke directly to the reader. It was so interesting to see in a book this old.
- I don't understand David's devotion to Steerforth, even in the end. David idolized Steerforth and put him on an undeserved pedestal to worship. It was weird and drove me nuts.
- David Copperfield is such a romantic. He romanticizes everything! He really sees the world through rose colored glasses, but he does get a few reality checks thank goodness.
- Dora bugged! I think David and Dora had a very shallow relationship. I don't doubt their devotion to each other, but it was a silly marriage. Dora was SO childish!
- Mr. Micawber's letters were a bit tedious to read at times. He is SO wordy! But at the same time, it makes him so endearing.
- I loved how ALL the character's individual stories were wrapped up. It was a nice and tidy ending.
- Great read! I'm not going to shy away from large Dickens books anymore!
I have always loved many of these characters, but this rereading made me wish Dickens had had a good editor. But Aunt Betsey, Mr. Dick, the odious Murdstones, and the extended Peggoty family make it all worth while.
4.5 stars. This was a great book, if a little long! I loved the characters! Dickens has such a talent for bringing his characters to life. I enjoyed the journey!
If you were to ask me to name an intimidating book that I'd probably never read, one of my answers would have been David Copperfield.
Once Upon A Book Club had it available. I thought perhaps I'd read it with little gifts along the way.
I did!
Not only did I surprise myself by reading it and comprehending it, but I enjoyed it! The characters were so well developed. Some were horrible people and some were hilarious. The character arch of David Copperfield was so fun to watch. I literally laughed out loud in parts and teared up in others.
Once Upon A Book Club had it available. I thought perhaps I'd read it with little gifts along the way.
I did!
Not only did I surprise myself by reading it and comprehending it, but I enjoyed it! The characters were so well developed. Some were horrible people and some were hilarious. The character arch of David Copperfield was so fun to watch. I literally laughed out loud in parts and teared up in others.