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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Although it took me a very long time to finish this book, I did rather enjoy it. Perhaps if I was smarter and more literary, I could love this book and understand it better. As is, I thought many of the characters and events were enjoyable, but I found the protagonist dull and some of the dialogue beyond my 21st century understanding.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just couldn't finish this. Maybe I'll give it another go in a couple years. It's really well written, great characters, quite a few humorous sections, but it's hard going.
Dickens writing style is incredible. Nobody talks like this in America, but I understood the writing effortlessly. The city of London is brought to life with Dickens amazing descriptions. The characters are so thorough that you feel you know everything about them. I don't think a writer has ever made me despise someone as I despise Uriah Heep. The story flows so effortlessly. I loved this story.
Loved this book. Hadn't read it since the summer before my senior year of high school. Too long in between reads.
Yes, I agree that it's one of the best books of all time. I was literally stunned by the end of it with its sheer power and breadth. Even with all his usual issues with women, Dickens' love for humanity in all its variety shines on every page.
Without going into too much detail, I’ll say that I did enjoy many of the characters in the story, but that it was too long and repetitive. I have read that repetition is one of the themes of DC, so perhaps my criticism is unjust, but I just found some of it boring; did I really need to read three separate instances of David re-meeting the Micawbers in unlikely circumstances, or Uriah Heep repeating how ‘umble he is, or the doubts all held about Mrs. Strong’s purity and love for her husband? No. No I didn’t. That said, I truly enjoyed the characters of Miss Betsy Trotwood, the Micawbers, and Peggoty. In some ways, they excuse some of the more sentimental/theatrical plot points that crop up around Little Emily and Steerworth (and Miss Dartle), in particular. I felt that many of the events and revelations were either telegraphed very clearly or were practically cliches, so I gave up reading it for plot and more for the enjoyment of certain characters. Overall, mixed feelings on DC (which I could certainly go on about, but won’t!); I’m glad I read it, but wouldn’t recommend it.
I have tried reading a Charles dickens novel years ago, and couldn’t get past its first fifty pages. Recently, I read Demon Copperhead, which was based of David Copperfield and I liked that book a lot, so I decided to give Dickens another chance. DC was… long and slow and repetitive and infuriating to read. There were a few chapters that I really enjoyed, but as a full work, it’s not great. I’ll probably won’t be reading another book by Dickens again, but that’s okay. I at least finished one.
Can't go wrong with this one on the Dickens front, and I'd even hand this one to people who don't like Dickens. All that said, Jasper Fforde's thoughts on Dora have coloured it for me forever.
I really liked the childhood section and I really disliked the adult section especially as it went on and on. I hated the way dickens treats the young women characters.