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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
FINALLY. FINISHED. THIS. BOOK.
While I am glad I did choose this book as my Dickens for the year, I will say that so far it is not my favorite. I can see that it is sort of a bridge between his earlier work and his later work, which was very interesting. However, this novel is very long in tooth. I can see how it would almost have been better to read it in its original serial format--taken as a whole this novel is one very large pill to swallow (it took me almost two months to finish!!!).
While I am glad I did choose this book as my Dickens for the year, I will say that so far it is not my favorite. I can see that it is sort of a bridge between his earlier work and his later work, which was very interesting. However, this novel is very long in tooth. I can see how it would almost have been better to read it in its original serial format--taken as a whole this novel is one very large pill to swallow (it took me almost two months to finish!!!).
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this is a good book overall, but I think the format of the book as a whole novel doesn’t do it any favours. One can tell that this was meant to be read over various instalments, more like an episodic thing than one concise novel. in order to finish this book in a timely manner I had to force my way through it, and I believe I would have enjoyed it more over a longer period of time. An interesting book, but be warned that it is an investment of time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Infertility, Racism, Slavery, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Nothing of interest happens in the first half, I don't expect that to change.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very clear good vs evil wound into the narrative of David's often hard life with a cast of eccentric characters
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't even know how to review this excellent book! It is full of fleshed out and believable characters, some of whom I would love to meet. Of course, it is a brick of a book, but it is so totally worth reading, the story starts with David's birth as it had been told to him, and continues on from there, where he stops and pays more attention to some moments than others.
David's naïvete is so enchanting, and if he was real, I would want to take good care of him. The way he interacts with others is always curtuous and respectful, until someone does something to him or his beloved that makes him lose that respect!
There are a lot of characters, and most of them come and go - and are all fleshed out and seem real. Not many foils at all, and that multidimensionality makes the whole story even more interesting and captivating.
I felt like I was immersed in London with David, the descriptions of places and houses were done so vividly it seemed like I was walking next to him, and sitting next to him when he was talking to other characters.
The language is simple, Dickens is in no way trying to lecture his readers, even if he did tell his readers about social difficulties and problems.
His innocence made him so attaching it was hard on me when the book was over - even after 970 pages!
This is storytelling at it's finest - I recommend this to all of my booklover friends!
David's naïvete is so enchanting, and if he was real, I would want to take good care of him. The way he interacts with others is always curtuous and respectful, until someone does something to him or his beloved that makes him lose that respect!
There are a lot of characters, and most of them come and go - and are all fleshed out and seem real. Not many foils at all, and that multidimensionality makes the whole story even more interesting and captivating.
I felt like I was immersed in London with David, the descriptions of places and houses were done so vividly it seemed like I was walking next to him, and sitting next to him when he was talking to other characters.
The language is simple, Dickens is in no way trying to lecture his readers, even if he did tell his readers about social difficulties and problems.
His innocence made him so attaching it was hard on me when the book was over - even after 970 pages!
This is storytelling at it's finest - I recommend this to all of my booklover friends!
okay… i just don’t think me and dickens get along. this is the first novel of his i have finished and i just didn’t like it. i can appreciate everything about it and how profound it is. whatever. i just couldn’t find it enjoyable to read. tried to read a tale of two cities as well but couldn’t even finish. i will try to read great expectations next as a third times a charm type of thing, but if it doesn’t hit then i just won’t try again.