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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
This was a feat to read, and it is a feat of a novel. I read this book in a very fragmented way and entirely accompanied by an audiobook. Having now read three of Dickens's novels, I profoundly understand his place in English literature, specifically pertaining to the history of the novel. While I am not a fan of his writing itself, that does not negate the fact that I partake in some enjoyment from these works and find them incredibly compelling to analyze and research. After reading this book, I reject the argument that his works could be shorter because, if you removed certain things, the story may remain in tact, but the novel--especially one labeled as a Dickens novel--depreciates. Some characters and scenes in this book I enjoyed, but overall this novel is not exactly my cup of tea per se; however, I do recommend this book in the context of reading important works in the history of the novel (or if you like Victorian literature or Dickens, of course).
David Copperfield is Dickens' eighth novel and, coincidentally, the eighth of his novels that I have read, but I haven't been reading them in chronological order. My first impression of Charles Dickens came with a BBC TV adaptation of David Copperfield back in 1974, my parents watched it and I caught a couple of the six episodes. I remember Arthur Lowe's tremendous performance as Mr Micawber. I also remember the fawning obsequious character of Uriah Heap and Barkus telling David to pass a message on to his nurse, Peggoty, that "Barkus is willing". I remember little else of the story from that time. My next encounter with Dickens was at school in my teenage years, when we had to read "A Tale of Two Cities", this put me off Dickens for a very long time, not because of the story but because of the way literature was taught in school, destroying the magic of reading. I was in my thirties when I picked up "Great Expectations" and I loved it. In the past few years I've set myself the task of reading through all of Dickens' novels. I started by rereading "A Tale of Two Cities", which didn't impress me as much as Great Expectations as it lacked the humour that characterises Dickens' work.
David Copperfield has some amazing characters, Mr Micawber has pecuniary troubles but is always optimistically thinking something will turn up and his luck will change. David Copperfield we see as a boy and a young man, this is perhaps the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels, David as a boy goes to work in a factory for a time cleaning bottles, Dickens worked in a blacking factory as a child. As a young man David begins a writing career and meets with early success as did Dickens. David is much more convincing as a child than Oliver Twist. David's childhood friends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles are both intriguing characters. The fawning Uriah Heep, who claims to be ever so humble rises by devious means and provokes David to strike him at one point. David's eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood, is a wonderful character and provides comic relief when chasing donkeys off her land.
The book shows David coming from an impoverished troubled childhood to make his way in the world. This was Dickens' favourite novel, in the preface he writes: "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." There is too much in the 800+ pages to condense into a simple review, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire novel.
David Copperfield has some amazing characters, Mr Micawber has pecuniary troubles but is always optimistically thinking something will turn up and his luck will change. David Copperfield we see as a boy and a young man, this is perhaps the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels, David as a boy goes to work in a factory for a time cleaning bottles, Dickens worked in a blacking factory as a child. As a young man David begins a writing career and meets with early success as did Dickens. David is much more convincing as a child than Oliver Twist. David's childhood friends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles are both intriguing characters. The fawning Uriah Heep, who claims to be ever so humble rises by devious means and provokes David to strike him at one point. David's eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood, is a wonderful character and provides comic relief when chasing donkeys off her land.
The book shows David coming from an impoverished troubled childhood to make his way in the world. This was Dickens' favourite novel, in the preface he writes: "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." There is too much in the 800+ pages to condense into a simple review, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire novel.
I was trying to read it before reading Barbara Kingsolver's book Demon Copperfield. It was good, but I didn't feel like reading both so I chose Barbara's....
This was a tough one for me to get through. Great characters/writing but so very long.
Small Spoiler alert !!
This is the last classic of my fifth semester course of English literature, and also one of the longest book I've ever read, thick books always intimidated me, idk why but also my attention span is soo small, that I get bored with anything in very short period, and that type of pushing feeling with any book not justice with a writer, I feel bad for them, and I also don't like leaving book in the middle, but after a lot of preparation I picked this up and decided to finish it slowly so that I can justify every emotions of this book, and I also think that finishing such a long book in few days won't justify the hardwork of writer, every book is blood, sweat and tears for it's writer.
Writing is indeed very nice, as well as very simple, it's also easy to understand even for beginners, who want to get into classics and I love these type of simple to understand books. This book is basically an autobiographical novel, so one should have patience with it.
This is my first time trying Charles Dickens, and even though this book intimidated me I would for sure go for his other works cause I like his style of writing and explaining emotions, my most favourite chapter was (Spoiler ahead) the one in his wife dies and how everything he explains in it, the emotional rollercoaster was really good, and in the end of the chapter there is this line -
"it's over. Darkness comes before my eyes; and, for a time, all things are blotted out of my remembrance"...........this line literally made me sad and this line and this chapter are the main reason I'm going to pick up Mr. Charles works again.
This is the last classic of my fifth semester course of English literature, and also one of the longest book I've ever read, thick books always intimidated me, idk why but also my attention span is soo small, that I get bored with anything in very short period, and that type of pushing feeling with any book not justice with a writer, I feel bad for them, and I also don't like leaving book in the middle, but after a lot of preparation I picked this up and decided to finish it slowly so that I can justify every emotions of this book, and I also think that finishing such a long book in few days won't justify the hardwork of writer, every book is blood, sweat and tears for it's writer.
Writing is indeed very nice, as well as very simple, it's also easy to understand even for beginners, who want to get into classics and I love these type of simple to understand books. This book is basically an autobiographical novel, so one should have patience with it.
This is my first time trying Charles Dickens, and even though this book intimidated me I would for sure go for his other works cause I like his style of writing and explaining emotions, my most favourite chapter was (Spoiler ahead) the one in his wife dies and how everything he explains in it, the emotional rollercoaster was really good, and in the end of the chapter there is this line -
"it's over. Darkness comes before my eyes; and, for a time, all things are blotted out of my remembrance"...........this line literally made me sad and this line and this chapter are the main reason I'm going to pick up Mr. Charles works again.
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
challenging
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to first mention a problematic aspect for a modern reader, so that we can set this aside - this quote is from the introduction of my Wordsworth edition (by Adrienne E. Gavin) that puts into words my uneasiness about this: "Twentieth century readers often find the three possible female romantic partners for David - - problematic in that they fall so clearly into the unflinching categories of 'Angel in the House', 'child-wife', and 'fallen woman' respectively. These female characters have much less scope for evolution than the male characters in the novel."
Regardless of this, I loved every second of the book, loved all the characters, and loved how it all wrapped up. Dickens is a master of dialogue - if you were to show me any quote from any character, without the dialogue tag, I could tell you who was speaking. Each character is distinctive, both in the way they speak, and in their appearance and mannerisms, and pop out of the pages fully alive. Caricatures some may be, but endlessly entertaining, and either lovable or hateful depending on their role in the story, and many of those who are lovable also come with their flaws.
In my opinion, Copperfield himself is something of a 'Gary Stu' around whom these characters circulate, but nevertheless he is adorable and I did not tire of his POV at all. As well as Mr Peggotty, I think Betsey Trotwood is my favourite character, she is awesome. One of my favourite scenes of hers was. I cried laughing, admittedly partly due to my relationship with the word 'undulate', thanks to my connection with BookTuber Merphy Napier. But regardless, Dickens is funny, his characters are funny. There are so many scenes I could pull out as highlights.
Not only that though, his writing can be atmospheric and descriptive too, bringing a setting vividly to life the way he does his characters. His prose is... I can't really describe it, it's delicious (I don't mean purple!), entertaining, dances along, almost kinda musical??
Moreover, although of course the book was initially published in serial form, as a linear, continuing narrative as opposed to a tightly plotted novel, you begin to realise that it does in fact have an intentional plot, due to the foreshadowing hints Dickens includes, with the threads of all the characters David meets weaving together and rushing along towards a finale. If you're wondering what happened to a certain character, you can rest assured they'll pop up again later. Like with a soap opera, you are compelled to keep reading chapter after chapter to find out what will happen next. And the ending doesn't disappoint, it is very satisfying.
I have actually read it in the past (20ish years ago) along with a few other Dickens, but hadn't remembered much at all about it (just remembered loving my Dickens phase). I don't think any other Dickens will beat it - I think it has to go down as one of my favourite classics of all time.
Spoiler
Agnes, Dora and Little Em'lyRegardless of this, I loved every second of the book, loved all the characters, and loved how it all wrapped up. Dickens is a master of dialogue - if you were to show me any quote from any character, without the dialogue tag, I could tell you who was speaking. Each character is distinctive, both in the way they speak, and in their appearance and mannerisms, and pop out of the pages fully alive. Caricatures some may be, but endlessly entertaining, and either lovable or hateful depending on their role in the story, and many of those who are lovable also come with their flaws.
In my opinion, Copperfield himself is something of a 'Gary Stu' around whom these characters circulate, but nevertheless he is adorable and I did not tire of his POV at all. As well as Mr Peggotty, I think Betsey Trotwood is my favourite character, she is awesome. One of my favourite scenes of hers was
Spoiler
her introduction and reaction to Uriah HeepNot only that though, his writing can be atmospheric and descriptive too, bringing a setting vividly to life the way he does his characters. His prose is... I can't really describe it, it's delicious (I don't mean purple!), entertaining, dances along, almost kinda musical??
Moreover, although of course the book was initially published in serial form, as a linear, continuing narrative as opposed to a tightly plotted novel, you begin to realise that it does in fact have an intentional plot, due to the foreshadowing hints Dickens includes, with the threads of all the characters David meets weaving together and rushing along towards a finale. If you're wondering what happened to a certain character, you can rest assured they'll pop up again later. Like with a soap opera, you are compelled to keep reading chapter after chapter to find out what will happen next. And the ending doesn't disappoint, it is very satisfying.
I have actually read it in the past (20ish years ago) along with a few other Dickens, but hadn't remembered much at all about it (just remembered loving my Dickens phase). I don't think any other Dickens will beat it - I think it has to go down as one of my favourite classics of all time.
adventurous
challenging
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A