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bantwalkers's review against another edition
5.0
While many might find it quite depressing (and often it is), Dickens is quite funny throughout. It kind of breezes along with a lightness that often blunts the seriousness.
dcunitz's review against another edition
4.0
"Because, if it is to spite her," Biddy pursued, "I should think - but you know best - that might be better and more independently done by caring nothing for her words. And if it is to gain her over, I should think - but you know best - she was not worth gaining over."
book_busy's review against another edition
3.0
Having read A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol, I feel this book was the midpoint in terms of legibility and comprehensibility but overall was very simplistic in its nature. I do understand why this is considered a must read to a certain extent because it had a certain intangible wholeness or solidity to its plot and characters but, frankly, I feel as if certain several chapters of the novel were just too Jam-packed with the classic Dickensian rambling and the dialogue was frustratingly clunky at times. The plot was mildly entertaining but nothing revolutionary in the hyper saturated modern day story market. Perhaps if I were a contemporary of Dickens this would be all the more thrilling but, for casual reading, I was sated but not amazed. Still, I would recommend this classic to anyone as it is relatively approachable and that in itself must be of some merit.
zuomiriam's review against another edition
3.0
Took me literal months to finish this book since I had a bit of a hard time getting into the first two parts (felt like it introduced a lot of characters and moved through a lot of plot points without getting closer to a resolution), but I did enjoy the third part. Quite a long read, but a charming one.
charlote_1347's review against another edition
3.0
I slotted this classic into a priority spot on my reading list because it turned out to be a set text for the kids I'll be mentoring, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. If I learnt anything at university, it's that certain authors evoke a hate or love response. Many have told me that Dickens is one such author, and my experience with Hard Times convinced me of this. I didn't hate the book but I didn't enjoy it. The plot was slow, the characters were dry and the writing was convoluted. Keeping in mind that writers were paid by the page in those days, it's only fair to give Dickens his due. He met public demand but he also covered his own arse. Great Expectations exemplifies this. The writing, at times, was hair-tearingly long-winded and by the time a sentence was finished I'd forgotten its point. Aspects of the plot were disappointingly generic, but one has to question how avoidable this really is. In writing, everything has ALWAYS been done before. Aside from these two criticisms, Great Expectations met my high expectations. Pip was a realistic adolescent figure without being infuriating, Estella was a bitch without getting under my skin about it, Herbert was a bumbling sweetheart, Wemmick was practical yet kind and Joe was a sweetheart (and a silver fox. Seriously, him and Biddy)?! I can safely say that this novel took me four days to finish not because I was bored, but because the writing was so small that it hurt my eyes. Check it out.
artbsp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
wagamummy's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75