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chevaliercreates's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
steven_nobody's review against another edition
3.0
I like when Nell gets stoned and stares up into the night sky and contemplates eternity.
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
4.0
Dang you Charles Dickens! I wasn't going to cry.
abrswf's review
4.0
This charming classic has many of my favorite Dickens features: vivid and unforgettable characters, a memorable plot, and sharply drawn depictions of England during the industrial revolution. Nell is the weak point. That Dickens centered his story on an ordinary child was revolutionary in his time but not so now, and Nell has no substance as a plausible human being — she’s so good and long suffering that she’s completely unbelievable. One star off for Nell. Otherwise this book, loaded with humor and cynicism and genuine fondness for rural England, is a triumph. And the illustrations are an absolute delight.
chluless's review against another edition
3.0
Upon finishing the novel I immediately rated it 3.5 stars, but my appreciation is growing with time and I find myself wanting to up this to 4
chelseavk's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
2.75
I really do enjoy Dickens writing. However, this one was pretty sad and dull. I just didn't enjoy the reading experience and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. Yet upon a second read I think I may like it better.
nataalia_sanchez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dwager's review against another edition
emotional
sad
This book deals with hard themes (gambling addiction, chronic illness, death) and I found it a difficult to relate to some of the characters. There were some very nice scenes and characters, but it's not always clear who they are when you meet them.
In one scene, deafness is used as a prop: a deaf character needs to have things repeated, but this doesn't seem to interfere with communication, though the other character dismisses his ideas because he's deaf.
Overall, this is not my favorite Dickens--closer to Oliver Twist than to many of his other works.
In one scene, deafness is used as a prop: a deaf character needs to have things repeated, but this doesn't seem to interfere with communication, though the other character dismisses his ideas because he's deaf.
Overall, this is not my favorite Dickens--closer to Oliver Twist than to many of his other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Mental illness, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship