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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
As Dickens is not my favourite classic author, I have great dlsatisfaction in finishing this book with good humour. May the adventures of DC be a warm homecoming to all who read it.
“I went away, loving you. I stayed away, loving you. I returned home, loving you.”
It was very slow to progress and the writing style really wasn't for me
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyable, mostly. Well written and interesting to think about how life has changed, or not, in the last 150 years.
This is an incredibly rich, delightful and exhaustive account of one David Copperfield. Immediately the book begins with him speaking impossibly from his memories of his perspective as a baby. From his time in Blundeston to his time in the boarding school, his life in the south of England and in London we are given a full account of his life from his perspective. It is unique in that it is a fictional autobiography written in first person, and yet many of the people are strongly connected to people in Dickens' life. What an incredible parade of characters - Miss Peggotty, Mr. Murdstone, Micawber, Traddles, and of course the infamous Uriah Heep. I was struck at how this novel often felt very post-modern in that the author is not entirely a reliable narrator, but Dickens gives this wink to the reader at the same time. I could often tell when Copperfield was being lied to and was being scammed even when he couldn't. And yet there were times when Copperfield's genuine naivete and honesty seems to be what introduces him to so many wonderful people and experiences. Admittedly, it took me a long time to read this book, but I am so glad I did. It is my first real introduction into Dickens' literature and his tropes, themes, etc., but it gave me an insight on how this book informed other bildungsroman-ish books like Joyce's Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and even Catcher in the Rye, and quite frankly, the fictional first person narrative itself. It was an incredibly satisfying book and a great journey. I feel as if I have known and met many of his richly painted characters.
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
Having not read any Dickens since high school, and generally being unenthusiastic about dead white men as authors, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it. But then I did!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
I read the hardcover of the book previously and loved it but this version done as an Audible with the extremely talented actor Richard Armitage doing the narration was incredible. It was so much more emotional and entertaining with all the characters brought to life with their different voices. I would recommend this edition to everyone. Simply delightful.
read this over the school year, it got really confusing sometimes considering how many characters there were but great overall!
I have a real love-hate relationship with Dickens.
I first read this book in high school, and to this day when I hear a really annoying voice, that nails-on-a-chalk-board voice, I think of Uriah Heep.
Little boys can never have a happy childhood in a Dickens book.
The wealthy and powerful always abuse the poor and innocent, and poor little David Copperfield was poor and innocent.
As we have seen with other Dickens characters, those born into wealth are easily corrupted by their own greatness, while those who struggle in life tend to be stronger in compassion and morality.