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nnikif's review against another edition
4.0
Написана книга, конечно, замечательно (surprise!), но развязка всей истории взята будто из плохого болливудского фильма.
Невероятные совпадения, которые являются основной двигающей силой сюжета, автор списывает на руку Господню; Бог, в таком случае, предстает персонажем довольно сомнительных моральных качеств: вместо того, чтобы облегчить чудовищную долю человечества в целом, он развлекается тем, что комбинирует людские судьбы в курьезные механические головоломки.
Кроме того, где-то в середине книги главный герой из истории пропадает; роль его делается исключительно служебной, а переживания и мысли и вовсе никого не волнуют.
Технические эти несовершенства, понятно, никак не отменяют общей гениальности автора.
Невероятные совпадения, которые являются основной двигающей силой сюжета, автор списывает на руку Господню; Бог, в таком случае, предстает персонажем довольно сомнительных моральных качеств: вместо того, чтобы облегчить чудовищную долю человечества в целом, он развлекается тем, что комбинирует людские судьбы в курьезные механические головоломки.
Кроме того, где-то в середине книги главный герой из истории пропадает; роль его делается исключительно служебной, а переживания и мысли и вовсе никого не волнуют.
Технические эти несовершенства, понятно, никак не отменяют общей гениальности автора.
dudamiranda's review against another edition
4.0
I like the plot and the writing, but the book was difficult to finish. I think it's a little too lengthy.
I don't really like how the book stereotypes good and bad people by looks, residence, manner of talking and their conclusions at the end of the story.
I like the way it was constructed, but you fell distant from the main character. Maybe it's just the writing style, or maybe it's supposed to be like this in to order to reader to perceive how helpless the main character was – because Oliver is just a child and can't control what's happening to him and doesn't have many opportunities to express his feelings.
I don't really like how the book stereotypes good and bad people by looks, residence, manner of talking and their conclusions at the end of the story.
I like the way it was constructed, but you fell distant from the main character. Maybe it's just the writing style, or maybe it's supposed to be like this in to order to reader to perceive how helpless the main character was – because Oliver is just a child and can't control what's happening to him and doesn't have many opportunities to express his feelings.
azka_k's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
siannaz's review against another edition
4.0
“please, sir, i want some more.”
yes. it is true. after only six months, i have finally finished this.
the story of oliver twist holds a special place in my heart, primarily because it was the play my school had us perform in fourth grade (which they then put on youtube, so the internet now is home to a crappy recording of nine year old me as bill sikes with a thick british accent and a suit three sizes too big. which is great.)
and this was the first time i've read anything by dickens (discounting a brief pickup and immediate put down of a tale of two cities when i was nine) so naturally, i chose this book.
and it was...okay.
i'll be honest—at the start, i was very much disappointed with it because the plot was nowhere near as fast-paced and engaging as i'd remembered it to be (though i had only read the shortened kiddie edition) and as the book went on i just kept losing interest until i put it down on my nightstand one day and didn't pick it up again for about three months. and so, it sat there, a permanent reminder of my inability to read anything written before 1900 (excluding, of course pride and prejudice) and filled me with a vague sense of bitterness as i passed it.
and then, a couple of days ago i was bored out of my mind, and i figured i may as well finish it, so i continued. and as i passed the halfway mark, something clicked. i don't know what exactly happened, but suddenly the characters came to life, and the story became interesting, and i was actually invested in what was going on. and i finished it in two days (which is proof that when i want to do something i can do it very well).
i love the exaggeration of the characters, specifically the antagonists (fagin was a comical portrayal of greed and cowardice, bill sikes was pure wrath, monks was envy etc.) and it added a great deal of absurdism to the story, and helped me appreciate dickens' writing style.
also, weird but as i was reading i also was thinking about how the victorians who read this as it was first published only got a couple of chapters every month. the way i would have died of anticipation...(it must have been the og cable tv with a new episode every few weeks. i guess then the book edition is like the bingeable version on netflix)
this review is kind of rambling and everywhere which i guess is a good thing. so: 2 stars, +1 for getting me interested halfway through and +1 for nostalgia)
>> 4 stars
ps: if you want to watch a movie version, i love the 1968 oliver! (by far the best musical adaptation—better even than my fourth grade play)
yes. it is true. after only six months, i have finally finished this.
the story of oliver twist holds a special place in my heart, primarily because it was the play my school had us perform in fourth grade (which they then put on youtube, so the internet now is home to a crappy recording of nine year old me as bill sikes with a thick british accent and a suit three sizes too big. which is great.)
and this was the first time i've read anything by dickens (discounting a brief pickup and immediate put down of a tale of two cities when i was nine) so naturally, i chose this book.
and it was...okay.
i'll be honest—at the start, i was very much disappointed with it because the plot was nowhere near as fast-paced and engaging as i'd remembered it to be (though i had only read the shortened kiddie edition) and as the book went on i just kept losing interest until i put it down on my nightstand one day and didn't pick it up again for about three months. and so, it sat there, a permanent reminder of my inability to read anything written before 1900 (excluding, of course pride and prejudice) and filled me with a vague sense of bitterness as i passed it.
and then, a couple of days ago i was bored out of my mind, and i figured i may as well finish it, so i continued. and as i passed the halfway mark, something clicked. i don't know what exactly happened, but suddenly the characters came to life, and the story became interesting, and i was actually invested in what was going on. and i finished it in two days (which is proof that when i want to do something i can do it very well).
i love the exaggeration of the characters, specifically the antagonists (fagin was a comical portrayal of greed and cowardice, bill sikes was pure wrath, monks was envy etc.) and it added a great deal of absurdism to the story, and helped me appreciate dickens' writing style.
also, weird but as i was reading i also was thinking about how the victorians who read this as it was first published only got a couple of chapters every month. the way i would have died of anticipation...(it must have been the og cable tv with a new episode every few weeks. i guess then the book edition is like the bingeable version on netflix)
this review is kind of rambling and everywhere which i guess is a good thing. so: 2 stars, +1 for getting me interested halfway through and +1 for nostalgia)
>> 4 stars
ps: if you want to watch a movie version, i love the 1968 oliver! (by far the best musical adaptation—better even than my fourth grade play)
patriciabotle's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
I was surprised at how little Oliver is featured in Oliver Twist.
I've grown to like Dickens style as I grow older. It's an acquired taste for sure. With sentences that often go on for a paragraph, it's not something that can be dashed through. The humor, too, is quintessential dry British wit. Jokes are often wrapped in one of those sentence/paragraphs and if you lose track of the description he's giving you(which is likely), you might miss it.
The story is a wandering one, filled with unlikely coincidences. The cast of characters are really hit or miss. The Artful Dodger is widely regarded as one of the great characters in literature and to a certain extent I agree. But there really wasn't enough of him to warrant such a reputation. Bill Sikes, does deserve his nasty rep, but in a time where despicable characters are more popular than ever, he pales in comparison. To be fair though, the comparison is unjust; what shocked 150 years ago would lull today's readers to sleep. Women, as with most Dickens works, are strong yet frail. I really can't decide whether Nancy and/or Rose do a disservice to their gender or are part of the vanguard in the battle for gender equality.
Being one of his earlier works, this book isn't one Mr. Dickens' best. It shows his skill with description and wit, for sure. But the if you've read some of his other works you can see he's still honing his skill. If that's the case, you'll probably enjoy this one, just not as much. If you've not read any of his works, I'd recommend you start with David Copperfield.
I've grown to like Dickens style as I grow older. It's an acquired taste for sure. With sentences that often go on for a paragraph, it's not something that can be dashed through. The humor, too, is quintessential dry British wit. Jokes are often wrapped in one of those sentence/paragraphs and if you lose track of the description he's giving you(which is likely), you might miss it.
The story is a wandering one, filled with unlikely coincidences. The cast of characters are really hit or miss. The Artful Dodger is widely regarded as one of the great characters in literature and to a certain extent I agree. But there really wasn't enough of him to warrant such a reputation. Bill Sikes, does deserve his nasty rep, but in a time where despicable characters are more popular than ever, he pales in comparison. To be fair though, the comparison is unjust; what shocked 150 years ago would lull today's readers to sleep. Women, as with most Dickens works, are strong yet frail. I really can't decide whether Nancy and/or Rose do a disservice to their gender or are part of the vanguard in the battle for gender equality.
Being one of his earlier works, this book isn't one Mr. Dickens' best. It shows his skill with description and wit, for sure. But the if you've read some of his other works you can see he's still honing his skill. If that's the case, you'll probably enjoy this one, just not as much. If you've not read any of his works, I'd recommend you start with David Copperfield.
hannakiemaczynska's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
4.75
boyd94's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0