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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve listened to this audiobook twice, and would probably do it again because of its entertainment value. The retired old gents get into so many funny misadventures. The audiobook I chose is read by Simon Prebble who also read Great Expectations. His voicing of Mr. Pickwicks manservant nearly steals the show.
What a wonderful world to immerse oneself in! I enjoyed this novel very much; it was just a thorough pleasure from beginning to end.
My word the main fellas are chaos personified - made for an entertaining audiobook experience though!
Mr. Pickwick and friends have now been companions of mine for many months, and it has been a pleasure. Dickens writes with humor, and the scrapes of the Pickwickians are so often the focus, but there is also such grace, tenderness, and joy here. The Pickwick Papers shows that an honest look at humanity can often reveal more good than ill. Hilarious and charming.
3.5 stars. In this classic, Dickens works to introduce the reader to a cast of characters that form a snapshot of life and people in the early 1800's in London/Britain. Mr. Pickwick is a kindly and adventurous retired gentleman of some means and travels about with a few friends meeting people in and out of society and sharing their adventures with friends back home in London. Dickens takes great effort to explore different personalities from rogues of various types to the generous, from wealthy to poor, from kind to mean. He explores misunderstandings, friendship, and relationships from young adult to old. The beginning was VERY slow to get into and the middle felt slow but by the time I settled in well, I found I enjoyed the tales very much. Pacing and occasional dullness are represented by the 3.5 star rating.
If you need a plot driven book to be content, read something else. If you can enjoy a book about a fictional but everyday type person, try "The Pickwick Papers".
If you need a plot driven book to be content, read something else. If you can enjoy a book about a fictional but everyday type person, try "The Pickwick Papers".
This is the first Dickens book I've ever read and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The first thing that you notice is that Dickens most certainly has a way with words, and commas and these things ; :
Aside from the fact that the man could really write... this book is hilarious, Mr. Pickwick is unforgettable. I was privileged enough to read the Everyman's library edition which contained (maybe 75?) illustrations, they add even more humor to many of the scenes in the book, several of which are among the best comedy scenes I've ever read. Dickens dabbles in most everything in this book, politics, comedy, romance, high-fashion... I'm not entirely sure there was a plot to the book but there most certainly was a point, but for that you'll have to read it because I'm not one to give away much about what actually happens in the books I review, it's just not in my nature. The only downside for me was Sam and his father's W and V pronunciations, it kinda got annoying when there were scenes between just those two, aside from that it's all good... perhaps a touch of editing to cut it down to 750 rather than 800 pages would have been useful but now i'm just getting picky and who am I to challenge Sir Charles Dickens.
Wait, sir. What, sir? Charles Dickens wasn't knighted, sir? Sir, surely you jest, sir. No, sir, I do not believe it.
Aside from the fact that the man could really write... this book is hilarious, Mr. Pickwick is unforgettable. I was privileged enough to read the Everyman's library edition which contained (maybe 75?) illustrations, they add even more humor to many of the scenes in the book, several of which are among the best comedy scenes I've ever read. Dickens dabbles in most everything in this book, politics, comedy, romance, high-fashion... I'm not entirely sure there was a plot to the book but there most certainly was a point, but for that you'll have to read it because I'm not one to give away much about what actually happens in the books I review, it's just not in my nature. The only downside for me was Sam and his father's W and V pronunciations, it kinda got annoying when there were scenes between just those two, aside from that it's all good... perhaps a touch of editing to cut it down to 750 rather than 800 pages would have been useful but now i'm just getting picky and who am I to challenge Sir Charles Dickens.
Wait, sir. What, sir? Charles Dickens wasn't knighted, sir? Sir, surely you jest, sir. No, sir, I do not believe it.
It was slow getting into this book, but I think Chesterton might be right to call it Dickens at his best. "A Tale of Two Cities" swept me away more thoroughly, but that was my introduction and I was fourteen.
What I really enjoy about PP is that it is lighthearted without being exactly frivolous. True to Dickens's style, it has little insights into good morals and good manners scattered throughout, and also true to his style, these tidbits never once feel out of place, moralistic, or preachy. Rather, he accomplishes these truths nestled in the tale with something of the same effect that your mom or grandma might have done while telling bedtime stories.
Especially poignant are Dickens' handling of Sam Wellers's consolation of his father, and Mr. Pickwick's intercession on behalf of Mr. Winkle.
It always amazes me that 150 years later, Dickens still keeps our attention and keeps us chuckling along with him.
What I really enjoy about PP is that it is lighthearted without being exactly frivolous. True to Dickens's style, it has little insights into good morals and good manners scattered throughout, and also true to his style, these tidbits never once feel out of place, moralistic, or preachy. Rather, he accomplishes these truths nestled in the tale with something of the same effect that your mom or grandma might have done while telling bedtime stories.
Especially poignant are Dickens' handling of Sam Wellers's consolation of his father, and Mr. Pickwick's intercession on behalf of Mr. Winkle.
It always amazes me that 150 years later, Dickens still keeps our attention and keeps us chuckling along with him.
It's hard to rate this as it's not really a novel in the sense of having a plot. It's a serialisation of a continuing drama with an ensemble cast, like a soap or long-running tv show. It took a while to get into. Was definitely best via audiobook.
I love Charles Dickens. His characters, the small societies he builds, and the adventures he sends his characters on are funny and charming and the literary equivalent of a warm blanket. That being said, this book had some ups and downs for me. I can definitely see that this was Dickens’ first work. Parts of it were kind of boring and it didn’t make much sense why what was happening was happening. Other parts were really lovely and I saw the Dickens that was to come. Overall, I really loved the character of Pickwick. What a kind, curious, generous man. I think the only reason I would reread this novel is to be in his company again.