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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
How a 24-year-old had the depth of understanding of human relationships to write about them with such humor is mind-blowing. Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick's man servant, may be the greatest sidekick in history.
My twelfth Dickens novel, The Pickwick Papers is like reading an 800+ page Jeeves and Wooster novel - as much as I love Jeeves, as much as I love Wodehouse, and as much as I obviously love Charles Dickens, it did get a little tiresome at times. Dickens notoriously rambles and pontificates but I've never minded it before and this was the first time I desperately wanted to trim portions of it away. There's a lot about Pickwick that I adored and thoroughly enjoyed: it's radiant with charm, twinkling with humour, and a majority of the characters lovable and vividly drawn. It was fascinating to see how Dickens started, to see the aspects of his writing and storytelling that he later honed and perfected, the themes that he continued to explore in his career and those that fell by the wayside. Even though the book is mostly lighthearted and jocose like its titular character, it does have its darker tones and sharp angles, particularly in the scenes set in Fleet prison. I read that sales for Pickwick drastically increased with the addition of Sam Weller, and I can definitely see why. He was easily my favourite character in the book, though I also loved Mr Winkle and Mr Pickwick himself.
Out of Dickens's 14 complete novels, I would say that, so far, The Pickwick Papers is my least favourite. The pacing wasn't quite there and it wasn't as engaging as his other works but that isn't to say that I didn't like it - in fact, I loved a lot of it, but it is, for me, his most flawed work.
Out of Dickens's 14 complete novels, I would say that, so far, The Pickwick Papers is my least favourite. The pacing wasn't quite there and it wasn't as engaging as his other works but that isn't to say that I didn't like it - in fact, I loved a lot of it, but it is, for me, his most flawed work.
If you want a book that’s put-downable that you can pick back up any time, this is the book for you. It contains the chronicles of a jolly old Englishman and his friends as they amble about the greater London area. While many of the stories are anecdotal, there is an overall storyline and connectedness between them.
funny
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A joyful and humorous first novel for Dickens with plenty of wit, comedy and a little bit of heart. Dickens is sentimental and hysterical in this book, which consists almost entirely of anecdotal stories, interesting and well told in their own regard proving Dickens to be a master (if not THE master) storyteller. Reading The Pickwick Papers one can imagine a lively and eager readership of any class background in Britain reading each published installment, eagerly awaiting the next story about the Pickwick Club and their various adventures. As it is, The Pickwick Papers is a book of and for its time that casts a revealing light on attitudes, social mores and humors of Britain in the 1820’s and 30’s. The Dickens style of characterization, ironic humor, and ability to bring any scene to vivid life is iconic in literature and on full display here. Not bad at all for a first of many brilliant novels!
Hilarious book written in typical Dickens style. Simply loved it..:)
While not exactly disappointing, I have to say that The Pickwick Papers is my least favorite Dickens. Kind of jumbled.