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oxfordcommaon's review
5.0
The fact that I very much loved Oliver Twist is horribly frustrating, as I'd sworn to loathe Dickens for the rest of my life.
"I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom I have so long moved, and share their happiness by endeavouring to depict it. I would show Rose Maylie in all the bloom and grace of early womanhood, shedding on her secluded path in life soft and gentle light, that fell on all who trod it with her, and shone into their hearts. I would paint her the life and joy of the fire-side circle and the lively summer group; I would follow her through the sultry fields at noon, and hear the low tones of her sweet voice in the moonlit evening walk; I would watch her in all her goodness and charity abroad, and the smiling untiring discharge of domestic duties at home; I would paint her and her dead sister's child happy in their love for one another, and passing whole hours together in picturing the friends whom they had so sadly lost; I would summon before me, once again, those joyous little faces that clustered round her knee, and listen to their merry prattle; I would recall the tones of that clear laugh, and conjure up the sympathising tear that glistened in the soft blue eye. These, and a thousand looks and smiles, and turns of thought and speech—I would fain recall them every one."
How maddeningly beautiful.
"I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom I have so long moved, and share their happiness by endeavouring to depict it. I would show Rose Maylie in all the bloom and grace of early womanhood, shedding on her secluded path in life soft and gentle light, that fell on all who trod it with her, and shone into their hearts. I would paint her the life and joy of the fire-side circle and the lively summer group; I would follow her through the sultry fields at noon, and hear the low tones of her sweet voice in the moonlit evening walk; I would watch her in all her goodness and charity abroad, and the smiling untiring discharge of domestic duties at home; I would paint her and her dead sister's child happy in their love for one another, and passing whole hours together in picturing the friends whom they had so sadly lost; I would summon before me, once again, those joyous little faces that clustered round her knee, and listen to their merry prattle; I would recall the tones of that clear laugh, and conjure up the sympathising tear that glistened in the soft blue eye. These, and a thousand looks and smiles, and turns of thought and speech—I would fain recall them every one."
How maddeningly beautiful.
shahrun's review
4.0
Like most classics I’ve read, this is so much darker and nastier than the filmed or musical theatre show I’ve seen. I was surprised and the twists and turns this story took. I enjoyed it.
jasonfurman's review
5.0
I am hard pressed to think of what you find in later Dickens that you don't find in this, his first complete novel. That is not to say a lot isn't much better (the imagery of London, the complexity of the characters, and the even more sprawling multiple plots come to mind) -- and that some of the worst of this novel (of which the absurd and unnecessary coincidence of Rose Maylie being related to Oliver is just about the worst). But Dickens already had the combination of comic, tragic, melodramatic, moralizing, satirical, and several other ingredients that he successfully mined in different proportions in all his future books. Although none of them top the stark brutality of Oliver Twist, and especially Fagin and Sikes.
eatingfiction's review
4.0
I always expect classics to be underwhelming even though there's probably a reason they've endured. And who would have known, Oliver Twist is actually...quite good.
I especially enjoyed the grim atmosphere of the London underworld. It felt very lived-in, very grimey and dangerous. Poor little Oliver was a liiiiittle annoying in how genuinely good he was, but I enjoyed his story.
I especially enjoyed the grim atmosphere of the London underworld. It felt very lived-in, very grimey and dangerous. Poor little Oliver was a liiiiittle annoying in how genuinely good he was, but I enjoyed his story.
weewaw2020's review
3.0
I really really wanted to love this but I just didn’t and I can’t really explain why. Maybe because I already know the story from watching the film but it just lacked something. Despite that I still really enjoyed the way Dickens brought the reality of life for boys born into the poverty of society at this time. I am not the biggest fan of the way Dickens chooses to fly through some parts and drag other parts out for longer than seems necessary. He also lacks description which is something I really love to read. However. his metaphors and similes are brilliant.
It was such a rollercoaster of emotions. Many times Oliver was in a bad place and then was rescued or better and then something else happened again and again. Although the main storyline is much the same as the film, there are some additional parts and some changes. I was really surprised to find that Oliver actually plays a fairly small role in this story considering the book is titled with his name.
I wish I’d read this before the film as maybe I would have liked it better. If you haven’t seen the film, I’d recommend reading this with your eyes or even in the audiobook version as there’s a great free version on YouTube.
It was such a rollercoaster of emotions. Many times Oliver was in a bad place and then was rescued or better and then something else happened again and again. Although the main storyline is much the same as the film, there are some additional parts and some changes. I was really surprised to find that Oliver actually plays a fairly small role in this story considering the book is titled with his name.
I wish I’d read this before the film as maybe I would have liked it better. If you haven’t seen the film, I’d recommend reading this with your eyes or even in the audiobook version as there’s a great free version on YouTube.
louisereadsbooks's review
2.0
Historically, this novel is really important, being one of the first to show life for the impoverished in Victorian London, etc. And it's got some great characters and a classic plot. So that's what the two stars are for. There's a reason Dickens is famous.
I would give it more stars, but I found it too crowded with characters, and it didn't hold my attention (perhaps because I already knew the story? Or perhaps because the lead character is so passive. I don't know). It's obvious that it was originally a serial. Maybe that's how I should have read it - 2 or 3 chapters a month for over a year.
Hmmm, might try that next time I read a Dickens novel.
I would give it more stars, but I found it too crowded with characters, and it didn't hold my attention (perhaps because I already knew the story? Or perhaps because the lead character is so passive. I don't know). It's obvious that it was originally a serial. Maybe that's how I should have read it - 2 or 3 chapters a month for over a year.
Hmmm, might try that next time I read a Dickens novel.