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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed the parts of the book that dealt with his childhood and I was fascinated with how engaging the characters' voices felt even in mundane situations, something that made me feel confident I'd fly through the book, regardless of how big of a novel it is.
Now, once we got into his adolescent years and adulthood, the read started feeling quite lukewarm and besides some sequences I desperately wanted to see happen (David growing into a confident young man after all the suffering, standing up to his abusive step-father and aunt and Steerforth getting his karma for being a pos), everything else was just there. Still easy to read but just not engaging anymore.
Hated Steerforth from the moment I met him btw, hated even more the fact that David idolised him for so long.
Besides these 3 characters I hated (Steerforth, the step-father and aunt) all the new characters felt forgettable (besides his aunt, Betsey), while the old ones from his childhood did not grab my attention further, not even David.
Throughout the book I also hated the way Dora, David's first wife, was portrayed and his nickname for her, child-wife. I wanted to barf every single time.
That character's journey felt just so sad to me. She was capricious, 'simple', 'an innocent' and childish. Her only qualities displayed were her beauty and her cheerfulness (which would sometimes turn into a shortcoming, into childishness).
That implies this girl was an actual child, (which I don't care if it not might have been illegal, it's still morally wrong and disgusting) as she calls herself more or less 'simple' and not able to deal with the responsibilities of being a wife (MAYBE CAUSE SHE'S A CHILD??).
The worst thing out of all of this is that on her dying bed she's thankful that she gets to die then, when she's still precious to him, before she grows up and won't be as enticing as she is now, when her 'unworthiness' as a 'wife' would make him resent her.
I despise that with every single fibre of my being! That her life and death are so tied to this man. That she has no inner-life to depend on. That her worth is only as his wife and not as her own person. I hate it!
The way this character is used and represented in the story sullies the way I see the David's character, although he claims to have loved her. I never truly got to see anything real or deep enough about Dora to make me feel like she was anything but a shiny pretty thing.
The only reason I'm not giving this less than three stars is because I appreciated the writing style, it was more or less easy to read (even though uninteresting at times) and I deeply enjoyed the book while it was set during his childhood years.
Now, once we got into his adolescent years and adulthood, the read started feeling quite lukewarm and besides some sequences I desperately wanted to see happen (David growing into a confident young man after all the suffering, standing up to his abusive step-father and aunt and Steerforth getting his karma for being a pos), everything else was just there. Still easy to read but just not engaging anymore.
Hated Steerforth from the moment I met him btw, hated even more the fact that David idolised him for so long.
Besides these 3 characters I hated (Steerforth, the step-father and aunt) all the new characters felt forgettable (besides his aunt, Betsey), while the old ones from his childhood did not grab my attention further, not even David.
Throughout the book I also hated the way Dora, David's first wife, was portrayed and his nickname for her, child-wife. I wanted to barf every single time.
That character's journey felt just so sad to me. She was capricious, 'simple', 'an innocent' and childish. Her only qualities displayed were her beauty and her cheerfulness (which would sometimes turn into a shortcoming, into childishness).
That implies this girl was an actual child, (which I don't care if it not might have been illegal, it's still morally wrong and disgusting) as she calls herself more or less 'simple' and not able to deal with the responsibilities of being a wife (MAYBE CAUSE SHE'S A CHILD??).
The worst thing out of all of this is that on her dying bed she's thankful that she gets to die then, when she's still precious to him, before she grows up and won't be as enticing as she is now, when her 'unworthiness' as a 'wife' would make him resent her.
I despise that with every single fibre of my being! That her life and death are so tied to this man. That she has no inner-life to depend on. That her worth is only as his wife and not as her own person. I hate it!
The way this character is used and represented in the story sullies the way I see the David's character, although he claims to have loved her. I never truly got to see anything real or deep enough about Dora to make me feel like she was anything but a shiny pretty thing.
The only reason I'm not giving this less than three stars is because I appreciated the writing style, it was more or less easy to read (even though uninteresting at times) and I deeply enjoyed the book while it was set during his childhood years.
An extraordinary book. Beautiful, tender, touching, vulnerable, and heartfelt. I loved every moment with David Copperfield and shall cherish it forever more.
It was a long haul, but worth it. Charles Dickens' most autobiographical novel, and his personal favorite of his numerous works, describes his life from birth until his thirties when he was already a successful writer. There is much plot and many memorable characters. His villains stand out - the Murdstones, Old Creakle, Steerforth, Uriah Heep - and as villains will do, move the many storylines forward. But there are far more sweet, gentle and often hilarious heroes/heroines - Peggotty, Mr. Peggotty, Aunt Betsey, Traddles, the Micawbers, and of course, Agnes - who instill the book with its optimism and reflect Dickens' sympathy for the frailties of human nature. These unforgettable characters make the book, in spite of its considerable tragedy and sadness, an ultimately uplifting and inspiring read.
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
I learned from this book...
that goodness prevails against all odds.
Growing up in a family that loved to read I was blessed to have access to a fairly large home library. I have picked up this book as a 7 year old. "David Copperfield", I glanced at the green hardcover dust jacket. "I wonder what this book is about," I smiled and opened up the first page. At that earlier point in my life I was not able to fully understand the content of this novel. I am glad to have re-read it because it is a true gem. I believe this was Charles Dickens at his best.
I loved all of the characters in this book, especially David. He'd endured so much in his life. I wish I could give him a hug even though, at the end of the day, he is just a person who lives within the pages of Dickens' novel. To me, he was real.
that goodness prevails against all odds.
Growing up in a family that loved to read I was blessed to have access to a fairly large home library. I have picked up this book as a 7 year old. "David Copperfield", I glanced at the green hardcover dust jacket. "I wonder what this book is about," I smiled and opened up the first page. At that earlier point in my life I was not able to fully understand the content of this novel. I am glad to have re-read it because it is a true gem. I believe this was Charles Dickens at his best.
I loved all of the characters in this book, especially David. He'd endured so much in his life. I wish I could give him a hug even though, at the end of the day, he is just a person who lives within the pages of Dickens' novel. To me, he was real.
This was a feat to read, and it is a feat of a novel. I read this book in a very fragmented way and entirely accompanied by an audiobook. Having now read three of Dickens's novels, I profoundly understand his place in English literature, specifically pertaining to the history of the novel. While I am not a fan of his writing itself, that does not negate the fact that I partake in some enjoyment from these works and find them incredibly compelling to analyze and research. After reading this book, I reject the argument that his works could be shorter because, if you removed certain things, the story may remain in tact, but the novel--especially one labeled as a Dickens novel--depreciates. Some characters and scenes in this book I enjoyed, but overall this novel is not exactly my cup of tea per se; however, I do recommend this book in the context of reading important works in the history of the novel (or if you like Victorian literature or Dickens, of course).
David Copperfield is Dickens' eighth novel and, coincidentally, the eighth of his novels that I have read, but I haven't been reading them in chronological order. My first impression of Charles Dickens came with a BBC TV adaptation of David Copperfield back in 1974, my parents watched it and I caught a couple of the six episodes. I remember Arthur Lowe's tremendous performance as Mr Micawber. I also remember the fawning obsequious character of Uriah Heap and Barkus telling David to pass a message on to his nurse, Peggoty, that "Barkus is willing". I remember little else of the story from that time. My next encounter with Dickens was at school in my teenage years, when we had to read "A Tale of Two Cities", this put me off Dickens for a very long time, not because of the story but because of the way literature was taught in school, destroying the magic of reading. I was in my thirties when I picked up "Great Expectations" and I loved it. In the past few years I've set myself the task of reading through all of Dickens' novels. I started by rereading "A Tale of Two Cities", which didn't impress me as much as Great Expectations as it lacked the humour that characterises Dickens' work.
David Copperfield has some amazing characters, Mr Micawber has pecuniary troubles but is always optimistically thinking something will turn up and his luck will change. David Copperfield we see as a boy and a young man, this is perhaps the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels, David as a boy goes to work in a factory for a time cleaning bottles, Dickens worked in a blacking factory as a child. As a young man David begins a writing career and meets with early success as did Dickens. David is much more convincing as a child than Oliver Twist. David's childhood friends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles are both intriguing characters. The fawning Uriah Heep, who claims to be ever so humble rises by devious means and provokes David to strike him at one point. David's eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood, is a wonderful character and provides comic relief when chasing donkeys off her land.
The book shows David coming from an impoverished troubled childhood to make his way in the world. This was Dickens' favourite novel, in the preface he writes: "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." There is too much in the 800+ pages to condense into a simple review, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire novel.
David Copperfield has some amazing characters, Mr Micawber has pecuniary troubles but is always optimistically thinking something will turn up and his luck will change. David Copperfield we see as a boy and a young man, this is perhaps the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels, David as a boy goes to work in a factory for a time cleaning bottles, Dickens worked in a blacking factory as a child. As a young man David begins a writing career and meets with early success as did Dickens. David is much more convincing as a child than Oliver Twist. David's childhood friends James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles are both intriguing characters. The fawning Uriah Heep, who claims to be ever so humble rises by devious means and provokes David to strike him at one point. David's eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood, is a wonderful character and provides comic relief when chasing donkeys off her land.
The book shows David coming from an impoverished troubled childhood to make his way in the world. This was Dickens' favourite novel, in the preface he writes: "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." There is too much in the 800+ pages to condense into a simple review, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire novel.
I was trying to read it before reading Barbara Kingsolver's book Demon Copperfield. It was good, but I didn't feel like reading both so I chose Barbara's....