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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s hard to argue with the status of Oliver Twist and its wide ranging influence. I can only really report back on how I felt about reading it in 2023. The first two thirds I really enjoyed but personally I felt when Oliver was no longer the focus of the story I sort of lost interest, his storyline resolving too neatly and too early. That aside, as a chronicle of the terrible state of the working class in 1800s London, it’s still devastatingly cruel and difficult to read even now.
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Stopped reading when the summer vacation was over and haven't felt compelled to finish it.
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
When summarizing the mysteries and events that take place in this book it sounds fascinating, but the reality of how Dickens wrote this book is that it was so very slow and boring. I typically love Dickens writing, his characters and weaving plots; but this one didn't work for me. Add the extreme antisemitism (even greater than I have read in other Victorian novels) and it was not a pleasant read. I didn't hate the book and I do think there is potential here, which is why I didn't give it a lower rating, but unfortunately it wasn't good.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m constantly in awe of how well Dickens’ humor has aged. He manages to pull off such a dark and sharp brand of humor that most people have trouble pulling off today, much less in the 1800s. This book in particular hasn’t completely aged well, mostly in reference to the Jewish characters, but does manage to have some really strong and layered female characters.
I did find that the focus drifted a bit too far away from Oliver at the end, as any part he was in was what I found the most engaging, but it was necessary to tie up all of the different plot threads, which is done impeccably well. For the most part, though, I found it incredibly well-paced for such a long old book (as they usually drag a bit for me), as there was always some new or developing relationship or story beat that kept me interested through to the next section.
I did find that the focus drifted a bit too far away from Oliver at the end, as any part he was in was what I found the most engaging, but it was necessary to tie up all of the different plot threads, which is done impeccably well. For the most part, though, I found it incredibly well-paced for such a long old book (as they usually drag a bit for me), as there was always some new or developing relationship or story beat that kept me interested through to the next section.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated