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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Loved it. Dickens is much funnier than I expected, given my memories of "A Tale of Two Cities".
I’d never read this before, but was curious to read it before reading Demon Copperhead. It’s very plot driven and there are a lot of side stories about adjacent characters, some of which I had a hard time sticking with. David’s relationships with women are also VERY of the time.
3,5. Les jeunes premières de Dickens sont toujours assez fades, mais ici David lui-même est tellement insignifiant que ça compense presque pour la pitoyable Dora, l'immaculée Agnes & la tragiquement repentante Emily. (Mon doux que les madames de Dickens sont punies lorsqu'elles ne restent pas dans le rang, j'avais oublié à quel point.) Mais le roman se lâche lousse avec ses personnages secondaires, tous merveilleusement nommés : le méchant Uriah Heep, si magnifiquement ratoureux qu'on a le goût que l'intrigue tourne en sa faveur; la tante Betsey Trotwood, fière défenderesse des limites de son terrain (beaucoup aimé ses batailles répétées avec les ânes du voisinage) & des capacités mentales de Mr Dick, le plus beau des lunatiques; Peggotty, dévouée jusqu'à en perdre systématiquement ses boutons de robe; Mr Micawber, flamboyant dans ses problèmes d'argent & ses lettres fleuries; les dessins de squelettes & les cheveux absurdes de Tommy Traddles. Ils sont caricaturaux au possible, mais esquissés avec un enthousiasme si contagieux que le manque de nuance en est neutralisé. Même David, pas le crayon le plus aiguisé de la boîte, se rachète quand on comprend où Dickens veut en venir: My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small I have always been thoroughly in earnest. (p. 583) Comme un grand respir alambiqué dans une odeur de vieux papier.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
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
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A wonderful read with both sadness and joy. Dickens once again provides a range of characters one can love and hate , I particularly enjoyed the irrepressible Mr Micawber and was repelled by the repugnant Uriah Heep. I highly recommend this book.
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It feels funny reviewing and rating a Dicken’s book, I mean who am I to judge who Wikipedia describes as the “greatest novelist of the Victorian Era”. Still…
I found the first half very difficult, tedious, boring. The long descriptions drag. For example the passages where David recounts his admiration for Steerforth are not just cringe-worthy, but go on and on. The second half picks up quite a bit, so don’t lose faith.
Perhaps Dickens is the absolute best historical fiction. You don’t have to wonder if the author did his research, since he was writing about the times he lived in. The dialog is, of course, perfectly authentic. But that also makes it difficult for modern readers. I am still puzzling over this: “There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.”
I found the first half very difficult, tedious, boring. The long descriptions drag. For example the passages where David recounts his admiration for Steerforth are not just cringe-worthy, but go on and on. The second half picks up quite a bit, so don’t lose faith.
Perhaps Dickens is the absolute best historical fiction. You don’t have to wonder if the author did his research, since he was writing about the times he lived in. The dialog is, of course, perfectly authentic. But that also makes it difficult for modern readers. I am still puzzling over this: “There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.”
What is the charm of David Copperfield? Why do so many of my favorite authors claim its superiority? I had to ask this about half way through the book, when I thought it would never end as we examined every detail of Dicken's "favorite child's" life. But the rest of the book is very engaging and satisfying, especially for its surprising legal detail and view into how women of that society lived and died. This is another example of why I force myself to read (actually listen, it's much easier) to at least one new classic a year.
Harold Bloom claims that Dickens hates women, but after reading this near autobiography, this is obviously untrue. Clearly there are women that Copperfield hated and women that baffled him, but there were women that he loved dearly who shine in this novel. It is these women, as seen through Copperfield's eyes, who linger in your heart when all is said and done.
If it is possible to narrow the scope of this novel, this one quote can sum up most of the conflict in it: "There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose." How many times is that phrase repeated? (I think ten at least). You know Copperfield will eventually figure it out, but when he finally does it is very satisfying rather than anti-climactic.
I also must say that this narrator brought this book alive to me. Even that ending paragraph, which when read in comparison to the first paragraph seems to fall so short and trite. In the narration it was sublime.
Harold Bloom claims that Dickens hates women, but after reading this near autobiography, this is obviously untrue. Clearly there are women that Copperfield hated and women that baffled him, but there were women that he loved dearly who shine in this novel. It is these women, as seen through Copperfield's eyes, who linger in your heart when all is said and done.
If it is possible to narrow the scope of this novel, this one quote can sum up most of the conflict in it: "There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose." How many times is that phrase repeated? (I think ten at least). You know Copperfield will eventually figure it out, but when he finally does it is very satisfying rather than anti-climactic.
I also must say that this narrator brought this book alive to me. Even that ending paragraph, which when read in comparison to the first paragraph seems to fall so short and trite. In the narration it was sublime.
good enough. skimmed the occasional slow parts. not dicken's best.