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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Dickens is amazing, even when his plots get a little squirrely, I can forgive him almost anything for the brilliant characters he creates. David is almost too good for this book, certainly too good for the charmed kind of life he leads. Whenever he finds himself in trouble, somehow fate lends a hand to get him out of it. There are few accusatory scenes in literature as memorable or as deliciously tingly as the single name, "HEEP!"
“God help me, I might have been improved for my whole life, I might have been made another creature perhaps, for life, by a kind word at that season. A word of encouragement and explanation, of pity for my childish ignorance, of welcome home, of reassurance to me that it was home, might have made me dutiful to him in my heart henceforth, instead of in my hypocritical outside, and might have made me respect instead of hate him.”
“I labour under the same kind of astonishment to this day, having invariably observed that of all human weaknesses, the one to which our common nature is the least disposed to confess (I cannot imagine why) is the weakness of having gone to sleep in a coach.”
“Another of his characteristics—no use of superlatives. A cool calm medium always.”
From: ‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens.
I finished my first Dickens on the train to Jogjakarta this morning and I annotated so much that I could have copied half the book here. I have added these specific quotes for no particular reason other than that I loved these sentences or thought it an example of his humor.
What can I say about Dickens’ writing that hasn’t been said much better before by others than I ever could, so suffice it to say that I was thoroughly impressed and loved every minute with this book.
I love how his style of writing “matures” with David Copperfield’s age. I love his observant descriptions of environment and people and how many characters have their own distinct voices, especially in the way they speak. I loved the characters, even though some may have been a little two-dimensional (as in: either all good or all bad). It could have been a little shorter, in my opinion, without losing its power, but that is neither here nor there.
Have you read Dickens? If so, please tell me your favorite! And if you’ve waited this long like me: get started, you won’t be disappointed.
“I labour under the same kind of astonishment to this day, having invariably observed that of all human weaknesses, the one to which our common nature is the least disposed to confess (I cannot imagine why) is the weakness of having gone to sleep in a coach.”
“Another of his characteristics—no use of superlatives. A cool calm medium always.”
From: ‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens.
I finished my first Dickens on the train to Jogjakarta this morning and I annotated so much that I could have copied half the book here. I have added these specific quotes for no particular reason other than that I loved these sentences or thought it an example of his humor.
What can I say about Dickens’ writing that hasn’t been said much better before by others than I ever could, so suffice it to say that I was thoroughly impressed and loved every minute with this book.
I love how his style of writing “matures” with David Copperfield’s age. I love his observant descriptions of environment and people and how many characters have their own distinct voices, especially in the way they speak. I loved the characters, even though some may have been a little two-dimensional (as in: either all good or all bad). It could have been a little shorter, in my opinion, without losing its power, but that is neither here nor there.
Have you read Dickens? If so, please tell me your favorite! And if you’ve waited this long like me: get started, you won’t be disappointed.
Oh my goooosshhhh so good!! Listening to this right after Jane Eyre was a total win - apparently Dickens got the idea to write from a child's perspective from Charlotte Bronte. And the two books were the first to ever tell a story that way. David Copperfield is engrossing and the characters are bright and real and developed. I miss them already. The story is quietly emotional without being too melodramatic. The narrator (Nicolas Boulton) is wonderful, and I think is a big part of why I loved this book so much!
I can't say I liked this book and I also can't say I hated it either.
David Copperfield is written in the form of an autobiography where the narrator tells us the story of his life from childhood to adulthood. Some of the elements in this book are borrowed from Dickens' real life.
David Copperfield's childhood was a promising start to the book and I really enjoyed reading it. His adulthood is where things started slowing down for me. Dickens casts his characters in this book as either too good or too bad. I found that this oversimplication of characters affected the plot at times making it predictable as I was reading. The only character who deviates from this pattern was Steerforth but I could also see how his story was going to pan out in the book. It's interesting to know that Dora was based on a real life love interest in Dickens' life however their romance was a chore to read.
David Copperfield is not without its merits. I loved the rich descriptions of scenes and the way he breathes life into his characters making them quite memorable.
David Copperfield is written in the form of an autobiography where the narrator tells us the story of his life from childhood to adulthood. Some of the elements in this book are borrowed from Dickens' real life.
David Copperfield's childhood was a promising start to the book and I really enjoyed reading it. His adulthood is where things started slowing down for me. Dickens casts his characters in this book as either too good or too bad. I found that this oversimplication of characters affected the plot at times making it predictable as I was reading. The only character who deviates from this pattern was Steerforth but I could also see how his story was going to pan out in the book. It's interesting to know that Dora was based on a real life love interest in Dickens' life however their romance was a chore to read.
David Copperfield is not without its merits. I loved the rich descriptions of scenes and the way he breathes life into his characters making them quite memorable.
Dickens, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, is a brilliant author.
I finally listened all the way through to the excellent narration of this book by Richard Armitage (Thorin!), which is a wonderful way to absorb David Copperfield, entertained by all the distinct voices and hilarious accents it contains. (The repeated epithet of "Heep!" had me chortling)!
I find the analysis of storytelling perspective quite intriguing; I thought the third person limited perspective most often told the most relatable and engaging story, possibly because many of my favorite narratives are written in that style. But much to my delight and surprise, Dickens managed to pull off incredible character development from the perspective of little Davie, while also giving each person such unique and distinctive attributes which are developed over the course of the long book that identifying and empathizing with them is inevitable.
The Peggotys are genuine friends, filled with humility and always eager to help. Uriah Heep, Steerforth, and the Murdstones all inspire our indignant anger. Dora resembles nothing so much as a set of fragile china, and Agnes is inspiring as a constant help in times of trouble.
Alongside and throughout the brilliant development of all of these characters and more, Dickens chronicles the pitiable tale of a young boy maturing in the midst of his trying circumstances, portraying both the complete depravity of human nature, and the innate Image of God we all reflect. In bringing us along for the ride, we too experience the heights of joy and depths of sorrow David experiences, and are ourselves influenced by such a touching tale. As Lewis so aptly put:
So to summarize this late-night ramble of a review: if you are in the market for a truly good classic, I highly recommend you give David Copperfield a read. I don't think you'll regret it.
I finally listened all the way through to the excellent narration of this book by Richard Armitage (Thorin!), which is a wonderful way to absorb David Copperfield, entertained by all the distinct voices and hilarious accents it contains. (The repeated epithet of "Heep!" had me chortling)!
I find the analysis of storytelling perspective quite intriguing; I thought the third person limited perspective most often told the most relatable and engaging story, possibly because many of my favorite narratives are written in that style. But much to my delight and surprise, Dickens managed to pull off incredible character development from the perspective of little Davie, while also giving each person such unique and distinctive attributes which are developed over the course of the long book that identifying and empathizing with them is inevitable.
The Peggotys are genuine friends, filled with humility and always eager to help. Uriah Heep, Steerforth, and the Murdstones all inspire our indignant anger. Dora resembles nothing so much as a set of fragile china, and Agnes is inspiring as a constant help in times of trouble.
Alongside and throughout the brilliant development of all of these characters and more, Dickens chronicles the pitiable tale of a young boy maturing in the midst of his trying circumstances, portraying both the complete depravity of human nature, and the innate Image of God we all reflect. In bringing us along for the ride, we too experience the heights of joy and depths of sorrow David experiences, and are ourselves influenced by such a touching tale. As Lewis so aptly put:
“But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.”
So to summarize this late-night ramble of a review: if you are in the market for a truly good classic, I highly recommend you give David Copperfield a read. I don't think you'll regret it.
Still super good, like of course, and I enjoyed it immensely. However, there were definite highs and lows leaving it solidly as my third favorite Dickens that I’ve read before. I think this would be a great second Dickens for someone to read!
I read this book slowly over many months to savor the language and the delightful characterizations. Although Dickens broaches many serious issues, from child labor to byzantine government systems to crushing loss, he intersperses many humorous moments throughout. I felt such affection for David and his loved ones - hard to pick my favorite, but it's probably Aunt Betsy - that after nearly 900 pages, I wanted more!
For ten years I have had this lurking in my bookshelf, looking sad and lonely somewhere behind my nail polishes, waiting patiently and stoically to be picked up. To me, although Dickens is one of my favorite authors, David Copperfield with its less than interesting premise was always the least alluring of his novels. I was starting to lose hope that I would ever get the chance to just get on with it. Copperfield's story has similarities with Dickens's own life story and apparently it was his favorite novel, but why should I care about this particular one?
The answer to that is this: it's Dickens. You begin by looking tiredly at the page count (in my Finnish copy it's 1036) and plough through the first few chapters thinking it's never going to work. Might as well give up and read a comic or something. Well, I did give up with the Richard Armitage audiobook, because despite his amazing performance, I couldn't get into the atmosphere as well as I did with my own paper copy.
Anyway, then something magical happens. You start getting into it. You almost start talking to the characters, warning them, congratulating them, weeping with them when they fail or lose someone. You get attached. Copperfield has a cavalcade of interesting characters, but that's not enough in itself. Like in so many other novels he wrote, Dickens is great at bringing his characters to life. I mean that in the most intense way possible.
David's quirky great-aunt, Betsey Trotwood, hates donkeys and has a bit of temperament, but when it's time to act decent, she delivers by speaking the truth in a strikingly frank manner and lashing out at the people responsible for so much hurt. An iron lady and trustworthy at heart, and she of all people deserves a place to look disapprovingly at the customers of Betsey Trotwood pub.
At the other end of the spectrum is Uriah Heep (possibly based on Thomas Powell, a writer and fraudster), a two-faced little weasel, a manipulating twit who has the nerve to act like he's just a poor and humble creature, all the while plotting against other people. His insincerity and empty flattery makes him one of the most memorable antagonists in the world of Dickens.
Then of course there's the obsessive letter writer and credit hoarder Wilkins Micawber (modelled after Dickens's father), Copperfield's harsh stepfather Edward Murdstone, the handsome and well-liked but ultimately deceitful and spineless James Steerforth, the hardworking and honourable Tommy Traddles, the beautiful and childish but surprisingly self-aware Dora Spenlow (believed to be Maria Beadnell, Dickens's sweetheart from his younger days) etc. All of them appear from Copperfield's memories, as parts of his life journey through misery and through success, through good and bad, but the more you spend time with them, the more strongly they turn into flesh from that hazy and unclear fog of past we all have.
Even the most minor characters who stay more in the shadows are portrayed with utmost precision. Martha especially is a memorable one: she has fallen because of her scandalous past, but it's never said clearly what she did. Many of her kind populated Victorian London, but whether she had succumbed to prostitution or not, she turns out to have more kindness than many other characters.
What's notable is that all the characters (with the exception of maybe Heep) are true to life in that they all have their faults just as they have their good moments. Even Copperfield himself, whose experiences and career progression in part mirror those of Dickens himself, is not painted in some cold heroic light, but is shown as someone who is aware of his shortcomings and is regretful about some of the (possibly even hurtful) decisions he has made in his life. Hindsight is a bitch, and Copperfield realizes that more than once.
When you're invested in the characters, it's inevitable you don't want to let them go. When I turned the last page and read the last words, I felt kind of empty (okay, I also cried like a fucking waterfall). What now? A long novel like this and with this many characters has the potential to be not worth the time and effort, but when it's done well, it stays with you forever. The way Dickens writes is captivating, and in none other scene is it more evident than in the tempest scene. Of course, there are some pitfalls in the narrative, but those are inevitable in any novel. Like its protagonist, David Copperfield isn't perfect, but it's engrossing, rewarding, beautiful, and the best company in the world.
David felt like a friend, and I miss everything about this already. As with everything, the end is inescapable, but unlike with your own life, you can live David's all over again whenever you want.
The answer to that is this: it's Dickens. You begin by looking tiredly at the page count (in my Finnish copy it's 1036) and plough through the first few chapters thinking it's never going to work. Might as well give up and read a comic or something. Well, I did give up with the Richard Armitage audiobook, because despite his amazing performance, I couldn't get into the atmosphere as well as I did with my own paper copy.
Anyway, then something magical happens. You start getting into it. You almost start talking to the characters, warning them, congratulating them, weeping with them when they fail or lose someone. You get attached. Copperfield has a cavalcade of interesting characters, but that's not enough in itself. Like in so many other novels he wrote, Dickens is great at bringing his characters to life. I mean that in the most intense way possible.
David's quirky great-aunt, Betsey Trotwood, hates donkeys and has a bit of temperament, but when it's time to act decent, she delivers by speaking the truth in a strikingly frank manner and lashing out at the people responsible for so much hurt. An iron lady and trustworthy at heart, and she of all people deserves a place to look disapprovingly at the customers of Betsey Trotwood pub.
At the other end of the spectrum is Uriah Heep (possibly based on Thomas Powell, a writer and fraudster), a two-faced little weasel, a manipulating twit who has the nerve to act like he's just a poor and humble creature, all the while plotting against other people. His insincerity and empty flattery makes him one of the most memorable antagonists in the world of Dickens.
Then of course there's the obsessive letter writer and credit hoarder Wilkins Micawber (modelled after Dickens's father), Copperfield's harsh stepfather Edward Murdstone, the handsome and well-liked but ultimately deceitful and spineless James Steerforth, the hardworking and honourable Tommy Traddles, the beautiful and childish but surprisingly self-aware Dora Spenlow (believed to be Maria Beadnell, Dickens's sweetheart from his younger days) etc. All of them appear from Copperfield's memories, as parts of his life journey through misery and through success, through good and bad, but the more you spend time with them, the more strongly they turn into flesh from that hazy and unclear fog of past we all have.
Even the most minor characters who stay more in the shadows are portrayed with utmost precision. Martha especially is a memorable one: she has fallen because of her scandalous past, but it's never said clearly what she did. Many of her kind populated Victorian London, but whether she had succumbed to prostitution or not, she turns out to have more kindness than many other characters.
What's notable is that all the characters (with the exception of maybe Heep) are true to life in that they all have their faults just as they have their good moments. Even Copperfield himself, whose experiences and career progression in part mirror those of Dickens himself, is not painted in some cold heroic light, but is shown as someone who is aware of his shortcomings and is regretful about some of the (possibly even hurtful) decisions he has made in his life. Hindsight is a bitch, and Copperfield realizes that more than once.
When you're invested in the characters, it's inevitable you don't want to let them go. When I turned the last page and read the last words, I felt kind of empty (okay, I also cried like a fucking waterfall). What now? A long novel like this and with this many characters has the potential to be not worth the time and effort, but when it's done well, it stays with you forever. The way Dickens writes is captivating, and in none other scene is it more evident than in the tempest scene. Of course, there are some pitfalls in the narrative, but those are inevitable in any novel. Like its protagonist, David Copperfield isn't perfect, but it's engrossing, rewarding, beautiful, and the best company in the world.
David felt like a friend, and I miss everything about this already. As with everything, the end is inescapable, but unlike with your own life, you can live David's all over again whenever you want.