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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
This was a good book that I was really not in the mood for. More thoughts and rating later.
I'm now a Betsey Trotwood stan. Funny, sad, gripping, an excellent bildungsroman. Looking forward to comparing it with Demon Copperhead.
Finally!! I am free!!
3.5/5 stars. It so strange to see this book juxtaposed against those written by women in the same time period. Almost all of the women in this novel are only seen as righteous, good creatures when they are either meek or serviceable to the men around them. With the exception of my dear, dear Betsey Trotwood, Mrs. Peggotty, and the rarely seen Mrs. Mowcher (who really deserves a book all her own). There was also only a rare chapter that had any spark of life to it. While the characters felt real, I didn’t particularly care for most of them or for their plights. I wish it had affected me as I could tell it was trying to.
I do not think I would have finished this if it wasn’t for my Victorian Novels course (simply because it is very long and meandering), but I am glad that I got this introduction to Dickens and perhaps I can find a book of his that I enjoy more in the future—i’m eyeing you A Tale of Two Cities.
Oh also, read Barry Pierce’s review because it’s everything to me: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1323553767
3.5/5 stars. It so strange to see this book juxtaposed against those written by women in the same time period. Almost all of the women in this novel are only seen as righteous, good creatures when they are either meek or serviceable to the men around them. With the exception of my dear, dear Betsey Trotwood, Mrs. Peggotty, and the rarely seen Mrs. Mowcher (who really deserves a book all her own). There was also only a rare chapter that had any spark of life to it. While the characters felt real, I didn’t particularly care for most of them or for their plights. I wish it had affected me as I could tell it was trying to.
I do not think I would have finished this if it wasn’t for my Victorian Novels course (simply because it is very long and meandering), but I am glad that I got this introduction to Dickens and perhaps I can find a book of his that I enjoy more in the future—i’m eyeing you A Tale of Two Cities.
Oh also, read Barry Pierce’s review because it’s everything to me: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1323553767
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
A fun read, although the prose meandered and got pretty dry at times. Maybe the result of it being such an old book. Felt like a really complete societal picture, with glimpses into the whole gamut of human conditions and outcomes. Explores what does and doesn't make humans happy, family dynamics, love, and relationships. The length gave me plenty of time to reflect on all these things. The narrator, Copperfield, is unfailingly a great guy, which I appreciated. Characters were well-developed and all had distinct traits, but a few of them sort of became caricatures of themselves after a certain point-- especially the more minor characters. There were A LOT of characters.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
David Copperfield narrates his adventures in his journey from an unhappy and impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist. The novel is sometimes categorized in the bildungsroman genre. It is also partially autobiographical. It was published as a serial in 1849 and 1850 and then as a book in 1850. I love the interesting and eclectic set of characters in this novel and the inclusion of social commentary without bashing the reader over the head with it.
An absolute chore of a book to get through. Wonderfully written and a great example of the beauty of the English language but completely dull. I think this has put me off ever reading another Dickens.
I absolutely loved this book! It is a beast of a book with around 700 pages but "I love big books and I cannot lie!" I can't believe I did not read this book sooner. I love Classics and this was a wonderful addition to my mind and shelf! I would definitely recommend it for people who love Classics and even for those who are looking for a good Classic to start into the genre. It has a bit of everything - comedy, drama, sadness, historical information. A very well rounded and realistic story.
An alternate title for David Copperfield should be "The Man with Many Names." David seemed to receive a new moniker from almost everyone he encountered in his life. My favorite name was "Trotwood." It sounds so debonair. It's a good thing I didn't read this book before I finished having babies or one of my son's names would undoubtedly have been Trotwood.
The next paragraph could be viewed as a bit of a spoiler so if you have not read this book, maybe stop reading now...
I LOVED Aunt Betsy. She was my favorite character and I would enjoy an entire book about her. If only Mr. Dickens had left us one! Her scenes with the donkeys made me laugh until my eyes watered. I also laughed when Copperfield and his friends get drunk. Ah, to be young and experience inebriation for the first time. I appreciated that David cried (a lot) and that it was talked about. Sometimes in our world it seems like crying among men is deemed as not being masculine. I like that David cried and never once did I feel like it took away from his manliness - in fact, I quite felt like it ADDED to his personality. I wasn't thrilled with the love of his life but was so delighted to see how things played out in the end.
I read this as part of the Once Upon A Book Club subscription box and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of opening gifts that correlated to the book.
An alternate title for David Copperfield should be "The Man with Many Names." David seemed to receive a new moniker from almost everyone he encountered in his life. My favorite name was "Trotwood." It sounds so debonair. It's a good thing I didn't read this book before I finished having babies or one of my son's names would undoubtedly have been Trotwood.
The next paragraph could be viewed as a bit of a spoiler so if you have not read this book, maybe stop reading now...
I LOVED Aunt Betsy. She was my favorite character and I would enjoy an entire book about her. If only Mr. Dickens had left us one! Her scenes with the donkeys made me laugh until my eyes watered. I also laughed when Copperfield and his friends get drunk. Ah, to be young and experience inebriation for the first time. I appreciated that David cried (a lot) and that it was talked about. Sometimes in our world it seems like crying among men is deemed as not being masculine. I like that David cried and never once did I feel like it took away from his manliness - in fact, I quite felt like it ADDED to his personality. I wasn't thrilled with the love of his life but was so delighted to see how things played out in the end.
I read this as part of the Once Upon A Book Club subscription box and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of opening gifts that correlated to the book.
Dickens sure knows how to tie up some loose ends. When I finished the book he had either killed off, married, imprisoned or moved every last character. I appreciate a tidy ending, but was not so fond of Dickens' disdain for brevity. LONG book. I read some reviews stating this is basically his autobiography, and if that's true I sympathize with poor Charlie/David -- he had a rough life -- but if he EVER agreed to call his wife his "child-wife" like David did to Dora, I have lost all respect for him. Shudder shudder.