Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I sort of wanted to give this 4 stars but I don’t think it’s quite there.
Best part of the book was undoubtedly George Bernard Shaw’s afterword- a beautifully written piece that is about as much about Great Expectations as this review has been thus far, covering such a broad range of topics as Marx, Fascism, Democracy, and a host of others, invoking a somewhat convoluted but unyieldingly entertaining socialist critique of Dickens as a socialist, but also authoritarian, writer who preempts his revolutionary peers on a literary scale, but hides his themes within layers so deep within his work as to be almost undetectable (though detected, of course, by Shaw).
I agree with Shaw’s point that the ending, while annoyingly beautifully written, thematically feels like a complete cop out. The rest of the book, however, is intriguing, well-paced (the 550 pages fly by) and wonderfully written. I don’t consider Pip to be an amazing protagonist, but his friends around him add great colour to the book - the Gargery’s, Herbert,Magwitch , and Jaggers.
Estella works as a thematic symbol (until the ending usurps this) but I don’t think any of the female characters are really vividly brought to life. The mad old woman, the simple but kind friend, the unattainable beauty- it all feels a bit like shiny tropes dotting the shelves of the prose.
Like G.B Shaw I consider a few of the ‘coincidences’, far from propagating and then neatly trying up a grand intrigue, to instead be so convenient as to be laughable, and detracts from the otherwise relentless realism. The mystery doesn’t go anywhere, or mean anything, it feels imputed to satisfy the court and upper class intrigue demanded by contemporary readers. Shaw would argue that this is precisely its purpose- Dickens, and his many Children, had a lifestyle that he had to maintain financially, and so satisfying contemporary trends was imperative, even at the potential cost of artistic cohesion.
But all in all, a tight and often funny story that fully deserves it’s status as one of Britain’s best loved novels, by arguably its best loved writer. I look forward to reading more Dickens, as Great Expectations shattered some of my preconceptions and was a great read.
Best part of the book was undoubtedly George Bernard Shaw’s afterword- a beautifully written piece that is about as much about Great Expectations as this review has been thus far, covering such a broad range of topics as Marx, Fascism, Democracy, and a host of others, invoking a somewhat convoluted but unyieldingly entertaining socialist critique of Dickens as a socialist, but also authoritarian, writer who preempts his revolutionary peers on a literary scale, but hides his themes within layers so deep within his work as to be almost undetectable (though detected, of course, by Shaw).
I agree with Shaw’s point that the ending, while annoyingly beautifully written, thematically feels like a complete cop out. The rest of the book, however, is intriguing, well-paced (the 550 pages fly by) and wonderfully written. I don’t consider Pip to be an amazing protagonist, but his friends around him add great colour to the book - the Gargery’s, Herbert,
Estella works as a thematic symbol (until the ending usurps this) but I don’t think any of the female characters are really vividly brought to life. The mad old woman, the simple but kind friend, the unattainable beauty- it all feels a bit like shiny tropes dotting the shelves of the prose.
Like G.B Shaw I consider a few of the ‘coincidences’, far from propagating and then neatly trying up a grand intrigue, to instead be so convenient as to be laughable, and detracts from the otherwise relentless realism. The mystery doesn’t go anywhere, or mean anything, it feels imputed to satisfy the court and upper class intrigue demanded by contemporary readers. Shaw would argue that this is precisely its purpose- Dickens, and his many Children, had a lifestyle that he had to maintain financially, and so satisfying contemporary trends was imperative, even at the potential cost of artistic cohesion.
But all in all, a tight and often funny story that fully deserves it’s status as one of Britain’s best loved novels, by arguably its best loved writer. I look forward to reading more Dickens, as Great Expectations shattered some of my preconceptions and was a great read.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My favorite Dickens book (thus far)! I love every character in this novel from Pip, the young orphan, to Magwitch, the convict (didn't fool me with your plot twist, Magwitch!), to Estella (who is really a fantasy, no more), to Biddy, to Mrs. Joe Gargary (on a rampage!) to Miss Havisham, to dear Joe.
Pip dreams of being a gentleman, and when he does get his wish through an unknown benefactor, he has all the airs and turned up nose of any proper gentleman. When Pip first learns he has come into great expectations, and he is about to leave home, he asks Joe to let him walk to the station alone. He was ashamed to be seen with poor, drap Joe; and while Pip pretended to himself there was no such selfish taint, he couldn't quite force himself to.
"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our heard hearts. I was better after I had cried than before - more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle. If I had cried before, I should have had Joe with me then."
His arrogance does eventually turn to understanding, "we owed so much to Herbert's ever cheerful industry and readiness that I often wondered how I had conceived the old idea of his ineptitude, until I was one day enlightened by the reflection that perhaps the ineptitude had never been in him at all, but had been in me."
I love the way Dickens always describes his characters feelings when they are in love: "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be," especially since it is often foolish love (with an undisciplined heart, eh Trotwood?).
The end is both sad and happy, for many reasons. Magwitch is dead; and bitter sweet to Pip, dear Joe marries Biddy. As for Estella, there are two different endings that were written. One seems to imply hope between them, and the second, the original ending, (which I preferred) just left them separate. Fantastic book!
Pip dreams of being a gentleman, and when he does get his wish through an unknown benefactor, he has all the airs and turned up nose of any proper gentleman. When Pip first learns he has come into great expectations, and he is about to leave home, he asks Joe to let him walk to the station alone. He was ashamed to be seen with poor, drap Joe; and while Pip pretended to himself there was no such selfish taint, he couldn't quite force himself to.
"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our heard hearts. I was better after I had cried than before - more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle. If I had cried before, I should have had Joe with me then."
His arrogance does eventually turn to understanding, "we owed so much to Herbert's ever cheerful industry and readiness that I often wondered how I had conceived the old idea of his ineptitude, until I was one day enlightened by the reflection that perhaps the ineptitude had never been in him at all, but had been in me."
I love the way Dickens always describes his characters feelings when they are in love: "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be," especially since it is often foolish love (with an undisciplined heart, eh Trotwood?).
The end is both sad and happy, for many reasons. Magwitch is dead; and bitter sweet to Pip, dear Joe marries Biddy. As for Estella, there are two different endings that were written. One seems to imply hope between them, and the second, the original ending, (which I preferred) just left them separate. Fantastic book!
I like all the different voices he did, it made the reading more engaging
I read the "Great Illustrated" classics version, not this. The plot is interesting but there are some eye-rolling coincidences.
Im sorry but there’s no convincing me that pip wasn’t in love with Herbert the whole time…
Anyways this book took a shamefully long time to read but I’m officially out of a reading rut!!
Anyways this book took a shamefully long time to read but I’m officially out of a reading rut!!
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 ⭐️- watch me read one classic book and think I’m better than everyone else!!! I’m joking I’m joking… 😛
In reality this was a bit of a doozy to get through, but did make me chuckle and think about social classes, life, etc. Feels like a book where I wait a few years, then give it a re-read with a better head on my shoulders, then give it 5 stars.
TLDR: I have a peanut brain and needed to google what was going on too many times.
In reality this was a bit of a doozy to get through, but did make me chuckle and think about social classes, life, etc. Feels like a book where I wait a few years, then give it a re-read with a better head on my shoulders, then give it 5 stars.
TLDR: I have a peanut brain and needed to google what was going on too many times.
I just struggled so much to want to even pick up the book to read. Once I started reading it was okay, but I just didn't want to read it. I would have to force myself to start it and come I did I would finish off a chapter and then not pick it up again for at least three weeks. Nothing wrong with the story. It's written well, the characters are quirky and have distinct personalities. I've read up on the plot and it sounds very good, but something just is putting me off and I don't know what.
I may pick this up again at some point but why force myself to read something when I clearly just don't want to?
I may pick this up again at some point but why force myself to read something when I clearly just don't want to?