A review by rebelbelle13
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

3.0

Oliver Twist feels like two separate stories in one- that of his story and adventures, and the narratives of the people around him. In true Dickens style, this story is dark, dirty, depressing in parts, and never fails to show Victorian London as it truly was, instead of a time of romanticized nostalgia in which it's often painted. We initially follow the story of Oliver, orphaned at birth, through the workhouse, then apprentice to an undertaker, then running away to London only to become swept up with a band of thieves including Fagin and The Artful Dodger. After escaping from their band, Oliver finds himself in the wealthy home of Mr. Brownlow, and then Rose Maylie. He becomes torn between the two worlds as the novel continues. And boy, does it continue. Most of the time it feels as though Oliver is not in charge of his own fate, and is dragged from one part of the story to the next. The first third is interesting, but the rest is filled with side characters and their individual machinations, politics and drama. Oliver's parentage suddenly becomes ridiculously important. I will say, the MVPs of this novel are certainly Mr. Brownlow and Nancy. They truly change the course of Oliver's young life and do the most good overall.
Reading this classic truly was an interesting experience, but one I don't think I'll be repeating any time soon.