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A review by sophronisba
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is not Dickens's best work, but reading it straight after finishing Pickwick makes his evolution as a novelist interesting to observe. Hardly any really memorable characters, beyond Fagin and the Bumbles and perhaps Noah Claypole. Even the Artful Dodger doesn't have as many great moments as I remembered.
It's hard to evaluate the plot as it's so familiar at this point--now I read it and wonder why it surprised me so much the first time I read the book (in my defense, I was twelve).
2025 reread: I enjoyed it more this time, I think. Although the memorable moments and characters continue to be scarce on the ground, Dickens still has a way of creating tension and making you want to find out what happens, even when you already know what happens.
It's hard to evaluate the plot as it's so familiar at this point--now I read it and wonder why it surprised me so much the first time I read the book (in my defense, I was twelve).
2025 reread: I enjoyed it more this time, I think. Although the memorable moments and characters continue to be scarce on the ground, Dickens still has a way of creating tension and making you want to find out what happens, even when you already know what happens.