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gabcab17 's review for:
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens
I have a lot of thoughts about this! I spent two weeks immersing myself in it and I’m sad it’s over.
Ultimately I do agree with certain critiques of Dickens as an author - namely that he may have a tendency towards the saccharine/sentimental at the cost of more psychological depth. Also, maybe the semi-autobiographical nature of this book occasionally blurs into Dickens trying to vindicate certain aspects of his life. However! I think David Copperfield is a thoroughly enjoyable achievement as an epic, hilarious Bildungsroman. This book is enjoyable because of its scope and because of its teeming cast of characters and intertwining plot lines (even if not the height of realism or psychological depth a la Dostoevsky). (I feel like Micawber writing this review) I was deeply immersed in this, and I grew to love many of the characters - such that I feel a sense of loss in finishing the book. Thus, while I can understand why people like Woolf and Wilde critique Dickens and even agree with them, I still feel that the humor, charm, and breadth of this book created an engaging + stimulating reading experience. (Oh my god I really feel like Micawber writing a letter to David)!
I have to say - this is actually one of the funniest books I’ve read. Dickens’s sense of comedy is near-perfect. The absurdity of many of the rotating characters is incredible. I laughed out loud often, which is rare for me when reading. The humor is balanced with tragedy and reflection; many tragic things happen in this book (which is in part a critique of the societal structures that produce “easily thrown away children” who may be rendered helpless if not loved as David was loved). It does end with a pervading sense of love and of self-growth. Maybe that’s too sentimental; I don’t care. I enjoyed reading it.
Ultimately, I find myself with a larger appreciation for Dickens than I ever thought possible (as I have been a vocal hater of his for probably over a decade). My aunt has a masters and specialized in Victorian literature, and she loves Dickens. It was really fun to text her my thoughts on all the characters I loved/loved to hate (Betsey Trotwood my queen! Agnes the angel, Uriah the eel, Wilkins Micawber and the eternal belief that “something will turn up.”) anyways, I would like to read more Dickens and also more about his life and his effect on English social policies.
Ultimately I do agree with certain critiques of Dickens as an author - namely that he may have a tendency towards the saccharine/sentimental at the cost of more psychological depth. Also, maybe the semi-autobiographical nature of this book occasionally blurs into Dickens trying to vindicate certain aspects of his life. However! I think David Copperfield is a thoroughly enjoyable achievement as an epic, hilarious Bildungsroman. This book is enjoyable because of its scope and because of its teeming cast of characters and intertwining plot lines (even if not the height of realism or psychological depth a la Dostoevsky). (I feel like Micawber writing this review) I was deeply immersed in this, and I grew to love many of the characters - such that I feel a sense of loss in finishing the book. Thus, while I can understand why people like Woolf and Wilde critique Dickens and even agree with them, I still feel that the humor, charm, and breadth of this book created an engaging + stimulating reading experience. (Oh my god I really feel like Micawber writing a letter to David)!
I have to say - this is actually one of the funniest books I’ve read. Dickens’s sense of comedy is near-perfect. The absurdity of many of the rotating characters is incredible. I laughed out loud often, which is rare for me when reading. The humor is balanced with tragedy and reflection; many tragic things happen in this book (which is in part a critique of the societal structures that produce “easily thrown away children” who may be rendered helpless if not loved as David was loved). It does end with a pervading sense of love and of self-growth. Maybe that’s too sentimental; I don’t care. I enjoyed reading it.
Ultimately, I find myself with a larger appreciation for Dickens than I ever thought possible (as I have been a vocal hater of his for probably over a decade). My aunt has a masters and specialized in Victorian literature, and she loves Dickens. It was really fun to text her my thoughts on all the characters I loved/loved to hate (Betsey Trotwood my queen! Agnes the angel, Uriah the eel, Wilkins Micawber and the eternal belief that “something will turn up.”) anyways, I would like to read more Dickens and also more about his life and his effect on English social policies.