akshay_bonala's review against another edition
3.0
This is a classical read, So the writing style is very hard to understand if you are new to reading/ if you are not much familiar with nuances of Brits English. This was my first Classic read from Charles Dickens and although I'm an avid reader, this book was so hard to follow through as many words and sentences were related to the old British literature style.
This review is spoiler-free...
The story follows our protagonist Pip, who is an orphan, stays with her sister. Although he belongs to a poor background always dreams of becoming a gentleman. As Pip grows up, a series of surprising events take place which makes him travel to new places, make new friends, find is love of life and also go through some heartbreaks.
So basically we will be following Pip's journey from being a small village boy to a grown gentleman. Whats makes this story intriguing is the set of events take place in this journey surprisingly, then he expects someone he knows did it but at the end when the story unfolds all his expectations were wrong.
This story was good for me, but it didn't connect with me as much as it should due to the difficulty of writing style. It took me very long to complete this book and also put me into reading slump.
This review is spoiler-free...
The story follows our protagonist Pip, who is an orphan, stays with her sister. Although he belongs to a poor background always dreams of becoming a gentleman. As Pip grows up, a series of surprising events take place which makes him travel to new places, make new friends, find is love of life and also go through some heartbreaks.
So basically we will be following Pip's journey from being a small village boy to a grown gentleman. Whats makes this story intriguing is the set of events take place in this journey surprisingly, then he expects someone he knows did it but at the end when the story unfolds all his expectations were wrong.
This story was good for me, but it didn't connect with me as much as it should due to the difficulty of writing style. It took me very long to complete this book and also put me into reading slump.
scottsolomonwriter's review against another edition
5.0
Despite all the maddening coincidences, I love the way Dickens never forgets minor characters.
martine_01's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
maecaitlin's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Spoiler
Pip and Estella not getting together in the end was the correct choice.Spoiler
Dickens could’ve done with a tight edit to cut out filler pages. Theme of race not fully realised, although the way he shows language-acquisition is quite interesting. Presentation of class is weighed off virtue and vice, not a systemic understanding. But, who expects Dickens to be a Marxist? Not me.Most of the characters are viewed through Pip’s narration, so this makes them quite one-note. Miss Havisham is a fascinating character from a modern feminist understanding at the very least. The saving grace of this book is the final 100 pages that make for an excellent conclusion after a tredge through the middle. Classic coming-of-age format.
mhworth's review against another edition
5.0
The thing that has kept me from Dickens has always been the length, but I see how what a joy this rambling style can be- both from language and plot. The phrasing of “greasy shoulders” and “testing the application of his knuckles against my door” made me laugh with their uniqueness despite being over 100 years old. The plot has its requisite twists, and I was legitimately hooked by Pip’s journey. It’s a classic for a reason. I enjoyed its Victorian sensibilities very much!
paolanegron8's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
berean1611's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hgranger's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this book for a class, so I had to finish it—with my newfound refusal to finish books if they’re dreadful I would probably have stopped reading otherwise and I would definitely have missed out. The book is excruciatingly slow moving for a very big part of it, and Dickens’ verbosity is painful, but if you can get past that there is a lot to be found in this novel. The characters are fascinating, at times repulsive and at other times endearing. Pip’s changes made me furious with him, and his later growth helped me like him again. The other characters likewise evokes strong emotions and that is one of the signs of great writing.
The plot is interesting although slightly predictable at times. The best parts of the novel are definitely the insights into the lives of the different broken people and how many of them manage to pick up the pieces and find peace after all.
I wasn’t sure which ending I preferred but after thinking about it, the original ending does seem to fit best with the rest of the story and it would be nice to think that Pip found peace and some happiness by letting go of Estella.
The plot is interesting although slightly predictable at times. The best parts of the novel are definitely the insights into the lives of the different broken people and how many of them manage to pick up the pieces and find peace after all.
I wasn’t sure which ending I preferred but after thinking about it, the original ending does seem to fit best with the rest of the story and it would be nice to think that Pip found peace and some happiness by letting go of Estella.
arae0311's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first full Dickens (although I've read passages from this book and others in secondary school), and I was pleasantly surprised, as many like myself assume Dickens is dull, dry and long. This book is surprisingly fast-paced, well written and intriguing. This is at its core a moral story, and for that reason was at times predictable and cheesy, however it is definitely a classic and so well known for a reason.