You will never go wrong with any Classic. Even if you don’t care for it, you will be able to form a learned opinion on the book, . . . an opinion you will need as a classic is inevitably discussed. ?
Because you will have to learn a new language while reading this book, . . . give it more time than a modern work before you bail on it. ?
Dickens was brilliant at using his writing to post commentary on daily life. You learn so much about what was going on in society, politics, religion, etc.; reading a great story is just gravy.
When reading Dickens it’s important to remember he was paid by the word. I think that’s why there are sometimes more words in Dickens than there needs to be. I enjoyed reading Oliver Twist, but did so by skipping large paragraphs that seemed completely unnecessary.
He understood how to unfold a plot better than perhaps any other novelist. His characters are sometimes caricatures, so absurd as to defy realism. But for Dickens it usually works. If you want a great Dickens’ novel try either Great Expectations or Bleak House.
You will never go wrong with any Classic. Even if you don’t care for it, you will be able to form a learned opinion on the book, . . . an opinion you will need as a classic is inevitably discussed. ?
Because you will have to learn a new language while reading this book, . . . give it more time than a modern work before you bail on it. ?
I agree as a whole. Dicken’s style of narrating an ordinary event is what makes a difference between him and his contemporaries.
I liked it! You can’t really go wrong with Dickens.
Love the movie, not sure ive ever read the book, but i imagine its really good
Dickens was brilliant at using his writing to post commentary on daily life. You learn so much about what was going on in society, politics, religion, etc.; reading a great story is just gravy.
Good book. I read it in high school. I like Dickens but he has several novels far better than Oliver Twist.
Which ones?
I read it when I was in high school years ago. Great story, a must read.
When reading Dickens it’s important to remember he was paid by the word. I think that’s why there are sometimes more words in Dickens than there needs to be. I enjoyed reading Oliver Twist, but did so by skipping large paragraphs that seemed completely unnecessary.
How did you know they were unnecessary? I think one can understand what is necessary and what not once the story is over?
He was not paid by the word. He was paid by installment, which is why he wrote in serial. https://dickens.ucsc.edu/resources/faq/by-the-word.html
Interesting…
He understood how to unfold a plot better than perhaps any other novelist. His characters are sometimes caricatures, so absurd as to defy realism. But for Dickens it usually works. If you want a great Dickens’ novel try either Great Expectations or Bleak House.
I won this book as a prize at school almost 70 years ago, it was good then and is still good. Well worth a read.
Love it!!
You can’t go wrong with a book by Charles Dickens.
I love Dickens! Oliver Twist is one of the few unputdownable classics. It’s suspenseful, mysterious and heartbreaking.
There’s a really cool new young adult retelling called Olivia Twist that reimagines the story of Oliver had been a girl in disguise!
Not a Dickens fan ?