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beth_gk28's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dnglvr's review against another edition
The antisemitism deployed by Charles Dickens in creating the character Fagin completely ruins this novel.
Apologists will point to the time period of the writing or a literary apology made in subsequent books, however the ugliness of the original act thwarts any attempt to lessen the gravity of the original act.
The authors goal was to increase popularity allowing him to make more money. He made the decision to be a populist and appeal to the nativist and bigoted beliefs of some readers. This act, motivated by greed and self aggrandizement, is as repulsive in the 1880s as it is today,
Dickens agreed to his publisher’s, Chapman and Hall, suggestion to remove the antisemitism within Oliver Twist in the 1867 publication of his collected works. Modern publishers would be wise to follow in the footsteps of Chapman and Hall.
Apologists will point to the time period of the writing or a literary apology made in subsequent books, however the ugliness of the original act thwarts any attempt to lessen the gravity of the original act.
The authors goal was to increase popularity allowing him to make more money. He made the decision to be a populist and appeal to the nativist and bigoted beliefs of some readers. This act, motivated by greed and self aggrandizement, is as repulsive in the 1880s as it is today,
Dickens agreed to his publisher’s, Chapman and Hall, suggestion to remove the antisemitism within Oliver Twist in the 1867 publication of his collected works. Modern publishers would be wise to follow in the footsteps of Chapman and Hall.
irenekaoru's review against another edition
3.0
I have such a bloody hard time getting through Dickens. I would never even have bothered were it not for school.
knittytam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dara_m's review against another edition
1.0
Undermines its own thesis by making Oliver secretly the son of people from a higher class
moosegurl2's review against another edition
4.0
"This was a vagrant of sixty-five, who was going to prison for not playing the flute; or, in other words, for begging in the streets, and doing nothing for his livelihood. In the next cell was another man, who was going to the same prison for hawking tin saucepans without license; thereby doing something for his living, in defiance of the Stamp-office."
" ... marvelling where the people could be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, every day of their lives."
" 'Every man's his own friend, my dear,' replied Fagin, with his most insinuating grin. 'He hasn't as good a one as himself anywhere.' "
" ... marvelling where the people could be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, every day of their lives."
" 'Every man's his own friend, my dear,' replied Fagin, with his most insinuating grin. 'He hasn't as good a one as himself anywhere.' "
moosegurl's review against another edition
4.0
"This was a vagrant of sixty-five, who was going to prison for not playing the flute; or, in other words, for begging in the streets, and doing nothing for his livelihood. In the next cell was another man, who was going to the same prison for hawking tin saucepans without license; thereby doing something for his living, in defiance of the Stamp-office."
" ... marvelling where the people could be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, every day of their lives."
" 'Every man's his own friend, my dear,' replied Fagin, with his most insinuating grin. 'He hasn't as good a one as himself anywhere.' "
" ... marvelling where the people could be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, every day of their lives."
" 'Every man's his own friend, my dear,' replied Fagin, with his most insinuating grin. 'He hasn't as good a one as himself anywhere.' "
gobelinenfeu's review against another edition
2.0
The characters were insipid and unilateral. The ending was way too convenient.
So much antisemitism.
Oliver Twist? More like Oliver No-Twist.
So much antisemitism.
Oliver Twist? More like Oliver No-Twist.
movingthebookmark's review against another edition
3.0
What a mess of a book! The plot is all over the place; Oliver is a flat uninteresting character; and the coincidences are ridiculous. However, it's Dickens, which means the genius, the humor, the excellent descriptions of London and people are littered throughout this book, making it still a treasure.
sidekick_sammy's review against another edition
5.0
Overall I loved the book, I just had to take a break part way through so I could mentally switch gears to the grimdark(esk) tone it ended up having. The first adaptation of Oliver Twist I saw was the Disney version: Oliver and Company. The second was the 60s musical version: Oliver! And my God, did they NOT prepare me for the real deal! Gone were the lovable villains and in their place were some downright dark characters. Fagin is the prime example, taking the definition of cynical to whole new levels (new being a loose term as the book is pushing 200 years old). Will definitely be reading this again, just need to go watch some (possible a few hundred) cat videos first.