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lilac_cottage_library's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
loulou_22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thewritenatalia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The classics are always golden reads.
Dickens has carefully woven a beautiful story about a boy and the trials that he goes through just to get happiness.
The writing IS very lengthy and there were times where I had to reread some sentences to fully understand but I didn't really mind since the prose was gorgeous.
The characters are well planned. You can feel connected with the main characters and whenever something bad happens, the feelings of anger, despair and injustice are all there.
In Dickens times, this story was really a big awakening to the rich about the state of the poor. If anything, this is what stories should be like. A meaningful story that creates impact.
Dickens has carefully woven a beautiful story about a boy and the trials that he goes through just to get happiness.
The writing IS very lengthy and there were times where I had to reread some sentences to fully understand but I didn't really mind since the prose was gorgeous.
The characters are well planned. You can feel connected with the main characters and whenever something bad happens, the feelings of anger, despair and injustice are all there.
In Dickens times, this story was really a big awakening to the rich about the state of the poor. If anything, this is what stories should be like. A meaningful story that creates impact.
kalauandromeda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I loved the first few chapters, but it went downhill ever since. I thought this would be a book with more focus on the character development of a kind-hearted kid named oliver twist in a twisted society of England in the 1830s. Now I feel that it's like a Disney story in a dark setting where the story develops around the protagonist instead of him actually developing. Hated how most of the characters are shallow and felt more like abstract ideas rather than real people. I would get it if it's done for a town person B type of character, but it's done with many important characters and hated that very much. Also, some characters come and go just like that in the book, where Oliver Twist himself is no exception. Really hated when a character who was briefly introduced in chapter 11 shows up again in chapter 55. Sometimes, the only motivation for reading this book is finishing it, so that I can finally end the misery. Apart from these disappointing things, few good things are, it clearly depicted the corrupt and cruel society of England in the 1830s, some characters like Nancy and Fagin are decently done. I was disappointed with this book honestly, but maybe I am to blame for my expectations ;(
karen_unabridged's review against another edition
3.0
An easier, more cohesive read than "Pickwick" but Oliver's naivete grates on my (admittedly) cynical heart. It's not my favorite novel ever, but it does have staying power, having become part of the fabric of western society. ("Please sir, I want some more," etc.)
crm_'s review against another edition
5.0
It’s good for the soul to dip into the occasional 19th century novel. Dickens has a solid piece here. Oliver Twist didn’t disappoint.
laurenceaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
queer_redhead's review against another edition
5.0
So, I feel like most Charles Dickens stories that I’ve heard of have an overall meaning to them, right? Like, A Christmas Carol: don’t be a Scrooge and appreciate what you have and always do good. But this book….
I feel like Charles Dickens has some buried trauma that he uncovered while writing this, and that’s the only way I can explain it. He also loves, just, bullying the heck out of these characters.
Oliver Twist is this kid who is an orphan, right? He’s called unlovable multiple times IN THE SAME CHAPTER and he’s so used to it that he doesn’t even care anymore. Well, Mr. Bumble, the Beadle - whatever’s that means, but I can assure you he’s not in a band - practically sells Oliver to this morgue dude who also treats him horribly.
Then Oliver beats the absolute heck out of this skinny guy Noah Claypole (more like Noah Beanpole but whatever) and then he runs away, knowing that some up there in the government guy is gonna hang him for his crimes.
I feel like I should say now that Oliver is ten right now. Like, what kind of evil dude with a white wig is like “Ah yes, not only did he ask for more, but he destroyed a kid who was talking badly about his mother. Obviously we have to hang him!”
Anyways, Oliver runs away and meets this guy, Jack Dawkins, a.k.a the Artful Dodger. And let me just say, whoever coined the name the Artful Dodger needs a sticker. Like, that is somehow the most hilarious yet handsome thing I have ever heard.
Dodger introduces him to this old Jew named Fagin, who literally just teaches kids to steal stuff and at this point the cops are like “welp, we just don’t stop crime anymore.” Like seriously, reading this entire book I was like where are the cops? They’re only shown a few times, but jeez!
I won’t say much more because I’ve spoiled enough, but this story was amazing. The chapters were easily digestible and I loved getting to read about all of the characters and their adventures (even if those adventure involved near death scenarios) and the twists were amazing. I mean, the plot twists, not Oliver Twist.
I feel like Charles Dickens has some buried trauma that he uncovered while writing this, and that’s the only way I can explain it. He also loves, just, bullying the heck out of these characters.
Oliver Twist is this kid who is an orphan, right? He’s called unlovable multiple times IN THE SAME CHAPTER and he’s so used to it that he doesn’t even care anymore. Well, Mr. Bumble, the Beadle - whatever’s that means, but I can assure you he’s not in a band - practically sells Oliver to this morgue dude who also treats him horribly.
Then Oliver beats the absolute heck out of this skinny guy Noah Claypole (more like Noah Beanpole but whatever) and then he runs away, knowing that some up there in the government guy is gonna hang him for his crimes.
I feel like I should say now that Oliver is ten right now. Like, what kind of evil dude with a white wig is like “Ah yes, not only did he ask for more, but he destroyed a kid who was talking badly about his mother. Obviously we have to hang him!”
Anyways, Oliver runs away and meets this guy, Jack Dawkins, a.k.a the Artful Dodger. And let me just say, whoever coined the name the Artful Dodger needs a sticker. Like, that is somehow the most hilarious yet handsome thing I have ever heard.
Dodger introduces him to this old Jew named Fagin, who literally just teaches kids to steal stuff and at this point the cops are like “welp, we just don’t stop crime anymore.” Like seriously, reading this entire book I was like where are the cops? They’re only shown a few times, but jeez!
I won’t say much more because I’ve spoiled enough, but this story was amazing. The chapters were easily digestible and I loved getting to read about all of the characters and their adventures (even if those adventure involved near death scenarios) and the twists were amazing. I mean, the plot twists, not Oliver Twist.
ravensnow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
scrooge3's review against another edition
3.0
You can tell this book was published a chapter or two at a time in serial form. The plot meanders around and characters appear and disappear for no apparent reason. Oliver himself is offstage for long portions of the book. Fagin is referred to as "the Jew" for the first part of the book and then Dickens seemed to realize it was offensive and for the rest he was just Fagin. In other words, a good editor could have focused the story and made it better. Among the meanderings there are some intriguing characters, and the language paints vivid word pictures throughout, and that helps redeem the flaws.