I've only ever read one Dickens book, Great Expectations, and I really loved it. Oliver Twist, however, is a dreadful bore, filled with annoying characters, an awful lot of filler, soap opera levels of coincidence, and pretty sure rampant antisemitism. 

I know that a lot of Dickens' stories were originally published in periodicals, a chapter at a time or whatever rate it was, so the fact this reads like a soap isn't that much of a surprise. Soapy twists and "duff duff" moments abound, but it's the seemingly endless filler that kills me. Imagine following along with this as it was being published, and waiting however many weeks for a new chapter and all you get is Mr Bumble trying to get the workhouse lady to marry him. I'd have been fuming! 

As for the story itself, Oliver is so annoying. I know he's supposed to be so sweet and kind, despite the hardships he faces, but honestly he's far too passive for my liking. Nancy is by far the most interesting character, but she's used very little, and we all know how she ends up.