Most people I know indulge in guilty pleasure reading over the summer. Romance and other fluff, or the latest in a young adult fantasy/adventure series. But what did I bring to the beach in July?
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
When I pulled it out, I received quizzical looks. One friend tilted her head, raised an eyebrow and asked,“Why are you reading that?” She didn’t verbalize the other question clearly written on her face: “Are you crazy?”
My initial answer was, “Because my book club picked it.” But I couldn’t stop there, because by that time, I’d gotten half way through the book, and I actually liked Great Expectations. Sure, I had to push through a dark period in the beginning, when the prose felt too dense, Pip seemed too whiney, and I struggled to find a single redeeming character in the novel. For a few days, I had seriously considered abandoning the book for the John Green novel Paper Towns, which promised to be much more fun. (You can always expect humor from John Green). But I persisted, and I’m so glad.
Great Expectations turned out to have more than I expected: plot twists, life and death situations, intriguing characters! And it was funny, in a subtle, smart way. During an early description of a holiday dinner at Pip’s house, Dickens had me laughing out loud as Pip explained that he sat “squeezed in at an acute angle of the table-cloth, with the table in my chest, and the Pumblechookian elbow in my eye.” (Pumblechook is the surname of an irritating character in Pip’s life). I could clearly imagine a miserable little boy stuck at a formal dinner table with pretentious adults.
Besides the humor, I found many attributes of exceptional writing that I’ve learned about, including interesting detail, snappy dialogue, and great characterization. Read this description of an escaped convict:
A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles and torn by briars; who limped and shivered and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.
Yes, it’s a run on sentence, but it paints a picture, doesn’t it?
Finally, and most importantly, a great book forces us to think about the essential truths of our existence, and Great Expectations does that. Dickens questions the value of societal labels and the importance of money: in his novel, a poor, simple man holds the most wisdom, while a wealthy woman burns in her own bitterness. Dickens champions loyalty and compassion, and his characters suffer for their pride, jealousy, and insecurities. The lessons from the novel have as much validity today as they did in the 19thcentury.
So if you are the kind of person who likes to think and doesn’t shrink from a challenge, I recommend that you pick up this worthwhile classic, and pay attention. Amid the verbose prose, Dickens has some very compelling things to say.
What are some worthwhile classics that you have read? If you have read Great Expectations, what did you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for stopping by!
Other book reviews you might like:
Julia
Yes, everyone, carve out some time for it. But I’m not saying it ‘ll be easy.
I downloaded Great Expectations on my Kindle before I left for Kenya, but still haven’t gotten to it yet. You’re motivating me to start it soon!
I have not read it; it sits buried in my bedside table as I book I know I should read. This review has definitely inspired me. Loved your example of prose. Thank you!
I enjoyed your review! It makes me want to read it someday! I’m in the midst of a wonderful reading summer, with more great books on my list than I can possibly get through. It’s a good problem to have!
The last classic I read was Wuthering Heights, and I failed to find a single redeeming character in that novel, nor could I figure out why it’s heralded as such a romantic tale. Hopefully the next classic I read will be much better!
Muddy, I recently retread Wuthering Heights, and I agree- it’s hard to find a likeable character. I think it’s significant for being one of the first Gothic novels. I guess Heathcliff and Catherine suffer for their pride and selfishness as well- perhaps that’s part of the redeeming value .
Julia,
I really liked “Great Expectations.” When I was younger, I went through a Dickens phase. (I did that with several classic authors.) My favorites still remain “Oliver Twist” & “A Tale of Two Cities” (along with the seasonal “A Christmas Carol”).
Like Monique, I read “The Fountainhead” and really enjoyed it. Some other beloved classic reads are “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins and “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.
I just finished “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, and it was interesting to read the literature behind the common phrase.
Jennifer, Welcome and thanks for sharing so many great suggestions! Maybe I should start a list of “classics to be read”.
Oh Julia! It’s been too long since I’ve been here. But I have a good exscuse. I’ve had an obsequious young lad stop by the house every few days asking for odd jobs to do. At first I thought it was a joke. But his puppy dog eyes wouldn’t let my attentions focus on anything else! 😉
I’m thrilled to hear you’re reading “Great Expectations.” I have not read it but have always wanted it to read it. Instead, I have read “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo, “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, “Crime & Punishment” by Dostoyevsky, “The Fountainhead” & “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, “The Iliad” by Homer, etc. I had to be ready & open to read many of these bks. I could read some in H.S. & college, but reading for myself is so much more rewarding because I can understand the story more, the nuances of the text, the wit & humor.
I highly recommend giving these bks to people when they are in the midst of life changes, between jobs, divorced, struggling with what to do in life, etc. Many of these classic stories look at or ask the question of change when we do not want it, reading about those who have less, reading about those who go from nothing to having more, stories of hope & adventure, stories that make you think. So, when we are in the midst of change, these books remind us we are not alone.
Monique
Great to hear from you again Monique. (good use of obsequious btw). Wow, you mentioned some big time classics. I tackled Atlas Shrugged last summer- definitely sparked some interesting discussion. And I agree, I think I appreciate these books more now that I’m older and wiser. :).
I’ve had GE on the shelf for a couple of years. Guess I should pull it down and tackle it… After the kids go back to college 😉
Have a great weekend, Julia!
Julia!
Thank you for inspiring me! This book has been “on the list” for awhile, so now I’m even more determined.
God bless you,
Hester, 🙂