Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining from Start to Finish
Review: My first taste of Dickens was the appalingly long David Copperfield as a freshman in high school. I detested it, swore I would never read Dickens again, only to find that my junior year held in store for me what would become one of my favorite novels, Great Expectations, a book heinously bastardized years later by a 'modernized' film adaptation, with Anne Bancroft being the only redeeming feature.Through the years since high school, I have begun to read Dickens of my own free will, and have greatly enjoyed his works. Nicholas Nickelby, one of my all time favorites, is a wonderful novel, typical Dickens, chock full of characters, plots, satire, and story. Nicholas and his immediate family are the 'black sheep' of the Nickelby name. Humble, gentle, and common in the eyes of their well-to-do relative, Uncle Ralph Nickelby, who denounces Nicholas as a boy, and man, who will never amount to anything. In typical Dickens fashion, Nicholas encounters adversity first at a boarding school, then in society, as he forges a name for himself. Along the way he befriends many, enrages some, and invokes the wrath of his Uncle Ralph, determined to prove himself right in bemoaning the shortcomings of his nephew. One point of interest in this novel for me is the major revelation that comes toward the end involving the character of Smike. Throughout the novel he is loveable, pitiable, and utterly realistic, and his significance to the life of Nicholas, as revealed in the final chapters, is a true plot twist, and a charming, if not bittersweet, realization. For anyone forced to read Dickens early in life, if you appreciate quality satire and an engaging look at the London society of more than 125 years ago, visit this novel sometime, it is one of Dicken's finest.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicholas Nickleby - The young Dickens at his best.
Review: Nicholas Nickleby is a marvelous novel. It is the young Dickens at his best. I almost feel guilty for giving it four stars, but giving it five would be unfair, I think, because his later works, such as Great Expectations, are bettter. The novel is written enthusiastically and contains some of Dickens' best humor. I especially found funny the character Mr.Lillyvick, the revered and dignified water clerk. And I will never forget Ralph Nickleby. Mr.Squeers and Arthur Gride were detestable and colorful villains, but they pale before Ralph Nickleby. He is such a cold and heartless character that he steals nearly every scene he is in. He has a certain magnetism that most of Dickens' good characters lack. And his suicide at the novel's end is so perfectly written that I read over it several times before I finished the novel. My only problem with the book was Nicholas's lack of psychology, but let us remember that this was written by a young man, not the mature artist of Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend. The novel's strengths easily make up for its weaknesses. Nicholas Nickleby will be enjoyed by fans of Dickens and all other readers for centuries to come.
Rating:
Summary: My review of Nicholas Nickleby
Review: Nicholas Nickleby is a story of a young man and his family dealing with the hardships in their life. When Nicholas father died the family was left with little money. It was because of this that they turned to Ralph Nickleby (Nicholas's uncle), who got Nicholas and his sister Kate jobs. Ralph only did this because he did not want them to rely on his money, he reminded me of Scrooge from the Christmas Carol, he is a business man with no heart at the beginning. Ralph Nickleby is a complex character that unfolds completely by the end of the novel. Ralph's assistant, Newman Noggs, parallels Bob Cratchit in many ways. He works for Ralph and puts up with many harsh words and actions. Noggs becomes Nicholas best friend. Dickens paints a picture of every character. By the end of the novel you have visual imagine in your head of every detail. You never just meet a person; you get to know their character. As much as I loved this description of everything, it does tend to be a bit much. At certain points throughout the story you remember that Dickens got paid by the word and that attributed to his (sometimes) excessive detail.
The very beginning was a bit slow and it took a bit of effort to get through. Around the fourth or fifth chapter the book became very interesting. In the next few chapters the plot of the novel started to evolve. I enjoyed the balance of humor and seriousness that was in the book. Wackford Squeers was perhaps one of the crudest characters however he was one of the funnies as well. The Squeers owned Dotheboys Hall, for a small fortune you may send you child there to be educated, however the as a reader you soon learned about the horrible treatment of the boys. For example, the boys are occasionally given a "medicine", this made the boys so ill that they didn't want to eat and therefore the Squeers save money on food. You are introduced to a very important character by the name of Smike; he is a boy who was left in the care of the Squeers years ago. After his first six years there this parents stopped paying and he became a servant and he is treated horribly. At one point in the book Nicholas can no longer witness this treatment and saved poor Smike from a beating. After this the book takes a dramatic turn. Nicholas sets out on his own and soon finds that Smike has followed him.
Eventually the interest starts to die down and the plot seems boring and over played. I must admit that as much as I loved the book the middle was not very enjoyable to read. In the middle you are introduced to many new characters and you learn the detail surrounding the life that Kate and Nicholas now lead. Kate is employed in a dress shop, which soon becomes bankrupt because of bad investments. Nicholas joins Mr. Crummles entertainment "business", in which he puts on plays. Just when you start to lose hope in the book, an exciting series of twist and turns unravels. You start to learn that Ralph has a few secrets that may lead to his destruction. Newmen Noggs starts to play a very important role in the story. He learns that Ralph has a friend (Mr. Gride) who plans to marry Madeline (the woman Nicholas is in love with) and give the deed her father promised him to Ralph. Madeline's father is in prison for not repaying is debt; the deed is worth 12,000 pounds and will replace what he borrowed from Ralph. The end of the book is the greatest part of all; you learn very important things about Ralph and his life before money. The theme of how money can ruin a person is really displayed in the last few chapters.
Overall this book had its highs and lows. I am very glad that I read it because it is so mind blowing, you really get involved in this world that Dickens creates for his characters. There are so many different aspect of this book that almost anyone can find something that they enjoy about it. The best part is that you can see what everything is leading up to but there is still an element of surprise until the end.
Rating:
Summary: My review of Nicholas Nickleby
Review: Nicholas Nickleby is a story of a young man and his family dealing with the hardships in their life. When Nicholas father died the family was left with little money. It was because of this that they turned to Ralph Nickleby (Nicholas's uncle), who got Nicholas and his sister Kate jobs. Ralph only did this because he did not want them to rely on his money, he reminded me of Scrooge from the Christmas Carol, he is a business man with no heart at the beginning. Ralph Nickleby is a complex character that unfolds completely by the end of the novel. Ralph's assistant, Newman Noggs, parallels Bob Cratchit in many ways. He works for Ralph and puts up with many harsh words and actions. Noggs becomes Nicholas best friend. Dickens paints a picture of every character. By the end of the novel you have visual imagine in your head of every detail. You never just meet a person; you get to know their character. As much as I loved this description of everything, it does tend to be a bit much. At certain points throughout the story you remember that Dickens got paid by the word and that attributed to his (sometimes) excessive detail.
The very beginning was a bit slow and it took a bit of effort to get through. Around the fourth or fifth chapter the book became very interesting. In the next few chapters the plot of the novel started to evolve. I enjoyed the balance of humor and seriousness that was in the book. Wackford Squeers was perhaps one of the crudest characters however he was one of the funnies as well. The Squeers owned Dotheboys Hall, for a small fortune you may send you child there to be educated, however the as a reader you soon learned about the horrible treatment of the boys. For example, the boys are occasionally given a "medicine", this made the boys so ill that they didn't want to eat and therefore the Squeers save money on food. You are introduced to a very important character by the name of Smike; he is a boy who was left in the care of the Squeers years ago. After his first six years there this parents stopped paying and he became a servant and he is treated horribly. At one point in the book Nicholas can no longer witness this treatment and saved poor Smike from a beating. After this the book takes a dramatic turn. Nicholas sets out on his own and soon finds that Smike has followed him.
Eventually the interest starts to die down and the plot seems boring and over played. I must admit that as much as I loved the book the middle was not very enjoyable to read. In the middle you are introduced to many new characters and you learn the detail surrounding the life that Kate and Nicholas now lead. Kate is employed in a dress shop, which soon becomes bankrupt because of bad investments. Nicholas joins Mr. Crummles entertainment "business", in which he puts on plays. Just when you start to lose hope in the book, an exciting series of twist and turns unravels. You start to learn that Ralph has a few secrets that may lead to his destruction. Newmen Noggs starts to play a very important role in the story. He learns that Ralph has a friend (Mr. Gride) who plans to marry Madeline (the woman Nicholas is in love with) and give the deed her father promised him to Ralph. Madeline's father is in prison for not repaying is debt; the deed is worth 12,000 pounds and will replace what he borrowed from Ralph. The end of the book is the greatest part of all; you learn very important things about Ralph and his life before money. The theme of how money can ruin a person is really displayed in the last few chapters.
Overall this book had its highs and lows. I am very glad that I read it because it is so mind blowing, you really get involved in this world that Dickens creates for his characters. There are so many different aspect of this book that almost anyone can find something that they enjoy about it. The best part is that you can see what everything is leading up to but there is still an element of surprise until the end.
Rating:
Summary: A Young Man's Adventures in Victorian England
Review: One of the most glorious books by Dickens, this is the story of Nicholas Nickleby and his struggles to find his rightful place in the helter-skelter of early Victorian England. Scenes of brilliantly theatrical melodrama and broad, attractive comedy jockey for position in this engaging novel, showing Dickens at his best : as both a social crusader and a sharp-eyed commentator on the foibles of the world he lived in. A marvelous, rewarding book
Rating:
Summary: Ralph: The Rich Uncle you always dreamed of: A Nightmare!!
Review: The hero of this book has been described as a 'clean cut' Tom Jones. Nicholas does have quite the peripatic journey and most importantly-the prerequisite Victorian happy ending is firmly in place: a triple wedding!
Two scenes stand out: When the young Nicholas's father dies, the family goes to their rich uncle Ralph for assistance. Spying an ad in the paper for a teaching assistant at a boarding school, Uncle Ralph sets Nicholas up with the headmaster, saying while Nicholas doesn't have a 'master's degree' he is 'flexible.' Does Nicholas ever need that flexibility. This is one of those notorious boarding school. The other big scene that stood out for me happens when 'Uncle' begins to get his 'just desserts.' This scrooge of a man has put the screws to the family of Madeline Bray and to 'ease the burden' he has placed on them, he proposes to marry Madeline...Guess who's Nicholas' love-interest? Oh yeah! Nicholas manages to persuade the dutiful Madeline that he's her man and he wrests her away from Uncle's clutches. Well, the characterization is exquisitely Dickensian and there are numerous ways to enjoy this story, in paper and plastic.
Rating:
Summary: Ralph: The Rich Uncle you always dreamed of: A Nightmare!!
Review: The hero of this book has been described as a `clean cut' Tom Jones. Nicholas does have quite the peripatic journey and most importantly-the prerequisite Victorian happy ending is firmly in place: a triple wedding!
Two scenes stand out: When the young Nicholas's father dies, the family goes to their rich uncle Ralph for assistance. Spying an ad in the paper for a teaching assistant at a boarding school, Uncle Ralph sets Nicholas up with the headmaster, saying while Nicholas doesn't have a `master's degree' he is `flexible.' Does Nicholas ever need that flexibility. This is one of those notorious boarding school. The other big scene that stood out for me happens when `Uncle' begins to get his `just desserts.' This scrooge of a man has put the screws to the family of Madeline Bray and to 'ease the burden' he has placed on them, he proposes to marry Madeline...Guess who's Nicholas' love-interest? Oh yeah! Nicholas manages to persuade the dutiful Madeline that he's her man and he wrests her away from Uncle's clutches. Well, the characterization is exquisitely Dickensian and there are numerous ways to enjoy this story, in paper and plastic.
Rating:
Summary: Well narrated classic
Review: The narrator does an admirable job of bringing this classic to life. The story is one of Dickens top 4 or 5. The characterization is amazing. To have created such distinct and complex characters and to draw such wonderful life lessons seem quite beyond modern authors. An adventure, a romp. I laughed, I cried. The foot-stomping, no holds-barred, thrill ride of the summer!
Rating:
Summary: Not Dickens' Best, But An Intriguing Study
Review: This is not exactly "Oliver Twist," "A Christmas Carol," or "David Copperfield." But remember, no matter how good any author is, not every single thing they write can be a masterpiece, and there are things that make this 3rd novel of Dickens an intriguing study. Strong drama and cynical humour is present. The villainous Squeers foreshadows fascinating villains like Carker and Murderstone. Ralph is a complex character. He is devious, but Dickens does not let us forget that he is human. Mrs Nickleby is overly emotional and naive, but she is heroic in her own way. Vincent Crummles and his group allow us to see Dickens' interest in theatre and performing (which he would eventually do some work in). Nicholas is a well drawn protagonist. He is steadfast and admirable, but at times we may feel his actions are severe and uncalled for. Kate is not Dickens' best character, but she certainly foreshadows later heroines like Florence Dombey, Louisa Gradgrind, and Lizzie Hexham. Noggs is fine as a good samaritan. Fanny and Matilda give us an interesting chapter of girly talk, and Fanny (Squeers' daughter) allows us to see the fury of a scorned woman. Even in this 3rd novel, Dickens shows his ability to create superb images, irony, and surprise events. The pace does get sluggish at times, but other than that, this creation gives little scope for complaint. So while "Nicholas Nickleby" is not a masterpiece, it certainly helps us to see the greatness that was to come.
Rating:
Summary: funny book
Review: this is the sixth dickens' novel i've read and is the funniest yet. it is classic early dickens, a picaresque tale that is really more a string of incidents than an integrated, economical novel. still, it positively overflows with dickens' youthful energy and high spirits. forget about its limitations and just enjoy the humor. i especially loved the mrs nickleby character. supposedly, she is modeled after dickens' own mother! yikes!
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