Great Expectations

Rating:
Summary: A pretty good book
Review: "Great Expectations" is one of the best classics ever written. Dickens' flare for writing is exquisite; wonderous; fantastic! He is looked on as a great author; rightfully so. Books such as "Great Expectations," "A Tale of Two Cities," "David Copperfield," and "A Christmas Carol" sets Dickens apart from the crowd.

Rating:
Summary: A pretty good book
Review: "Great Expectations" is one of the best classics ever written. Dickens' flare for writing is exquisite; wonderous; fantastic! He is looked on as a great author; rightfully so. Books such as "Great Expectations," "A Tale of Two Cities," "David Copperfield," and "A Christmas Carol" sets Dickens apart from the crowd.

Rating:
Summary: Just not for High School Students
Review: the course of the year I try to read a few, "Important Novels" in order to get a fuller understanding of literature. Dicken's "Great Expectations" has been on my list for nearly a year. I completely dreaded reading what I thought would be a long and drawn out story about something I could careless about. Well, I was wrong.
"Great Expectations" is now #1 on my all-time favorites list. While, admittedly, it took me roughly 150 pages to get any enjoyment out of the novel- once I was in- I was hooked. Pip's journey through life is a very refreshing look at how distorted we let our lives become by focusing on the unimportant. Dicken's ability to slowly alter Pip's views on life, without changing his essential character/morales (Ex. How Pip looks to help his friend in his business pursuits). Some have called "Great Expecations" his masterpiece... but in my opinion, it may be the "Masterpiece" of English Literature.

I also wonder why this is required High School reading. While I loved this book at age 28, I think most 16 year-olds would find it unbearable. It seems like such a waist to ruin both the book and Dicken's name on minds that are not ready for such a reading task.