Rating: Summary: Astonishing Classic; Irrefutably Powerful Novel Review: It has boggled my mind how some people can straight-facedly claim, with incorrect spelling and in poor grammar no less, that 'David Copperfield' was either boring, stupid, or both. I am a young man (not yet in my twenties) and I found 'Copperfield' to be the most emotionally powerful book I have ever read, if not necessarily the best written. 'Copperfield' marks a bold step forward in Dickens' writing, both in terms of diction (though his syntax never changes throughout his career) and its use thereof in advancing and establishing multiple moods during the course of the book. From the grim severity of Murdstone's dominance over David's mother, to the unexpected charity and kindness of David's Aunt, to the shadowy, damp, foreboding deaths of several main characters throughout the course of the book, the tone of the writing conveys, powerfully and with undeniable precision, the appropriate mood and instills the reader with exactly the emotion that should be felt. Even the marriages and losses of minor characters shrouds the reader in exactly the right blanket of rejoicing or of sorrow. There is more symbolism both unabashedly apparent and subtly bestowed here than in any of Dickens' previous novels. There is a reason why this book is considered a classic - the dialogue is crisp and believable, the characters not so much caricatures as they had been in novels past, but more plausible and defined (the despicable Uriah Heep being perhaps the sole exception). The impact apparent in the betrayal, death, and ultimate good fortune so prominent in the book is not lost on the reader, as it would be in the hands of lesser writers. The lone points in the novel where I found my mind to wander were during Mr. Micawber's lengthy expositions, in which he is supposed to be comically exaggerated but instead comes off as something of a blowhard, simply an over-enthusiastic debtor with a knack for paperwork. Otherwise, this book is one of undeniable and irrepressible strength and fervor, from David's fated escape from the factory to Agnes' memorable proclamation; the whole novel works in remarkable symphony to create something better than just a book. It becomes an experience. For those who cannot quite grasp the genius and subtleties of Dickens's work, who complain because it is a little lengthy or a little old-fashioned, I feel sorry. They will never know how much bigger 'David Copperfield' - both the novel and the character - is than them.
Rating: Summary: the 'lone lorn creature Review: Phew! This took awhile to read, but fortuantely, I had anticipated that. I gave it 4 stars because that is how I felt about it when I finished it. Knowing that it is a Charles Dickens novel and touted as an all time great, I feel like I should have given it 5 stars. However, I'm sticking with my gut feeling.David Copperfield is a character that I will never forget. How could I? I lived with him for almost 3 months! I will also remember the many other characters, as Dickens ability to bring them to life is his forte. Perhaps the reason why I couldn't give it a fifth star is the reason why people gave it negative reviews. There may have been times when a little too much description was given which made it drag slightly. It may well be that due to the fact that he wrote in installments and got paid by the page, that the overall novel is sort of overdone. Some parts were a bit hard to trudge through, which meant I wasn't always compelled to read it. I loved the overall story, the many subplots, and the various personalities. One of my favorite characters is his Aunt Betsy. For anyone who thinks the female characters were all the same, I wonder if they skipped the scenes with the Aunt...or Martha for that matter. I hope that when and if I have fulfilled my insatiable hunger for the pile of books I haven't read, I can read this again and gain a better understanding of it. I am sure I missed a lot. I wouldn't have appreciated this book when I was in high school, or probably even college. I think it would take a rare young person to have the patience to stick with it, with all the other crazy things that happen at that time of life. I'm glad that I was able to wait until a point in my life where I was ready to read this book and it wasn't shoved down my throat by some professor.
Rating: Summary: Ignore the ignorant Review: Regarding the ignoramuses who claim David Copperfield is the "wost" book "i" have ever read, consider the source. They are likely venting some teenage angst after having to read something for which they are apparently not ready. For you kids still on the nipple and not ready yet for meat, stick to A Christmas Carol, either the abridged version or an animated one on TV, which is a medium you are likely more than familiar. Also for you teachers who encourage your students to leave reviews: don't dirty the water. Keep the grumbling in your own classroom.
Rating: Summary: extremely enjoyable even with flaws Review: The first half of the novel is by turns charming and enlivening. David's challenges make it difficult for a man not to identify with his youthful trials. The bridges between acts - written with the reminiscence of an old man - are enough to make a man of 25 look back wistfully at his youth. Add the zany, lovable characters and this becomes my favorite Dickens - so why just four stars? Some modern readers might find introduction a tad slow; forewarned, however, they should overcome it, as it is fairly interesting. More seriously, the major subplot (Little Em'ly, Steerforth, and Ham) is resolved too melodramatically in the latter half, which seems out of place with the more natural style of the rest of the novel. This flaw keeps it from being a top-shelf classic, but is in no way destructive to the novel. It is extremely enjoyable.
Rating: Summary: HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Review: This is the wost book ever written in the history of the world. Reading it is like being stuck in a dark room with me for a week. You should never get this book and if you do chop it up burn it through the ashes in a ravine and nuke the ENTIRE VACINITY!!!
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