Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens
|
|
| published
|
2003
by Toby Press
|
| first published
| 1837 |
| binding
| Hardcover |
| isbn
|
1592640079
(isbn13: 9781592640072)
|
| ebook |
|
| pages
| 511 |
| date added
|
12-23-06
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
groups with this book
Dickens! Mwah!
29 members
last activity: 08/05/2008 03:50AM
location: Philadelphia, PA
Wishbone
9 members
last activity: 9 days ago, 05:06PM
LBC
5 members
last activity: 10/23/2007 12:46PM
location: Roswell, GA
ERSA
4 members
last activity: 17 days ago, 03:18PM
location: Magna, UT
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
other reviews
(showing 1-20 of 8174)
I have in my 37 years of life avoided reading Charles Dickens. My reason: after having suffered through trying to read the so-called English literature of his era--think Thomas Harding, Emile Bronte and Mary Shelly--I figured Dickens would be no better. For some reason I can’t now recollect, I decided to give Dickens a try. I chose Oliver Twist. And was immediately hooked. Far from the boring narrative one finds the works of the other English writers I've already mentioned, Dickens has a...more
I have in my 37 years of life avoided reading Charles Dickens. My reason: after having suffered through trying to read the so-called English literature of his era--think Thomas Harding, Emile Bronte and Mary Shelly--I figured Dickens would be no better. For some reason I can’t now recollect, I decided to give Dickens a try. I chose Oliver Twist. And was immediately hooked. Far from the boring narrative one finds the works of the other English writers I've already mentioned, Dickens has a very personable, simple, attractive writing style.
As its title suggests, the book itself is about Oliver Twist. He's an orphan who, constantly abused, finally runs away and goes to London for there he figures he'll never be found. During his trip to that city, he meets a youth of perhaps thirteen years who calls himself the Artful Dodger. He's a pick pocket, and he brings poor Oliver into a den of thieves, one headed by a fence named Fagin. Here is a character of very bad reputation. Alas, he also demonstrates Dickens’ obvious anti-Semitism. Fagin represents a caricature of all “bad” Jews. Despite this flaw, Dickens nonetheless makes him a compelling villain. His other primary rogue, Bill Sikes the housebreaker, is even more dangerous and more terrifying.
Poor Oliver is soon used as a decoy while the Artful Dodger and his fellow pickpocket, Charley Bates, steal from a gentleman looking at books at a bookstand. Oliver is caught, taken to the magistrate, then befriended by the very man who thought Oliver had picked his pocket: Mr. Brownlow. From here Oliver’s adventures for the most part recall the terrible things that happen to the poor boy: he’s kidnapped, compelled to be a house breaker, and has a variety of other problems. Along the way he learns that not all the adults in the world are as compassionless as those who ran the Parish orphanage from whence he came.
This book is more than a compelling tale: it is biting social commentary, attacking the terrible conditions that the English masses had to endure in the first half of the 19th century; it is especially critical of the unfair Poor Law. England at that time was in essence what the free market advocates want in America to be today: they want no government interference in business nor the government to manage anyone’s lives’ let the market to take care of it! Thus an orphanage isn’t a place where you keep children until they can be adopted or come of age, it’s a place where you work the them to turn a profit. Oddly, this tale rings very true to our society today, but even if you have no interest whatsoever in society in general and politics and economics in particular, it’s nonetheless a wonderful tale well worth reading....less
bookshelves:
classic
Reading this novel was a delight. Perhaps, it was so wonderfully moving because of some personal dilemmas occurring in my life at the time. My good friend, Christina deJong had just passed away from a horribly debilitating disease, cancer, and I was having problems grieving. And then I read this moving passage:
'but this should give us comfort in our sorrow; for Heaven is just; and such things teach
impressively, that there is a brighter world than this; and that the passage to it is speed...more
Reading this novel was a delight. Perhaps, it was so wonderfully moving because of some personal dilemmas occurring in my life at the time. My good friend, Christina deJong had just passed away from a horribly debilitating disease, cancer, and I was having problems grieving. And then I read this moving passage:
'but this should give us comfort in our sorrow; for Heaven is just; and such things teach
impressively, that there is a brighter world than this; and that the passage to it is speedy.
God's will be done! I love her; and He knows how well!'
Reminding me that Christina was in a better place was extremely comforting, and made this book even more unforgettable.
Indeed, I am a hopeless romantic. I read one particular chapter over a dozen times. In fact, I have the text of this chapter on Kurzweil that I have the ability to hear any time I wish:
'I only wish you had
left here, that you might have turned to high and noble pursuits
again; to pursuits well worthy of you.'
'There is no pursuit more worthy of me: more worthy of the
highest nature that exists: than the struggle to win such a
heart as yours,' said the young man, taking her hand.
This scene would make a perfect movie. Wonderfully romantic. Great book! :-)
click here to read Oliver! movie review
©N. Kent Last Updated: July 20, 2007 Email Nicole Kent
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Reading this novel was a delight. Perhaps, it was so wonderfully moving because of some personal dilemmas occurring in my life as the time I was reading this. My good friend, Christina deJong had just passed away from a horribly debilitating disease, cancer, and I was having problems grieving. And then I read this moving passage:
'but this should give us comfort in our sorrow; for Heaven Finn just; and such things teach us, impressively, that there is a brighter world than this; and that the passage to it is speedy.
God's will be done! I love her; and He know how well!'
Reminding me that Christina was in a better place was extremely comforting, and made this book even the more unforgettable.
Indeed, I am a hopeless romantic. I have read one particular chapter over a dozen times. In fact, I have the text of this chapter on Kurzweil that I have the ability to hear any time I wish:
'I only wish you had
left here, that you might have turned to high and noble pursuits
again; to pursuits well worthy of you.'
'There is no pursuit more worthy of me: more worthy of the
highest nature that exists: than the struggle to win such a
heart as yours,' said the young man, taking her hand.
This scene would make a perfect movie. Wonderfully romantic. Great book! :-)
...less
bookshelves:
angleterre,
litterature,
victorien,
xixe
Read in November, 2007
Plus je lis Dickens et plus je l’aime. Je ne pensais pas aimer Oliver Twist autant que les autres car c’est une histoire que je connais par cœur sans l’avoir jamais lue. Et en outre, je ne pensais pas pouvoir m’intéresser à un enfant pendant 600 pages. Mais les diverses adaptations que j’ai vues, même réussies ne sont pas encore à la hauteur du roman. Oliver Twist m’a passionné de bout en bout. C’est pourtant une histoire terrible. Le pauvre Oliver y est très malmené et su...more
Plus je lis Dickens et plus je l’aime. Je ne pensais pas aimer Oliver Twist autant que les autres car c’est une histoire que je connais par cœur sans l’avoir jamais lue. Et en outre, je ne pensais pas pouvoir m’intéresser à un enfant pendant 600 pages. Mais les diverses adaptations que j’ai vues, même réussies ne sont pas encore à la hauteur du roman. Oliver Twist m’a passionné de bout en bout. C’est pourtant une histoire terrible. Le pauvre Oliver y est très malmené et surtout, les pires sévices sont racontés avec une sorte de désinvolture volontaire de la part de Dickens, autoproclamé son « biographe », qui souligne encore l’horreur de la chose. En effet, Dickens joue les « philosophes » comme il les appelle lui-même en parlant des partisans des organisations charitables, créées par des institutions incapables d’endiguer la misère et la criminalité qui en découle et qui n’a pour seule réponse que la cruauté envers les plus miséreux et les plus fragiles, les enfants.
Les personnages sont toujours aussi savoureux. Mr Bumble, le gérant de l’hospice, est particulièrement odieux. C’est un délice de le voir expliquer comment se débarrasser d’un pauvre et faire la cour à une femme en comptant les petites cueilleres.
En fait, j’ai même trouvé que les personnages des truands sont de loin les plus intéressants, comme Fagin, ses jeunes acolytes, Dodger et Charlie Bates, la brute Sikes et la prostituée Nancy, alors que les « gentils » sont presque fades. D’ailleurs, une grande partie du roman leur est consacrée car Oliver disparaît pendant un bon moment du roman et l’intrigue repose alors sur le trio Fagin-Sikes-Nancy. C’est la partie que j’ai le plus aimée, avec le début.
La description des quartiers pauvres de Londres au milieu du XIXème siècle est passionnante. Et comme toujours chez Dickens, le roman est parsemé de petits passages délicieux comme celui où on peut voir le caractère visionnaire d’un personnage qui affirme que la photographie, ça ne marchera jamais car c’est trop honnête alors que le portrait permet d’améliorer la réalité....less
Social Darwinism in action!
Oliver is born poor in the workhouse, and orphaned at birth.
Rasied in digusting conditions - in a home for babies where they are all neglected, then to the workhouse, and farmed out as an apprentice after the infamous 'Can I have some more?' incident.
Scarpers off to London, falls in with a bad crowd - the charismatic Artful Dodger, and Fagin, who is more commonly refered to by Dickens as simply 'The Jew'. Has various adventures, throughout which he is repeate...more
Social Darwinism in action!
Oliver is born poor in the workhouse, and orphaned at birth.
Rasied in digusting conditions - in a home for babies where they are all neglected, then to the workhouse, and farmed out as an apprentice after the infamous 'Can I have some more?' incident.
Scarpers off to London, falls in with a bad crowd - the charismatic Artful Dodger, and Fagin, who is more commonly refered to by Dickens as simply 'The Jew'. Has various adventures, throughout which he is repeatedly saved by well-meaning middle-class people.
From Dicken's account of Oliver's story, you'd get the impression that the middle classes in Victorian London were constantly taking bedraggled urchins into their nice drawing roomed houses and nursing them bad to health.
Anyway, throughout all his troubles and turmoils, Oliver stays resolutely opposed to any kind of theft or general naughtiness on the part of people like Fagin's boys.
You'd think, having been brought up in an abysmal workhouse, bullied and beaten all his life, he would have been smarting with a sense of inequality and set out to jolly well nick those elite fat bloke's hankies. I know I would!
But no. As we learn in the end, he is from good, well behaved middle class stock, and in Dicken's world it's nature, not nuture, that stops you being a crim.
He is horrified by anything sinful, and ends up in a nice house, which his ill-bred contemporaries fall into the trap of - gosh horror - pinching stuff off posh people and end up hanging / deported to Australia / etc...
But, with the benign view of the Victorian paternalist, we pity these poor common folk. They cannot help that they lack Oliver's innate goodness (and blondness). This book was key in setting about workhouse reform. It is Dickens' argument for more humane treatment of the poor, and I suppose you can't knock it for what it acheived. ...less
Read in February, 2008
The old man, who was stooping over the fire toasting a piece of bread, looked round as he bantered Oliver thus, and chuckled, as if to show that he knew he would still be very glad to get away if he could.
‘I suppose,’ said the Jew, fixing his eyes on Oliver, ‘you want to know what you’re going to Bill’s for – eh, my dear?’
Oliver coloured, involuntarily, to find that the old thief had been reading his thoughts; but boldly said, Yes, he did want to know.
‘Why, do you think?...more
The old man, who was stooping over the fire toasting a piece of bread, looked round as he bantered Oliver thus, and chuckled, as if to show that he knew he would still be very glad to get away if he could.
‘I suppose,’ said the Jew, fixing his eyes on Oliver, ‘you want to know what you’re going to Bill’s for – eh, my dear?’
Oliver coloured, involuntarily, to find that the old thief had been reading his thoughts; but boldly said, Yes, he did want to know.
‘Why, do you think?’ inquired Fagin, parring the question.
‘Indeed I don’t know, sir,’ replied Oliver.
‘Bah!’ said the Jew, turning away with a disappointed countenance from a close perusal of the boy’s face. ‘Wait till Bill tells you, then.’
There seems to be a planted idea residing in Oliver’s mind. Placed, by a labyrinth, in cause to understand something forthwith. The life of Oliver Twist has so many facets and can really be before to relate too, to bringing up a boy, of an orphanage, into the real world, which has taken on such a stylistic form which non-adheres that Oliver’s to look up and all about, from in towards himself. He is but constantly pressed gainfully into supercilious situations beyond his physically controls, and that which constantly led of paramour affection to sway for a controversial relationship bearing of Oliver.
He has fallen in the supposed clutches of harden life’s ridiculous criminals, and this here then begins to hearten back time and time again to a certain Oliver Twist’s distinguished sleuth slaying. He is above all only a mere child, and a vexed one at that. This setting of the story matters, much to a select audience, who to too few can at first appreciate the gargle of this language that must insure to increase the offering from such plots that substantiate the story. All supposed figurativeness of its time....less
I like Dickens; I've got to admit that at the outset. And Oliver's a pretty likeable kid, even if he lays the big eyes on a bit heavy at times. But there were times during this novel that I found myself wondering what the point of it was.
I like Dickens humor, that sneaks up on you in the midst of such thick description of the place and psychology of his characters, that you're often not expecting it. I also love the way the narrator intervenes to poke fun at characters and those around them. A...more
I like Dickens; I've got to admit that at the outset. And Oliver's a pretty likeable kid, even if he lays the big eyes on a bit heavy at times. But there were times during this novel that I found myself wondering what the point of it was.
I like Dickens humor, that sneaks up on you in the midst of such thick description of the place and psychology of his characters, that you're often not expecting it. I also love the way the narrator intervenes to poke fun at characters and those around them. And he does turn a nice phrase.
But I found myself about three quarters of the way through the book wondering what the point of it was. Most Dickens ends up as social commentary, and although there are the portraits of poverty and squalor that are characteristic of Dickens portrayal of the city (one of the things I like about him), this one felt shallow. The story began to strike me as melodramatic, the sort you find in those bad movies where there's not enough dialogue or action between plot points to give you an idea of why a character did a certain thing. You get that the character is angry, but you don't know why. Here too, there seemed to be gaps like that - not big ones, but places where I wondered why some of the characters did the things they did, like why Nancy gave herself away by being so anxious to make her first meeting with Mr. Brownlow, or why Monks was such an ass to Oliver, who he didn't know and could have stayed far away from without worry of interference (I mean, after all, in the end he goes to the new world to spend what's left of his fortune - why didn't he do that earlier and avoid any possibility of Oliver's true parentage being discovered and coming back to haunt him?) Small things, but they really made me feel let down. Perhaps I'll just stick with later Dickens from now on....less
Resume
Oliver Twist is a classical book. It was written by the famous Charles Dickens. The book is about a poor orphan boy who faces many adventures.
Main Character
Oliver Twist- The whole book is a about him. The book starts with a women who has a baby and dies. An orphanage takes away the baby, and names him Oliver Twist. When Oliver goes many things happen to him, they try to sell him because he ask for more the famous quote "please may I have more? " Oliver one day runs...more
Resume
Oliver Twist is a classical book. It was written by the famous Charles Dickens. The book is about a poor orphan boy who faces many adventures.
Main Character
Oliver Twist- The whole book is a about him. The book starts with a women who has a baby and dies. An orphanage takes away the baby, and names him Oliver Twist. When Oliver goes many things happen to him, they try to sell him because he ask for more the famous quote "please may I have more? " Oliver one day runs away to London where he meets Roger (the awful Roger) and a whole group of thieves that help him and bring him back to health, but they also teach him to seal (Roger and his group steal from rich, but shock they steal it to other rich and they become rich.) So one day they tell Oliver to steal an old mans book and the old man ends up adopting him where he lives a luxurious lifestyle on till his friends steal the old man and he nearly dies... The classical and unmistakeable writing style of Charles Dickens always sappy and to make you what to cry and help the main character (in this case Oliver Twist.)
My Opinion on the writer
My opinion on the writer is that he was a good writer, but he is to antiqueish and way too sad and drama and sometimes just a plain sob story. Just read his other book, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield Bleak House Our Mutual Friend, Dombey and Son, Martin Chuzzlewit and The Life of Our Lord: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849 there all sobby and sad.
My Opinion on the book
I had the chance to read the older version of the book, which I am story to say that I didn't like it, nothing the style, the story the content even the characters, there may be may many Charles Dickens wanna bees in the world well I don't wanna be part of it....less
Read in November, 2007
Having seen the stage musical and two movie versions, I have wanted for a long time to read the original. It was interesting to see how much was changed from the book. Fagin is a much more loathsome creature in the book--more treacherous, more cunning, more quick to anger, and not the jolly old naughty elf that he is in the musical version. Nancy is also more of a wretch, and not the kindly, big sister figure to Fagin's gang as she is portrayed in the film; making her decision to act on Olive...more
Having seen the stage musical and two movie versions, I have wanted for a long time to read the original. It was interesting to see how much was changed from the book. Fagin is a much more loathsome creature in the book--more treacherous, more cunning, more quick to anger, and not the jolly old naughty elf that he is in the musical version. Nancy is also more of a wretch, and not the kindly, big sister figure to Fagin's gang as she is portrayed in the film; making her decision to act on Oliver's behalf seem more daring, as it was in fact out of character. I also enjoyed the fact that the story is more complex than depicted in the musical. In Monks, there is a more sinister threat to Oliver than merely Fagin and Sikes fears of discovery. And Oliver has many more friends, and more family, by the end than Mr. Brownlow alone.
Some of my favorite parts of the book are the satircal passages, especially those involving Mr. Bumble and the parochial administration, where Dickens exposes, with many humorous turns of phrases, all the hypocricy and degradation of the systems of so-called social welfare, criminal justice, etc.
I read this aloud to my 10 and 11 year old daughters. They had recently seen their cousins and uncle in a stage production of the musical, and so were keen to have me read it to them. They were able to follow it pretty well, although the language in many places is quite difficult to follow. They enjoyed the richer detail and more intricate plot, as well....less
bookshelves:
literature
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in August, 2007
So I've finished it, but it was kind of a struggle. There are parts of the story that made me not want to go on (and surprisingly this was often because I didn't want any more bad things to happen to Oliver. Now I know why 'Dick' is in Dickens).
Several things jumped out at me while reading. The first was the elitist Victorian view of society where the poor are pitied but in the end it is really their fault. Though Dickens does poke fun at this a bit, and he does point out how the middle...more
So I've finished it, but it was kind of a struggle. There are parts of the story that made me not want to go on (and surprisingly this was often because I didn't want any more bad things to happen to Oliver. Now I know why 'Dick' is in Dickens).
Several things jumped out at me while reading. The first was the elitist Victorian view of society where the poor are pitied but in the end it is really their fault. Though Dickens does poke fun at this a bit, and he does point out how the middle class often exploits the poor (Mrs. Bumble for example). But thethe only reason Oliver is even interesting or has a chance at succeeding is because of his hidden upperclass roots! There is the underlying feeling that rich people are better.
Another thing that jumped out at me, was that the ending was awful. The book had to end with Oliver coming into his inheritance but it seemed really forced. Why would Monks cave like that? Isn't he supposed to live to destroy Oliver?
And what are with the super evil people (Monks, The Jew)? I guess they are supposed to be characatures but they just seem flat and annoying. Sikes and Nancy were both not very nice people but they were at least human.
Anyway, you can read it or not. If not you could read the wiki article and pretend to be in the know. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_T...
_____
I hope this book is more like Great Expectations and less like Tale of Two Cities. Wish me luck (stupid $2 books from BN)....less
bookshelves:
currently-reading
I watched the main characteristic in this novel who is Oliver twist. He was born in workhouse and he lost his mom when he was very young. Therefore, he raised in the work house until 9 years old. Like this young age, oliver wanted have food that he want to eat. It was natural phenomenon to young child, but oliver twist was regarded as trouble maker in the workhouse. He went out Mrs Sowerberry's house, but he made trouble with her son, so he went to London. In the London he met Artful Dodge...more
I watched the main characteristic in this novel who is Oliver twist. He was born in workhouse and he lost his mom when he was very young. Therefore, he raised in the work house until 9 years old. Like this young age, oliver wanted have food that he want to eat. It was natural phenomenon to young child, but oliver twist was regarded as trouble maker in the workhouse. He went out Mrs Sowerberry's house, but he made trouble with her son, so he went to London. In the London he met Artful Dodger, Fagin, and Bill who are thieves. With them, he robbed a gentlemen's house, and he was arrested because he regarded Mr. brownlow's wallet, but it was not true. On the other hand, he got Mr brownlow's care. It was very warm to Oliver Twist.
As I read this novel, I though that Oliver twist was very poor guy dislike other child. That age's children impose their mother when they want to eat food. However, Oliver twist had to work to live and he had to follow his desteny because of absence of his mother. He had to follow robberies, although he didn't want. The child need mother's care, but he didn't get any love from other people. However, Mr Brownlow gave him love that Oliver Twister had never gotten before. From this story, I thought about person who gave me warm love, although I didn't give any love to them. As I have lived in this world, people think how many interest they could get from other people. They don't want to get lost their own possession. However, parents gave me real love as they don't reback love from me. In conclusion, from this novel, I have though about how deep my parents' love to me, and I decided to say that I love them....less
bookshelves:
novel
Read in January, 1986
Everyone knows this story and there's a reason for it.
My generic comment about Charles Dickens:
First of all, although I am a partisan of Dickens' writing and have read and relished most his works, I concede to three flaws in his oeuvre that are not insignificant. First, while he seemed to develop an almost endless variety of male social types, his female characters are much less well developed. Second, although he portrayed the stark brutality of economic and class inequality with unparall...more
Everyone knows this story and there's a reason for it.
My generic comment about Charles Dickens:
First of all, although I am a partisan of Dickens' writing and have read and relished most his works, I concede to three flaws in his oeuvre that are not insignificant. First, while he seemed to develop an almost endless variety of male social types, his female characters are much less well developed. Second, although he portrayed the stark brutality of economic and class inequality with unparalleled clarity, his diagnosis of what needs to be done is flaccidly liberal, suggesting that the wealthy should simply be nicer and more generous to the poor(yet his writings did propitiate structural changes, e.g. to the Poor Laws, in his lifetime). Third, in tying up the loose threads of his extremely complex plots, he often pushes this reader past the boundary of the reasonable suspension of disbelief. Some readers also object to his sentimentalism or to his grotesque characters but I find these extremes create a dynamism in combination with his social criticism.
These caveats aside, I deeply enjoy reading Dickens for a number of reasons. He exhibits stratospheric gifts of imagination in portraying extremes of human character in extreme situations. His idiosyncratic characters each have an unmistakable and unforgettable voice. His highly crafted language is endlessly inventive and evocative. Finally, he created a parade of some of the funniest, evilest, and most pathetic characters one will ever encounter and although extreme, they also ring true to equivalent characters from any time. ...less
Read in October, 2007
As one of Dickens' most well-known books, Oliver Twist does not disappoint. The plot line is extremely interesting, and I enjoyed reading such an original story written with such eloquent diction. Dickens' language is one of the best parts of the book. The story of Oliver Twist, an orphan boy who falls into many wrong hands before finally finding a good home, is not only well written, but intriguing. The characters are extremely well developed, and often comical. Oliver's life contains ma...more
As one of Dickens' most well-known books, Oliver Twist does not disappoint. The plot line is extremely interesting, and I enjoyed reading such an original story written with such eloquent diction. Dickens' language is one of the best parts of the book. The story of Oliver Twist, an orphan boy who falls into many wrong hands before finally finding a good home, is not only well written, but intriguing. The characters are extremely well developed, and often comical. Oliver's life contains many twists, twists that make the reading entertaining. Though many may see some of the events as relatively cliche, Dickens was one of the first to write the events. He himself "invented" the cliches that inspired thousands of writers after him. The book deserves to be a classic. It is an original tale, expertly crafted, and intelligently compounded. I not only enjoyed the story, but felt that I learned something. Dickens is one of the few writers that can write stories that are not only entertaining, but good. Good in the sense that they are original, insightful, and eye-opening. The plot of Oliver Twist relies on the strength of the characters. Their interactions within the environment of 19th century England build a story that shows us the many natures of human kind, and as always, how good prevails over evil. It is a very enjoyable read, from which the reader will gain a great deal. This classic is one which is truly worth the time it takes to read it....less
Read in March, 2008
I bought this book when i was in middle school and i never read it until a few weeks ago. when i saw this book on my bookshelf, i finally picked it up and started to read. i have to say it was pretty boring in the beginning. i was almost going to put in back onto the shelf, but i did't. As a read on, the story became more interesting. oliver twist, a orphan since a baby was starved and beaten by his caretakers. when he grew older, he was sold to a coffin maker, his life didnt get any better, so ...more
I bought this book when i was in middle school and i never read it until a few weeks ago. when i saw this book on my bookshelf, i finally picked it up and started to read. i have to say it was pretty boring in the beginning. i was almost going to put in back onto the shelf, but i did't. As a read on, the story became more interesting. oliver twist, a orphan since a baby was starved and beaten by his caretakers. when he grew older, he was sold to a coffin maker, his life didnt get any better, so he escaped. in this chaotic situation, he made friends with thieves, liars, murders and many people that lived in the dark side of the world. just when i thought his life wasnt going to get any better, oliver was saved by a old and wealthy man that greatly cared for him. it seemed like oliver was finally going to live the life a normal kid like him should have lived, when the robbers stole him back. in all this confusion, a woman and her aunt took him in. they protected him from the robbers and finally joined force with the old man and figure out why the robbers wanted oliver.
this book was boring in the beginning, but towards the middle, it was definitely worth reading. i highly recommend this book. ...less
I love this book with all my heart. There’s something about Dickens’ writing that’s so effortless, I feel like I’m truly getting a glimpse of London in the late 1800s. Although it’s a little frustrating to come across words I don’t know and simply can’t know at the same time it’s refreshing. It’s not like writers today who are so concerned with making their works timeless they often omit phrases and words that at a later date might not be remembered. But Dickens isn’t ...more
I love this book with all my heart. There’s something about Dickens’ writing that’s so effortless, I feel like I’m truly getting a glimpse of London in the late 1800s. Although it’s a little frustrating to come across words I don’t know and simply can’t know at the same time it’s refreshing. It’s not like writers today who are so concerned with making their works timeless they often omit phrases and words that at a later date might not be remembered. But Dickens isn’t concerned with that… he’s not concerned with writing a story that’ll last forever… he’s concerned with the now…with the present… and in writing stories that can be used as foundations for the changes he wishes to see in London… and I think that’s why his stories are timeless, especially Oliver Twist… he didn’t try to make it that way, he just wrote what he knew… and the result is a story that taught me so much about this time period, and a story that’s rich with characters that are full-dimensional and memorable, from Oliver Twist to the Dodger to Sikes to Nancy....less
While a bit entertaining, the book feels much longer than necessary. Though there aren't any descriptions of the flowers and trees and buildings but there are a long series of events which seem to take a long time which are equally boring.
Most of the characters in Oliver Twist are one dimensional i.e they are either pure good or pure evil. There are those individual storylines that lead to nowhere.I did not care much for Oliver, either. There is too much melodrama and the sentimental scenes ar...more
While a bit entertaining, the book feels much longer than necessary. Though there aren't any descriptions of the flowers and trees and buildings but there are a long series of events which seem to take a long time which are equally boring.
Most of the characters in Oliver Twist are one dimensional i.e they are either pure good or pure evil. There are those individual storylines that lead to nowhere.I did not care much for Oliver, either. There is too much melodrama and the sentimental scenes are atrocious.
Coming to the ending- Though I appreciate a happy ending just like anyone else, but the ending in Oliver Twist came together slowly and with little interest.It is very contrived. And the fact that I knew the plot before reading the book also did not help. I should say I was a bit disappointed with this book.
I only completed the book because I felt that Charles Dickens is a brilliant satirist. If i have to recommend this book to anyone then I will recommend the abridged version to children. 500 pages is too long for a tale what could have been told in 250-300 pages....less
bookshelves:
_romans
Read in January, 2006
Tout d’abord je déconseille à quiconque souhaite découvrir Charles Dickens de lire la récente traduction abrégée parue chez Hachette Jeunesse, à l’occasion de la sortie du film de Polanski. Il ne s’agit que d’un résumé ignorant totalement le style de l’écrivain, destiné à un public très jeune. Si vous préférez par contre apprécier le mieux possible le style d’origine, l’édition du texte intégral en LivreDePoche est très satisfaisante (même si on ne comprend pas ...more
Tout d’abord je déconseille à quiconque souhaite découvrir Charles Dickens de lire la récente traduction abrégée parue chez Hachette Jeunesse, à l’occasion de la sortie du film de Polanski. Il ne s’agit que d’un résumé ignorant totalement le style de l’écrivain, destiné à un public très jeune. Si vous préférez par contre apprécier le mieux possible le style d’origine, l’édition du texte intégral en LivreDePoche est très satisfaisante (même si on ne comprend pas trop en quoi il est utile de traduire Oliver par Olivier lolll)
L’histoire est classique, poignante, les coïncidences qui vont déterminer le destin d’Oliver sont énormes, à la limite du risible, mais on pardonne facilement à Dickens tant il excelle dans l’art de nous dépeindre l’Angleterre du XIXème siècle, sa misère, sa société, avec une ironie très souvent désopilante. La caricature n’en est pas moins noire et sordide, même si, à mon sens, elle n’égale pas la noirceur des œuvres de Zola. Un classique à lire avec délectation....less
bookshelves:
reviewed
Read in January, 1994
recommended to Keani by:
my lecturer
recommends it for:
anyone caring about children
I watched the movie when I was about 10 years old then read the novel at about 19. A long way to realize that Charles Dickens' imagination is much livelier and more touching than what I had enjoyed from the movie.
It is about the phenomenon of child labor!!!
Oliver's life so much resembled with rough and winding road before finally reached the destination. Starting by being got rid of from a poor workhouse, Oliver opened his journey to London. That little young orphan had to deal with the ...more
I watched the movie when I was about 10 years old then read the novel at about 19. A long way to realize that Charles Dickens' imagination is much livelier and more touching than what I had enjoyed from the movie.
It is about the phenomenon of child labor!!!
Oliver's life so much resembled with rough and winding road before finally reached the destination. Starting by being got rid of from a poor workhouse, Oliver opened his journey to London. That little young orphan had to deal with the tough life in understanding the core of happiness of having parents -- not having wealth for sure. The "reality" that finally he owned a rich dad is another separate blessing.
My other favorite characters in this novel other than Olive himself are Mr. Brownlow, the wealthy gentleman later adopting him and Artful Dodger, his mentor in pocket-picking.
I wonder what kind of man Oliver Twist would have been in his future. I have always wished that Dickens had provided a secret script. Hm...
Hope it enlightens :-)...less
bookshelves:
2007,
classic-british
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
I don't know how my review got for "Christmas Carol" got posted on "Oliver". Must have been the computer fairies at work. At this point I'm re-reading "Oliver", my main impression so far is that the workhouse scenes are pretty overdone. They were dreadful enough; so don't screw up your point by making ridiculous charges against them: the facts are capable of making your point. Still have a long way to go, though, so I'm certainly not rating it yet.
Well, now I've f...more
I don't know how my review got for "Christmas Carol" got posted on "Oliver". Must have been the computer fairies at work. At this point I'm re-reading "Oliver", my main impression so far is that the workhouse scenes are pretty overdone. They were dreadful enough; so don't screw up your point by making ridiculous charges against them: the facts are capable of making your point. Still have a long way to go, though, so I'm certainly not rating it yet.
Well, now I've finished it. On the whole, it was sort of a disppointment. I remember being infuriated, frightened, and very amused when I read this as...oh...maybe a 10-year-old. Now, maybe not so much. The characters are one-dimensional, with the possible exception of Nancy and the Beadle, Mr. Bumble; the plot is way over the top with coincidence; the humor is weaker than some of his other works. The scenes at the end, with Sikes on the run and with Fagin in his cell, are well done, I think. This isn't my favorite Dickens and probably not one I'll read again. ...less
This was a great book! I've tried reading Charles Dickens when I was younger and found it a difficult read. This time, it was a masterpiece. Dickens wrote long descriptive passages so the imagination can really fly away and paint a great picture. You really do feel sorry for poor Oliver, as everything under the sun gets thrown at him. As bad as the other characters were, I could not help but pity them for what they had become. This just made Oliver even more amazing that he refused to turn out t...more
This was a great book! I've tried reading Charles Dickens when I was younger and found it a difficult read. This time, it was a masterpiece. Dickens wrote long descriptive passages so the imagination can really fly away and paint a great picture. You really do feel sorry for poor Oliver, as everything under the sun gets thrown at him. As bad as the other characters were, I could not help but pity them for what they had become. This just made Oliver even more amazing that he refused to turn out that way, as hard as it may be to believe.
I read this book while living in London so it was exciting to recognize some of the places I visited. It felt more real to me, to see in my mind's eye the characters wandering through the same streets as I had. Perhaps it made me appreciate more fully how rich with history the city was. I had moved there from a house no more than 10 years old in a suburb that did not exist 15 years ago. This book made me feel more connected....less
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
children and adults
Another great Dickens book. Why haven't I read more of him before?! The tale of "Oliver Twist" has an almost fairytale understory. The characters come alive, and they each symbolize so much.. dickens tells this vulgar stry with out one curse word, though we understand som charecters to be cursing, and we know Nancy is a prostitue with out him ever directly saying it. I wish books used a little more imagery now , as they did then, it takes a better writer.
I was kind of hoping Nanc...more
Another great Dickens book. Why haven't I read more of him before?! The tale of "Oliver Twist" has an almost fairytale understory. The characters come alive, and they each symbolize so much.. dickens tells this vulgar stry with out one curse word, though we understand som charecters to be cursing, and we know Nancy is a prostitue with out him ever directly saying it. I wish books used a little more imagery now , as they did then, it takes a better writer.
I was kind of hoping Nancy would take the good advice of Rose, and was shocked almost to tears to read her fate. This book had a happier ending (which I didn't expect after reading "great expectations") but he seemed to have been rushed, because it left some things out ( like what happened to the papers that the jew told Oliver about hidden in thesecond to last chapter), they were never mentioned again. It all kind of just ended
Happily every after". Well for the good people of London at least.......less
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating
(all editions):
3.65 (8174 ratings)
avg rating
(this edition): 3.36
(56 ratings)
number of reviews: 414
other editions
[close]
Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics)
isbn: 0141439742
[close]
Oliver Twist (Barnes & Noble Classics)
isbn: 1593080301
