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David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

Start date: October 1, 2019

Finish date: December 31, 2019

Why we're reading this: 4th Quarter 2019, Long Read

Previous Group Reads:
Revisit the Shelf Group Read, February 2014
Old School Cl…more
[close] 4th Quarter 2019, Long Read

Previous Group Reads:
Revisit the Shelf Group Read, February 2014
Old School Classic, June 2013

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Jul 05, 2021 Franky rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-reading-challenge, victorian, classics

Dickens reportedly referred to his novel David Copperfield as his “favorite child”, and one could see why as it is based on quite a bit of his life and has a personal touch to the story line. We can see the influences of Dickens life growing up, his attempts at finding love, his childhood and those who were close to him, and his later writing life.

As per usual, every time I pick up a Dickens novel it is like coming back to an old friend. David Copperfield, like many of his other works, has a ce Dickens reportedly referred to his novel David Copperfield as his “favorite child”, and one could see why as it is based on quite a bit of his life and has a personal touch to the story line. We can see the influences of Dickens life growing up, his attempts at finding love, his childhood and those who were close to him, and his later writing life.

As per usual, every time I pick up a Dickens novel it is like coming back to an old friend. David Copperfield, like many of his other works, has a certain level of enchantment, charm, and sentimentalism that will keep the reader engaged as they follow the story line. Dickens has a way of engaging the readers’ emotions as they see things and events play out, and he has a way of tying so many elements together—characters, subplots, conflicts, themes.

Here in David Copperfield the main focus is simply David’s attempts to make it and survive in a seemingly unforgiving and harsh world that presents quite a few setbacks, pitfalls, and obstacles. The reader follows David literally from his birth, to his childhood, to his adolescence, and on into adulthood. Along the way (as we shall soon see), David must deal and come to terms with a host of challenges: personal tragedies, poverty, trying to make ends meet, failed love, and other life failures. In many ways, Dickens’ classic novel is a coming-of-age tale, one where David is trying to figure out the world and overcoming all the inevitable challenges that come his way.

And, as usual in a Dickens’ novel, there are an array of interesting and eccentric, unique characters—some friends, some foes. Two of my favorites were David’s Aunt Betsey and David’s childhood friend, Traddles.

While I enjoyed the story and enjoyed the usual Dickensesque moments and staples provided here in this reading experience, there were a few periods of the novel and plot where things did drag and stall a tad, especially in portions of the middle section of the book. I think I attribute this to a few of the subplots carrying on a little too long. For that reason, I rank the likes of Bleak House and Little Dorrit a little higher than this one. Still, you cannot go wrong with Dickens, and the reader knows they are in for a rich, enlightening, sentimental reading experience.
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May 14, 2019 Sean rated it it was amazing

Five stars from me - Uriah Heep, one of my top ten all time favourite villains in literature.

"When I was quite a young boy,” he tells David Copperfield, “I got to know what umbleness did, and I took to it. I ate umble pie with an appetite. I stopped at the umble point of my learning, and says I, ‘Hard hard!’ When you offered to teach me Latin, I knew better. ‘People like to be above you,’ says father, ‘keep yourself down.’ I am very umble to the present moment, Master Copperfield, but I’ve got a ...more

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Oct 27, 2017 Austen to Zafón rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, read-to-or-with-my-son, uk, abandoned, classic, audio-book

I know I read this in high school. Or maybe I saw a movie version. In any case, I love Dickens so after the success of A Christmas Carol a few years ago, I thought I’d try an audio recording of it with my 13 year old. We were definitely enjoying the writing, but around the half way point, my son said he didn’t want to continue because it was too depressing and he guessed that it wasn’t going to get any better. I would normally finish up on my own, but actually, I probably won’t on this one. With ...more

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May 22, 2016 Debra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What makes a classic?

#1 Intricate characters you love to love or hate.
#2 Finely crafted dialogue.
#3 A heart-consuming story.
#4 A lense on the human heart.
#5 Refined and graceful prose.

I can't believe it took me so long to read this wonderful book. Dickens is delightful and still brilliant after all these years! ...more

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