Oliver Twist question

Yes!

My favorite Dickens' book is Our Mutual Friend, but his others are well worth reading. I don't know which book would be the easiest to start with, they each demand something of the reader.

But you also might try watching a Masterpiece Theater adaptation of one of Dickens' works, they are quality productions, and while they cannot replace reading a book, they may inspire you to read one.

Oh my gosh. PLEASE read Dickens. Please. You have to read just one book of his once in your life. He's a classic writer up there with Shakespeare, the way his writing is so descriptive and plummets you right in the scene with the rest of the characters while at the same time being just concise enough to not give you a headache from the amount of words. You can tell when you read a story how much effort the author put into writing the story and how much of the details were considered with the plot, and with Dickens, you never have to give him a second thought: his imagination was simply incomprehensible. I recommend A Tale of Two Cities or Oliver Twist if you want to start out small, but any Dickens novel will do. If you read him, all other authors will make much more sense, believe me.

Of course not to read
He is expected, lame, and not worth the time.
Better read a serious classic or a contemporary work of art

Go for one of the most famous novels, try it. Started with Oliver Twist four or five years ago and never looked back.

Personally I think Dickens' novels for the most part are some of the easiest to get into and relate to from a modern standpoint - far easier than say Eliot.

I would definitely recommend Oliver Twist, but I think Great Expectations is better by far. And I really didn't like David Copperfield. I thought the characters were stale and boring, and the book just seemed to stretch on and on. I actually didn't like Dickens the first time I read him, but I went back and gave him another shot, and I'm really glad I did.

There's an 'interesting' image that will take a long time to fade!

Interesting information about the Bronte sisters, Steven.

Yes, yes read Dickens. I read A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield as a girl but in paperpack and refined. I recently revisited Dickens reading Great Expectations. It was a bit slow in the beginning but when you hit a few pages in, you will be thrilled. I want to read more of his novels and reread the two I read (I can't remember much about them)

Try listening to one of Dickens novels. Most libraries now offer audio books. I have both read and listened to most of Dickens many times and enjoy both methods.

Samantha wrote: "I love classic novels but can be very picky about authors. For example, I'm a big fan of H G Wells, but hate Jane Austen. Should I read Dickens?? I already have one good friend who's an English Lit..."

Oliver Twist is actually my favorite from Dickens. English is my second language, so some parts I had to read over, but I really enjoyed this one. Give it a shot and see if you like it.

Samantha wrote: "I love classic novels but can be very picky about authors. For example, I'm a big fan of H G Wells, but hate Jane Austen. Should I read Dickens?? I already have one good friend who's an English Lit..."

Dickens was a literary genius who wrote prolifically of his times. GREAT EXPECTATIONS, OLIVER TWIST and DAVID COPPERFIELD are must reads, in that order, if you have an interest in English literature and its influence on American literature. Upper class Americans read these novels until Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne broke in with American literature.

I'd break it up though. Otherwise you'll get brain fuzz from all the florid language.

BBC has outstanding DVDs of BLEAK HOUSE and A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

I read Dickens obsessively for about 2 months then got to Bleak House and couldn't get through the first page. no idea why. So I say, read what you want to read. use the internet, read first pages, only read what you can't help but read. And read Dickens :)

Yes! Try Little Dorrit or Our Mutal friend, he was a real master at juggling a lot of protagonists and interweaving plots.

I enjoy the imagery and involvement of the setting in his works, especially in a Tale of Two Cities. The language takes extra effort for people who aren't accustomed to the romantic writing style, but it is definitely worthwhile. He and I also have the same birthday, which makes me interested in him.

Samantha wrote: "I love classic novels but can be very picky about authors. For example, I'm a big fan of H G Wells, but hate Jane Austen. Should I read Dickens?? I already have one good friend who's an English Lit..."

Well, you should lose a friend and gain a favourite writer.

I like Dickens. Wheels within wheels.

I don't love him and I don't hate him. Oliver Twist in my opinion is a decent starter book. I currently have A tale of two cities sitting on my nightstand.

I think it's like with any author, everyone's opinion is different. I know people who think I'm nuts for adoring Faulkner and Twain. *shrug*

I throroughly enjoyed Oliver Twist, but found Copperfield dull and A Tale of Two Cities laborious...but that's just my opinion.
I encourage you to give Dickens a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I love Dickens, but found Oliver Twist quite boring, so I wouldn't recommend it as your first one. Try A Christmas Carol or Great Expectations first - they're both much easier to read and don't feel as 'heavy', so if you don't get on with those you'll know Dickens is probably not for you :)

I love Dickens but I would recommend starting with something else. Great Expectations or David Copperfield. Pickwick Papers is good if your looking for his marvelous sense of humor.

Some people love Dickens. Others (moi) hate him. No way to know which camp you fall into till you try.

Give it a try. If you hate it you can always stop.