Great Expectations

I was recommended this book by a friend. I think the reason why it's considered a classic is that a fair bit of thought seems to have gone into it and perhaps because it's written by a famous author. I don't really like the prose, I don't like the story, and the characters are largely caricatures and unrelatable. It does, however, provide lots of entertainment, particularly if you're interested in the period and don't mind the obsolete language, but all in all it falls short of my expectations.

good book.looong but interesting for those who understand the characters well. Yes sort of a trajedy... but I still love the book. RECOMMENDED!

A ramble of Social complexities experienced by the protagonist Pip...
Nothing fascinating here for adventure, thriller or mystery lovers among whom I'm one. Didn't like it at all.

I had read this book in high school and didn't like it. Reading it again now as an adult I found it much more enjoyable.

A turn of phrase, a dash of drollery, the ironies and odd insights and of course the eccentric usages of period writing, to say nothing of the foibles of the cast--this is much of what I find so delightful in this novel.

If, however, you prefer your fiction with machine-guns blazing and firebombs bursting, gift or regift this book to a more discerning reader and go have yourself a nice sit-down with some modern-day action-film hero.

Horrid. Like the previous review said, it is just a lesson you are taught at a very early age in this modern culture. I could not bare to read this book. I suffered through thinking it would become better. It did not. I can tell why mostly everyone loves it so much and that is because of how everything and everyone gets tied back into the story in the end. Overall it was an awful strung out story that is learned at a fairly young age. 400+ pages to tell you money doesn't buy happiness is excessive. Dickens failed.

"Awful" does not even begin to describe the atrocity of this pathetically revered novel. "Dreadful" is getting there, but the only word I've ever come across that comes close to encompassing the book's many shortcomings is "ABOMINABLE". In all caps, yes.

Boring and uneventful, this steaming pile of excrement teaches no lesson that a ten-year-old with a decent upbringing could teach you; money does not a happy man make. Why Dickens needed 399 pages of fictitious drivel to articulate this message is beyond me. Terribly sorry, everyone, but this book is NOT deep. There is no extraordinary philospohical meaning to it. Noting we haven't all heard before.

However, the way this novel is worshipped among literary communities is almost as lamentable as the novel's complete lack of substance. Just by reading this site's reviews you can see that readers honestly believe that liking this book puts them in some sort of authority position, but I am under the belief it simply means they are easily amused, and perhaps are not nearly as selective as they should be. Truthfully, I believe that something is seriously wrong with someone if they are actually captivated with this uninteresting "classic".

Charles Dickens was a great author - on of the finest last century has produced. It needs a lot of thinking and empathy to understand his books. This book is an example of his thoughts of life of ordinary people. Those below who hurled expletives on him are ignorant people lacking finesse. there is a saying 'Donkeys know not the fragrane of a rose'

A pretty hard book at first , but once you find what is going on it is a really good book to read.

Dickens has written this book and done it in such a way it is transferable to any generation what happens in the plot.

Great work charles

CHARLES DICKENS IS MY FAVT WRITER!
HE WAS PERSON OF GREAT SOUL