Great Expectations

Great Expectations resonated with me in unexpected ways. Dickens' exploration of longing, identity, and the search for belonging felt deeply personal. Pip’s journey, marked by ambition and self-discovery, mirrors the struggles many of us face in finding our place in the world, especially when we feel out of step with societal norms. The vivid characters and their complex relationships evoke universal truths about love, rejection, and resilience. Dickens captures the yearning for connection and the tension between who we are and who we aspire to be. Great Expectations is a timeless reminder that our worth lies not in external measures but in the authenticity and care we bring to ourselves and others.

Although very well written this classic was nothing but hard to get through. I found that the characters had great potential to be fun and exciting reads but sadly were the exact opposite. It also seemed like the story never wanted to pick up and stay that way, things went from interesting, to dull, to interesting, to dull and then dull again. I can understand the moral of the story, and I get what the author is trying to do, but quite frankly I had to force myself to get through this book, and it took me a very long time. I do not recommend this book, if you want to read a great classic grab yourself Les Miserables. Now THAT is a great book.

I'd forgotten how good this novel is, in the 20 or so years since I last read it. Bear in mind that this is a English Victorian serial novel - distinctly episodic, covering a considerable period of the main character's life, and full of lengthy descriptive passages; think of it as a sort of TV mini-series from the world before non-print media - but it's still very readable, even for a modern audience. It's nicely paced and well plotted, and some of the characters & scenes will stay with you for life.