Book Review

     Pip as a young boy living with Joe and Mrs. Joe

           featured in the background of this illustration

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens takes place in the early 1900’s in England. The main iconic character of this story if Phillip Pirrip. Throughout the story Phillip is referred to as Pip, because that is how he pronounced his name as a young child and it stuck. While reading this book, you grow up with Pip and go through his times of happiness and his times of sorrow. This book is considered a classic, but don’t be fooled because classic does not necessarily mean that the book is intriguing.

I have no regrets reading this book I am pleased that I was able to participate in reading a classic story such as this one. On the other hand as a result to Dickens “serial”, or series of inserts that all add up to one full story, style of writing many insignificant scenes, or parts of the story are far too over explained and seem to drag on for much l onger than actually needed. For example, certain sections of the book that, narrow in on the various emotions Pip is going through drag on to a point where there is too much description and it begins to become repetitive and if I dare say boring. The areas in which the book is dragged on makes the book hard to get into and sit down and read. At times I felt as though I was reading to finish the book as opposed to reading it because I was thoroughly enjoying the content.

Another aspect of this story that I found to be a turn off was that some parts were never clarified. There is a distinctive difference between clarification and dragging on a story by overbearing the reader with details. A perfect example of this is that you discover that Miss. Havisham wants to have a young joyful boy visit and play at her house but you are never told why she wants this. In a case such as this one, you are left metaphorically stranded with your mind wondering in all different directions.

The book is worth taking a look at if you really want to, but don’t keep your hopes too high because you might end up being disappointed. If you aren’t extremely interested in reading this book definitely pass on it. Age wise I recommend no younger than freshmen should read this because it could possibly be to hare for younger people to comprehend.