3.5 Stars...Good, but Nowhere Near His Best

books:


	• Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics) Charles Dickens Penguin Classics, 2003 - 608 pages average customer review:based on 138 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Oliver Wishes For More

In this heartwarming classic, Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens, a great story is told, I rating it a four out of five stars for content and flow.

This book was a great telling of self trust and confidence. Emphasis on caring for others, and the crowds you hang out with helps pinpoint everyday life. Oliver Twist is a young orphan of which brings the story to a humble attitude. The four stars cannot explain how well narrated this story was. Characters such as mean old Mr. Bumble, the parish official, and Fagin, the trouble maker, allow the story to have a unique blend of traits. With this mix of personalities, the story flows smoothly, and allows the reader to connect certain aspects with the world around us. Oliver is treated to a very low standard, until caring others help save and nourish him to be a fine young boy. This helped boost my regards for the story itself, and compelled me to keep reading, as the mischief grew.

On top of that, this classic shows that even from the dumps, you can rise to be amazing. Twist's life is a horrid run, where as a child he is sold and bartered from factories to workshops. His determination kept my nose in the book, as he endured treacherous adventures, such as getting shot, and living with a pack of thieves. No matter what though he kept striving, till he ended up with a home, family, and inheritance. This book shows kindness such as that of Mr. Brownlow, taking Oliver in, teaching him the ways of life, and this trek definitely deserves its upper rating and the recommendation stars. This book did not catch me by its vocabulary, but rather the tale and story line itself, which in the end made you want to cheer. "Give me some ore, please" was Twist's words, but through the plot you will see that even after the loss of his mother, he strove, through the Undertakers life, a scoundrel's, and finally to a handsome young child.

If you have read this book and found it to your liking, I would recommend The Time Machine, By HG Wells, Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and other classics, preferably by Charles Dickens. To rap it up, I myself am a twelve year old North Carolina middle school student, in seventh grade. I enjoy being outdoors, reading, playing with building mechanisms, writing stories, and overall, life is great!

for more information click here

3.5 Stars...Good, but Nowhere Near His Best

I have read a number of Dickens books and can certainly call myself a big fan of his work. Considering the overwhelming popularity of "Oliver Twist," it's a bit surprising that it took a graduate class to present the first opportunity for my getting to read it. While the book is good, it is not without its problems. I found the character of Oliver to be a little flat and a whole lot of unbelievable. Furthermore, Dickens played around with a lot of themes dealing with knots and mazes which was mildly tiresome.
And while I got a couple of big belly laughs out of Bumble's character, I was really peeved with Nancy's outcome. For those who have not read it, I am being cryptic for a reason.
All in all it is a clever little book, though it is clear it is one of his first. However, when you compare this one to the likes of "David Copperfield" and "Dombey and Son," it leaves a bit to be desired.
For those who have never read Dickens and are afraid to pick up one of his many novels that are half a foot thick, start with "A Christmas Carol" or "Great Expectations"....and then give "Twist" a whirl.

for more information click here

A Classic

Dickens's famous novel about the orphan who says, 'Please, sir, I want some more'. An early work, Oliver Twist was published in monthly installments at a hectic period in his career, and was not carefully planned. Dickens intial concern is lampooning the New Poor Law of 1834 and the system of workhouses established to house the indigent; before long the story moves to London and deals with the timeless issue of good-versus-evil. One of his darkest novels, it shows London's criminal underworld and has many nasty characters. The resolution may not satisfy all readers, as it depends on several coincidences and contrivances.

Oliver Twist has some of Dickens's best characters: his most controversial creation ever, Fagin, the leader of a gang of young pickpockets; Mr Bumble, a pompous panjandrum; the evil Sikes; and the Artful Dodger.

Contains one of his most memorable scenes, which involves the thief Sikes and his girlfriend Nancy. In his last years Dickens gave public readings of 'Sikes and Nancy' against the advice of his doctor, friends, and family. He performed with such passion that they believed it caused his health to deteriorate and eventually hastened his death.

I recommend a quality paperback edition such as Penguin Classics or Oxford World Classics, as these include helpful explanatory notes.

for more information click here

A Compelling Story

"Oliver Twist" is an excellent, fascinating and compelling novel which I had the pleasure of reading. This book is exceptionally well narrated which distinguishes Dickens as one of the greatest English story writers. The issues he raised are timeless particularly societal issues pertaining to dealing with poverty, class differences, child labour, orphans and the disadvantaged in society. He highlights the need to care for others and not to be selfish. Dickens did a good job of enlightening the middle class in Britain of the hardships that the poor had to endure during his time.

Oliver Twist is a very young, innocent orphan who lost his mother at birth. He is thrust into the cruel and unforgiving world. I was moved by the numerous hardships and challenges that he had to endure at such a tender age, including being shot at. He was moved away from the workhouse when he innocently asks for some more food, taken to as an apprentice undertaker and after some trouble runs away only to get into a group of thieves and robbers.

Dickens paints a grim, dark and horrifying picture of life of the poor in Victorian England. The author produced some memorable characters like Fagin the miser and the gang of thieves that included The Artful Dodger, Mr Bumble at the workhouse, Nancy the kind hearted whore with motherly instincts, Mr Grimwig who is always threatening to eat his head and those of others, Sikes the murderer and others.

Thankfully the book has a happy ending for Oliver. However, Nancy touched my heart and I felt that she should not have met such a grisly demise. Some unfortunate anti-Semitic references taint an otherwise exceptional novel.

This is excellent reading for those who like a well written story with exciting twists and turns.

for more information click here

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

A Perfectionist's List of Favorite Things
Books that Inspired Disney Classics
American historical fiction
More Historical Fiction
Grade 8 Literature

search for books
oliver twist, classics, oliver, penguin, twist

Impressum / about us