Our Dickens Champions in Portsmouth have been reading David Copperfield. Here’s what the Alderman Lacey reading group thought of it:
Our group was divided by David Copperfield_. Some found it impossible to put down and really enjoyed the feeling of wanting to read on at the end of every chapter. However, others found it very wordy and heavy with very small print.
We felt that most of the characters in the book were vividly brought to life. Uriah Heep especially is a fantastically described character who makes the reader want to wash their hands after each meeting with him. Aunt Trotwood is a great character; full of life and enthusiasm. However, the rest of the women in the novel, from David’s mother to his wife, who even describes herself as a ’_child-bride‘, are pathetic and feeble characters. Even Agnes is passive.
It was interesting to follow David’s life from early childhood to established adulthood. The novel is apparently highly autobiographical which gives some realism to the otherwise fantastical scenes and characters such as the Micawbers and prison. Despite being extremely long, we felt the novel was a positive view of life; that love and goodness will be triumphant in the end.
Get involved
Read what Dickens Champions Dickens Reading Group "thought ":http://readinggroups.org/news/dickens-champions-getting-our-teeth-into-david-copperfield.htmlof David Copperfield.
Watch out for our Dickens Champions’ blog posts as they read and review their way through Dickens during 2012.
Reading Dickens in your reading group or book club? Get in touch or post a comment to let us know how you’re getting on.
