Oliver Twist (Signet Classics) (original 1838; edition 1961)

A classic, amazing, what else can you say. ( )

The master has done it for me once again. I can't imagine an English reader in the 19th century not feeling downright shameful and disgusted at the existing social conditions, upon finishing this read. The events evoke such a feeling of horror and injustice that at times you can't help but feel like the impetuous Doctor Losberne, who left unchecked would be dealing out vigilante justice in spades.
If I could wring the Bumbles' necks from my couch, I think I just might. Little Dick's innocent plea to leave a message for Oliver before his death is so powerful and moving, I was fighting off tears. As monstrous as Fagin and Sikes are made out to be throughout, their final demise tears at you, and almost has you begging for mercy...almost. Masterfully done! ( )

It's hard not to like Dickens. He creates these eccentric supporting characters that are quirky, bizarre and totally lovable. But unlike so many of his masterpieces, Oliver Twist lacks a complex hero or main character. The book begins with Oliver's birth in a poor work house. His mother dies in child birth and his father is unknown. Oliver grows up under horrible conditions forced to work and is poorly fed - and yes, that famous line that we all remember from the Broadway musical and movie, 'Please, sir, I want some more' is a line from the book! After some failed apprenticeships, Oliver escapes to London and is taken in by a group of children pick pockets, trained by Fagin. As the book progresses, Oliver gains many allies among both his band of thieves as well as some wealthy families, who coincidentally are related to Oliver's unfortunate mother. What I found lacking in this Dickens' novel is that Oliver, although a sweet and innocent child, doesn't really grow and develop the heroic personality of some of Dickens other main characters - David Copperfield, Pip from Great Expectations, or my favorite, Esther from Bleak House. Definitely Oliver Twist is still a book worth reading, but I didn't find it as strong as some of his other works.

I listened to the audio version performed by John Lee who has a deep soothing British voice. His skill at accents from the cockney dregs of London to the upper class was very well done. ( )

Lo leí de niña y me mortificaba bastante su historia. Con todo lo que le pasó al principio. Tendría que volverlo a leer, porque ya no me acuerdo de la redacción. Pero creo que me gustó bastante. ( )

I received this book from the Junior Deluxe Editions Book Club at about age 7, but wasn't able or willing to read it till I was 10 or 11. It's a while since I've read it, and having seen Oliver! a couple of times since, it's always a little hard to recall that first reading. The scenes where Oliver is a professional mourner for a funeral home always stuck in my mind. I should read it again some day. I should note that I do have the fancy Franklin Library edition too, but the Junior Deluxe is one I can't bear to part with unless someday a grandchild will want it. ( )