I just picked up this literary classic, and my presumption of it was totally wrong. Never explicitly told exactly what the book is about, i thought it was this intellectually challenging, psycho analytical novel, so imagine my surprise when i started reading. The narrator's name is PIP and is the main protaganist who finds his true self (becomes 'oncommon' as Uncle Joe puts it) as the novel progresses. Dickens style is very detailed, and Bryce courtney, i find, writes in a similar intricate way, albeit modernised. (i like courtney's books very much so i'm hoping as things speed up, i'll similarly enjoy this). however, as much as i like dickens humour and articulate writing, the plot, as far as i have read, is a tad monotonous and heralds nothing eyegrabbing and exciting.
I presume the story is set in the 18th/19th century, and the customs of adullts towards children is utterly abborent! Children are not to be heard or seen, and social etiquette is a must. ( our youthful generation would have been detested, jailed and most probably put to death for rebellion, in pip's day).
I'm only up to chapter 10, and nothing much has happened, except a tiny incident with 2 convicts, and Pip's going to a stale woman's house to 'play.' The book reminds me very much of the detested and tedious 'emma' by Jane Austen, ( yes i did do that for hsc!) where trivial occurences such as the ball and frank churchill's arrival, are blown totally out of proportion, and where, throughout the course of the novel, the characters remain in highbury and nothing very exciting happens. I'll continue reading Great Expectations only becaause it is a classic. Maybe there is a turn of events, and something fascinating will appear very soon, which will make me understand why this novel is heralded as one of the century's greats.
I presume the story is set in the 18th/19th century, and the customs of adullts towards children is utterly abborent! Children are not to be heard or seen, and social etiquette is a must. ( our youthful generation would have been detested, jailed and most probably put to death for rebellion, in pip's day).
I'm only up to chapter 10, and nothing much has happened, except a tiny incident with 2 convicts, and Pip's going to a stale woman's house to 'play.' The book reminds me very much of the detested and tedious 'emma' by Jane Austen, ( yes i did do that for hsc!) where trivial occurences such as the ball and frank churchill's arrival, are blown totally out of proportion, and where, throughout the course of the novel, the characters remain in highbury and nothing very exciting happens. I'll continue reading Great Expectations only becaause it is a classic. Maybe there is a turn of events, and something fascinating will appear very soon, which will make me understand why this novel is heralded as one of the century's greats.
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read it first in year 5 (abridged version), again in year 7 (can't remember if it was abridged or not) and once again in yera 9 (unabridged). Movie is decent too.