My Great Expectations

After a far too long hiatus from action (although not from thought about such an action) I am going to start writing again about the books that I read, particularly those viewed as the classics. Since my last post many moons ago, I've thought considerably about writing every week, but haven't found myself up to the task. In reflecting on this while reading Great Expectations, I realized that my expectations for what I wanted to post were so high that the fear of not achieving that greatness overwhelmed my love of writing about the books I've enjoyed. But now, using a sword of self acceptance for whatever I write, I have vanquished that fear demon and here we are...

Having read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens in under a week, I'm sure that there are numerous facets of it which I wasn't able to fully appreciate; but as I digest what I consider a very lavish meal for my literary mind, I will share what lasting nourishment that I take with me. (My use of a single sentence spanning three lines and warranting its own paragraph is in itself a tribute to the writing style of Dickens, who does that frequently)

It should be noted that I had initially avoided Dickens since he is often referenced as one of the great literary writers, and I didn't think it possible that he could live up to the hype, or at least that I wouldn't enjoy his writing. I was wrong on both counts.

Great Expectations should be read for the love of the language and the writing style, not just for the plot. While Dickens does create an incredible story with what might be one of the best plot twists I've ever read, the progression of events throughout the book doesn't happen quickly. Dickens paints his protagonist's situation with slow strokes over a broad area which isn't really engaging until the situation comes into focus, which it does remarkably fast in the crucial scene of the book.

A well read friend of mine only made it halfway through this book, and I gathered this was because she didn't feel invested in the future of the protagonist. I can certainly understand how that could happen, but unbeknownst to her, if she had continued just a little further and actually reached the crucial scene, she would have been captivated by his plight (at least I was).

I shall likely pen (well, actually type) a few more posts on Great Expectations, but shall end this one here to meet my own expectation of just finishing one.