The story is about “Pip” who was a young orphan, raised by his aunt and her husband. His uncle is raising him to be a blacksmith but Pip is a boy of “great expectations” who, upon meeting the beautiful and wealthy Estella, and her guardian Miss Havisham, he thirsts for his own wealth. For Pip, the grass is always greener somewhere else. He mysteriously stumbles into a fortune of an unknown size and still finds no happiness in his station, as he loves Estella who refuses to love him in return. The story continues and gains intensity as Pip unexpectedly runs into an old acquaintance who surprises him and once again the course of his life is changed.
My biggest disappointment was the ending—not so much because of what happened, but because the final third (or so) of the book was so intense and compelling and I felt like it came to a screeching halt and the end felt abbreviated. Everything was resolved and the story concluded, but it just felt incomplete to me. The edition I read also contained the original ending; which I read with hopes that it would be more definitive, but it was even less appealing to me. Am I the only one who thought "huh? that's it?" at the end?
Favorite Quotes:
"We Britons had at that time particularly settled that it was treasonable to doubt our having and our being the best of everything: otherwise, while I was scared by the immensity of London, I think I might have had some faint doubts whether it was not rather ugly, crooked, narrow and dirty." (pg 162)
"As to forming any plan for the future, I could as soon have formed an elephant." (pg 325)
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." (pg 429)
If this were a movie, I'd rate it: PG-13
Overall Grade: A- (I think that’s fairly accurate, but I may be biased based on the fact that I had such low expectations going into the book.)
Would I recommend this book to my friends: Yes.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE FRIENDS WE FEEL THE SAME WAY!!!!!!! I loved the story so much more than any other Dickens--Christmas Carol is really good. I was let down at the ending too. I wanted Pip to find love to move past Estella to find his true heart. I have reconciled myself to not all love stories end with love and Pips love for his friends and family fulfill him. Still I want him to be in love. Also Ms. Havisham is so crazy I would always kind of laugh when she was around.
ReplyDeleteYea!! I wish I would have saved this one for last--now I'm reading A Tale of Two Cities. It is okay so far, but not as good as this was.
ReplyDeleteI wanted Pip to marry Biddy. Then after that fell through, I wanted Pip to find peace with his life but there wasn't really time for that and I guess that's probably why I thought the end was so disappointing. Oh well.
Ms. Havisham was funny...in a sick sad kind of way. The part where she tells her relatives where she wants them to sit after she dies when they're eating her...gross.
Oh, also, there's a SouthPark episode where they tell the story of Pip's background (the character on the show) and it is a parody on this book. It is actually a pretty accurate description of the first half of the book, but then it kind of tanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is Matt.
ReplyDeleteYour current read is a very exciting and cool sort of docu-fiction.
I liked Great Expectations as did both of you. My favorite character was Pip's friend Herbert...I think that was his name. I thoroughly enjoyed their adventures, particularly the drunken adventures after which they discussed their finances. The lawyer's clerk with the moat and cannon was also a cool character.
I look forward to your review of Tale of Two Cities...I've read it several times and will enjoy discussing it.