Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

David Copperfield is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens. The novel's full title is The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account).

The novel features the character David Copperfield, and is written in the first person, as a description of his life until middle age, with his own adventures and the numerous friends and enemies he meets along his way. It is his journey of change and growth from infancy to maturity, as people enter and leave his life and he passes through the stages of his development. (882 pages)

This is the first Dickens novel I read, way back when! There are some truly memorable characters in this book, including Mr. Micawber and Uriah Heep.

I know we have a quarter to read this but not sure I can fit it in, unfortunately I really wish I could :(

I know what you mean, Lesle. There are so many good books to read, but only so much time, even now that I am retired. My to-read list never seems to get any shorter!

I'll be reading this but not right away. I have an ebook, an audiobook and a paperback so I can switch my format to help me get through this hefty.

If anyone wants to check into the comments on the group's previous read, they are here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It was almost a buddy read for Amy and me with guidance from Rosemarie and Lesle.

This is one of my favourites by Dickens as well as an all time favourite. There are many interesting characters, but Agnes Wakefield, David's dear friend and confidante is whom I loved the most.

Through Chapter 8 and it is wonderful. I cannot stand the verbal and psychological abuse of Clara by Mr. Murdstone and his sister.

Thanks for the link above, Brian. It's very informative and entertaining, although I had to stop at the Spoilers since I'm not at that point yet.

Ah I read this some years ago quite leisurely and it took 3 months, but I remembered enough so that when questions were asked at the pub quiz I had the answers! Of course Dickens was writing for money, and so he spends an inordinate amount of time going into his bookkeeping methods...like a word from 'our sponsor'...and now, back to our story.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones named one of his guitars (an early 1950s Fender Telecaster with a Gibson PAF humbucking pickup installed in the neck position) "Micawber." Richards is known to be a fan of Dickens. Of the unusual moniker attached to the instrument, Richards said, "There's no reason for my guitar being called Micawber, apart from the fact that it's such an unlikely name. There's no one around me called Micawber, so when I scream for Micawber everyone knows what I'm talking about."

https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/...

Jazzy wrote: "Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones named one of his guitars (an early 1950s Fender Telecaster with a Gibson PAF humbucking pickup installed in the neck position) "Micawber." Richards is known to ..."

Cool information, Jazzy. I just reached the part in David Copperfield where David is parting from the Micawber family.

One of my favourite quotes is from Mr. Micawber, perhaps you will find it!

SPOILERS, POSSIBLY
I've listened to the boook through Chapter 39, "Wickfield and Heep." Uriah Heep is creepy and the voice used to portray him is spot-on. "So very humble..."

My favorite character is Betsy Trotwood, David's aunt. She is so sensible and able to handle just about anything, including Mr. Dick, David, and Mrs. Crupp. Not to mention losing money and still surviving.

Dora, on the other hand, is so helpless and childlike. She can't face reality. I hope David doesn't marry her.

I finished David Copperfield a while back and loved it. It is just a wonderful story. I don't know how he does it. Everything just flows and the story seems perfect.

I put off reading Dickens for a long time. Now I want to read everything he wrote.

The same thing happened to me, Kathy. But then when my dad died, I got his collection of Dickens and started reading one book a year once I had more reading time. They're good. He didn't have them all, so I bought the books I was missing.

How wonderful to get your dad's Dickens collection, Rosemarie. I'll probably read one book a year also. So far I've read David Copperfield, Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol and the shorter books/stories A House to Let and The Cricket on the Hearth.

One of my favourites is Bleak House.