David Copperfield

Pff, who am I to judge a 172-years book, that's close to 900 pages, written by a revered author? There are plenty of great reviews on Goodreads about David Copperfield — both favorable and not so much. (Some fall into the mistake of ignoring the almost 2 centuries that have passed.)

I wanted only to point out 2 things: Dickens does indeed “ramble” and over-extend the narrative with tangents that contribute nothing to the story; and the book is remarkable by most standards, whether I found it sublime or not.

If I were to remove one thing from the book, it wouldn't be Uriah or the rambling or what most reviews complain about. I would very much appreciate Dickens getting rid of the poor-people's English that e.g. Mr. Pegotty speaks. Oh, and Dora.

I don't agree with some who claim the characters to be rather flat. Well, except for the Murdstones and Dora. Good lord, do I find Dora detestable...

Regardless, it's a long, grinding read, but one with plenty of pay-off: the colossal quality of the writing, the sense that you're going through the lives of people you care for, the occasional humor, and (obviously) an ending that rewards your expectations about the main characters in the story.

SpoilerOh, and Dora dies eventually, leaving David to finally grap the love staring him right in the face, so there's that to look forward to.