Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

It is Charles Dicken's 200th birthday today.  I get a lump in my throat just thinking about the impact this man has had on my life and the lives of millions of others over the past two centuries.  No writer has done more (Shakespeare excepted, perhaps) to influence everything from the way our novels are written to how we celebrate Christmas.  And no book, aside from the Book of Mormon, thrills my whole soul like a good Dickens novel.  I remember summer library trips in my youth, where I would bee-line straight to the "D" aisle of our library.  There I would touch the spines of those beautiful old Dickens books, deciding which one to immerse myself in next.

Great Expectations was my initiation into the rich parlance of Charles Dickens.  I remember reading it just after Jane Eyre and liking it, although I'm sure I didn't understand half of it.  It has everything--mystery, humor, a dash of romance--but I believe the most important theme of the book is the impact our choices have on us.

I especially enjoyed reading it with Lydia.  She surprised me one day by looking through the bookshelves in my room (my room is my sanctum sanctorum--it houses my Victorian novels, Harry Potter, and all the Barnes & Noble Classics I've accumulated) and stating her intention to read a Dickens.  "Don't get too excited, Mom," she stipulated, "or I probably won't do it."  (I made that mistake with Anne of Green Gables, and I fear she'll never give those gems a try . . . *sigh*)  She raced ahead of me--she can read like the wind, and she comprehends everything.  I was overjoyed to hear her laugh out loud at Mr. Wopsle & Mr. Pumblechook--she got it!  She discovered Dickens's masterful humor!  I felt like she'd finally joined my personal Dickens Fan Club.  Here are her thoughts--if nothing else, she's honest!


I liked Great Expectations.  The ending was different from the way I expected, but it was good overall.  There were some pretty interesting characters.  Wemmick was one of my favorites because of his funny double-life.  It taught a good lesson about thinking about what you choose, because Pip made lots of decisions, but not all of them were good.  He was kind of hasty at making choices.


I think Charles Dickens is a great author.  Great Expectations wasn't my style, but I think that's because I am a younger girl.  The older you are, the closer you are to that time period, so I'd suggest it to older people.


Yes, thank you, Lydia.  And if you're an "older person," as I obviously am, and closer in years to the 1800's, the story of Great Expectations is probably familiar to you, with its themes of crime, broken promises, and ambition.  I have to agree with Lyd--Pip has never been my favorite character (he seems so weak!), but his choices made for some of the best discussions we have ever shared about books.  I mean, haven't we all let someone down?  Haven't we all wanted to be popular, neglecting loved ones and dear friends in the process?  I'm glad we now have this great classic to fall back on as Lyd nears the teenage years--I can refer to Pip for examples of what not to do.  And there are so many redeeming characters--Joe, Biddy, Herbert, Wemmick--who somehow help make Pip become the man he should be.  We treasure the Biddies and Joes in our lives, don't we?

Dickens is beloved to me for another reason--he offers mutual ground for Seth and I.  While Seth barely tolerates my Jane Austen "chick flick-ish" movies, he hasn't met a Dickens movie he didn't like--or at least one that didn't keep him intrigued.  He actually grew up on this version of Great Expectations, thanks to my wonderful Mother-in-Law, Elaine:

It's fantastic (although I always had issues with Estella seeming so much older than Pip), produced by Disney, and starring the great Anthony Hopkins as Magwitch.  Point of interest:  Miss Havisham is Jean Simmons, who plays Estella in the 1946 version.

I haven't been too interested in any other version, especially the risque 1998 version (Dickens must have rolled over in his grave)--however, the BBC has made a new one (2011) that looks very intriguing.  I love what Gillian Anderson, the new Miss Havisham, has to say about her role in the film, as well as the book itself:

"I can imagine that journey [reading Great Expectations] as a young kid, especially a young boy, must be unbelievably exciting.

"It was the journey pre-Harry Potter. Of course it was longer ago, but I can imagine young people having the same kind of magical response to Great Expectations that we did when Harry Potter books first started to come out.

"That's if it does get introduced at an early age, in school or through a parent or whatever and the child is able to crack the density of it." http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2011/12/great-expectations-gillian-anderson.shtml

I may shy away from the even newer version (2012) with Helena Bonham Carter, bless her creepy heart, as Miss Havisham.  We'll have to see.

Seth marvels that I can enjoy new versions of shows I have seen so many times before, but I'd like to think Dickens would be proud that his stories are so timeless.  So go ahead--celebrate his birthday with a wonderful book or movie, and I guarantee you'll thank me.

Book Review of Watership Down by Richard Adams

If we were to tell you that this book is about a bunch of rabbits trying to find a new home, would you be very interested?  Probably not.  Yes, it is about a bunch (or to be technically correct, a warren, nest, colony, bevy, bury, drove, or trace) of rabbits; however, it is much more than that.  Driven out of their home by humans, Hazel, Fiver, and several other rabbits embark on a journey to find a new warren.  It is not so much like Charlotte's Web as it is like The Lord of the Rings--it is very interesting and exciting.  The rabbits have such distinct personalities, and their adventures are quite realistic.  While the end does get a little bit slow for a minute, don't give up--it picks up, and it's worth your time.  Both Lydia and Jessica highly recommend it--probably best for those age 10 & up.

The Magic Thief Series by Sarah Prineas

          I absolutely loved this book!  It had plenty of mystery, fantasy, and adventure.  It's kind of like Harry Potter, in the way that it has magic and wizards--just no wands.  I liked the way the author described everything. It's one of my favorites.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Jessica:  Having grown up watching Disney's cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland and now watching it with my own children, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for these stories.  I loved reading them as a pre-teen.  However, after watching the new Disney version by Tim Burton (it was very . . . interesting, to say the least), I had to re-read them to make sure they weren't more bizarre than I recalled.  They may be a bit off-the-wall, but not so outlandish as the movie would lead you to believe; in fact, both books were quite comical and had me laughing out loud.

Carroll was a master at language and logic--he actually worked as a mathematics tutor at Oxford, and you can tell that he had a brilliant mind.  He uses word play frequently in his stories, which makes them all the more amusing.  Both books are very clever and entertaining and well-deserving of the title "classics."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has the stories of the Mad Hatter & March Hare and the Queen of Hearts.  Through the Looking-Glass deals more with the chess pieces--the white and red queens--and traveling from one "square" of a giant chessboard to another. It includes the characters of Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee and the talking flowers.

Alice with Tweedle-Dum & Tweedle-Dee before their battle

Lydia:  I loved the royal subjects and how they acted. For example, how the Red Queen is running with Alice and they get absolutely nowhere. Then there is the White Queen who starts crying because she will get hurt in the future. I loved these books in every way!

Alice talking with the White Queen

(I suppose I am biased, but I love Lydia's drawing style!  I made her sketch a couple of her favorite scenes so I could show her off a bit . . . :)

Clarice Bean, the Utterly Complete Collection by Lauren Child

Lydia:  I thought this was a good book. It was about a little girl who wanted to be a mystery solver like the girl in her book--until she solves a mystery of her own. I really liked it because it was written by the same person who wrote Charlie & Lola. I also like the pictures. There are lots of them.  I love the way she describes things.

Jessica:  Lydia talked me into reading these books, and it didn't take much effort, since our entire family is in love with Lauren Child's Charlie & Lola series.  They were so entertaining!


Clarice Bean is a pre-teen girl growing up in England who deals with some very normal problems--a mean teacher, a pesky younger brother, and homework she doesn't want to do.  The whole series reminded me of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, which I loved when I was little.  These are for a slightly more mature audience than those, strictly for comprehension reasons.  Any pre-teens would really enjoy them.  They are clean, clever, and perfectly darling!  I found myself wanting to talk like Clarice, who is the author of these "diaries."  Listen to how delightful she is--for example, in describing the neighborhood organic grocery store:


It's all about selling things that haven't been sprayed with chemically things.
I am not sure what that word organic exactly stands for really.  Who does know?  They should call it "with bugs" or something so people know what they are in for.  You might find a caterpillar in your broccoli but that's the point.
Mom says, "There's nothing wrong with eating a caterpillar."
I say, "There is if you are vegetarian."


On the irritating boy who sits behind her in class:
And I can hear Robert Granger breathing.  That's what he does.  He sits behind me and breathes.  It drives me utterly crazy.
And I turn around and go, "Stop breathing, will you!"

And he says, "Clarice Bean, of course I cannot stop breathing because then I would be dead and how would you like that?"
I decide not to answer his question because Mom has taught me if you can't think of anything nice to say, then sometimes it is better to say nothing at all.  You see, I am trying really hard to keep it zipped in class.


Describing tofu:
. . . .[It] looks a bit like a very palish cheese but tastes of nothing.


The diary-like feel ("epistolary" form--am I not so smart?) keeps you reading just a bit more to see what Clarice will talk about next.  I don't know what to call it, but I love that she uses different font sizes and styles to emphasize words (reminds me of my wonderful sis-in-law, Chelsea, who does the same on her blog).  It's such a cute way of writing! 


Utterly Me, Clarice Bean is cute as can be, Clarice Bean Spells Trouble was my very favorite and had the best story line--very laughable throughout, and Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now was still great, although it dealt with more serious issues of divorce and moving, etc.  They are such quick reads--I think I read each one in a day.  I wish there were more of them!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Lydia:  This is a great book. The fascinating thing is that the pages are black! First, it starts out with pictures. It had a lot of adventure and a little bit of mystery.  I loved it!

Jessica:  I was surprised to find this very fat book in the Caldecott Award section of our library.  I pulled it out and thumbed through it, and sure enough, the pictures are quite amazing!

It's a very unique book--half of the story is told via pictures, much like an old black and white movie (very fitting, once you discover what the story is about!).  I don't want to ruin any of it for you, so I won't expose the plot.  It was very interesting and very appropriate for younger readers.

I was also delighted to discover that there is a movie based on the book that will be released this year, starring such greats as Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee--Lydia and I are definitely going! :)  Here's a link to the book's website as well:  http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

  This is supposed to be a retold story of Peter Pan, but it has a lot more adventure and way more details. It tells what happened before Peter Pan became the Peter Pan he is now. It was so fun to read I just couldn't put it down. I loved it!

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn-Dixie is about a girl who has moved into a new place and doesn't have any friends, until she finds a dog who helps her find new friends in her neighborhood. Because of Winn-Dixie is a great book.

Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven: a magical preserve where frogs eat people, fairy's turn big, and goblins go to school. When Kendra and Seth go to their grandparents house for a week they see some pretty strange things. Will they ever get to the bottom of it? And will they ever see their grandma again? Fablehaven is a great series of books.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Lydia's Take: This is a very sad and happy book, all at the same time. What I mean by that is that it has a sad beginning and a happy ending.

Jessica's Take: Charming isn't a word I use very often--it seems to belong to a more Jane Austen-ish time. But it is just the word to describe this book (as well as The Tale of Despereaux, also by Kate DiCamillo). I think I read this in just one day, so it's definitely a quick read. Still, I enjoyed the style of prose she uses. She seems to leave out anything unnecessary, yet still keeps the charm (there's that word again . . . ) and carries you without your knowing it through a beautiful, sweet, touching story.


I was pleasantly surprised by the way she wove together the lives of seemingly unrelated characters. It was like reading Dickens (on a much smaller scale), and for me, that's really saying something.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I loved this one! Thanks to Elsa for recommending it and Amy P. for letting me (without knowing it) borrow her beautiful copy. This only took a day to read, but it was so cleverly written and had very sweet symbolism. Perfect for a young reader--I can see why it became so popular! (And personally I think the book is better than the movie)

Part of what I liked about it was how the author talks to the reader--sort of Charlotte Bronte-ish--and addresses you as "Dear Reader" with some very charming insights into the story. Cute book! I really recommend it for young kids or for old ones looking for something quick and fun to read.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The city of ember is a great book about a city surrounded by darkness. The city's people believe that they are the only light in the dark world, except two kids named Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. They find a secret tunnel and think they've found a way out of ember. Was ember an underground city? Did the passage they found lead to anything? You'll find out if you read the city of ember.

Little House on the Prarie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is a great series of books about Laura Ingalls Wilder. It talks about her life--how she lives in the prairie, a dugout and in lots of other homes.

My favorite book in this series is: On the banks of Plum Creek.


Jessica:  I grew up on these books and loved the pictures and stories.  As a mother, I thoroughly enjoy reading this series to my children.  I think it is so good for them to realize that life wasn't always as easy and convenient as it is now.  Plus the real-life situations the Ingalls family dealt with has helped spark discussion with my own children about how to deal with their problems.  A perfectly beautiful series!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riorden

I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books, and this series by Rick Riorden has come pretty close to that level of enjoyment for me. They are a series of books about a young unlikely hero--Percy Jackson, son of Posiedon. Following adventure after adventure, you find yourself brushed up on your Greek mythology and thoroughly entertained into the bargain. They are well-written with a hip (but not really disrespectful) teenage voice to them (written in first person), and the dialogue is totally believable. I thought each book in the series improved upon the one before it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

This is one of my favorite books. It's about a boy (wait a second--doesn't everybody know this story?) named Charlie who finds a golden ticket and goes on a cool adventure in a giant chocolate factory.

The Twits by Roald Dahl

My class read this book together; it's about a man named Mr. Twit who has a huge beard and Mrs. Twit who has a glass eye. It has lots of silly stories about these very silly people.

Ginger Pie by Elenor Estes

I liked this book because it's about a dog who gets captured by a mysterious man in a yellow hat, but eventually finds it's owner. I think that this is a cute and funny book.

(Jessica here--I loved reading this book out loud to Lydia. There were many parts where we laughed out loud--it was truly darling. And clean and cute and old-fashioned--not enough books like that anymore!)