Book review by Miss Shotton. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

A few years ago when I was working in the

Achievement Centre, one of the GCSE pupils
had to write an essay on Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens. I knew the story but
decided to read the book so I could help
them and learn more about it. My previous
knowledge of the story was when I worked
in Manchester and I was teaching English to
year 7 pupils. However then we used to
study extracts of the story only and look at
the language used.

I decided to read it and bought a lovely

copy from Waterstones to encourage me to do so. It had very special
little pages with a gold trim. It took me a long time to read it but I
persevered with it and I am glad I did. It was at a time when my
Grandma (who I was very close to) was ill and later died. I found that
reading the book each night was quite therapeutic to me as it helped
take my mind off things.

I loved some of the characters especially Jo and Pip. Jo is really kind

to Pip. Early in the story I did not like Pip’s sister as she was mean to
him. I also felt sorry for Magwitch as although he is an escaped
prisoner, he has a good side. The story didn’t really end as I had
hoped. I like a happy ending and I had hoped that Estelle and Pip
would get together! (I am a bit of an old romantic.)

After reading this book I decided to read other books by Charles

Dickens too. I chose Oliver and I definitely knew this story! (Doesn’t
everyone?) I have seen Oliver the musical in London, the film version
which is a musical and at least one other film version of it. I have also
seen a film version of Great Expectations which is set in the modern
day but it is nowhere near as good as the book.

I would recommend that if you find an author you like, you find other
books of theirs you might also enjoy reading.

Other books by Charles Dickens include Bleak House, A Tale of Two

Cities, David Copperfield. Many of his stories have been made into
films and programmes for TV.

One of your forms is named after Charles Dickens. His stories are
known and loved all over the world. There is a museum in London
dedicated to him. You can find out about it at:
http://www.dickensmuseum.com/

Charles Dickens started his career as a journalist and his stories were
published in parts in the newspapers. This was at a time when
people could not afford books and there weren’t public libraries.
People would look forward to reading the next instalment of the
story. Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and died in 1870.

Great Expectations tells the story of a boy called Pip – his real name
is Philip. Pip is an orphan and is brought up by his sister and her
husband Joe. Joe is a lovely man but his sister is mean to them both.
Pip meets a man called Magwitch and his life changes forever.