Oliver Twist Read-along: Post One

Two years ago, I chose Oliver Twist as my initiation into the world of Dickens. I loved it then and I am loving it more the second time around because there is a distance now between me and the movie musical which so colored my first reading. I am pretty sure this distance is due to getting to know Dickens through a few of his other works. I am grateful for it; I did not want to spend this reading of OT singing 'consider yourself at home' and 'oom-pa-pa, oom-pa-pa, that's how it goes', nor experiencing the characters at the same superficial level portrayed on-screen. I do admit to singing 'consider yourself at home' but after my reading and not during...that, my friends, is progress...and the characters are so much more alive to me. I am seeing Nancy in a whole new light, just as tortured and torn as Oliver, and some characters I feel as if I am truly seeing for the first time, like Mr. Brownlow, Mrs. Bedwin and Mr. Grimwig (what a fantastic name!).

So, this is Dickens at 25, and I feel that youth in his writing, in his narrating which feels so intimate when he addresses the reader directly. He writes about this stuff that would be downright depressing on its own except he keeps it light with sarcasm and humor, and keeps it hopeful with small gestures of kindness exhibited by his characters.

He has to because he places you on this roller coaster right from the start: the death of his mother to the small kindness extended by Mrs. Thingummy, the lows of living with Mrs. Mann to the little windows of goodness displayed by Mr. Sowerberry, and currently in the throes hoping Oliver can escape the evil of Fagin and Sikes and find his way back to Mr. Brownlow. One thing that remains the same between my two readings is the suspense; I am still anxious to know what will come next.

During my reading of Little Dorrit, I pretty much loved any part that skewered bureaucracy and politics as seen through the prism of the circumlocution office. I didn't notice this so much during my first reading of OT but am definitely appreciating the chance to see it right off in the second chapter regarding "Oliver's growth, education and board". Dickens is so, so good at this. I need to start a list, Dickens on Society, so I can go back and read these passages when in need of some levity looking at today's world.

This is my first time participating in a read-along and I can't wait to share the experience with other readers. But you don't have to be a part of the read-along to share your thoughts if you have read OT in the past. Thank you to Allie for hosting this event.