I found Great Expectations to be one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it. What I particularly enjoyed was Dickens’ understanding of human nature, and how effortlessly he explores our desire to belong, to be admired, and sometimes to become something we’re not.
I found Pip’s journey especially interesting. His hopes, insecurities and occasional vanity make him wonderfully human, even when his choices are frustrating. There’s something quite poignant about watching him discover that wealth, status and the approval of others are poor substitutes for kindness, loyalty and self-respect.
I also loved the way Dickens weaves humour, darkness and tenderness together. His observations about class and social ambition are sharp, but never at the expense of the deeply human story underneath.
A beautifully written, perceptive novel that reminded me that what we imagine will make us happy and what actually matters are often two very different things. A classic I’m genuinely glad to have read.