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David Copperfield (Illustrated And Annotated Edition)
David Copperfield (Illustrated And Annotated Edition) | Charles Dickens
This is the illustrated and annotated edition including an extensive biographical essay about the author and his life as well as a wealth of original illustrations. You will also find a detailed introduction (which is not included in other editions) regarding the history of the title and many insights. "Of all my books," says Charles Dickens in his preface to this immortal novel, "I like this the best. . . . Like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favorite child. And his name is David Copperfield." When "David Copperfield' appeared in 1850, after "Dombey and Son" and before "Bleak House," it became so popular that its only rival was "Pickwick." Beneath the fiction lies much of the author's personal life, yet it is not an autobiography. The story treats of David's sad experiences as a child, his youth at school, and his struggles for a livelihood, and leaves him in early manhood, prosperous and happily married. Pathos, humor, and skill in delineation, give vitality to this remarkable work; and nowhere has Dickens filled his canvas with more vivid and diversified characters. Forster says that the author's favorites were the Peggotty family, composed of David's nurse Peggotty, who was married to Barkis, the carrier; Daniel Peggotty, her brother, a Yarmouth fisherman; Ham Peggotty, his nephew; the doleful Mrs. Gummidge; and Little Emily, ruined by David's schoolmate, Steerforth. "It has been their fate," says Forster, "as with all the leading figures of his invention, to pass their names into the language and become types; and he has nowhere given happier embodiment to that purity of homely goodness, which, by the kindly and all-reconciling influences of humor, may exalt into comeliness and even grandeur the clumsiest forms of humanity." Miss Betsy Trotwood, David's aunt; the half-mad but mild Mr. Dick; Mrs. Copperfield, David's mother; Murdstone, his brutal stepfather; Miss Murdstone, that stepfather's sister; Mr. Spenlow and his daughter Dora,David's "childwife"; Steerforth, Rosa Dartle, Mrs. Steerforth, Mr. Wickfield, his daughter Agnes (David's second wife), and the Micawber family, are the persons around whom the interest revolves. A host of minor characters, such as the comical little dwarf hair-dresser, Miss Mowcher, Mr. Mell, Mr. Creakle, Tommy Traddles, Uriah Heep, Dr. Strong, Mrs. Markleham, and others, are portrayed with the same vivid strokes,
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rachelk
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

I undertook this doorstopper because it inspired ‘Demon Copperhead‘, which is on my reading list this year and because I enjoyed ‘Great Expectations‘ so much last year. Since the book is long (it was serialized) I liked the idea of going back and forth between written and audio formats. The saga is said to be close to the life and experiences of Charles Dickens himself. I think it was extraordinary in every way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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LadyCait84
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

Finally finished! Doing it mostly on audio helped & it‘s easy to forgive the length when remembering it was first released as a serial. David himself is easy to root for (even as you want to shout at him for his naivety on occasion) & the gaggle of side characters are easy to love: the eternally devoted Peggotty, the bombastic Mr. Micawber, the donkey-hating Aunt Betsey...

Except Dora. I almost couldn‘t stand Dora as much as the real villains.

rachelk Dora was so incredibly frustrating! Ugh! 2mo
51 likes1 comment
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LadyCait84
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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I‘m so excited my book club is reading Demon Copperhead this month, but the only reason I haven‘t read it already is that I was insistent on reading this first. (Or listening to it, as the case may be — don‘t think I could finish it in time otherwise.)

This is by no means my first Dickens, but it‘s been quite a while. And I keep being struck by how funny this book is. 22% in and, yes, I‘ve cried twice. But I‘ve laughed much more.

Ruthiella I‘m always surprised when I am reminded of just how funny Dickens is! 😃 3mo
dabbe LOVE this book! 🖤💜🖤 3mo
rachelk I just finished ‘David Copperfield‘ in anticipation of reading ‘Demon Copperhead‘. I absolutely loved it, even more than ‘Great Expectations‘. 2mo
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LisaLovesToRead
David Copperfield | Dickens Charles
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Mehso-so

A good story, but so much longer than it needed to be. We have a literature teacher in my book club who reminds us that this was published in monthly installments. Apparently Dickens even applied feedback from readers to tweak future portions of the novel with this work, so that probably led to more rambling.

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wen4blu
David Copperfield | CHARLES. DICKENS
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This is the longest book I‘ve read on Serial Reader. 150 episodes means I started somewhere in April. Phew!

DivineDiana 👏🏻📚👏🏻 7mo
Bklover I‘m impressed! I‘ve either bailed on mine or switched to the book so I could read faster! Congratulations! 7mo
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

Even if you think you know where Dickens is taking you, you never quite know what you‘ll meet on the journey. I loved every minute of this #chunkster, and now I‘m ready for the Kingsolver retelling (Demon Copperhead). @Amiable

Amiable Great job! I‘m going to dive into “Demon Copperhead” too as soon as I‘m done with my upcoming library hold. 7mo
dabbe I adored Dickens's DC! I need to read DEMON COPPERHEAD, too! 7mo
Lcsmcat @dabbe @Amiable My in person book club is reading it for our September meeting. I‘d love to discuss it with you too after you read it. 7mo
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dabbe @Lcsmcat I'll let you know when I start it! 🤗 7mo
Aimeesue “Janet! Donkeys!” Is my favorite quote ever. Mostly because it‘s so short I always get it right. And it makes me laugh. 😁 7mo
Aimeesue @dabbe Demon Copperhead is even better than DC, imo. Much more depth, especially for the women, which is a nice change. Dickens always irritates me with his poor puppet women. 7mo
Lcsmcat @Aimeesue I love the donkey bit! 7mo
dabbe @Aimeesue Good point. Though I do love the names he comes up for his characters. 🤣 7mo
Lcsmcat @dabbe His names are priceless! 7mo
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Lcsmcat
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“The good Doctor said she was nervous, and, to relieve her, proposed a round game at cards; of which he knew as much as of the art of playing the trombone.”

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Melkyl
David Copperfield (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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Pickpick

I really wanted to get this one read before reading Demon Copperhead. It was massive, but I am glad I finally did it. The characters were delightful, and overall it was worth the challenge. I enjoyed the way Dickens used the book to make commentary on social classes and people in general.

Caroline2 Yes! I really wanna read this before Demon too. The size of it scares me tho. 😆 10mo
33 likes1 comment
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Melkyl
David Copperfield | Dickens Charles
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So happy summer is here 😊

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LitsyEvents
David Copperfield (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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From @AllDebooks I've just decided to reread some classic books by male authors. #Pemberlittens have got the ladies covered. If interested in joining me, let me know and I'll do a mini #buddyread for each month.

original post : https://www.litsy.com/web/book/29776/David-Copperfield-Revised

AllDebooks Thank you for sharing 😊 1y
34 likes2 comments
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Mollyanna
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Here is my plan for #ChunksterChallenge2023 hosted by @Amiable

1st David Copperfield - Mini Chunkster
2nd A Leap in the Dark - Almost a Chunkster
3rd The Fiery Cross - Super Chunkster
4th Pillars of the Earth - Chunkster

Amiable Wow! This is fantastic! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉 1y
Mollyanna @Amiable Here‘s hoping I get to them all 😉 1y
22 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
David Copperfield (Revised) | Charles Dickens
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I've just decided to reread some classic books by male authors. #Pemberlittens have got the ladies covered. If interested in joining me, let me know and I'll do a mini #buddyread for each month.

@LitsyEvents

LeeRHarry Ooh I‘d definitely be interested in Dracula 🧛🏻‍♂️ 😊 1y
BookwormAHN I'm in for The Count of Monte Cristo, The Strange Case of Dr Jeckll and Mr Hyde and Great Expectations 😺 1y
AllDebooks @LeeRHarry @BookwormAHN Excellent, duly noted for later in the year x 1y
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Larkken I have many of these on my list, but I dunno how many I can get to. I‘m trying to start the Count this month, so maybe I‘ll be through it by the time you get to it? And Dracula would be fun, too! 1y
TheBookHippie March April May October December ! 1y
megnews I‘d like to read along in august 1y
AllDebooks @Larkken @TheBookHippie @megnews Yay, glad to have you joining me 😊 1y
Crinoline_Laphroaig I'd like to do Feb and A Room with a View. 1y
AllDebooks @Crinoline_Laphroaig Yay, I'm really looking forward to this one. E. M Forster is an absolute favourite of mine x 1y
nanuska_153 Lots of this are in my re-read/TBR list, if you could tag me in all of them, will join from next month. Thanks! 1y
AllDebooks @nanuska_153 that's great, added you to the tag list 1y
30 likes11 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 64: A Last Retrospective. We learn that nobody changes unless David is looking at them, which mostly involves minor characters I had forgotten (Julia?) but also includes Rosa Dartle and Mrs. Steerforth— who I had thought implicitly died after her son, but apparently is locked in eternal conflict with her arch-nemesis like in that one Star Trek episode where the they fight in a parallel dimension forever. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella I wonder if Julia is supposed to represent another life that would have been possible- but it‘s ultimately superficial and empty. 1y
29 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 63: A Visitor. In a continuing effort to tie up every single lose end — both spatially and temporally — we jump 10 years in the future when Mr. Pegotty drops by to tell David, Agnes, and the three kids that everyone in Australia had a relatively happy ending.and Martha got married. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Yes, everyone‘s story is all tidied up real nicely! 1y
Ruthiella And don‘t forget Mr. Mell! 😀 1y
Yossarian @Ruthiella I did, in fact, forget Mr. Mell. 1y
26 likes3 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Got my copy of Demon Copperhead today! I noticed immediately that it has 64 chapters, just like the Dickens, and begins, “First, I got myself born.” Will the parallels to DC be that close, Chapter by Chapter?

TheBookStacker I‘m getting my copy tomorrow can‘t wait to start it! 1y
CrowCAH I‘ll guess you‘ll have to read and find out! 1y
Ruthiella Sounds like it! How many pages is it? Also long? 1y
Yossarian @Ruthiella 546 pages. So, long. But not quite David Copperfield long. 1y
Yossarian @TheBookStacker You want to join my #buddyread? A chapter per day for 64 days? 1y
35 likes5 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 62: A Light Shines On My Way. So did Aunt Betsey know Agnes was in love with David, or did she think there was another man? If the first, why didn‘t she tell him? If the second, why did she think that? #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH I think she knew that Agnes liked David. I would assume she said there was another man to spur David into action. 1y
Ruthiella @CrowCAH Yes, that‘s my interpretation also. 1y
31 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 61: I Am Shown Two Interesting Penitents. Okay, this is just getting silly. In an effort to tie up lose ends, David tours a prison randomly, where he meets two model inmates — Uriah Heep arrested for bank fraud and his neighbor Steerforth‘a valet, tackled after stealing from his employer by Miss Mowcher. Every loose string is now tied up! #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Lol I agree. It‘s interesting why Dickens wanted to give conclusions to all characters even minor ones. Such a small world that we keep running into the same people. 1y
Ruthiella This is typical Dickens. He likes to tie everything up in a neat bow at the end. Not realistic but maybe emotionally satisfying. 1y
24 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 60: Agnes. David loves Agnes, but is afraid of losing his sister-like advisor. Agnes loves David, but will not impose herself on him. We all know where this is going, and they have like four chapters to get there, so let‘s get on with it already! #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Indeed. If characters were more straightforward about things, it‘d be a much shorter novel! 1y
CrowCAH It was such a touching chapter. But I agree, hurry up and confess your feelings!!! ❤️ 1y
28 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 59: Return. A lot of marriage foreshadowing. David comes home to find Traddles still poor and not famous, but happily married and new guardian of his wife‘s sisters. Meanwhile, the Murdstone siblings are “pulling a Murdstone” with another young bride. Makes you wonder what the young wealthy women are getting out of it. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella They are getting what they think will be a charming husband. He doesn‘t show what he really is until they are trapped by marriage. What a sick pair they are. I think Heep is a villain too, but at least I understand his motivation. 1y
26 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 58: Absence. David spends three years in Switzerland being sad and realizing he loves Agnes but probably missed his chance. I‘m guessing he didn‘t. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH It‘s his “dark night of the soul” moment. I was hopeful he didn‘t miss his chance with Agnes… 1y
Ruthiella @CrowCAH You are right about that! 1y
31 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 57: The Emigrants. I loved combining the sad task of everyone shielding Mr. Pegotty from Ham and Steerforth‘s deaths until they left with the comedy of Micawber getting repeatedly arrested, losing hope, and getting bailed out in a matter of minutes. Beyond that, I wasn‘t really sure what most of them were talking about. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Yeah all the arrests were comical! 😆 1y
Ruthiella I think most of the chatter was between Mr and Mrs Micawber and if their illustrious grandchildren and great grandchildren who are bound to be successful in Australia (based purely on Mrs. Micawber‘s belief in her husband‘s abilities) will owe any debt to England. What I liked was that little throw away bit that Martha is emigrating with them! Hopefully to a happier life! 1y
20 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 56: The New Wound and the Old

So, Steerforth and Uriah Heep are supposed to be the bad guys, but oh my goodness Rosa took the cake here. Mrs. Steerforth finds out her son died, and Rosa Dartle send her over the edge into catatonia by blaming her and saying she was the only one who really loved him. The enemy of my enemy is my . . . bigger enemy. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Dartle was harsh to Mrs. From what we saw she didn‘t really show any love towards Steerforth. 1y
Suet624 Everybody okay? 1y
Yossarian @Suet624 Yes. That was the first Google image hit for the Chapter Title. 1y
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Suet624 😂😂😂 1y
Ruthiella I‘m a bit behind and only just read this today. I‘m actually on Rosa‘s side, though she could have been more tactful. James was a privilege and spoiled monster who ruined the lives of Rosa, Emily, the teacher, Mr. Mell and who knows who else. He was good to David once, but only because it flattered his ego, I think. 1y
Yossarian @Ruthiella Steerforth was a spoiled monster, but (a) that can‘t be blamed 100% on the mother, (b) Mrs. Steerforth was still feuding — Dora was ready to forgive everything (past or present), and (c) even if Dora were 100% right, you let the mother grieve for a full 30 seconds before piling on. 1y
27 likes6 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 55: Tempest. They criticize Game of Thrones for being too bloody, but David has lost everyone in his family except his Aunt Betsey, is now widowed, his boss died, and then goes out in a storm to watch Ham die trying unsuccessfully to save his archenemy Steerforth, who shouldn‘t have been anywhere near Yarmouth anyway. And the man is maybe 23? Bloody book. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH This was a rough chapter. Lots of death. 1y
Ruthiella To me this was Dickens at his most excessive. Pages and pages of of description of the storm and then two symbolic deaths, one of which could easily been avoided and was practically suicidal. 1y
Yossarian @CrowCAH @Ruthiella So did Ham know he was trying to save his sworn enemy? 1y
Ruthiella @Yossarian @CrowCAH I don‘t think he could have known? 1y
CrowCAH @Ruthiella I agree. I don‘t think he knew. He was just saving anyone he could. 1y
31 likes5 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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The Super Team of ever single character in the whole book who is at least 7/10 good and 5/10 competent in their field (except for the Pegotty family): David (9/7), Aunt Betsey (7/8), Traddles (9/5) and Agnes (10/10) send the Micawbers out of the room and decide their fates like gods among men. The send the Micawbers off with the Pegotty family. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH To Australia they will go! 1y
Ruthiella Even with Mr. Peggotty looking out for him, I don‘t see how Micawber is going to turn over a new leaf. Yes, he likes speechifying and writing letters and making punch…but is he actually willing to work for a paycheck? (edited) 1y
27 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 53: Another Retrospective. It is a cliche that you can fool the people, but the dog can sense your true nature. That‘s why I support Jip, a stupid dog who loves and hates fairly randomly. I guess we are left to conclude that Dora and Jip both lived long, full lives in dog years, before slowly fading away simultaneously. #resdalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Poor Jip. 1y
31 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 52: I Assist At An Explosion. Micawber accuses Heep of defrauding everyone and brings the receipts. Aunt Betsey is so happy she might get some of her estate back that she offers the Micawbers a one-way trip to Australia that they accept faster than David accepted her idea for a rando administrative law career. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella I‘m not sure that emigrating is a good idea for the Micawbers. I guess Mr. Micawber has proved that he CAN work, but that was mostly because Heep was holding his feet to the fire. 1y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 51: The Beginning of a Longer Journey

Mr. Pegotty and Emily are going to Australia. I was thinking about how Emily shouldn‘t have been shamed into leaving, but at least she had somewhere to go. If someone today gets “canceled” by their society‘s norms, they don‘t have an Australia to start over in. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Someone somewhere has probably written an imagined follow up of Uncle Peggotty and Emily‘s life down under, but let‘s hope Emily is able to let go of the shame she carries in her head. 1y
34 likes1 comment
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VanessaCW
David Copperfield (Revised) | Charles Dickens
Pickpick

Although I didn‘t always understand the phraseology, so much so I let it go over my head 🤯, there‘s a great storyline at this book‘s heart. There are some fabulous and vividly depicted characters with a wonderful villain in the ever-so ‘umble Uriah Heep. The writing is wordy but very evocative of the time and place. I found it heavy going but overall I thought it quite a remarkable but emotional journey. I‘m pleased I read it. #Pigeonhole

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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 50: Mr. Pegotty‘s Dream Comes True

Emily appears, but before our heroes find her, Rosa Dartle appears to rip her a new asshole. All Rosa cares about is that Emily be seen as a slut temptress rather than an innocent victim. Not sure if women are better at supporting each other today. #NotAllMenAreJamesSteerforth #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella When it comes to infidelity, I do think we still tend to be harder on the one who “stole” him or her away while the partner who betrayed is often ultimately forgiven. But I‘m not sure it‘s a gendered thing. (edited) 1y
Yossarian @Ruthiella I was thinking of Monica Lewinsky, Amy Fisher, or other younger, less powerful women who get labeled “homewreckers” rather than the man who actually wrecked the home. 1y
Ruthiella @Yossarian True that! 1y
22 likes3 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 49: I Am Involved In A Mystery

The solution of the mystery is Micawber hates working for Uriah Heep, but the real mystery is exactly why. We know Heep is horrible and deceitful and other bad adjectives, but we don‘t get any specifics to know how he‘s a bad boss. I assume Dickens didn‘t know enough about the law to specify. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella I‘m pretty excited that Micawber‘s going to give us a big reveal of what Heep‘s been up to later! 1y
26 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 48: Domestic. I really want to know what sort of illnesses Dickensian women get where they just slowly fade away over the course of weeks or months in their 20s. After his mom, it‘s almost like he Murdstoned Dora by trying to form her mind against her will. #buddyread #readalong

Ruthiella I won‘t be sad, however, to say good bye to Dora. She‘s frustrating. She needed a Peggotty in her life, poor thing. 1y
CrowCAH I was glad to see Dora go. I was always rooting for David to get with Agnes… 1y
25 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 47: Martha This was another chapter where the text is Martha agrees to help if she finds Emily, but I felt like there was ten pages of subtext that I missed. Also, Uncle Betsey is weird. That is all. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Martha is a prostitute. Dickens couldn‘t say that outright. 1y
CrowCAH Very true, he‘s good at alluding to things without ever right out mentioning it. 1y
Yossarian @Ruthiella @CrowCAH Yes, but I don‘t infer that from anything Dickens actually says, but instead from the length of time he spends not saying it. If you wanted to argue that Martha was actually a murderous loan shark, I‘m not sure what I could cite in the chapter to prove you were wrong. 1y
CrowCAH @Yossarian I‘m not so sure that was her profession: prostitution or loan shark. She seemed more crazy and just a loner. She was talking a long walk, seemingly with some intent. 1y
Ruthiella If she were a murderous loan shark, he would just say so. There‘s no shame in that. 1y
27 likes5 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 46: Intelligence

Steerforth‘s (ex-)butler reports that Emily ran off after Steerforth tried to pawn her off on the butler himself. Between Mrs. Steerforth‘s son, Mr. Pegotty‘s daughter, and the orphan David, we are invited to consider what it means to be proud of your own child. #readalong #buddyread

tpixie What a coinkydink to see this title. I just heard that this book is loosely based off of David Copperfield (edited) 1y
Yossarian @tpixie Not a coinkydink at all! We are ready a Chapter per day of David Copperfield with the goal of finishing the day that Demon Copperhead is published! We‘re then jumping right into Kingsolver‘s new one! 1y
tpixie @Yossarian awesome! Great planning! 1y
Ruthiella I feel sorry for Emily. She wants more from life than is allowed her. Littimer‘s assumption she should be happy to marry him is icky and infuriating. 1y
34 likes4 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 45. Mr. Dick Fulfills My Aunt‘s Prediction. Honestly, I think I missed a plot point. Dick has Mr. Strong leave his full estate to his wife, the Old Soldier overhears, and Mrs. Strong is kneeling before her husband leading to a full reconciliation. Did I miss a step here? #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella I think they never actually SPOKE about it. Just kept treating the other with kid gloves. 1y
28 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 44: Our Housekeeping

When someone shows you who they are, believe them. David marries his self-described “child-wife” and then seems surprised that she continues to act like a child. Aunt Betsey has the right advice, and David stops trying to change her into someone useful. Then, they are happy, if not completely satisfied. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Seems like days would go by super slow with all her idleness. She should have at least tried to apply herself. 1y
Ruthiella I thought Aunt Betsy‘s advice was spot on. 1y
27 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 43: Another Retrospect

Honestly, the most surprising thing to happen in this book so far is that David and Dora actually got married, even though they‘ve been foreshadowing for ten chapters. I felt like they were on the verge of realizing their mistake before we got to this “fast forward a few years” chapter where all character development freezes. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Alas no. 😱 1y
30 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 42: Mischief. Is Mr. Strong better off knowing the truth — that literally everyone suspects his young wife of being in love with a younger man, or is he better off living in blissful ignorance believing that they are just good friends?

#buddyread #readalong

CrowCAH There were times when I thought he already knew. But he must have been ignorant, otherwise the revelation wouldn‘t have hurt him so much. 1y
Ruthiella @CrowCAH I don‘t think it‘s Dickens‘ intention necessarily, but it is interesting to compare Emily and Mrs. Strong…both are doomed in Victorian society, forced (strongly encouraged?) to marry someone they don‘t love. 1y
28 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 41: Dora‘s Aunts It‘s clear that David and Dora are not meant to be, but I‘m not sure how it‘s going to end. David is too responsible to break an engagement, and Dora has been too infantilized to make a decision. With everyone‘s aunt on board, I‘m counting on another deus ex machina.

#readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella One wonders if Dora would have turned out less a baby and more capable had her mother lived to parent her.🤔 2y
25 likes1 comment
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 39: The Wanderer

David randomly runs into Pegotty and catches up on his “plan” to get Emily. (If I find her, she will come?) Thats fine, but David also sees Martha at the same time. Is Martha looking for info on Emily? An agent of Emily? A metaphor for Emily? I feel like we‘re supposed to know already, but I don‘t. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH Correct. It seemed like we were already supposed to know about Martha. She feels like a plot device thrown in to aid our characters. 2y
Ruthiella Or is Martha a foreshadowing of what Emily will become. Just because her uncle will forgive her and take her back doesn‘t mean her pride will allow her to do so. 2y
34 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 39: Wickfield and Heep. We get a full blown Villain Origin Story for Uriah. “They want me to be humble? Well, I‘ll give them humble! That‘s how I became — The Humbler!!!!” Also, possibly the original incel—I‘ve worked hard! I‘ve earned Agnes! Yuck. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH I keep hoping Agnes wouldn‘t fall for Heap. I was rewarded in the end. He is a creep! 2y
Ruthiella Yuck is right! 2y
27 likes2 comments
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 38: A Dissolution of Partnership

Mr. Spenlow learns of David and Dora‘s secret engagement, orders him to call it off, and then immediately gets Deus Ex Machina‘d to death. And without a will! Jip is dognapped, ransomed, and recovered within a half paragraph. I know Dickens is canonically plot-driven, but Jeez. #readalong #buddyread

CrowCAH His death did come at an awfully convenient point in the story. I still think she loves Jip more than David. 2y
BarbaraBB I love your daily graphics! 2y
Ruthiella @CrowCAH I think you are right about Dora loving her dog more… 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 37: A Little Cold Water

David‘s being better that I probably would have been about the financial stuff, but it looks like a no-go with Dora, who doesn‘t seem built to handle hardships, despite having to spend excessive quality time with Miss Murdstone.

#readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella What I liked about this chapter was how Aunt Betsy‘s battle with Mrs. Crupp (who is a mother herself, lest we forget!😂) reminds me of Aunt Betsy‘s disputes with the donkies! Dora is a ninny, but as they say, love is blind… 2y
Yossarian @Ruthiella Yes! If Aunt Betsey can best the donkies, Mrs. Crupp doesn‘t stand a chance! 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 36: Enthusiasm

Well, holy hell. Uriah got Micawber a sort of real-ass job! I mean, I won‘t be bringing my legal needs to the firm of Heep, Micawber and Wickfield anytime soon, (first, since I don‘t think I‘d trust any of them with the retainer) but doesn‘t it have to endear you to Uriah at least a little that he actually helped Micawber? #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Heep is up to no good, I tell you! Also, not a law firm I would trust either. Micawber is an amusing character, but I wouldn‘t want to know him IRL! 2y
CrowCAH Just a little. But HEAP still is not to be trusted. I wonder how they stay in business. 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 35: Depression

So Aunt Betsey losing her money is just because her investments sucked, not because of the mysterious figure. I guess we‘ll have to wait on that. Also, Uriah Heep is still a very unconvincing Svengali. That is all.

#readalong #buddyread

Jess This photo. Yikes. 2y
Yossarian @jess It‘s from the Svengali Wikipedia page. On further review, it might be anti-Semitic as a concept. I‘ll have to look into it. 2y
Ruthiella Svengali as a character in Trilby, which I read a couple of years ago, is very anti-Semitic. Like Fagin in Oliver Twist, he is not bad and a Jew, he is bad because he is a Jew. (edited) 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 34: My Aunt Astonishes Me

After some tragicomic relief with Traddles, Aunt Betsey shows up and is ruined! This has been a long-foreshadowed situation that seems to disappear for years when Aunt Betsey is off-stage, making me struggle to remember that it‘s even a plot point. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Now it‘s David‘s turn to step up to the plate and take care of Aunt Betsy. Let‘s se if he‘s matured enough. 2y
CrowCAH Don‘t give money to people who will not invest it wisely. 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 33: Blissful Am I the only one who spent half the chapter thinking Dickens was foreshadowing that Dora was to be married to Murdstone? Dora seems a little immature and frivolous for David, but I wouldn‘t wish Murdstone on my worst enemy. #readalong #buddyread

Ruthiella Since I‘ve already read the book, I knew otherwise. She might be too headstrong, despite her frivolity, for Murdstone, however. 2y
CrowCAH Yeah I could see a repeat of David‘s mom. But that repeat comes later in the story. (I‘m finished) 2y
Sapphire I am not following the discussion, but couldn‘t help: yay Dora the explorer! 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Chapter 31: A Bigger Loss

Emily chooses to become Steerforth‘s mistress (I guess) with the hopes of social elevation, instead of marrying Ham, who she doesn‘t really love but is fine but is also her cousin. Seemed like a fine choice (although I would have gone with “dump them both”) but the chapter titles inform us this is a bigger loss than Scrooge McDuck dying.

#buddyread #readalong

Ruthiella Poor Emily. 100 years later women had (slightly) more options. 2y
CrowCAH Yeah I didn‘t really like her engaged to Ham either. But to become mistress, that‘s low. She wouldn‘t have received station that way. Only marriage. 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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BREAKING NEWS!!!! David Copperfield turns 66 years old today! #buddyread #readalong @Ruthiella @CrowCAH

Ruthiella 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Nutmegnc Fun fact. I brushed elbows (literally) with him at a state fair when I was a little girl! 🤣 2y
Nutmegnc The magician. Not the fictional character 🤣🤣🤣 (edited) 2y
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Yossarian @Nutmegnc I‘m sure the fictional character had elbows much too small to brush. 2y
CrowCAH Happy Birthday, bro! 🎂😂 2y
Nutmegnc @Yossarian true 😜 2y
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Yossarian
David Copperfield | Charles Dickens
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Ebenezer Scrooge Barkis dies still clutching his box of hoarded money, but surrounded by weeping loved ones, so I guess the Ghost of Christmas Future was just pulling that part out of his ass, or else morals don‘t apply across Dickens novels. It always kind of bothered me that Horton Hatches an Egg and Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose had opposite morals. #buddyread #readalong

CrowCAH Though Barkis kinda was a little bit generous with his money. He ended up giving some to David and his wife. 2y
Ruthiella Moral relativism. I don‘t know about Dickens but humans often change their moral code based on their cultural values or societal upbringing. 2y
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