Great Expectations (Abridged) Audiobook

" Some of the comments here are perplexing. Reluctant to read because of Charles Dickens "notorious wordiness"!? Without words, no reading. And "...after Pip moved to England...." Didn't he always live in England? Try again to listen or read for the adventure, pathos, tenderness, heartache, injustice and humanity of Dickens writing. My quibble is the abridging of any author's original text. Just plain wrong. My five stars us for the narration and the unabridged novel. "

" Huh, I enjoy Charles Dickens. Who knew? Wish I hadn't avoided all Dickens for soooo long. "

" I really wanted to love this book and I did enjoy the first 150 pages, but by the time Pip inherited his money and moved to England (I gave up at page 267) it couldn't keep my attention any longer; and I confess, I rented the movie and called it good. Maybe I'll pick it up again in a few years and give it another try. For now, I give it three stars only because it did not hold my attention. If you have longer attention span than me, then enjoy. "

" I adore Dickens. It's amazing how the reader can connect to characters written so long ago. "

" This is one of the worst books I have ever read. "

" Find out next week what the cops are really here for. Who will they arrest? Pip? Joe? Pumblechook? Did they find out about pip helping the convict, or are they just stopping over to say hi? The way the author writes it is in a way I don't think Charles even knows himself. Buy the next section in order to find out why the cops want to arrest Joe? Oops, I gave it away. Or did I? "

" I liked it the best of all the Dicken's novels I've read. It seems more mature than say Oliver Twist where the main character was high-born all along and ends up taking his place in society. It has an appropriate ending with hope but not with all problems solved but with Pip and Estrella maturing. Many of the most sympathetic characters are low-born unlike Oliver Twist. In fairness in Hard Times it is the same and obviously its what Dickens is reknowned for but in this book the characters are also realistic. "

" Most of all I liked the way mr. Wemmick looked after his old parent. He succeeded in making his parent very happy. Mr. Wemmick's respect to his old parent was kind of satisfying. Somehow it meant more to me than the story of the main character, Pip. "

" I must say I was quite hesitant to read any book by Dickens, due to his notorious wordiness. However, after reading Great Expectations, I have a greater appreciation of Victorian literature. Dickens really manages to capture the dreariness of working-class England and the decadence of upper-class London. The story of a boy being constantly controlled by the world around him, for both good and bad, is a truly timeless tale that transcends the time period is what written in. Overall, Great Expectations deserve the "classic" status it enjoys, and should be read by anyone who loves a old-fashioned read. "

" Quite an interesting read, and I think that I will be processing the story, characters, places & Dickens' way of writing for some time. A substantial book; families would have read it over the course of a year in the newspapers- 50 serialized chapters. So I suppose I shouldn't feel so bad that I took two months to complete the read.... "

" A great character analysis from Charles Dickens. Pip is a very deep and real character and Charles Dickens did a very good job to give that to the reader. "

" I'm just glad it's over!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" This book, read as an adult, took me a while to read, but it was one which grew on me as time went on, and even more so, after I'd read it!! Absolutely brilliant! I find myself always remembering phrases or the plot line itself, when living my daily life, and can't help but similarities between this and other books I've read or stories I've heard since. Absolute classic. Everybody should read this book! "

" I loved this book!! It's a well-written and insightful novel with universal themes and authentic, quirky and loveable characters. Easy to read, hard to put down and laugh-out-loud funny! A timeless classic: Dickens is a master. "

" I may have not enjoyed this book as I thought I would but I guess that's just because of my current disposition--think academics, graduation requirements, well... life, generally. But I think I'll enjoy it, in another timing, maybe. Or not. So much for giving classics another try. ;__________; "

" This book is dumb and boring. Pip is dumb for liking a girl that constantly insults him. I'm being forced to read this book for English and I can't read more than like 10 pages at a time before my eyes glaze over. He explains everything with an absurd amount of details and it's extremely slow. "

" Always a great pleasure to read Dickens. Beautiful & evocative language.. "

" Read in school - would never really make sense of it had we not studied it in detail for English A Level but having been taught what Dickens is trying to say there's a chance I'd enjoy it a second time as an adult! I've yet to find out...doesn't jump out as a 'must read now' at the moment though! "

" I won't lie, I have to discipline myself to read Dickens, but he came through with the ending in Great Expectations. "

" There's a reason just about everything Dickens wrote is considered a classic. He was brilliant. I remember reading this book in high school, but a recent viewing of Masterpiece Classic inspired me to pick it up and read it again. The imperfections of the main character Pip and fellows Miss Havisham, Magwich (noble savage that he is), Jaggers and Estella have given me quite a bit to mull over. Who, really, is the villain - the convict, the jilted madwoman, the heartless Estella or is it Pip himself? "

" We all have "great expectations" thinking when we are young the course our life should go. My favorite quote in this book was Pip's realization of Miss Havisham, "But that, in shutting out the light of day, she had shut out infinitely more; that, in seclusion, she had secluded herself from a thousand natural and healing influences; that, her mind, brooding solitary, had grown diseased, as all minds must and will that reverse the appointed order of their Maker, I knew equally well." I sometimes skim that fine line of seclusion especially these last few years and Charles Dicken's assessment of seclusion in 1861 is just as pertinent today. "

" One of the greatest books I have read :) "

" Slightly depressing if you're a dreamer. :P "

" Still good; I enjoy Dickens, even though he's a downer "

" The best book of Dickens. Characters are interwoven. "

" Classic book...took me awhile to get through it. The beginning seemed slow and the language is not modern. I do think that Dickens, once again, does a great job of reflecting on the human condition. He does not make the main character a hero like so many authors try to do. "

" my all time favorite book. "

" Hard work but glad I read it "

" its amazing....i simply like stories based on those old victorian eras....simply awesum... "

" Ms. Havisham and cake will forever be in mind. "

" Enjoyed the characters. Challenging vocabulary. "

" It took me a little while to get into it, but after a while I looked forward to going to work so that I could find out what was going to happen to Pip next. "

" I have read this novel numerous times with my English classes and find it is still one of my favorites. Who can ever forget Pip, the convict Magwich,, Miss Havisham, and his life-long obsession, Estella. This novel has many twists and turns and surprises in the end. I love Dickens's habit of using young children as the focal point and having the world revealed through their eyes. The evil and hypocrisy of society is intensified and reinforced greatly. "

" Still a classic worth reading. "

" This book was a really really depressed one. It was so boring till the middle of the book that a lot of times I found myself irritated due to the way that the Dickens describes the happenings and speeches of the characters. There were a lot of times that i wanted to abandon the book and never ever look at it again :P. However, in the middle of the book where the legal guardian of Pip is revealed, everything changed. The book stoped being boring, miraculously. It had intence and made me feel like what the hell is going to happen next(?!). I find the ending of the book really filled with mixed feelings. Due to the first part of the book, though, I don't think that I would ever again read this book. Well, on the other hand, never say never :P "

" I loved this book!! It's a well-written and insightful novel with universal themes and authentic, quirky and loveable characters. Easy to read, hard to put down and laugh-out-loud funny! A timeless classic: Dickens is a master. "

" Pip and miss haversham - one of the great tales "

" I am definately not a fan of Dickens after reading this. It had a great idea behind it all, but I'm very unfamiliar to the writing style of the period so it was difficult to get with it. I hope to read other books by Charles Dickens and hopefully my perspective of him as a writer will change. "

" A classic and one of my favorites at that. It took me a while to navigate through Dickens' rich words but once you have the hang of it, you start to appreciate the beauty of his story-telling. Pip is the perfect little protagonist, the skinny boy who is treated badly at home and suddenly stumbles upon his fortune. The book has an eerie quality, lent especially by Miss Havisham and her ghostly house. The events might not represent reality and might seem a little haywire until you've reached the end but it is a special read nevertheless. "

" Story is interesting though I kind of felt that it beyond being realistic sometimes. Love how Dickens portray the characters and the use of language with contemporary inclusions. After all it's a story about an Idiotic boy :D "

" loved it, a million characters to keep up with "

" I liked it the best of all the Dicken's novels I've read. It seems more mature than say Oliver Twist where the main character was high-born all along and ends up taking his place in society. It has an appropriate ending with hope but not with all problems solved but with Pip and Estrella maturing. Many of the most sympathetic characters are low-born unlike Oliver Twist. In fairness in Hard Times it is the same and obviously its what Dickens is reknowned for but in this book the characters are also realistic. "

" Although this book left me in distress about my feelings toward Pip and Estella - the fact that neither character is particularly likeable - I found it to be very interesting. The story of the way Miss Havisham became to be the way she was intrigued me. "

" a story of social status differences with complicated character, the marvellous charles dickens in imaging the beautiful metaphors of language. "

" Ha! This book taught me not to be a selfish pig. Do things only for love. "

" This is one of the worst books I have ever read. "

" Miss Havisham can't let bygones be bygones. "

" I listened to the audible version. It was great and I wasn't expecting to hear Dicken's originally intended ending which was also included. "

" One of the classics for a reason :) "

" I'll try to read it again in a few years time, but for my it was really hard to get through this book (being a teenager. "

" Got 3/4 & another 1/4 in to The Ending. Was a very good Story! I just might read this again. Love Charles Dickens! "

" The thing that stands out most for me is Miss Havisham: just a chilling archetype of someone stuck in the past who will never emerge. Pip frankly did not interest me as much as the tragic old maid! "

" Classic tales as good as this deserve that moniker. Excellent! "

" Reading this book is like being shown all the extraordinary quirks and vices and virtues within the human heart in the form of meeting unique and unforgettable characters that exist long after the last page is turned. "

" If i could give it less than one star, i would. "

" Read a million times and I still cry. LOVE LOVE LOVE. "

" "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be." Bam. "

" Utterly terrible load of old tosh. Please don't buy borrow or steal it. This book should be banned. If I was freezing to death and offered a copy of this book to burn, I still hate it, even though it mught savce my life. Great Expecptations - JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!!1 "

" Yes, it's a bit drawn out and the references to the 19th century legal system or boating may be difficult to wade through, but the characters are so fresh, vivid, and original that it made me smile all the way through. At once unlikely and unlike anything else I've ever read. "

" Confession to 10th grade English teacher: I never finished this book and faked my way through your exam. Oh what a young, intellectually lazy, fool I was! "

" This book is excellent because its everything the readers don't expect to happen. The book is a full mystery of the life of Pip. In the book he struggles and becomes rich, and then looses it all again. The book is a great story on how you never know who to trust, and what might happen at the end. "

" First Dickens novel. A bit slow at the start but having no idea how it would play out ( not seen any movies) got hooked. Can easy see how it is a great classic. "

" This book was very annoying and dragged out. In addition, it wasn't very clear and it composed mostly of old English. "

" One of the classics for a reason :) "

" Loved, loved, loved this book. "

" believe it or not, this book is funny "

" Good. Not Les Mis good, but still a great book. Colorful characters. "

" What can I say about Charles Dickens..? A masterpiece. "

" Suffice it to say, Dickens is now my favourite writer. "

" great book, surprised by the ending. would read again. "

" Pip, what's a name. For me, Pip represents everyone of us because we all grow up with expectations. He was a poor child who wanted to be a gentleman. The conflicts he gets in make us realise that we should think deeply of what we want to be. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed this classic that somehow I missed in high school and college. A cast of unique characters, a good study of human emotions and motivations (and expectations!) and well-written, of course! "

" While the book overall is bloated and overlong, it has one of the best core plots of any book I've ever read. "

" Too many details, Mr. Dickens. "

" Freshman Writing Class (high school) "

" This is a great book! Its one that imagine I shall read more than once. I think that Wilky Collins is a better writer, but I enjoyed this book none the less. "

" Very well written work. A Classic. Remember watching the series on television decades ago too. "

" This was a long listen, but very worth the time. There are reasons why some books are called "classics." "

" "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be." Bam. "

" One of the first real classics that I read years ago, this book introduced me to why great literature survives. The richness of detail that Dickens employs allows one to enter fully into the scenes as they stream off the page. Add it to your library if you haven't yet. "

" Much to much superfluous detail for my taste. "

" Dickens has wicked sense of humour. Love all the books. "

" i liked it a lot (Y) "

" Inspirational, honest and heartbreakingly truthful. Life isn't always happily ever after. "

" This was better the second time around. "

" By far my favorite book. "

" I've read it twice. *really nice book "

" I gave this book a 2 because I liked the wishbone version. And miss havisham. Other than that I thought it was pretty terrible. "

" It seemed to take me forever to get through this book, but I did enjoy it! "

" I had Great Expectations for this book... and although I was NOT gratified by the ending, Charles Dickens is such a GENIUS (his writing...!) and the plot = spectacular. "

" This was a great book. It presents a wonderful view of life and the way we tend to approach it. It made me question a lot of things and was just generally a great book! "

" This book gave me a very accurate description of greed- for love, as well as money due to the former. It is written in such lovely language that, though it may be difficult to decipher some of it, it is an excellent book. "

" Story is interesting though I kind of felt that it beyond being realistic sometimes. Love how Dickens portray the characters and the use of language with contemporary inclusions. After all it's a story about an Idiotic boy :D "

" So... I had always heard the joke about the title, tried to read it myself as a teenager, but...wow. That is why my teachers wanted me to read it. Such a great story with a less fairytale, more realistic ending. Fantastic. "

" This is the marked novel among many that I read these days. I almost cried and laughed. The last scene was so impressive that I recalled my life. I thought it is kind of success story of miserable child. But it wasn't mere story. This is how the life is. Bitter and sweet. "

" Dickens is ever so clever in the way he sneaks in characters here and there and hints at underlying ties and then blast your brains out on the pavement. "

" believe it or not, this book is funny "

" I decided to tackle Great Expectations this year because it was on my shelf. I liked the plot of the book and the ending. Sometimes I had a hard time understanding what was being said. I'm glad I can add this classic to my have read list but I think I liked Tale of Two Cities much better. "

" one of Dickens best works "

" Absolute masterpiece - what can you say about it that hasn't already been said? "

" I also read the movie book(with Gweneth and Ethan, lol, Lived that flick. "

" Reading this book is like being shown all the extraordinary quirks and vices and virtues within the human heart in the form of meeting unique and unforgettable characters that exist long after the last page is turned. "

" A great read. Dickens' characterizations are incredible. I couldn't help but love so many of the characters and their relationships with each other. It was also easy to despise the villains. Dickens' words are beautiful. I always enjoy reading him. "

" A classic. One of my favorite books. "

" As I often find when I "return" to books I thought I knew from watching Wishbone, this book was a pleasant, unexpected surprise. A few times I did lose interest, but all in all, I truly enjoyed Pip's journey through the mires of Expectations into maturity. "

" This book is dumb and boring. Pip is dumb for liking a girl that constantly insults him. I'm being forced to read this book for English and I can't read more than like 10 pages at a time before my eyes glaze over. He explains everything with an absurd amount of details and it's extremely slow. "

" The 1998 movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke is a good modern adaptation. "

" I love the story line so far and find it an easy read! "

" Dickens, a master of characterization and social commentary. Always good. "

" Enjoyed the characters. Challenging vocabulary. "

" so glad I finally read this. Dickens is long winded and strange but I love the story and characters. "

" At first, it was hard for me to get into the book. It seemed too depressing. However, as soon as Pip came into his "expectations", it really picked up for me. I loved it, especially the end! "

" Loved as much as when I read it in high school! "

" read this book the first time when I was in 3rd grade and again when I was in 7th. And again a few years ago. It is truly a classic. one to be read many times! "

" I read many Dickens books in college. They sortof blur together, I'm sorry to say. "

" Dickens is a master. No more to be said. "

" Still good; I enjoy Dickens, even though he's a downer "

" Already reviewed another edition of this novel. "

" loved it, a million characters to keep up with "

" this book was a hard read. it took me a while to actually start liking it, I did end up liking it but it was a slow go. "

" "Read" this as an audiobook while exercising. A grand novel-the use of language so beautiful! And the accents consistent throughout for the various characters was superb! "

" Good. Not Les Mis good, but still a great book. Colorful characters. "

" Just re-read this. I think it might be my favorite Dickens book. Abel Magwitch is by far my favorite Dickens character, and who doesn't hope that one day an "anonymous benefactor" will leave you a fortune?? "

" Great Expectations is Dickens most mature work, but also his most disillusioned. The style is marvelous as always. Some clame Great Expectations as his greatest work. I can't say. But it is worth reading for sure! "

" Best book from Charles Dickens. I like this better than his other works (i.e. A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities). The movie version had Gwyneth Paltrow in it. "

" I read this in High School and found it boring. I tried again as an adult and my opinion hasn't changed. It was a struggle to keep on reading. One of the dullest books I've read. "

" A great character analysis from Charles Dickens. Pip is a very deep and real character and Charles Dickens did a very good job to give that to the reader. "

" Needed an editor; clearly paid by the word. Which is too bad, because otherwise I was mostly enjoying this one. Just slow and plodding enough to lose my interest, though. "

" Absolutely fantastic book, can never beat old classics especially Charles Dickens! A book that can be re read a thousand times and never get bored of!! "

" A book that started my love for reading books. With the universal appeal of its characters, we cannot help feeling that its our own coming-of-age story that is being narrated by Dickens. "

" It is An. Amazing novel. I loved it. I Will read All Dickens book. "

" Reread this after about 15 years and just loved it. If it's not Dickens' best it's right up there. "

" Slightly depressing if you're a dreamer. :P "

" A long stretched-out novel with outdated grammar. It has its merits, but it's too didactic and relies on too many cheap coincidences. "

" I finished this in less than a week, and LOVED it. I can't say why. But it was just....so....great. <3 <3 <3 And some of the parts just broke your heart, but the ending was happy. <3 The characters were amazing. I loved the twists he gave them. "

" Completed Wuthering Heights just before reading this and found it a bit of a disappointment. Valuable for it's historical detail and depiction of London life, but found it shallow dealing with most of the character's thoughts and feelings. "

" Review will follow on my channel very soon. "

" Favorite of Dickens. Reread every year "

" Favorite book ever, so far. "

" Despite the ridiculously, laughably contrived plot, the book overflows with characters & scenes that engaged my emotions, & caused me to laugh. On the whole, delightful. "

" After an exciting beginning a gem of a book. "

" I have an irrational dislike of anything Dickens. He just can't keep my interest. "

" I really didn't enjoy this text, though I gave it three stars due to the sweet and naive character of Joe who was a joy to read about, and the few sequences between Pip and Estella which were lovely. "

" It seemed to take me forever to get through this book, but I did enjoy it! "

" This was hard to read, I simply couldn't warm up to the main protagonists. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" when i reading i feel Enjoy..!! "

" Read many years ago in the ancient times when I was an undergraduate, but I remember being totally engrossed in this novel's characters. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" I'm just not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Can't explain it, just not a fan. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" It took way too many words to describe things. "

" This is from the author Charles Dickens and it follows an English boy named Pip and it starts out with him meeting a convict. And also other adventures. I did not like the book Pip is boring and there was no reason for me to like it. It just dragged on. "

" A perennial favorite! I still love teaching this novel year after year to my honors 9 students. Dickens has a way with characterization, setting, and timeless themes such as forgiveness, love, justice, and redemption. "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "

" Another book that I need to give another chance. I read it freshman year of high school in a class I hated with a teacher I despised.... "