Oliver Twist by Chalres Dickens- Review

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

I love classics.  So I was excited to get to read a Dickens book.  I have read a Christmas Carol before and really enjoyed it.  So when the chance came to read Oliver Twist I couldn't wait.  Here is the goodreads description:

Dickens's classic morality tale of a starving orphan caught between opposing forces of good and evil is a powerful indictment of Victorian England's Poor Laws. Filled with dark humor and an unforgettable cast of characters Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sykes, and the Artful Dodger, to name a few Dickens's second novel is a compelling social satire that has remained popular since it was first serialized in 1837- 39..

Oliver Twist is much longer then I thought! I picked it up from the library and didn't expect the length at all. A Christmas Carol was so short so I didn't realize Dicken's books were long.  The story was sad to me.  Of course at the end it's all happy.  But the story of Oliver is sad.  When Oliver is born his mother dies.  He is then moved into a workhouse.  He has a really terrible time here.  While living in this workhouse he is basically starved.  He says his famous lines to one of the workers about food, "Please sir, I want some more"

Oliver is eventually made an apprentice to someone who makes coffins.  He tries to be a good boy there only to be accused of things he didn't do.  He then runs away to London and ends up being a criminal under the leadership of Fagin. Fagin is a very very interesting character.  Quite evil. I still can't believe how evil he could be.  Oliver manages to get away and lives with a great man, Mr. Brownlow. He helps Oliver but then Fagin captures him again and brings him back into a life of crime.

Fagin and another gentleman make Oliver rob a house.. where Oliver is shot.  The house owners then take care of Oliver and try to also raise him correctly.  During this time Oliver wants to find Mr. Brownlow and let him know what happened to him and why he never returned to his house.  Also during this time Fagin is trying to capture Oliver back.  A woman who was with the criminals, Nancy, has always tried to help Oliver.  She tries to keep him from being captured again.. only to be killed by Sikes for helping!

Nancy's story is tragic to me.  I was so upset when she died.  There again though Dickens can write and make you believe just how bad people can be.  Oliver eventually does escape.  At the end of the book Dickens sort of stops writing about Oliver and begins to just write about Sikes, Nancy and Fagin.  The book isn't uplifting at all.  It's very sad and depressing. 

I am interesting in watching a couple of movies based off the book.  I would also like to see the musical! 

The crystal ball says:

Fog is coming.....  in the middle of the road on this book!