Great Expectations is the story of Pip’s life growing up, living with his sister and her husband, becoming a gentleman with great expectations, and learning who his benefactor is.

I… didn’t love it. This book is long, and I spent a couple months reading it. Overall, the beginning was alright, and the ending was alright. The middle was pretty boring, if I’m being honest. I liked Pip’s relationship with Joe (his uncle/father figure) in the beginning. I liked the drama of Pip running into the convicts and being threatened into doing their bidding (sort of). I was confused by Miss Havisham (the wealthy old lady in the neighborhood) and that whole situation with Pip visiting her at her house. I don’t understand why Pip went there in the first place. The adults told him to, obviously, but why did she want him there? And I don’t understand why Pip went from wanting to be just like Joe to turning his back on everything he ever knew. Because he was trying to keep up with the Joneses? That’s the whole point, I guess. But it infuriated me.

I’m happy with the ending. I have a lot of questions still, but I’m glad it seemed like Pip learned something.

I don’t regret reading Great Expectations, but I don’t know that I’ll ever read it again.