Great Expectations by Charles Dickens,  is the fourth book on my classic novel reading challenge (where I try and read 100 classic books in three years). 

Warning, there will be spoilers below:

Reading Statistics:

I started reading it on 3 December 2025 and finished today, 16 January 2026. It took me a bit longer than the other books, as I found it harder to stay engaged. There were certainly chapters where I was very invested in what was happening to Pip (the main character) but at times it was rather wordy! I didn’t know the full story before reading this book so I watched the movie (with Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham

I read the book on my phone, using the Libby app. I picked the book up 36 times, reading it for 18 hours and 55 minutes.

Enjoyment level – if out of 5 then I’d give it a 3. While this is an amazing ‘coming of age’ story (as well as a commentary on the society Pip lives in), at times I got lost in the words and the long explanations. Probably the most moving part of the book for me is when Magwitch dies. As for the ending, I’m assuming it means that Pip and Estella end up together.

I have to say that for a lot of the book I’m questioning Pip’s actions. Frankly, while it wouldn’t make a story, Pip would have been better off staying in his little village as a blacksmith working with the man (Joe) who is basically his father and probably the best and kindest person he will ever know. Instead he goes off to become a gentlemen, and doesn’t know how to straddle two different worlds.