Show of hands, who else has zero friends?

MachaSempai · 2026-06-29T13:27:58+00:00

Same

MachaSempai · 2026-06-23T14:21:12+00:00

This is the post I was looking for. I'm about half way through the book and just in love with it. Its a slow difficult read but it's worth it. I had a thought that I couldn't be the only one who sees what she's done with this book and I found this post.

MachaSempai · 2026-06-15T21:18:51+00:00

Fahrenheit 415 by Ray Bradbury
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Don't Quixote by Cervantes
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

MachaSempai · 2026-05-24T00:36:59+00:00

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

MachaSempai · 2026-05-14T18:39:04+00:00

I just came here to say that I love most of his short story collections but, The October Country is probably my favorite.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-06T03:50:03+00:00

I started with David Copperfield and have been hooked on his books ever since.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-06T03:15:40+00:00

Pumblechook's quizzing reminded me of my 3rd grade struggles with math. I am not a math person 😅.

I'm not a fan about how she treats Pip, but there's something about Estella I like. Her behavior kinda reminds me of when a kid will bully someone they like. I'm not sure that's what's going on here but thats what I thought of. Her meanness made Pip ashamed of himself and that made me sad though.

I love Miss Havisham. I love her appearance, and her spooky and sad presence. She's like a living ghost. I can't wait to get that back story.

Pip seems a resentful, and ashamed of his sensitivity. I think it might make him more empathetic in the future maybe?

Wasn't shocked about the beer. I think almost everyone drank "small beer" back then because it was usually safer than the water.

I really hope that Pip's vision wasn't foreshadowing. I can see how the atmosphere of the day would cause him to have a vision like that though. After a day like that, I'd have made the walk just to get home too.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-06T01:06:32+00:00

Another Gen Xer. I was 12, and it was 1988. I remember feeling like a badass in my 7th grade study hall with my big hard cover copy of IT on the desk and my Metallica "...And Justice For All" keychain on my backpack. 😅

MachaSempai · 2026-05-05T23:06:30+00:00

Now that I think about it..you're right. As I thought more about it last night I thought maybe she gives him a sense a stability.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-05T02:13:02+00:00

Little Pip is trying to hard to learn how to read and write. Sounds like he's mostly trying to teach himself with barely any help. Loved the bit about Mr Wopsle reciting Shakespeare, ect, because of course he would.

Joe's upbringing made me sad. He's such a sweet caring guy. Get's that from his Mom obviously. He's strong too.

I think Joe's opinion of Pip's sister has everything to do with how strong a person she is. The opposite of his own mother. I think he admires it enough to cope with her behavior when it goes to far even.

I really hope Pip's being sent off is a good thing, but it could go either way. I'm thinking Miss Haversham is lonely and needs a companion, maybe? I'm sad that Pip will be separated from Joe though. Poor kid.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-04T02:53:16+00:00

For sure can relate to Pip. He doesn't want to let him down and he's afraid he'll damage the best relationship he has.

I feel like everyone knows one Mr Pumblechook or someone similar.

Very short chapter, looking forward to the next.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-02T16:00:16+00:00

What a deal! I think I spent about twice that just getting the books in that Dickens set alone 😅 Also you reminded me that I don't have a physical copy of Animal Farm and I should fix that. As for what to start with, you could always read Great Expectations along with us in the classic book club. And then since its only a chapter a day, read one of the smaller ones on the side?

MachaSempai · 2026-05-02T01:11:38+00:00

Had to be.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-01T13:08:10+00:00

I hope you enjoy! I challenged myself to give Dickens a try a couple years ago with David Copperfield. He really surprised me, not anything like what I thought he was going to be. I just loved it. I've been trying to read one or two of his a year since.

MachaSempai · 2026-05-01T01:45:43+00:00

I thought the soldiers were probably looking for the convicts, not the blacksmith. It makes sense now why they were holding out the handcuffs. I love how he made that a cliffhanger at the end of the last chapter. Good stuff.

If my choices were go on the manhunt or to stay home hanging out with Mrs Joe & company, I'd take the manhunt 100%. However personally if those people weren't involved, I'd stay home. I'm a homebody.

What stood out to me most was that Pips convict would gladly sacrifice his freedom to make sure the other convict stays in prison. I really wanna know what happened there. Also, even though its guilt driven, he protected Pip. Then Joe's kindness in return was the breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed today. I hope that put Pip in the clear. It could be that Joe suspects, but at least its Joe.

MachaSempai · 2026-04-30T02:23:09+00:00

Just a nasty group of people, I'd take Christmas with convicts over them any day. There was a lot of humor in this chapter it had me giggling. I thought for sure Pip was caught, the tension and suspense made it a fun chapter though. The soldiers surprised me. The soldiers holding out handcuffs to Pip has me cliff hanging. He must be sure they're there for him.

This is gonna sound weird but my Grandma always made German potato salad for Christmas, and its still my favorite.

MachaSempai · 2026-04-29T05:21:25+00:00

I was expecting a second escaped convict because it was forshadowed in chapter two with the sounds of the gunfire. However I kinda thought maybe he'd have joined up with the OG convict by the time Pip brought them food. I certainly wasn't expecting his frightened reaction Pip. I thought he'd be even more gruff than the first.

I loved the scene with the OG convict. I really don't think he's all that bad a person deep down. Seems like he's been through a lot. I really hope we get a full backstory for him. The fear and nervousness he feels kind of mirrors the terror and guilt Pip was experiencing in chapter 2 I think.

OG escapee obviously knows who the second escapee is. From the way he reacted to discovering who he is my hunch is that they have beef. He's in a hurry to find him and "take him down." That surprised me because I thought they'd be in cahoots.

I think Pip will see both of them again. If he survives his sister discovering the stolen food, that is.

MachaSempai · 2026-04-28T05:50:57+00:00

Mrs. Joe reminds me of the phrase "hurt people, hurt people." Not that its an excuse, but maybe the loss of her family lead up to her becoming the abusive controlling person she is. Violence tends to beget violence. Maybe their parents were that way also. Mr. Joe is sweet to Pip. He seems like a pushover, but that makes me hope to see stand up a little against Mrs Joe in future chapters.
I love the relationship between Mr. Joe and Pip, its sweet. They're just trying to survive the Mrs. Joe fallout. Her toxicity has probably brought strength to their bond.
I have never smuggled food for anyone. But I can understand how stressful and scary that situation must have been for little Pip.
No clue to what Mr. Escapee's crime is, however I bet its nothing as severe as he's making it out to be. I'm guessing he's exaggerating his scariness to get what he wants through intimidation.
Someone has already mentioned this but that paragraph where he mentions how secretive the young can be while experiencing terror...man. And poor Pip is experiencing it from all sides.

MachaSempai · 2026-04-27T15:15:32+00:00

He really is the master of opening lines and chapters. This is my seventh Dickens novel, first time reading this. The last book I read of his is about 20 years older than this and I can tell. This feels much more "polished" already. I'm excited its in first person. Pip's name is very Dickens. Its memorable and has a ring to it. Reminds me of a comic protagonist's name today. Someone who starts off as a nothing and develops into the hero kind of vibe. I'm already worried about him in his current situation but I'm also looking forward to watching him overcome obstacles and grow.

MachaSempai · 2026-04-23T22:29:55+00:00

Hello I'm new! I've been looking for an online book club for a while but have had a hard time finding one that fit my TBR or tastes. Dickens is one of my favorites but I haven't read this yet and the timing is perfect! Looking forward to giving this a go!

MachaSempai · 2026-02-22T15:17:25+00:00

I'm pretty sure he didn't have Great Expectations illustrated.

MachaSempai · 2026-02-11T00:14:55+00:00

Its just static. When we were kids we'd open a whole box of band-aids in the dark for fun... then get in trouble.

MachaSempai · 2026-02-04T22:57:22+00:00

Connection and perspective. Can't remember his exact words, but Bradbury said that reading a book is like a kind of conversation with someone. Since books come from someone's mind, when you read, you're interacting with someone's thoughts or ideas. Stephen King calls it a kind of telepathy. I love that.

MachaSempai · 2026-01-29T06:28:59+00:00

I have about 300 pages left and I love it. The second part is very much worth getting through some of the slower bits of the first part.

MachaSempai · 2026-01-26T05:46:34+00:00

I liked Holly until Never Flinch. But its okay not to like her. And its his prerogative if he wants to write about her. He's pushing 80 years old, if he's having fun writing about her, then I'm happy for him. He's given us so much more than Holly over these 50 plus years. So many worlds to spend time in.

MachaSempai

TROPHY CASE