I went to the library in search of Great Expectation today. Unfortunately, all the copies of the book were checked out. Who ever would have imagined that Great Expectations - or anything by Charles fucking Dickens - would be so popular? Personally, I think it's a terrible book.

That's why I want to read it, in fact. You see, my last Dickens experience was in ninth grade. At fourteen I saw the novel as being a mushy, touchy-feely love story about some whiny pansy boy and a little bitch girl with a crazy grandmother. It didn't help that it was homework - I never took too kindly to being forced to read. Besides - I had no way to relate to Pip and Estella, or to Miss Havisham. I'd never been in love; I had no idea what love was about. None. I had never been rejected by someone I loved, nor had I ever been left by someone I loved. Since ninth grade, I've been both (and both by the same person, in the same sentence...lovely). I suspect that Great Expectations might actually be a good book this time around - that is, maybe I'll get something out of it.

Then again, maybe not. It might just suck. (Quote August Rubrect, English professor: "Did I ever finish Great Expectations? Hell no! I got tired of that shit.") The abridged version does, if I recall correctly, devote almost an entire chapter to a description of a particular kettle that doesn't come up again over the course of the novel.

Wait...why is Dickens one of the greatest writers ever? I wish someone would explain that to me some time.