Charles Dickens' favorite book that he wrote. I expected this book to be about a child, but it takes the reader through the title character's entire life. It is surprisingly humorous (I never realized that Charles Dickens was so funny!) and deeply touching. One has to settle in and enjoy the meandering style of authors of a previous age, but if you do, you really get drawn meticulously into the story. The ending (when I finally got to it) was deeply satisfying. There I was, sitting in bed in a hotel room (my husband was taking a shower) bawling as I read the last chapter, dabbing my eyes so I could read. This is the kind of story that stays with you for a lifetime.
Can a homeschooling mom of three finish a book a week for a year? We'll find out.