David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

I'm going to stop short - for now - of declaring this the best book I've ever read.  But it's certainly the best work of fiction that I've had the good fortune to experience.

Why?  It's hard to put my finger on it.  The rich characters, both in quality and quantity, certainly are a big part of it.  The stories are wonderful and memorable, as well.

But Dickens has arrived at something much larger that is difficult to identify.  It has something to do with a contrast of deep sorrows and joys.  Copperfield experiences the complete range on that spectrum.  But no matter how bad things get, he applies himself and he recovers to experience a multitude of new joys.

The story goes to great lengths to demonstrate that even the weak and unfortunate can find their calling, do good in the world and find joy in life.  A simpleton such as Mr. Dick, or a unsuccessful dreamer such as Mr. Micawber, have valuable roles to play in the game of life.

Perhaps the theme of the book is that no matter what our lot in life, we can find joy, if only we seek it with deliberation and fortitude.  It might take our entire life to do so, but we can find it.  Our joy might not be found in riches and rewards, but in the simplest of everyday events.  Joy is there to be found.

And a big piece of that joy is in surrounding ourselves with good people.  Copperfield betters himself through hard work, but also by befriending good, simple people.  His life long devotion to them, through thick and thin, are what makes his life joyous.  The people in his life all help one another in times of need, and vice versa over the course of their lives.

Happiness doesn't come from the extremes in life, the big "wins" we all seek.  It comes from the every day decisions we make, from the "little" joys we accumulate, from the people with whom we choose to live our lives.  This is how Copperfield pulls himself from the depths of doom, how he builds himself into a productive member of society who gives back, helping to lift up others through the quality of his character.

Wow, I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book.  I wonder how many times I will read it over the course of the rest of my life.

I've downloaded the complete works of Charles Dickens.  I should only be so fortunate as to continue to read more.