Q: What's a book that you thought you'd hate, but ended up winning you over? . Greatctations is a book I have a rather checkered history with. You see, I went into it already knowing quite a bit about the story. As a kid, I'd picked up a whole bunch of classics abridge for children and this was one of them. I never got around to actually reading the whole thing, but I loved looking at the pictures and there was something so dark and tragic about Ms. Havisham that kept bringing me back. Eventually, I decided I needed to read the original, even though I was certain I wouldn't like it. I was convinced that I wouldn't be a good writer unless I read as many classics as I could (I eventually disabused myself of that idea). To my surprise, I ended up enjoying it. Don't get me wrong, it is a dark, sometimes hopeless story, but Dickens is such a master that he takes one sentence at the end and makes the whole thing worth it (at least for hopeless romantics like me). Despite my certainty that this would be one of my least favorite Dickens novels, it ended up the opposite...all thanks to one clever turn of phrase. . 🌼 Bookmark by the lovely @irisellium. . . . #amreading #amreadingclassics #bookstagram #classicliterature #classicbooks #bookishlife #bookishgirl #bookishgirls #bookphotoaday #bookphotoshoot #bibliophile #booksworthreading #booksoninstagram #idratherbereading #bookchallenge2018 #readerlifestyle #bookishlifestyleblog #bookmarks #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishmerch #irisellium #charlesdickens #dickens #greatexpectations #tbt #tbtread