I finished reading Mister Pip. It is an incredibly well-written book with a fresh take on civil war. The story is both engaging and heartbreaking. Jones’ protagonist was a child, or rather a young teenager, at the beginning of the book and he stays true to her voice. Written in retrospect, Matilda’s story bears elements of intelligence and maturity and the inevitable narrow understanding of children.

I saved this book to read till I had finished Great Expectations. It was a smart thing to do, but a reader wouldn’t have to have read Dickens first. Definitely enjoyed this more than I expected.