Some books I can read over and over and they remain thrilling. This, unfortunately, was not one of those. I remember it as being hilarious and consider it one of the best books I've ever read.

I just reread it (6/22/09) and didn't enjoy it nearly as much. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it at all — I'd probably give it a 7 this time around. But there was only one laugh-out-loud moment.

Mr. Pickwick, his three friends and his servant, Sam Weller, travel around England looking for interesting people and interesting stories. They deal with scam artists, crooked lawyers, a breach-of-promise suit and the Fleet debtors prison. But with Pickwick's unfailing kindness and positive spirit and Sam's worldly wisdom, they see their way through and all turns out well for all involved.

Here's the sentence that made me laugh:

There are very few moments in a man's existence when he experiences so much ludicrous distress, or meets with so little charitable commiseration, as when he is in pursuit of his own hat.