Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

My husband rented Tess a couple of months ago which started my obsession with Thomas Hardy. I loved how the characters' lives became so hopelessly twisted because they feel compelled to follow cultural rules even if it means their own ruin. So far, I've read The Well-Beloved, Two on a Tower, and Under the Greenwood Tree (in that order).

I want to start reading his works in chronological order. I'm planning to start at the beginning and read Desperate Remedies next which is the first book he published. Would anyone be interested in reading with me? I'm tempted to just set it up as the official next book for the group to read and hope some of you join me.

Just down loaded desperate remedies. Have you started reading it? I am a Thomas hardy fan but could not get into Under The Greenwood Tree and could not finish Jude The Obscure as I thought it was too depressing.

Susan wrote: "Just down loaded desperate remedies. Have you started reading it? I am a Thomas hardy fan but could not get into Under The Greenwood Tree and could not finish Jude The Obscure as I thought it was..."

I haven't started it yet. I was waiting in hopes that someone would reply here. You really didn't miss much with Under the Greenwood Tree. I can't imagine why anyone ever turned it into a movie. I feel like maybe I missed something. But probably not. If you'd like to read Desperate Remedies with me, I'll start it this week. Yes?

Ok I will start reading it also.

Great!

I watched the movie version of Greenwood Tree last night. Some of the story threads were tied together better, but it was still not much of a story. It made me wish more strongly that she'd choose the preacher as her love interest ... but maybe that was just because he was played by the actor who played Patrick in the TV show Coupling. ;)

There's now our first pre-reading question up for Desperate Remedies up at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I have read 10% and pleased to say I am taken in with the story so far. Not always you are gripped from the start ! I am not going to read anything that tells me what happens in the story. You will like this novel.

I will make an attempt. I must say attempt as my reading list is quite full for the upcoming weeks. Could I get a time frame, that would be most helpful.

Reddleman wrote: "I will make an attempt. I must say attempt as my reading list is quite full for the upcoming weeks. Could I get a time frame, that would be most helpful."

Yes, my reading list is quite full, too. Since this is longish, I've set the reading time period for 2 months rather than 1. The time frame is listed on the home page.

That fine by me because it can take me some time too read as so busy! However I have made a good start and so far it doesn't disappoint. One of my friends have posted an amazing phot of hardy. I will try and share it.

Yes, I read the first section last night, and am excited about where it's taking us.

Let's migrate the conversation to the dedicated book topic so others can more easily find where to jump in the conversation if they join us later.

Here's Our Tentative Reading List (we may interrupt reading from time to time to stave off burn-out):

Desperate Remedies (1871) ... April and May 2014
Under the Greenwood Tree (1872) ... June 2014
A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873) ... July 2014
Far from the Madding Crowd (1874) ... August & September 2014

~*~*~*SHORT BREAK~*~*~*

The Hand of Ethelberta (1876) ...
The Return of the Native (1878) ...
The Trumpet-Major (1880) ...
A Laodicean: A Story of Today (1881) ...
Two on a Tower (1882) ...
The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) ...
The Woodlanders (1887) ...
Wessex Tales (1888, a collection of short stories) ...
Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891) ...
A Group of Noble Dames (1891, a collection of short stories)
The Well-Beloved(first published as a serial from 1892)
Life's Little Ironies (1894, a collection of short stories) ...
Jude the Obscure (1895) ...
In Scarlet and Grey and the Spectre of the Real ("The Spectre of the Real" was a short story written with Florence Henniker, 1896) ...
A Changed Man and Other Stories (a collection of short stories, 1913) ...

Some larger novels might be spread over a couple of months instead of one.

We might also want to consider reading The Life and Work of Thomas Hardy at some point. It's an autobiography/biography that was originally published by his 2nd wife in 2 volumes in 1928-30. The first half of the book, The Early Life of Thomas Hardy covers his life from 1840–91 (up through his writing of Tess), and second half, The Later Years of Thomas Hardy, covers the period of time from 1892 to 1928. I'm only concerned that it might spoil some plot points in his novels. If we want to read this, when/how should we read it? Thoughts?

Interesting list. I am not sure I can participate in reading every novel, but on the other hand it keeps things in motion, which is good.

That's fine. I'm going to try to solicit members from among anyone who is currently reading the selection or who has just finished it as well. That might drum up a little more conversation. We can always choose to slow down our pace if we're feeling a bit of Hardy overload later.

Amy, since you are taking 2 months for Far From the Madding Crowd, I presume you will now be doing Return of the Native in November rather than October. If so you might want to repost a schedule.

I'm skipping Ethelberta since I read it about year ago.

Brian wrote: "Amy, since you are taking 2 months for Far From the Madding Crowd, I presume you will now be doing Return of the Native in November rather than October. If so you might want to repost a schedule.
..."

I think several people wanted a short break from Hardy, so I took all the dates off elsewhere for the time being. I just forgot about this list. I'll need to change it up. I'm burning out a little and wanted to start it back up in January with Ethelberta. I guess 6 in a row is my limit (I read a couple alone before we started reading as a group).

Thanks for making the change, Amy. Would you please tell me where on this site you keep the list with dates that you had already changed, so I can check on it when January comes?

Brian wrote: "Thanks for making the change, Amy. Would you please tell me where on this site you keep the list with dates that you had already changed, so I can check on it when January comes?"

I set up the dates for each individual book on the book itself so that it pops up on the front page of the group when we're going to be reading it. And, if you've set yourself up to receive reminders when your favorite groups are about to read a book, you should get a reminder from us. No dates are currently set within the bookshelf currently except for the ones we've already read. I'll be doing that later.

To paraphrase a favorite rock band, I "Can't Hardy Wait" to re-read "The Return of the Native" in February of 2015.

If anyone is interested in leading the discussion in January or February, please let me know.

Hello Amy
I am back to reading Thomas Hardy after a break. I have checked on the list and saw that
The Hand of Ethelberta is on the list for January. Have I got that right?

Susan wrote: "Hello Amy
I am back to reading Thomas Hardy after a break. I have checked on the list and saw that
The Hand of Ethelberta is on the list for January. Have I got that right?"

That's what's up next. I think I may still be a little burned out on Hardy. There's so much else I want to read. But if someone else would like to lead in January (The Hand of Ethelberta), we could continue.

I could lead but won't be as good as you but willing to give it a go.

Susan wrote: "I could lead but won't be as good as you but willing to give it a go."

Great. Thanks You never know; at the last minute I could change my mind and read it anyway. As for now, I'll give you some magical moderator powers.

Susan wrote: "I could lead but won't be as good as you but willing to give it a go."

Hmm... it seems that I cannot make you a moderator because you don't have a verified email address?

Hi Amy I don't understand what you mean by when you said I don't have a verified email address?

I have no idea. That's just the message I got when I tried to make you a moderator.

That's a bit strange ! Never mind maybe someone else can do it

Has anyone started to read The Hand of Ethelberta?

I read Hand of Ethelberta a few years ago but I'd have to re-read it to be able to lead the discussion, though. It was my last Hardy to read and wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I read hand of ethelberta in January. Are you leading the discussion?

Did you think it would not be a very good novel? I think that film producers should try making films of Hardy films that are less known. This one would be good on screen. As usual with Hardy it had some humor.

Sorry, I meant to say I would not lead the discussion because I didn't remember it well enough and did not want to reread it yet. i had read some commentary and expected not to like a novel considered a formulaic book similar to many others "popular" at the time - it is listed as one of his "Novels of Ingenuity" rather than one of his more prestigious "Novels of Character." However, much like with Graham Greene, who also divided his works into types, I find myself really enjoying some of the "lighter" works.

I enjoyed it too . I shall be giving Hardy a rest for a while now.

I read several of his books in a row before we started the reading group (6 or 7 in a row), so I'm feeling a little bit of Hardy burn out. I don't want to end up disliking him altogether. I might be game to start it up again in June or so. We'll see.

I will join you if you start up again

Susan wrote: "I will join you if you start up again"

Please start again soon as I am anxious to e-read "Return of the Native" with a group,as i first read it in 1978 and my memory of it is sketchy. It was my first Hardy, and the Hardy my older brother and sister were required to read in high school in the 1960s. I escaped having to read it in high school, when I was likely too young to appreciate Hardy. Sometime after the 60s, I think Return of the Native lost its luster as the Hardy to assign in high school, in favor of Tess, Jude, Mayor or Madding. Curious what, if any, Hardy was required reading for Group members in high school or college courses.

Six or 7 Hardy's in a row is probably too much tragic drama for a year. A couple a year is probably better. however, I read the 5 mentioned here in a year circa 78-79, and enjoyed the 5th one read, Jude (possibly the most tragic) the most.

I have read Return of the Native but it was some years ago and admittedly was not as rememberable as some of the others. I hope others will soon want to start reading it as I am willing to give it a go.