Reading List Completists discussion

This thread is for general Middlemarch discussion. I will be doing my best to add some sub-discussion threads if I can determine if the book can be broken up into segments.

I am not sure about breaking this up into smaller parts. It appears to have 8 separate "books" within it, but I am not quite sure it is worth breaking them down as when I moved from book 1 to book 2, the transition was not all that obvious. Meaning, sometimes there is a major event that divides the book and creates the perfect dividing line. This just seemed like the author decided to change it to book two after a chapter.

Maybe it has to do with the way it was originally released? No real reason to break where it does, that was just all Eliot was releasing at the time?

I have been using this site to help!

https://www.shmoop.com/middlemarch/

Matthew wrote: "I am not sure about breaking this up into smaller parts. It appears to have 8 separate "books" within it, but I am not quite sure it is worth breaking them down as when I moved from book 1 to book ..."

I read that they purposely released it as 8 separate books - I think two at a time?

Matthew wrote: "I have been using this site to help!

https://www.shmoop.com/middlemarch/"

Thanks for the shmoop link - i have used them before and they are very helpful

I see the light at the end of the tunnel - I am within a 100 pages of finishing! I took a break in the middle half-way through because it was tough going. I have to say that the last 200-300 pages have been great - story-wise and writing and very engaging and moving. Maybe i finally got used to her style - and there also seemed to be less endless asides into local politics which were indecipherable for me.

Brooklyn wrote: "I see the light at the end of the tunnel - I am within a 100 pages of finishing! I took a break in the middle half-way through because it was tough going. I have to say that the last 200-300 pages ..."

I am at a spot where there is lots of gossiping and what I think it comes down to is one basic point (i.e. this is what everyone thinks about this one thing), but it is very drawn out.

Ding! Dong! Finally finished this door stop of a book. I have to admit that I really enjoyed the last 300 pages - half of the book - but I almost gave up a few times before that. I hope someone else reads this besides Matthew and myself! I would like to get other feedback. A great book - an infuriating book at times - i think a good book to be in class for. Nevertheless I was very moved by the story of Dorothea, Lydgate, Bulstrode and Chausabon.

I am also finished!

Click here for my review

Listening to it and using online summaries was a big help in getting it done fairly quickly for such a big book. In the end, it was a slog, but enjoyable!

Is anybody else reading this book or books? I feel like we are the only commenters! LOL

Brooklyn wrote: "Is anybody else reading this book or books? I feel like we are the only commenters! LOL"

Probably just us - it definitely takes a commitment and staying it through to the end was a chore. So, I imagine a few may have bowed out!

I read it in college, hated it (although I don't remember why), and have no desire to read it again.

Carol wrote: "I read it in college, hated it (although I don't remember why), and have no desire to read it again."

I can imagine - this is definitely a one time read for me!