Reading the Chunksters discussion

This is one of Trollope’s longest novels - perfect for us! Has anyone read Trollope before?

Nary a dollop of Trollope.

I have read a dozen or so Trollope novels in the past couple years. Supposed to be one of his better novels. Looking forward to it.

Trollope is almost always an easy and worthwhile read.

I went to the garage yesterday to try to find my copy of TWWLN in all my boxes of books. It was on top of the first box I opened so clearly I must be meant to be joining in this read. Not sure I will keep up in the first half of the read as I am swamped with work and study commitments but hopefully I will catch up as we go as I'd love to actually finish on time for once!

I read this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I won't be rereading but will pop into the discussion threads now and then.

I am not promising to read this one - may be able to fit it in but probably not from the start. I have never read Trollope but do remember seeing some of the 2001 BBC TV adaptation.

As I know this is late Trollope, I guess I planned to read it AFTER reading all the Barsetshire novels, all the Palliser novels, and a few standalones like Orley Farm.

Well, the farthest I got in that lifetime plan was five of the six Barsetshire novels, and about one-quarter of Can You Forgive Her? and about two-thirds of Phineas Finn.

But I would have to agree with Virginia Woolf (or was she being ironic?) that Small House at Allington was quite perfect.

... She thought Anthony Trollope's The Small House at Allington “perhaps the most perfect of English novels.”

PS- here is the quote from VW in a little more context:

But here we reach another point upon which the present age may be inclined to have more sympathy with Meredith. When he wrote, in the seventies and eighties of the last century, the novel had reached a stage where it could only exist by moving onward. It is a possible contention that after those two perfect novels, Pride and Prejudice and The Small House at Allington, English fiction had to escape from the dominion of that perfection, as English poetry had to escape from the perfection of Tennyson. George Eliot, Meredith, and Hardy were all imperfect novelists largely because they insisted upon introducing qualities, of thought and of poetry, that are perhaps incompatible with fiction at its most perfect. On the other hand, if fiction had remained what it was to Jane Austen and Trollope, fiction would by this time be dead. Thus Meredith deserves our gratitude and excites our interest as a great innovator.

https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/wool...

I've never read any Trollope before, but this has been on my TBR-list for years so I am really looking forward to it.

4.05 · Rating details · 10,590 ratings · 791 reviews

"Anecdotally," one of my GR friends has rated it, one has abandoned it, and ten have marked it 'to read.'

I don't even know what to compare it with..

Middlemarch?

3.95 · Rating details · 126,030 ratings · 6,731 reviews


... so, not even 1/10th the attention that MM gets.

Bleak House?

4.01 · Rating details · 89,085 ratings · 3,776 reviews

Of Human Bondage?

4.13 · Rating details · 44,062 ratings · 2,967 reviews

(Wow. People really LIKE OHB..)

One more comparison. Small House at Allington:

4.04 · Rating details · 3,955 ratings · 283 reviews

Hummingbirder wrote: "Nary a dollop of Trollope."

Good one HB! I had intended to read this exact book with a group years ago but the timing did not fit. I believe I also read the first book of one of his long series once upon a time.

Dan wrote: "I have read a dozen or so Trollope novels in the past couple years. Supposed to be one of his better novels. Looking forward to it.

Trollope is almost always an easy and worthwhile read."

Excellent Dan! Glad you can join!

Bron wrote: "I went to the garage yesterday to try to find my copy of TWWLN in all my boxes of books. It was on top of the first box I opened so clearly I must be meant to be joining in this read. Not sure I wi..."

It was meant to be if the book was on top in a big pile! Believe me I understand about scheduling woes so please just drop in when you can. Perhaps you can use TWWLN as your 'break' from studying!

Pamela wrote: "I read this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I won't be rereading but will pop into the discussion threads now and then."

Thanks Pamela and hi! Great to see you here. Would love any insights you recall as we go along :)

Hugh wrote: "I am not promising to read this one - may be able to fit it in but probably not from the start. I have never read Trollope but do remember seeing some of the 2001 BBC TV adaptation."

That's ok Hugh - hope you can find some time at some point and definitely feel free to post on earlier threads - we will check back and reply. Hope all is well!

Christopher wrote: "As I know this is late Trollope, I guess I planned to read it AFTER reading all the Barsetshire novels, all the Palliser novels, and a few standalones like Orley Farm.

Well, the farthest I got in ..."

Well Christopher, I would just say to that, you have to live NOW! who knows if you would ever get to the late Trollope if you read them all in order? Maybe it's the best one and you never end up getting to it! That would be a travesty!

Christopher wrote: "PS- here is the quote from VW in a little more context:

But here we reach another point upon which the present age may be inclined to have more sympathy with Meredith. When he wrote, in the sevent..."

Interesting - thanks for sharing! I'll be interested to hear what Trollope fans think of this novel compared to his earlier ones, as well as to other novels during the time period.

Nina wrote: "I've never read any Trollope before, but this has been on my TBR-list for years so I am really looking forward to it."

Wonderful, glad you can join us Nina!

Lorna wrote: "I see this book is #34 on the top 50 books to read before you die. Maybe a bit morbid, but that is a high honor considering how many books have been written."

Wow I didn't know that! Do you have that list you can post?

Christopher take note - you can't die before you read this.

Christopher wrote: "4.05 · Rating details · 10,590 ratings · 791 reviews

"Anecdotally," one of my GR friends has rated it, one has abandoned it, and ten have marked it 'to read.'

I don't even know what to compare it..."

While I'm a bit dubious about the merit of GR ratings, I'd still be curious to see how the group rates it when we are done!

The Guardian newspaper's most recent "100 Best Novels" lists TWWLN at #22; these selections were limited to books written in English, and ranked chronologically.

"Inspired by the author’s fury at the corrupt state of England, and dismissed by critics at the time, The Way We Live Now is recognised as Trollope’s masterpiece." -The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian.

Dan wrote: "I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian."

Yes, I'll probably wait to re-read it with that group at the beginning of next year. It's hard to fit on an 800+ page book right now. Since I have read it once, I might chime in anyway, but its been about 18 years. I remember some of the plot, but my memories are probably more from watching the very good miniseries that Hugh referred to.

Hi all just to let folks know that this is available in audio format through Hoopla (free) - I'll be listening just as soon as I wrap up my current book, so likely by this coming weekend. I'll try to catch up to keep to the group schedule.

Jen wrote: "Hi all just to let folks know that this is available in audio format through Hoopla (free) - I'll be listening just as soon as I wrap up my current book, so likely by this coming weekend. I'll try ..."

Thanks for letting us know that. I will ‘listen’ along.
Love Trollope but so far have only read the wonderful Barsetshire books.

Jen wrote: "Hi all just to let folks know that this is available in audio format through Hoopla (free) - I'll be listening just as soon as I wrap up my current book, so likely by this coming weekend. I'll try ..."

Awesome thanks Jen!

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "Jen wrote: "Hi all just to let folks know that this is available in audio format through Hoopla (free) - I'll be listening just as soon as I wrap up my current book, so likely by this coming weeken..."

Yay! Great to see you Tracey hope you are well!

Brian wrote: "Dan wrote: "I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian."

Yes, I'll probably wait to re-read it with that group at the beginning of next year. It's hard to fit on an 800+ page book right ..."

Chime in if you can!

Dan wrote: "I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian."

Interesting! Is this group currently active?

Dan wrote: "The Guardian newspaper's most recent "100 Best Novels" lists TWWLN at #22; these selections were limited to books written in English, and ranked chronologically.

"Inspired by the author’s fury at..."

Weird that they would list them chronologically!

The early great novels were read by subsequent authors. Novels build on what has come before. Also, hard to rank art.

Dianne wrote: "Dan wrote: "I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian."

Interesting! Is this group currently active?"

Diane,

The group with the Trollope project is called The Readers' Review.

Here is a link to all Trollope discussions.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

As I recall, there was some discussion, once the group finished all the Barsetshire and all the Palliser novels, whether it should disband, or continue with some of Trollope's best-known standalones.

I haven't read any Trollope, although he's been on my TBR list for years now. Too many books, too little time. I own the first book in each of the Barsetshire and Palliser series for when I'm "ready", but I just haven't been able to fit them in yet.

I became aware of Trollope when I watched the TV adaptation of TWWLN that Hugh mentioned years ago, and later realized it was based on a book. I would love to read this with the group, but again, I don't think I have the time at the moment.

Dan wrote: "The early great novels were read by subsequent authors. Novels build on what has come before. Also, hard to rank art."

excellent points

Lorna wrote: "Yeah I did find it! I don't know how official this list is based on the website; however, Barnes and Nobles makes a metal bookmark you can buy based on the list. So, it must be somewhat legit.

50 ..."

I still have a lot to go!

Christopher wrote: "Dianne wrote: "Dan wrote: "I am in the same The Trollope Project group as Brian."

Interesting! Is this group currently active?"

Diane,

The group with the Trollope project is called The Readers'..."

That's right! thank you - I think I joined for one of the barsetshire book group reads.

Linda wrote: "I haven't read any Trollope, although he's been on my TBR list for years now. Too many books, too little time. I own the first book in each of the Barsetshire and Palliser series for when I'm "read..."

I hope you can join us for the next book Linda!

Dianne wrote: "That's right! thank you - I think I joined for one of the barsetshire book group reads. "

When you join many groups its hard to keep track of things.
Dianne, one of the other Goodreads groups you are in, LitnLife recently started the Barsetshire series.( I'm not a member.)
LitnLife can be reached at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/....

Brian wrote: "Dianne wrote: "That's right! thank you - I think I joined for one of the barsetshire book group reads. "

When you join many groups its hard to keep track of things.
Dianne, one of the other Goodr..."

Yes! They just finished that when I resurfaced. I think they are starting p+p now. I’ve learned to ‘follow’ a lot of groups but not read a zillion books at once like I used to attempt!!