The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This book discussion starts March 1.

Week 1 - Chapters 1 thru 6
Week 2 - Chapters 7 thru 12
Week 3 - Chapters 13 thru 18
Week 4 - Chapters 19 thru 24
Week 5 - Chapters 25 thru 30
Week 6 - Chapters 31 thru 36
Week 7 - Chapters 37 thru 42
Week 8 - Chapters 43 thru 48
Week 9 - Chapters 49 thru 54
Week 10 - Chapters 55 thru 60
Week 11 - Chapters 60 thru 66
Week 12 - Chapters 67 to conclusion

Just a note. I’ve given us a pace which I feel may be appropriate. However, if we end up feeling the pace is too slow, we can modify as needed.

I have never heard of this author or book! Will be an adventure to read something so new to me!

I hope you enjoy it, Hannah.

Rosemarie wrote: "I hope you enjoy it, Hannah."

Oh I'm sure I will. I just found a beautiful old edition of the book today! IT'S EVEN ILLUSTRATED!!! Doing my happy dance - so excited!

Hannah wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I hope you enjoy it, Hannah."

Oh I'm sure I will. I just found a beautiful old edition of the book today! IT'S EVEN ILLUSTRATED!!! Doing my happy dance - so excited!"

Nothing like having a beautiful copy to read from

Hannah wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I hope you enjoy it, Hannah."

Oh I'm sure I will. I just found a beautiful old edition of the book today! IT'S EVEN ILLUSTRATED!!! Doing my happy dance - so excited!"

Can you tell me what edition you found that is illustrated? The only illustrated editions I have been able to find are YA books that are only about 200 pages... the Lorna Doone I have is 600+ pages, but no illustrations.

Hannah wrote: "I have never heard of this author or book! Will be an adventure to read something so new to me!"

But you must know the shortbread cookies.

I had thought it was by Sir Walter Scott. Now I'm more likely to read it.

I've decided to eat the cookies while I read, in case the book is a disappointment.

I think it will be an interesting read for everyone. It's set in North Devon, my county. It's an historical novel, and has some real historical background. It's a much easier read than anything by Scott, altho' he's one of my favourites.

Janice (JG) wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I hope you enjoy it, Hannah."

Oh I'm sure I will. I just found a beautiful old edition of the book today! IT'S EVEN ILLUSTRATED!!! Doing my happy dance - so excit..."

Lorna Doone

I found this edition on Ebay for about $15.

Linda2 wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I have never heard of this author or book! Will be an adventure to read something so new to me!"

But you must know the shortbread cookies."

Can you believe I haven't even been familiar with the short cookies till now? Where have I been!?!

I really enjoyed the author's descriptions of the landscape.

Those cookies were always a disappointment to me as a kid, no chocolate, no frosting, no nuts, nothing! But maybe I would like them better now, as I do like shortbread cookies.

Robin wrote: "Those cookies were always a disappointment to me as a kid, no chocolate, no frosting, no nuts, nothing! But maybe I would like them better now, as I do like shortbread cookies."

Haha, yes! If there's no chocolate (or lemon), I generally consider it a waste of calories and sugar. But I may have to get a small package in honor of the book.

I like shortbread, but I prefer the "millionaire's shortbread." I make it at home every once in a while, but I salt the caramel and use dark chocolate (or semi-sweet) instead of milk.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/153...

Robin wrote: "Those cookies were always a disappointment to me as a kid, no chocolate, no frosting, no nuts, nothing! But maybe I would like them better now, as I do like shortbread cookies."

Omg, I love those cookies, dunked in tea. I just finished a package.

Funny the cookies have always been a favorite of mine

I eat the cookies all the time. I buy a large box with many 6 cookie packs that are good for traveling.

I hope to join this read but as I will join The Way We Live Now, it will be tough to do 2 long and slow 12 week reads at the same time. I'll try to adapt, though, as I'd like to read this book with this group.

Brian wrote: "I eat the cookies all the time. I buy a large box with many 6 cookie packs that are good for traveling.

I hope to join this read but as I will join The Way We Live Now, it will be to..."

I chose slow so that other books could be read at the same time

Deborah wrote: "I chose slow so that other books could be read at the same time"

It's a good plan. It just means I have to learn to balance 4 or 5 books rather than my usual 3 books at a time. Many here do that.

Yeah, I have a real problem keeping all the characters straight in Trollope's books if I don't read them straight through, so I might end up doing that (I'm already at about 30% and enjoying it, so it shouldn't take long) and then joining this read. Or I might get to a point where I think I can keep everything straight and try to switch over to this one.

I just bought the 99 cent Kindle of Lorna Doone on Amazon. That way, I've committed myself to read it as I'm cheap enough not to want to waste 99 cents.

Hannah wrote: " I just found a beautiful old edition of the book today! IT'S EVEN ILLUSTRATED!!! Doing my happy dance - so excited!"

My Kindle has some illustrations too. That explains the 99 cent rather than free price. It's this Kindle edition Lorna Doone I like having the illustrations.

Brian wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I chose slow so that other books could be read at the same time"

It's a good plan. It just means I have to learn to balance 4 or 5 books rather than my usual 3 books at a time. Man..."

I used to be able to do 5. I’m down to three active now

Deborah wrote: "Brian wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I chose slow so that other books could be read at the same time"

It's a good plan. It just means I have to learn to balance 4 or 5 books rather than my usual 3 books ..."

I’m reading the penguin edition on my kindle because I’ve been out of town and will be to late evening of March 1.

The book I ordered finally came in today, and thanks to everyone's suggestions, I got a package of Lorna Doone cookies to go with it! Looking forward to getting my blankets, finding a comfy chair, and snacking on cookies and tea while reading.

Deborah, the blurb on the Group Heading says the discussion will go until June 30th. However, the schedule at the top of this thread says 12 weeks starting on March 1st, which means the last weeks discussion would start on May 17th. You did say you would change the pace if needed.
I may be starting it soon and wanted to know what you currently plan for the discussion schedule to be, understanding it is always subject to change. Thanks.

Brian wrote: "Deborah, the blurb on the Group Heading says the discussion will go until June 30th. However, the schedule at the top of this thread says 12 weeks starting on March 1st, which means the last weeks ..."

Sorry for the confusion. I have been using the 12th week schedule. Basically 6 chapters a week with a bit more at conclusion

Deborah wrote: "Brian wrote: "Deborah, the blurb on the Group Heading says the discussion will go until June 30th. However, the schedule at the top of this thread says 12 weeks starting on March 1st, which means t..."

Thanks. That's great. Toward the end of May works better for me. See you in the discussion threads soon.

Thanks for clarifying. I bet that for any book we read, if you look at how many views the Reading Schedule has, two-thirds of them are me, checking because I forgot!

Can I ask a question for those of you who are further in the book? Does it get more readable or interesting later? I've been trying to get through the first few chapters for several days, and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it or if I should just go on to The Invisible Man, which has been on my to-read list for a while. What do you think? Are you enjoying the book and is it worth it?

I read this book a couple of years ago and the action does pick up after a very leisurely beginning.

Robin wrote: "Thanks for clarifying. I bet that for any book we read, if you look at how many views the Reading Schedule has, two-thirds of them are me, checking because I forgot!"

Lol that’s me too

Lori wrote: "Can I ask a question for those of you who are further in the book? Does it get more readable or interesting later? I've been trying to get through the first few chapters for several days, and I'm s..."

For me the first few chapters were very slow. I’m finding that there are some slower chapters and then a faster moving one.

I rated the book four stars, which means I really liked it, but it does start slow. The effort is worth it.

Thanks! I will persevere.

My book is in three volumes, each volume starting over again with chapter 1. So I will have to check how I follow the weekly reading and which chapters to read.

Have any one else made a reading schedule for this? Otherwise I will try at a later moment.

Charlotte wrote: "My book is in three volumes, each volume starting over again with chapter 1. So I will have to check how I follow the weekly reading and which chapters to read.

Have any one else made a reading s..."

While my book is not like that, we are reading 6 chapters each week. Hope this helps.

I am afraid that there are more chapters in my version. I have 75 chapters in total. Do you have that too?

If not, can you name one word from the titel of the last chapter for each week?

E.g.
Week 5 - Annie
Week 6 - John
7 - Great
Etc.?

Perhaps I can then trace what that corresponds to in my Penguin Classics edition.

Thanks in anticipation!

Linda2 wrote: "I've decided to eat the cookies while I read, in case the book is a disappointment."

From some of the comments, you'll be eating a lot of the cookies during the beginning of the book, so stock up.

Charlotte, how many chapters are in each volume?

Charlotte wrote: "I am afraid that there are more chapters in my version. I have 75 chapters in total. Do you have that too?

If not, can you name one word from the titel of the last chapter for each week?

E.g.

Yes 75 chapters. The last week we read more than 6

OK, thanks.

Brian wrote: "From some of the comments, you'll be eating a lot of the cookies during the beginning of the book, so stock up."

I got some on today's grocery run (probably the last grocery run for 2 weeks or so). Will attempt to get some work done (I'm having a horrible time focusing on work) and then eat some cookies and try to catch up with the group!

Lori wrote: "Brian wrote: "From some of the comments, you'll be eating a lot of the cookies during the beginning of the book, so stock up."

I got some on today's grocery run (probably the last grocery run for ..."

I’m struggling with concentration

I know what you mean, Deborah.

For those of you that have a book separated into volumes, at the top of the weekly post I’ve indicated which chapters are covered by indicating volume and chapter, as well as straight chapter numbers.

I’ve decided to add one more week so instead of 12, 13 weeks. That will let us do 6 chapters on week 12 and 3 on week 13.

I went ahead and finished. There is quite a bit of plot at the end!

Robin wrote: "I went ahead and finished. There is quite a bit of plot at the end!"

Good to know. If it seems like we should finish it one last gulp, we can. I’m having a bit of a hard time concentrating with the pandemic. But am open to suggestions