2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

Discussion and group reads for Doris Lessing.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Le...

I'd like to read Lessing's Children of Violence series this year. I read a few scattered here and there over the years, but never all of them and never in order. I've always been a huge fan of most of her work, though. (The Golden Notebook is a perennial favorite of mine; and last year The Diaries of Jane Somers floored me, just floored me - but then so did The Golden Notebook.)

Is anyone interested?

I envision taking breaks between each book in the series, but starting with Martha Quest come January is definitely my current plan, and then perhaps assessing the rest of the CoV schedule after that.

I've liked everything I've read of Lessing. I'd love to do a read-through sometime this year of her Canopus In Argos novels.

The Canopus series is also one I'd like to read; I've read most of Lessing's work, but those I never have!

For the Children of Violence read, I'm going to start on Jan. 1st, so if anyone want's to start in with Martha Quest (vol. 1) with me then, you're more than welcome.

If I manage to squeeze in To the Lighthouse before the year is over, I might join you for Martha Quest.

Jacob wrote: "If I manage to squeeze in To the Lighthouse before the year is over, I might join you for Martha Quest."

Great - keep us posted here.

Ok, I'm going to start To the Lighthouse this week, probably the 25th (next few days at work too hectic to even consider reading Virginia Woolf, so she'll be my reward for making it through Christmas), so I'm in. Martha Quest on the 1st?

Jacob wrote: "Ok, I'm going to start To the Lighthouse this week, probably the 25th (next few days at work too hectic to even consider reading Virginia Woolf, so she'll be my reward for making it through Christm..."

Sounds good to me. Are you planning to read the rest, or just see how you feel after MQ? Loose team-read, or shall we make a tentative end-date for it?

Can we start with a loose team-read, and readjust depending on my/our reactions to MQ?

Definitely.

Sounds good. Any other takers, or just us so far?

Also, Jonathan and I were going to give Pilgrimage 1 a go later in the month. If our reading of MQ is successful enough that we decide to continue, could we try alternating between books? CoV 1, Pilgrimage 1, CoV 2, Pilgrimage 2, etc.?

Jacob wrote: "Also, Jonathan and I were going to give Pilgrimage 1 a go later in the month. If our reading of MQ is successful enough that we decide to continue, could we try alternating between books? CoV 1, ..."

That works. I planned to space CoV out over the year: Lessing can be grueling...

Not sure Pilgrimage is in the cards for me for 2015, but I do have all 4 Virago volumes of it in case I do decide to tackle it, with or without you and Jonathan. Lessing is more my priority this year - so a loose read of MQ is cool, and then let me know how you're getting on. Playing by ear is just fine.

I'm not going to jump on board for a slew of her books but I definitely have to read something by her.

I'm in for Lessing.

Kris wrote: "I'm in for Lessing."

Awesome!

So Kris, Jacob, and I will be reading Martha Quest starting Jan. 1st. Any others?

We should probably announce it on the January thread.

Yes - if no one does by tomorrow, I will. Having internet issues at the moment. Bloody technology.

I'll take care of it, and set up a discussion page for the Children of Violence series.

I wish I had time reread my favorites but there's all this new stuff I haven't gotten to! I've read the CoV and The Four Gated City twice but hmm it's been 20 years since my reread. I hardly do retreads, but am very tempted to join TFGC for a third time, that's how remarkable it is. As for Canopus series, I've often thought is a reread - I've read bk 4, The Marriages Between Zones... At least 3 times it's magical. I'll be watching this Lessing group!

I'm in. Just downloaded Martha Quest

I'll join you all for MQ. My copy is in the mail.

I'll join for MQ! I'll be off the grid from Jan 1 - 15, but once I'm back online I'll join the discussion.

Awesome to see so many people joining in for the groups's inaugural read with Lessing!

I think I would be able to join MQ. I'll see if I can juggle it with my other read in January. I've never read Lessing and her background is interesting.

I just downloaded MQ too.