North & South discussion

Hi Ladies,

As some of you are aware, over the last little while there have been discussions going on about what book we should read next as a group. In the interests of fairness we've decided to set up this thread for people to nominate possible books. In a couple of weeks suggestions will be compiled into a poll so we can all vote on our next group read. :) So that the poll doesn't have a ridiculous number of options, we'll wait for at least two people to nominate a book before it's added to the list.

From the Mods:
~ Becca, Trudy and Soph

Nominations List:
~ Wives and Daughters
~ Jane Eyre
~ Mary Barton
~ Unmapped Country

Assuming there needs to be some sort of connection, how about Wives and Daughters, or The Hobbit ;)

The Hobbit! LOL! I would love that, but I can imagine we'd be getting a few glares from certain other members of the group... Anne might possibly kill me... :P

Wives and Daughters would be a good one though! I've heard very good things about it. :)

Um...yes, I agree. The Hobbit strays a bit from any kind of N&S / Gaskell literary connection. As much as I love Richard.... ;)

I'm going to refrain from nominating this time to see what the group comes up with. I'm interested in about anything relevant to the story or its author.

A connection between Thorin and Thornton... the names are similar? Or am I pushing it a bit there? :D I'm with you, Trudy - much as I love Richard I think this particular group read isn't suited for the Hobbit. Besides, I probably watch the Hobbit far too much already. :P

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with too! :) Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be interesting and good fun.

Anne might possibly kill me... :P

Possibly is an understatement.

*hides under a desk* To be fair, it wasn't my idea!! :P

Thank goodness, or else I would seriously be questioning your level of self-preservation ;)

Yeah... I would be too. *laughs*

Wives and Daughters is my vote. I liked the miniseries. (Not a huge fan of The Hobbit... sorry!)

When would the discussion take place? I'm going to try to participate in a group read of Urban and the Shed Crew at the end of March ... waiting for my book to come from the UK (it's not available for Kindle download in the US).

One question before I think of a recommendation .... does it have to be a Gaskell book? Any book from that same period? Or can we do a contemporary book?

I've had Gaskell's Cranford recommended to me as well as Wives and Daughters. I'd also like to nominate Jane Eyre. It seems to me Victorian era (either written in or set in) is the way to go with this group.

Wives and Daughters is very good, especially if you already like the miniseries. Cranford's books are good also. I haven't read Mary Barton or Ruth, but I really like Gothic Tales. I thought it would need to be Gaskell of North and South related, but if it only has to be Victorian I can give you a list. :) Starting with anything by the Brontes, and Tom Hardy is one of my favorites. Though if everyone likes a more satisfying ending, well Tom Hardy's not for everyone. There's a reason his books are called depressive. If we are allowed to leave England, I love Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, though those are a huge undertaking. White Nights isn't that long. Onegin is great if you like verse. Trollope's novels are good too. Just please God, no George Elliot...

Hi ladies
Thanks for the idea of a group reading.
I don't know if that book could qualify but I was thinking of "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens. It's not Gaskell but I just saw the series and I loved it, so I wanted to read the book. Of course it's pretty big (I think about 800 pages) but I thought I'd just make the suggestion!
Candide

Marie, I'm relieved that I'm not the only one who doesn't find Elliot compelling. I noticed your list conspicuously excludes any Dickens. Are you not enamored of his work? I also love the three Hardy novels I have read. Far From the Madding Crowd is coming out as a film soon. I recommend it as a very good read. Love the hero.

Although I'm not officially nominating, I wanted to point out that Mary Barton by Gaskell, Shirley by Charlotte Bronte, and Hard Times by Dickens are probably the closest to N&S in setting and social/economic themes.

Trudy wrote: "Marie, I'm relieved that I'm not the only one who doesn't find Elliot compelling. I noticed your list conspicuously excludes any Dickens. Are you not enamored of his work? I also love the three Har..."

Oh Trudy, you are definitely not alone. Only those of us who know the suffering that is Middlemarch, truly understand.

I love Far From the Madding Crowd and am really looking forward to the film. I have to say Jude is my favorite, but also Tess, and The Woodlanders... So many of them.

I don't dislike Dickens, but we don't always get along. Surprising since he was Gaskell's mentor. I do really like Little Dorrit.

Really the list was just the tip of the iceberg. Vanity Fair. Dorian Gray is a favorite, but we have a love/hate relationship. I always feel like I get a forty page shopping list and not enough corruption. Henry James spent most of his life in England and became a citizen before his death, so he could be considered English. Edith Wharton is a favorite, and her earlier novels are victorian era. Madame Bovary... I could go forever, so most things in the time period I would be fine with.

Speaking of books, I sneaked a peek at your author page... Your books are now on my to-read list. I usually try to steer clear of re-tellings or sequels, but yours sound to good not to give them a try.

I would love to join another group read! Wives and Daughters has been way up on my classics TBR list so I'll vote for that one.

"A connection between Thorin and Thornton..." :D *swats at Becca with copy of The Hobbit*

I would like to read Mary Barton again and hear what people have to say about it. Wives and Daughters wore me out, honestly, and the casual isms knocked me out of the story. But I would read it or perish in the attempt if it's the choice here.

Clorinda wrote: "When would the discussion take place? I'm going to try to participate in a group read of Urban and the Shed Crew at the end of March ... waiting for my book to come from the UK (it's not available..."

At the moment I'm guessing the group read and discussion would happen sometime in the beginning of April... I thought I'd give people a couple of weeks to nominate books on this thread, a week or two to vote on the poll, and then another few weeks to get the book? If anyone else has any other ideas on timing though, I'd be happy to hear them! :)

As to your question about what kind of recommendation it has to be... I thought I'd leave it pretty wide open really, seeing as it's our first group read where we're deviating from "North & South". :) With future reads I and/or the other moderators might like to restrict it to one type of book or the other, anything goes at the moment! N&S variations, other Victorian novels, other Gaskell novels... as long as there's some sort of association with North & South!

Hana wrote: "I would love to join another group read! Wives and Daughters has been way up on my classics TBR list so I'll vote for that one.

"A connection between Thorin and Thornton..." :D *swa..."

Thanks Hana! I've added "Wives and Daughters" to our nominations list now. :)

LOL. Eeeek! *laughs and ducks under a table*

Kate wrote: "I would like to read Mary Barton again and hear what people have to say about it. Wives and Daughters wore me out, honestly, and the casual isms knocked me out of the story. But I would read it o..."

Thanks Kate, I've added "Mary Barton" to the list now too. :)

"But I would read it or perish in the attempt if it's the choice here." I appreciate your dedication to our group reading endeavours!

Anyone got any suggestions of good variation novels we could add to the list?

(Okay, last post tonight, I promise...)

This is a website devoted to some of the lesser-known Victorian women writers. I've never even heard of any of them. It might be fun to explore some of their works, if not for the next buddy read then perhaps in the future if we run out of EG novels.

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/vwwp/...

Okay, well it seems like the nomination suggestions have stopped for now, so I guess I'll set up the poll sometime over the next couple of days. :) I know Ceri suggested "Unmapped Country" back when we were discussing the group read on the Intro thread, so I think I'll throw that one in as well. That way we have at least one variation in there!

The poll has now been set up, ladies! :) It's at the bottom of the group home page, or alternatively you could look under the "polls" tab. I look forward to your answers!

It looks like our group read is going to be "Wives and Daughters"! :) Apologies to anyone who voted for one of the other books, I'll keep those novels in mind for future group reads.

Has anyone got any suggestions or preferences in terms of a date? I was thinking sometime around the end of March, to give people time to get the book who don't have it. *cough* Like me. *cough*

Since March is well underway, maybe we should wait until April. This book is a good deal longer than N&S. It might work to extend the group read schedule to 6 weeks.
It's a wonderful book, full of character. I really loved reading the introduction to the book in the most recent Barnes & Noble edition. (And you know how I've hated the introductions to some of the editions of N&S!)
Although I know it's against some people's rules, watching the BBC adaptation before the read can help breathe life into the book by giving visual context and outlining the basic plot. Just don't expect the same ending. :)

Well the Unabridged Audio book says it takes just over 25 hours to read, although they do tend to read slowly :p

whatever suites everyone else. I just need some time to find the book

Mid to end of April would be good for me as I am still reading Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew for another group read with discussions beginning the end of this month. If you need to do it earlier I understand and can always read Wives and Daughters on my own :-)

Well, it appears that April will suit most people, so I'll try for... perhaps the 12th of April? If that's okay with everyone? :) And I'll send out invites at the end of March, to give everyone time to get it who doesn't already own it.

Seeing as I haven't read this one before, I would also need someone who has read W&D to either take over or help me out with setting up the various discussion threads. :) If anyone wants to volunteer their expertise, just let me know, but there's no rush.

Sarah wrote: "whatever suites everyone else. I just need some time to find the book"

If you do ebooks, it's free on Gutenberg.org.

oh okay thanks for that

April 12 should be fine for me. And Kindle has it free, too.

I'm ok with the 12th of April too :)

Great! Thanks Hana and Samanta. :) I'll look to send out invitations in a week or so.

Any time in April is fine for me too. I've read the book before, even though it's been several years, but it shouldn't be difficult to run through again.

On another note, those Audible poems we were talking about. Annabelle Lee is my sole favorite poem. Can I just say, I have never heard anything so beautiful.

Thanks for letting me know, Marie. :)

I completely agree with you about those Audible poems, they are so beautiful. *sigh* I've yet to decide on a favourite myself (though I've always loved Sonnet 116), but Richard Armitage reads them all so wonderfully.

Hi Ladies! April 12 will be fine for me ;) !
I already have the book :)
Un abrazo a todas! he!

April 12 works for me too!

Thanks Noelia and Candide! I'm going to try and send out invitations in the next couple of days, so it's really nice to know that a lot of you will be able to make it. :)

Marie wrote: "Annabelle Lee is my sole favorite poem. Can I just say, I have never heard anything so beautiful."

Agreed! :)

Samanta wrote: "Marie wrote: "Annabelle Lee is my sole favorite poem. Can I just say, I have never heard anything so beautiful."

Agreed! :)"

Oh Samantha, we have excellent taste ;)

Hahaha...indeed we do. Poe is marvelous.