EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion

The wait is over. The votes were counted and you chose the first nomination for the Read-A-Long discussion. We'll be reading and talking about Middlemarch by George Eliot in September 2022 until February 2023.

There are 8 sections to the book, and we will aim to follow this schedule:

September: Book One 'Miss Brooke' and Book Two 'Old and Young'
October: Book Three 'Waiting For Death'
November: Book Four 'Three Love Problems'
December: Book Five 'The Dead Hand'
January: Book Six 'The Widow and the Wife'
February: Book Seven 'Two Temptations' and Eight 'Sunset and Sunrise'

At the start of each month, I will continue the discussion by asking questions and posing comments on the section we'll be reading, culminating in a live video discussion at the end of February.

Happy reading!

I'm really excited to read Middlemarch. I have no idea why because I have no idea what it's about and was never particularly interested in it before now. I guess the format of this is exciting me. :) There's also the fact that my mother read it a while ago and was very interested in it while reading it.

I don't know why, but I thought this was our September read. I'm listening to the audiobook and have about 7 hours left before complete. I think reading this slower with a group and having discussions would be a great way to make it through this brick of a book. I will still follow along with the discussions as I'm interested to see what others share and think about the book.

I’m going to try to do this as a library book which will be interesting. I expect to have to return it several times and place it on hold again but I think I’ll be able to read along with the plan. I guess we’ll see!

- September, Book One 'Miss Brooke', Chapter 1 -

I'm really enjoying the expressive language. Although it's chunky and needs time to digest (so many extra words it seems), there is something satisfying about letting sentences sit.

I find myself chuckling, for example:

"Women were expected to have weak opinions; but the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was that opinions were not acted upon. Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them." page 6

What are some of your thoughts about Dorothea, or at least at how she is being presented here?

"Dorothea, with all her eagerness to know the truths of life, retained very childlike ideas about marriage." page 6

I read this book two years ago and have wanted to reread it. I don't remember much about it but might as I start rereading it. I really like the schedule as it is a very long book (for me) and also look forward to the discussions.

I'll be diving into this one too. It certainly is "wordy". I have a library book now, but have been scouring the thrift shops for a used version to keep. Looking forward to the discussion!

I am listening to the audiobook and have am done with Book 1. It took me a bit to get into it and found myself going back a several times, however I am enjoying it now.

I find Dorothea to be independent, smart and wiling to help those in need.

I am going to read this as I just discovered it is included in my audible membership!

- September, Book One 'Miss Brooke', Chapters 2 and 3 -

What are people's thoughts about Mr Casaubon, especially as how he is presented in the first chapters?

"My mind is something like the ghost of an ancient, wandering about the world and trying mentally to construct it as it used to be, in spine of ruin and confusing changes." page 15

I find Miss Brooke's fascination with him quite understanding - he's like the melancholic professor we all look up to. But to marry such a person?

"He was all she had at first imagined him to be: almost everything he had said seemed like a specimen from a mine, or the inscription on the door of a museum which might open treasures of past ages..." page 32

I am not a fan of Mr. Casaubon, he seems aloof and cold. Not sure why she married him, maybe she didn't see this at first or maybe that was the times.

Andi wrote: “I am not a fan of Mr. Casaubon, he seems aloof and cold. Not sure why she married him, maybe she didn’t see this at first or maybe that was the times.”

Seemed to me that she was looking for other things (intellectual prestige, a sense of importance, etc.), and his aloofness didn’t matter much to her. If anything, she seems to take it as a sign that he is the things she’s hoping for—intellectual, important. (Like the quote Betsy posted above, comparing him to the inscription above a museum entrance.) The fact that he can’t be bothered with mere mortals even elevates him in her eyes.

It’s hard to believe she’ll end up happy in that marriage.

spoko wrote: "Seemed to me that she was looking for other things (intellectual prestige, a sense of importance, etc.), and his aloofness didn’t matter much to her. If anything, she seems to take it as a sign that he is the things she’s hoping for—intellectual, important. (Like the quote Betsy posted above, comparing him to the inscription above a museum entrance.) The fact that he can’t be bothered with mere mortals even elevates him in her eyes.

It’s hard to believe she’ll end up happy in that marriage."

This is a great explanation and I agree. I'm worried that he isn't all she imagined him to be...she might have been imagining too much when it comes to him.

Some of my thoughts about Dorothea are she is attractive, loves nature and animals, she can be charming, wants to pursue the higher good, and does not always have good judgment an example is her marriage to Mr. Casaubon, maybe a little too legalistic in her religion and her reasoning can be difficult to follow as in the example of her mother's jewels and Dorothea saying she doesn't need or want them, but Celia can have the jewels but then decides to keep and wear a bracelet and ring.

In chapter 24, there is a quote that I have heard over the years but never really understood its meaning: Not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Does anyone know what this means? :)

My first thought of Mr. Casaubon is he is very judgemental and thinks his own company is best.

Janice wrote: "In chapter 24, there is a quote that I have heard over the years but never really understood its meaning: Not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Does anyone know what this means? :)"

It means to first show gratitude when you've received a gift instead of immediately inspecting the gift to see if it is good enough for you.

Lea wrote: "Janice wrote: "In chapter 24, there is a quote that I have heard over the years but never really understood its meaning: Not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Does anyone know what this means? :)"..."

Thank you :)

I am hoping to catch up with this read along so that I can take part in the discussion as well 😊

I've read Book 1 and hope to catch up with Book 2 and 3 before the end of October. I am really curious about the narrator? I might have missed information about him because the book I am reading is in English and I am francophone but I am wondering if he can be trusted?
What do you think?

I am not sure that I like any of the character for now. I feel that Dorothea is a bit pretentious and I am happy to see that her sister is more open with her own opinions. It will be interesting to see how Dorothea marriage with Casaubon will work? What is best: a marriage for money, for love or because you are looking for a father figure?

From what I've gathered, Lorraine, the narrator is an omniscient character not a personality in the story. In this way, it seems quite trustworthy especially when it voices impending doom as it has more information than us.

I definitely don't know what makes some marriages work and others fail, but it doesn't seem right to marry for any one of these options.

Janice wrote: "Lea wrote: "Janice wrote: "In chapter 24, there is a quote that I have heard over the years but never really understood its meaning: Not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Does anyone know what thi..."

Also, as to horses, you inspect their teeth to estimate their age, as teeth wear down through their life. So looking into their mouth is a way to judge the value of the horse.

I'm joining this group late, because I was more than half way through the book earlier this year and put it down when my local reading group decided to to read Mill on the Floss and there was no way I'd be able to juggle two Eliot books at the same time! When we finished that book I just couldn't pick up this one again, though I had been rather hooked by the story and heard a podcast interview with a reader who is an avid fan. Hoping that following this group will (1) remind me of the events of the part I have read--my bookmark is in The Widow and the Wife, and (2) get me into reading it again.

Welcome Judy, it's never too late to join :)

- November, Book Three 'Waiting for Death', Chapter 28 -

This quote stood out to me:

"When would the days begin of that active wifely devotion which was to strengthen her husband's life and exalt her own?"

(p.300)
At once sarcastic, almost satirical, and slicing like a knife at the truth of a failed set of expectations. Did you see this coming?

What do you all think about how Lydgate and Dorothea meet?

"For years after Lydgate remembered the impression produced in him by this voluntary appeal - this cry from soul to soul, without other consciousness than their moving with kindred natures in the same embroiled medium, the same troublous fitfully-illuminated life."

(Chapter 30, p.318)

I also joined in a little late and just finished "Miss Brooke" now. Although not much happens it is oddly captivating so far, I am enjoying myself reading it :)

Roevardotter, I know what you mean, it's almost a Seinfield view of the happenings of a group of people - not much happens. What do you enjoy about it at the moment?

I just like how the characters are portraied. In a way they are so loveable naive that I quite like them, on the other hand you can really clearly see how they make decisions that they think are the right ones for them, but will probably prove (at least somewhat) wrong in the future. I think thats whats most captivating for me, how about you?

I am behind on my reading. I started Middlemarch in November and read to Book Four. I am taking a break to read some Christmas books, but I am loving all the characters in it. I agree with the reference to Seinfeld. You get to just see these everyday things going on, which is often more interesting than some outrageous situation. Also, I would love the whole book to be Dorothea and Ladislaw.

Betsy wrote: “This quote stood out to me:

‘When would the days begin of that active wifely devotion which was to strengthen her husband’s life and exalt her own?’

(p.300)
At once sarcastic, almost satirical, and slicing like a knife at the truth of a failed set of expectations. Did you see this coming?”

That one jumped out at me as well. It strikes me as one of those really poignant mental shifts—where you say (or think) something that seems snarky in the moment, but that moment begins your transition to realizing the truth behind what you’re saying/thinking. As you say, it slices like a knife through the obstructions to your perception. I could tell by that passage that Dorothea was coming to seeing the reality of her situation, even as she herself might have been feeling guilty about such a sarcastic notion.

spoko wrote: "Betsy wrote: “This quote stood out to me:‘When would the days begin of that active wifely devotion which was to strengthen her husband’s life and exalt her own?’(p.300)
At once sarcastic, almost sa..."

I agree about the frequently cutting tone of the author's comments! In fact that's probably the thing I'm ejoying most about this book: her view of both the society of the time and the behavior of the characters.

I was well into this book when the Read a Long began, though because of a long pause in the middle of reading it I rather lost track of the many many characters. Well, here's a list of the characters: I like this list best of the ones I found on the internet because it includes many of the minor characters as well. Some of the descriptions include spoilers for the story though, so beware! https://www.litcharts.com/lit/middlem...

Judy wrote: “In fact that’s probably the thing I’m ejoying most about this book: her view of both the society of the time and the behavior of the characters.”

I agree. It’s the way people describe Jane Austen’s writing about her society, though I’ve never found Austen’s wit to be anywhere near this interesting or insightful. Austen’s narrators always struck me as the kind of people who run everyone down once their back is turned—it seems to be what she’s doing to her own characters. But Eliot is more authentically engaging with her characters’ motivations and inner lives. When some skepticism & irony sneak into the narrative, it seems well earned.

I just finished Part 6 today. :)

I only recently joined the group - but this book is on my to-read list and end of February sounds doable - I'll still join :) (I haven't read the discussion above yet because I am a bit scared of spoilers, but I will do so while catching up) - I hope you are all enjoying it!

Lina wrote: "I only recently joined the group - but this book is on my to-read list and end of February sounds doable - I'll still join :) (I haven't read the discussion above yet because I am a bit scared of s..."

Don't worry, it's not very spoiled heavy! And welcome!

So how are people doing? I confess I broke down and finished it last month because I wanted it to be my longest book of the year (and it was).

I find the book a bit uneven (in the sense that some sections engage me more than others), but in general I'm enjoying it. I think my favourite part is the insightful commentary from the author. A couple of my favourite examples from Book 6:

… but to most mortals there is a stupidity which is unendurable and a stupidity which is altogether acceptable - else, indeed, what would become of social bonds?

… this power of generalising which gives men so much the superiority in mistake over the dumb animals …

Also, the book has some very satisfying pay-offs, and I think it will have a hard time topping the huge pay-off of the scene between Dorothea and Ladislaw in the closing pages of Book 6:

"As if I were not in danger of forgetting everything else."

I predict that's a scene I will come back to long after I'm done the book.

I’m starting it today.

“I suppose one gets a habit of doing without happiness or hope.”
I said oh Will, outloud when he said this. This book seemed filled with so much more information. And you saw how dignity and honor was so important for some characters, Will in particular, that it became a hurdle for the people of Middlemarch. I appreciated that Mr. Bulstrode brought Will in to tell him the truth but him continually saying “not a legal claim” showed his true colors.

Judy, I found the last third of the book a slog, even though the idea of it all interested me.

I agree with you Wobbley, some sections are more engaging than others. I worry that my lack of attention span is also affecting my enjoyment.

Kyra, I like how you picked up on the aspect and importance of certain qualities for some characters. Do you relate to any of them in particular?

The novel reminds of Anthony Trollope’s books! I am enjoying this read.

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "The novel reminds of Anthony Trollope’s books! I am enjoying this read."

I've been wanting to read something by Trollope, so I find that encouraging. I really loved Middlemarch.

spoko wrote: "aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "The novel reminds of Anthony Trollope’s books! I am enjoying this read."

I've been wanting to read something by Trollope, so I find that encouraging. I really lo..."

I am reading Middlemarch for the second time and love it as much as I did the first time! I have never read anything by Trollope and have a few of his books on my TBR list. :)

Please private message me directly if you want to have details to our virtual discussion at the end of this month!

Unfortunately I will not make it to the discussion as I am still vacationing, but I finished it and wow, it was a ride. In the 1st third I had to power through a bit, but then it got so interesting. All in all I really enjoyed myself and see why this is a classic :)

Same, I missed the discussion too. But I agree that it was really enjoyable. As far as who I might relate to, maybe some parts of Dorothea. Though I think it’s more of enjoying the characters rather than relating to them.

A week too late, came across thisessay from CBC radio: How Middlemarch helps us confront reality, 150 years on
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/how-mi...

Thank you Judy!