Victorians! discussion

Buddy Reads are smaller group discussions which act as reading on the side to our official group discussions. Buddy Reads are not officially moderated in the same way that group reads our.

While some of us mods may decide to start a Buddy Read of our own, any member at any time can also start a Buddy Read on any book that fits into either Victorian, or Neo-Victorian.

I think Marialyce, and a few others and I wanted to do a buddy read, but we need help in formatting it. Could you tell us do we go into the new discussion folder, or do we just put buddy reads group?

To start your own buddy read you would open up new thread within this folder. You my choose to either create just one thread for the book, or if you want you can break it up in chapters in the same way we do for the group discussions. Either way is fine.

I guess we need to figure what book all of us can read at this time. Then we'll take it from there, Thanks, Silver.

Someone was talking about Sister Carrie? I'd love to join...

Sister Carrie will be starting in Febuary

does somebody want to do a buddy read?

I’m about to read Trollope’s late novel Kept in the Dark during December. If anyone cares to join in, we could set up a thread or two here. It’s a short read, my edition is just 176 pages.

Tommi wrote: "I’m about to read Trollope’s late novel Kept in the Dark during December. If anyone cares to join in, we could set up a thread or two here. It’s a short read, my edition is just 176 p..."

That's one on my shelf, but that I haven't read yet. So yes, I would be interested.

I like Trollope very much and would try and join too.

Great! Didn’t expect any people at all on such a short notice. I’m thinking of dividing the novel into four threads despite its shortness, 6 chapters and about 40 pages each week.

Dec 1 – Dec 7, chapters 1 – 6
Dec 8 – Dec 14, chapters 7 – 12
Dec 15 – Dec 21, chapters 13 – 18
Dec 22 – 28, chapter 19 – 24

Let me know what you think and I’ll modify the schedule according to your ideas! I’m not strict at all with the schedule. On the first of December I’ll open the thread for the first chapters, maybe with some general background information as well.

Tommi wrote: "Great! Didn’t expect any people at all on such a short notice. I’m thinking of dividing the novel into four threads despite its shortness, 6 chapters and about 40 pages each week.

Dec 1 – Dec 7, c..."

The holiday season is always busy for a grandfather woodworker who is expected to make presents for all the family, and this year is also helping his 7 year old grandsons to make presents for their mothers (going to be nice small boxes with the boys' photos pasted inside the lids). But I'll try to keep up!

So cute!!!!
I'll bet they turn out great!

What a lovely grandfather! Youve almost made me feel Christmassy, Everyman ;-)

I would love to join in with this read, but not sure about time. I'll keep you posted!

I definitely understand, Everyman. :) As I said, it’s not important whether the schedule I made is followed, the threads will remain open anyways. Let’s just say that Dec 1, 18, 15, 22 are the days when I open new threads, and we will discuss when we have the time, no pressure.

For me, there are some computer issues ahead so at some point I might vanish for more than a couple of days.

I’ve read the first two chapters of KitD and was actually surprised how good those were. One kind of expects nothing from a late novel that is pretty much forgotten today. But it’s still Trollope, and so far so good.

Tommi wrote: "I’ve read the first two chapters of KitD and was actually surprised how good those were."

I agree that he story so far is interesting, but I'm finding that the writing is almost child-like. Which surprises me.

I would be willing to do a buddy read if anyone is interested. I would not read just anything, but I would be open to a number of possibilities.

Natalie wrote: "I would be willing to do a buddy read if anyone is interested. I would not read just anything, but I would be open to a number of possibilities."

I could probably fit a buddy read into my busy reading schedule. What did you have in mind?

We could do it kinda like the group read nominations. Post books for which you would like to do a buddy read, and see if you have any takers. When we have a few nominees, I will post something to all members.

I was thinking that if somebody had a buddy read in mind, that I could volunteer to be a co-reader (for many, albeit not all, books of the time).

Are buddy read proposals allowed to be for books not of the Victorian era?

Oh! Good question! I don't see why not. We are all subjects of Queen Vickie after all. It might help get some cross-over folks.

Lynne wrote: "Oh! Good question! I don't see why not. We are all subjects of Queen Vickie after all. It might help get some cross-over folks."

If outside Victorian is allowed, is anyone interested in Tristram Shandy from 1759? I've started it many times and then stopped again because I haven't got into the rhythm of it, but I've been told that it's one of the key books of English Literature and no book touches it for experimenting with the novel form and comic touches. So I would like to give it another go and it might go better if I had someone to bounce off ie explain it to me :)

Would anyone be interested in a buddy read for Emma by J. Austen?

Francis wrote: "Would anyone be interested in a buddy read for Emma by J. Austen?"

I wish I had time to re-read Emma, but my reading list is crammed for the next month or so. If you can wait a bit, though . . .

It's been a long time since I read Emma so would be nice to revisit it.

Clari and Francis, contact each other (here is fine) and work out your read however you want. Regular schedule, whatever suits you.

Francis wrote: "Would anyone be interested in a buddy read for Emma by J. Austen?"

See Clari--she might be willing to ready with you.

I would love to reread Emma@

I'm happy to wait for Everyman too, the more the merrier.

I started a thread---post there. Here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Would anyone be interested in reading either Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Middlemarch, Bleak House, East of Eden, or The Idiot? I'm up for either one, or all of them! Just let mew know. :)

Hi :) Thanks Lynn finally found the thread :p

Piyumi wrote: "Hi :) Thanks Lynn finally found the thread :p"

Great, Piyumi! Wading through threads can be like untangling a skein of yarn!

Holly wrote: "Would anyone be interested in reading either Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Middlemarch, Bleak House, East of Eden, or The Idiot? I'm ..."

If no one notices in a day or two, I will make a more general announcement.

Lynne wrote: "Piyumi wrote: "Hi :) Thanks Lynn finally found the thread :p"

Great, Piyumi! Wading through threads can be like untangling a skein of yarn!"

hahahaaa...sure is

Clari wrote: "It's been a long time since I read Emma so would be nice to revisit it."

Here is the thread for Emma.https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Judy wrote: "I would love to reread Emma@"

Here is the thread for Emma;
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Francis wrote: "Would anyone be interested in a buddy read for Emma by J. Austen?"

Here is the link to the thread for Emma
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Holly wrote: "Would anyone be interested in reading either Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Middlemarch, Bleak House, East of Eden, or The Idiot? I'm ..."

Holly-we just finished reading Middlemarch in the fall and the discussion threads are still open and active. Please feel free to join in on those and I'm sure you'll get some response.

Okay, thanks.

Holly wrote: "Would anyone be interested in reading either Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Middlemarch, Bleak House, East of Eden, or The Idiot? I'm ..."

I like the sound of all of those (apart from Middlemarch which sorry we've just finished as a group, but people on this site are very good at responding to comments past the official reading time), but it probably would have to wait if you don't mind as I'm in danger of getting too ambitious in how many books I can fit into a month!

That's alright Clari, I don't mind waiting.

For all those interested in reading Emma please navigate to the link provided above for Emma. Lynne thanks for the link.
Then we will decide as a group which direction we are heading in.

(https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I thought Middlemarch was superbly written but I just ran out of gas with it. It was just too long and too long winded for me. I tried to be patient enough to read it for its beauty which it certainly has. I may go back to it some time.

Right now, I would like to read something a bit shorter and faster paced. An example of a book I liked was The Woman in White. I found that book absolutely addictive. I don't want to reread that but I would like to read a book like it. Any ideas?

Joanne wrote: "I thought Middlemarch was superbly written but I just ran out of gas with it. It was just too long and too long winded for me. I tried to be patient enough to read it for its beauty which it certai..."

If you like Collins, I would suggest three other titles by him that are easy reads. The Moonstone, The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice, or Armadale

Deborah wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I thought Middlemarch was superbly written but I just ran out of gas with it. It was just too long and too long winded for me. I tried to be patient enough to read it for its beauty ..."Thanks for the recommendation Deborah! Anyone want to buddy read one of them with me?

Joanne wrote: "I thought Middlemarch was superbly written but I just ran out of gas with it.."

I have friends, both retired college professors, who have read Middlemarch to each other every summer since the first year of their marriage. Which I'm not allowed to say how long ago, but closer to half a century than a quarter.

Joanne wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I thought Middlemarch was superbly written but I just ran out of gas with it. It was just too long and too long winded for me. I tried to be patient enough to read it..."

I think this group read haunted hotel a while back. It might still be in the archived files

Joanne, I'll buddy read The Moonstone with you!