The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

After a small interruption due to unknown reasons, the schedule is ready and posted. As usual for our Dickens project, the pace is somewhat slow (50-60 pages per week), but so far it has worked well for the majority of the participants. If there is a need to speed up, let me know as soon as possible, and I will be opening threads for future discussions ahead of the schedule.
I will be more than happy to moderate the discussion for this massive novel, but if there are any volunteers, it is perfectly kosher to step up and lead this discussion:-)

And now a personal message for those who have not yet read with us. The Dickens Project is one of the most rewarding book discussions. The speed is slow enough to read other books concurrently, the discussions are usually friendly, and there are many links to interesting articles about the norms, morals, and history. I mainly rely on the project participants to provide these links, and it usually happens spontaneously but very harmoniously :-)
Now, after the prep talk, let us go back to the reading business. I plan to start the next read on June 01, 2013. I know I am posting the schedule only 10 day s ahead of the first reading day, but I hope it will not stop you from joining the lively discussion.

June 01-June 07 (Chapters 1 – 4)
June 08 – June 14 (Chapters 5 – 8)
June 15 – June 21 (Chapters 9 – 11)
June 22 – June 28 (Chapters 12 – 14)
June 29 – July 05 (Chapters 15 – 18)
July 06 – July 12 (Chapters 19 – 22)
July 13 – July 19 (Chapters 23 – 26)
July 20 – July 26 (Chapters 27 – 30)
July 27 – August 02 (Chapters 31 – 35)
August 03 – August 09 (Chapters 36 – 39)
August 10 – August 16 (Chapters 40 – 43)
August 17 – August 23 (Chapters 44- 48)
August 24 – August 30 (Chapters 49 – 51)
August 31 – September 06 (Chapters 52 – 55)
September 07 – September 13 (Chapter 56 – 58)
September 14 – September 20 (Chapters 59 – 62)

I want to encourage everybody to join the Dickens Project, and, as usual, please feel free to leave your wishes, comments, or suggestions concerning the schedule or any other project-pertinent ideas. This schedule is tentative; thus, remember, vox populi – vox veritatis. Post and your wishes will be heard. Thank you again, and I am looking forward to lively and stimulating discussions.

There is some interesting information about Dickens' writing of Dombey & Son in Wikipedia. (The Plot Summary is a Spoiler so scroll down):-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombey_a...

And there is a really excellent (and amusing) free audiobook reading at Librivox:-

http://librivox.org/dombey-and-son-by...

The same excellent reader (Mill Nicolson) has completed other Dickens' readings. (I prefer the English classics to be read by English readers:)):-

https://catalog.librivox.org/people_p...

I'm in! I miss my Dickens fix. ;)

I just finished Bleak House and I can't imagine anything better but D and S has been on my list and I already own a copy so I'm really glad you picked it. I'm also going to be reading The Forsyte Saga but I think I can manage it.

BH is my Dickens's favorite novel. I am looking forward to its time. I believe it will happen next year :-)

MadgeUK wrote: "(I prefer the English classics to be read by English readers:)):-


I heart your choice, MadgeUK. :-)

Lynnm wrote: "I'm in! I miss my Dickens fix. ;)"

Me too, Lynn! :-)

I should be in, too, maybe will fall behind once in a while, but will always try to catch up in a reasonable amount of time. :-) I am already looking forward to it.

I have mostly been lurking on this board, but I have been reading along with the Dickens Project since it started. I am looking forward to starting Dombey and Son.

I have just started listening to it and it is very amusing!

I have been going through Dickens withdrawal! though i'm very happy I got to read Ruth in the interim.

Thank you again, Zulfiya, for keeping things organized, and to Madge for her wonderful background information!

I am definitely in, and looking forward to starting, although I guess sometimes I will fall behind. I am new and I reckon this is an amazing initiative !

I am really interested in participating and reading for the Dickens Project. Although, I have never read any of Dickens novels. Is Dombey and Son a hard Charles Dickens book to start reading??

Jackie wrote: "I am really interested in participating and reading for the Dickens Project. Although, I have never read any of Dickens novels. Is Dombey and Son a hard Charles Dickens book to start reading??"

I would not say so:-) It is one of his first mature books. Most of it was pre-planned even if it was published by monthly installments, so I would not anticipate any plot inconsistencies as it happened with some of his earlier novels.

Surprisingly, or shockingly, so I have never read a Dickens novel. I've always been put off by his tone and breadth. But, I am looking forward to read along with people who obviously know and love his works. I'm looking forward to, fingers crossed, finding a new (old) author to love!

Melissah wrote: "Surprisingly, or shockingly, so I have never read a Dickens novel. I've always been put off by his tone and breadth. But, I am looking forward to read along with people who obviously know and love ..."

We usually do it step by step; for some it might be slow, but for others it is a convenient and not an off-putting speed. Besides, if you read ahead, you can always take notes and post later. My approach is take a Dickens bite, chew, savor, and swallow. I hope there will be other moderators, and they might be voracious page-wise, but I am pro-slow classic read if it is for fun, so bear with me:-)

Dickens fun time will be back on Saturday, so do not forget to join us if you need a weekly Dickens fix, Dickens pill, Dickens read, Dickens banter, and et cetera ...

I'm already two chapters in... :-)

Lynnm wrote: "I'm already two chapters in... :-)"

:-)

Me too and there's plenty of humor!

This is my first read with the Dickens Project. I tend to devour books in as few sittings as possible, so I'm going to try and be very disciplined and keep to the schedule. It will be extra interesting to experience the novel in a manner more in keeping with that of its original audience. Looking forward to some good discussion with everyone!

Thanks for the audio link, MadgeUK - i might well give this a go. I'd downloaded a book from LibriVox before but was disappointed that it was a US reader. Absolutely no offence whatsoever intended to US members: it would be equally odd to hear Mark Twain read with a BBC English accent :-)

A newbie here - late to the party but going to give it a go. Last Dickens book I finished was Bleak House over a year ago so it's time for another Dickens book. Glad I discovered this group, looking forward to catching up in the book and reading with you all.

Join the party, Richard!

Richard wrote: "A newbie here - late to the party but going to give it a go. Last Dickens book I finished was Bleak House over a year ago so it's time for another Dickens book. Glad I discovered this group, lookin..."

And Dombey and Son is a great book! It kind of starts his 'darker' phase. Being the father of daughters it has always meant just a little bit more to me, and as you read the book you'll become aware of why I say that.

My kindle edition is unpaginated. Does anyone have an estimate of the weekly page volume, and how many pages through July 5 (chapter 18)? I'm crazy for considering this, but if only about 50 pages a week, I might see if I can do it. Dombey and Sons is one of the Dickens I have not read.

It averages about 50-60 pages per week. I am using a Kindle edition too, but I also have a library paperback copy, and in the latter, chapter 18 finishes on page 273.

Thank you, Sarah. Decisions, decisions.

I am really enjoying D&S so far, as it shows Dickens' maturation as a novelist, and of course the characters are memorable. I hope that you get a chance to read it! :-)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Thank you, Sarah. Decisions, decisions."

Give it a go, Elizabeth! I started a bit late and took a while to get into it, but am now really enjoying this novel. I think it contains some of Dickens' most entertaining characters and, though Christopher is right in saying it has darker elements, there's a lot of humour in it too.

Pip wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Thank you, Sarah. Decisions, decisions."

Give it a go, Elizabeth! I started a bit late and took a while to get into it, but am now really enjoying this novel. I think it..."

There's a ton of humor in D&S! Cap'n Cuttle, Huzzah!