Victorians! discussion

For November, we invite nominations for novels with an approximate maximum of 300 pages - if you look up your proposed novel on Goodreads it should give you the official number of pages as a guideline.
Deadline for nominations is Sunday October 4th.

We'd like to keep the November read shorter so that we can fit in some short stories for December and the busy Christmas period. For December nominations, please see here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

As always, tell us a little bit about why you have chosen the novel and if you are happy to lead the discussion should your book win, please let us know when you nominate.

I no in ate Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas hardy

Deborah wrote: "I no in ate Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas hardy"

I second it. Perfect short novel for the winter season.

The Kreutzer Sonata

Everyman wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I no in ate Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas hardy"

I second it. Perfect short novel for the winter season."

I third Under the Greenwood Tree. I like Tolstoy but the The Kreutzer Sonata sounds a bit depressing for my mood right now.

I fourth "Under the Greenwood Tree"!

Just to clarify to everyone: this is a nominations thread. Seconding, thirding, fourthing etc is fine, as is campaigning for your favourite. BUT your will also need to vote in the poll when it goes up at the end of nominating.

I just wanted to make sure that you get your voices heard when voting commences :-)

Deborah wrote: "I no in ate Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas hardy"

Adding the magic link: Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy.

Edit: oops! Just realised that Diane got in there before me. Thanks, Diane!

I nominate Jules Vernes' "Around the World in Eighty Days"
(sorry no magic link. Responding on my phone app which strangely doesn't offer the option to link...or at least not in an easy, obvious way!)

Victoria wrote: "I nominate Jules Vernes' "Around the World in Eighty Days"
(sorry no magic link. Responding on my phone app which strangely doesn't offer the option to link...or at least not in an easy, obvious ..."

No problem - that's what you have friendly moderators for ;-))

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Last few hours for nominations! I'll be putting the poll up tomorrow Monday (European Monday).

I'm glad to see Under the Greenwood Tree nominated, since it has been on my TBR so long. Still, if this weren't the Victorian board, I'd nominate The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote. At 37 pages, it is a nice short story for the month of November. So, I'll just mention it (and A Christmas Memory ), not nominate either!

I nominateHester by Margaret Oliphant. I have been wanting to read her novels, and this one is said to be one of her best. And it fits the page criterium. (At least the kindle says 284 pages. I see the linked edition says 468 pages. Hmmm)

Ginny wrote: "I nominateHester by Margaret Oliphant. I have been wanting to read her novels, and this one is said to be one of her best. And it fits the page criterium. (At least t..."

This does look a bit too long for a four week read. Sorry, Ginny, but please feel free to renominate this in the New Year!

Lily wrote: "I'm glad to see Under the Greenwood Tree nominated, since it has been on my TBR so long. Still, if this weren't the Victorian board, I'd nominate The Thanksgiving Visitor by [author:..."

Recommendations are always welcome Lily!

The poll is up. Neither Deborah nor I spotted the fact that we have two non-British authors in the line-up this time - three is we count Stoker. We're in too many groups.... Ah well, if you don't like 'em, don't vote for 'em! And it won't happen again. Ahem.

The poll is here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Pip wrote: "The poll is up. Neither Deborah nor I spotted the fact that we have two non-British authors in the line-up this time - three is we count Stoker. We're in too many groups.... Ah well, if you don't l..."

Pip, they are the right time period :)

Oops...mea culpa.

Deborah wrote: "Pip wrote: "The poll is up. Neither Deborah nor I spotted the fact that we have two non-British authors in the line-up this time - three is we count Stoker. We're in too many groups.... Ah well, if..."

We got one thing right, at least!!

Frances wrote: "Oops...mea culpa."

Don't worry, Frances! It's a very interesting-looking novel, which is probably why I got carried away and completely forgot the British-only thing.

As for Around the World in 80 Days... Lord help me, but I always forget it's French - despite having clearly typed the author's name in the link I added :-/

Total brain fog.

We all forgot. Note to self for future :)

Oh my goodness! Entirely my oversight. That is what I get for not looking up the "magic link" in advance!

Victoria wrote: "Oh my goodness! Entirely my oversight. That is what I get for not looking up the "magic link" in advance!"

Heh heh! Please don't fret. This is another novel, like Alice, which I think everyone "knows", but very few of us have actually read. You've reminded me that I really must do so one day soon!

I nominated The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker for December, but was told it would fit better this month.

Lariela wrote: "I nominated The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker for December, but was told it would fit better this month."

It was there in the November poll, Lariela.

Pip wrote: "Lariela wrote: "I nominated The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker for December, but was told it would fit better this month."

It was there in the November poll, Lariela."

But why not include it again, now on the December poll?

Ok, clarification.

The Stoker novel was deemed by the Moderators, on September 27th, to be too long for December which we had declared previously as "short story month". I asked the nominator to re-post the nomination in this thread, which didn't happen, but I added it to the November poll anyway. The end for voting on this month's (November's) poll was October 4th but the nominator voted for a different novel.

I'm truly sorry if people are upset about this, but I feel that we were clear enough about the guidelines. The Stoker can always be renominated so hopefully this is a molehill rather than a mountain.

Sorry, I didn't stay with the back and forth. As you say, Pip, a book can always be nominated again, in a month where it fits whatever the guidelines happen to be. We rely on you Moderators to straighten the edges! ;-)

Lily wrote: "Sorry, I didn't stay with back and forth. As you say, Pip, a book can always be nominated again, in a month where it fits whatever the guidelines happen to be. We rely on you Moderators to straight..."

No worries. Plus, we don't always get it right with the best will in the world and so we also rely on you lovely people to point out any wobbly edges which creep in unintentionally ;-))