Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hi, guys!

I'm going to post a reading schedule here to facilitate and organize our reading.

This is a suggestion:

Week 1 - January 3-9 - Chapters 1-15 (I-XV)
Week 2 - January 10-16 - Chapters 16-30 (XVI-XXX)
Week 3 - January 17-23 - Chapters 31-45 (XXXI-XLV)
Week 4 - January 24-30 - Chapters 46-59 (XLVI-LIX)

We will have one topic for each week.
I think it would be easier to separate the chapters like this, so we don't get spoilers while answering the topics.
Please, share your thoughts about it.

Rose wrote: "This is a suggestion:
...
Week 4 - January 24-30 - Chap..."

Do we have to use a Specific edition? I'm using an audio book…

Lisa wrote: "Rose wrote: "This is a suggestion:
...
Week 4 - January 24-30 - Chap..."

Do we have to use a Specific edition? I'm using an audio book…"

No, Lisa. You can use any edition you have. :)

I am going to use this one:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I'm so delighted! I have never tackled GREAT EXPECTATIONS before!

Lisa wrote: "I'm so delighted! I have never tackled GREAT EXPECTATIONS before!"

I am happy too, Lisa! Good way to start the year! :)

I have an old college text that I used years ago. It is from the Riverside Literature Series, edited by Kenneth Lynn of Harvard University and Arno Jewett of the U. S. Office of Education. It includes some discussion points for reading and discussion, some of which are chapter-by-chapter, and others being broader essay type questions.

I should add that this text also includes an alternate ending that Dickens first used. It is significantly different from the one that Dickens finally chose, at the request of a close friend of Dickens. I will mention this in more detail as we get down to that point.

I am really glad to be getting to read this book again - and as the first book for me in this challenge too - how wonderful!!! I first read it about 20 years ago and I can unequivocally say that it is still one of my favorite books of all time!!! I love it and think it is fantastic. So, I am very excited about reading it again, finally, and sharing it with all of you. Happy reading.

I'm looking forward to this.......reading and rereading Dickens is on my to-do list! I read this in high school 100 years ago and so it's high time to look at it again. I think I will use the Whispersync feature on my Kindle and read/listen to the book at the same time.

Jon wrote: "I have an old college text that I used years ago. It is from the Riverside Literature Series, edited by Kenneth Lynn of Harvard University and Arno Jewett of the U. S. Office of Education. It inclu..."

Jon, that will be such a GREAT contribution to our reading!
Thank you very much! :)

Jon wrote: "I have an old college text that I used years ago. It is from the Riverside Literature Series, edited by Kenneth Lynn of Harvard University and Arno Jewett of the U. S. Office of Education. It inclu..."

Jon, I am fascinated with alternate endings! It gives insight into the work of writing, and perhaps the joy of writing.

Lisa wrote: "Jon wrote: "I have an old college text that I used years ago. It is from the Riverside Literature Series, edited by Kenneth Lynn of Harvard University and Arno Jewett of the U. S. Office of Educati..."

Agreed. We hear of alternate endings all the time, but never know what they are because they often end up in the editor's or publisher's waste basket. Or in the case of Cervantes, his serialized story of Don Quixote suffered many edits because other writers were profiting g from the popularity of the story and he had to identify them as frauds.

As just a hint, I will say that Dickens first intended a much darker conclusion.

Hello All,

Just a word of warning for people using a Kindle - Many of the kindle versions on amazon.com (including the free version) are the abridged version and have about ~280 pages (instead of ~500).

Ian wrote: "Hello All,

Just a word of warning for people using a Kindle - Many of the kindle versions on amazon.com (including the free version) are the abridged version and have about ~280 pages (instead of ..."

Hi, Ian! Thanks for the advice!

I am using the Oxford version and it has 482 pages, so I guess it is the right one! Yay! haha

Rose wrote: "Ian wrote: "Hello All,

Just a word of warning for people using a Kindle - Many of the kindle versions on amazon.com (including the free version) are the abridged version and have about ~280 pages ..."

Rose wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Rose wrote: "This is a suggestion:
...
Week 4 - January 24-30 - Chap..."

Do we have to use a Specific edition? I'm using an audio book…"

No, Lisa. You can use any edition you have. :..."

Thank you both for the tips - I 'm downloading the kindle version of Rose's suggested edition ~ I've not read Great Expectations in the past; looking forward to a good read ^_^

I have a well worn copy as this is one of my favourites.