Victorians! discussion

Happy New Year Everyone!

Jude the Obscure won the poll. I thought we'd start the discussion next week and do one part per week for six weeks. If this is too ambitious, we can always add another week.

Week 1: Jan 6 - 12 - Part First - At Marygreen
Week 2: Jan 13 - 19 - Part Second - At Christminster
Week 3: Jan 20 - 26 - Part Third - At Melchester
Week 4: Jan 27 - 2 Feb - Part Fourth - At Shaston
Week 5: Feb 3 - 9 - Part Fifth - At Albrickham and Elsewhere
Week 6: Feb 10 - 16 - Part Sixth - At Christminster Again

Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy - a tough one, imho, readers here. Don't know that I am up to a reread, but I shall undoubtedly look in at the discussion from time to time. I shall be most interested in the reactions to the plot and to the characters -- as well as where ever else this discussion goes. I certainly have never forgotten either Jude nor two of the key women who cross his path, but not certain that I comprehend the messages Hardy was trying to convey -- if he had an agenda beyond weaving a powerful story.

Happy New Year!

I want to join, but I am not able to obtain the book and read/get ready for a discussion so quickly.

Looking forward to the discussions!

I wanted to read a Hardy book for a long time, glad to join you.

Charlotte wrote: "Happy New Year!

I want to join, but I am not able to obtain the book and read/get ready for a discussion so quickly.

Looking forward to the discussions!"

It is a fast turnaround, Charlotte, I admit. That's why I am saying we can add an additional week if necessary.

Hello, everyone! I have been a member of this group for a very long time (invited by a friend) but have never really checked it out until now. For the first time, I am going to join in reading Jude The Obscure with you. Looking forward to the discussion!

Nidhi wrote: "I wanted to read a Hardy book for a long time, glad to join you."

Jude is a tough introduction to Hardy, imo, Nidhi. Whatever your reaction to it, I'll plead that you read others of his works as well. He is one of the authors I have come to deeply respect. (His life story can add depth to reading his novels and poetry, if you ever become so inclined.) The incredible, if heartbreaking, Tess of the D'Urbervilles has certainly deeply touched my own thinking.

Charlotte wrote: "Happy New Year!

I want to join, but I am not able to obtain the book and read/get ready for a discussion so quickly.

Looking forward to the discussions!"

If you have a kindle, Charlotte, Jude is probably available in a good "free" or minimal cost format.

Donna wrote: "Hello, everyone! I have been a member of this group for a very long time (invited by a friend) but have never really checked it out until now. For the first time, I am going to join in reading Jude..."

That's wonderful, Donna! Looking forward to your contributions!

I have read Tess.... it’s my favourite so far, Far from maddening crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge, Under the Greenwood Tree and Return of the Native . Somehow I never got to read Jude ... it was much censored book in its time and this is all I know about the book. So I look forward to this group read😀.

Nidhi wrote: "I have read Tess.... it’s my favourite so far, Far from maddening crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge, Under the Greenwood Tree and Return of the Native . Somehow I never got to read Jude ... it was much ..."

Nidhi -- I apologize for misunderstanding your comment @4. Tess is the one that had moved me the most so far.

I read this in 2014 (with the Victorians?), so don´t remember very much, but I will try to chime in from time to time.

This is a great book that asks some difficult questions. I'm looking forward to reading with the group!

Jude was the last book I read in a year long undergraduate course on the Victorian novel. I remember starting it on a city
bus and I was immediately taken by the clarity and beauty of the prose. But is this ever a downer. I think it has to be one of the most depressing books I've ever read. I never got to return to Hardy and I always assumed that all of his books were like Jude,
but I don't know now. I hope to reread the book. He had been one of my most favorite writers at that time, but that was forty
years ago. I've never forgotten that read though, just blew me away.

Alan wrote: "He had been one of my most favorite writers at that time, but that was forty years ago. ..."

Alan, I'm confused. Did Jude, despite being so depressing, make Hardy one of your most favorite writers, or something else of his, say his poetry or ...?

I am reading the printed version, because that is how I prefer to read books. Are any of you listening to an audio-version? Can you recommend one?

I tried some of the free audio-versions from Librivox, but didn’t like them.

YouTube has free audio books.

Jude is indeed pretty challenging. I have a lot of James to read for class so I’ll pop in too