Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Our Hefty read is Cecilia at 1056 pages and considered a Novel of Manners.
Cecilia is an heiress, but she can only keep her fortune if her husband will consent to take her surname. Cecilia over time stays with three different guardians which turn out to be mean. selfish and vain.
It is an unusual love story and social satire about an heiress who is described as being very lovely and joins innocence with intelligence and has charm. She is open and liberal, and is ever ready and eager to help others and defend justice.
But who does Cecilia marry? A man of higher rank that test their relationship and puts them through many trials.

Anyone in for an amazing and delightful read?

I'll be reading this.

I hope to find this one to read. Seems to be an interesting story.

I will not be reading this one as I only just today (finally!) finished reading Evelina and as I read the blurbs and reviews for both books the underlying premises seem quite similar, i.e. manners, mores, the rights of women, foppish characters, etc. I don't think I can take on a 1,000+ page Burney on the heels of the 406 page Burney I just finished.

I LOVED Evelina though. I loved the language and the writing even if I have to re-read passages numerous times to fully understand them. It worked for the most part as an epistolary novel. The constant cross purposes situations were at times amusing and at times thoroughly annoying - Just explain! the reader wants to yell at the characters - mostly Evelina! The characters covered a wide range of social and economic classes, educating Evelina quite thoroughly in her coming of age story. The Oxford edition that I read had extensive notes and I discovered the origin of a number of sayings or phrases that have been a part of my vocabulary all my life with no clue as to where they originated! Black hole of Calcutta for example.

I will be watching this post to see how similar or different Cecelia will be. Maybe someday!

Karen I totally understand...so many books we are not able to read everyone of them we would like to!

It will be interesting for comparisons.

I read this in 2019, along with Burney’s “Evelina”. I’ll pass on a reread right now.
But, looking forward to both of the fourth quarter reads, already on my TBR pile.

I'd love to read this one, but it will probably be much later in the quarter - if I can stay on top of my reading schedule!

I will start Cecilia tonight or tomorrow. I picked up a copy a year ago, for the rather silly reason that my daughter's name is Cecily and I have a bit of a funny thing where I'd like to own at least one book (preferably a classic) for each of my children's names. So, this is one of those rare occasions where I go into a book knowing absolutely nothing. I've decided to keep it that way and just enjoy everything as it comes along. Normally I go into classics knowing the entire plot (thanks, Wishbone) or at least having an idea. I'm excited to be completely surprised by this one! We shall see if that changes after reaching the final page.

Brianna such a lovely and sweet way to honor your children!

I've read Book I of Volume I so far with the help of a LibriVox audiorecording. Cecilia is staying with the Harrel's where she does the round of social events and visits. Cecilia isn't satisfied with her situation or with many of the people around her. She is a more moral person than most of them, I think.

The second title of Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress really illustrates the story so far (44%) in that Cecilia is navigating all the various suitors who want her hand. And there are many of them! So far, she's favoring one in particular but I don't know what will come of it.

Living with the the Harrel's (Mrs. Harrel being her earliest friend in childhood) is a trial since they live beyond their means in a way Cecilia sees as frivolous.

But events have brought the Harrel's financial trouble to a head, starting at about page 400, where there is far more action than the first 400 pages by far. I find myself wanting to read so I can see what happens!

I finished Cecilia yesterday and I'm glad I read it. From page 400 on, many things happen and there's much emotion from the characters. I'm really glad I didn't live during this time period of so many limits on women's behavior. It seemed like a good share of the book had Cecilia justifying her behavior to someone or other, often with the other person who just won't listen. I admired Cecilia's motives to help other people.

Kathy it is one of those books for now I try to avoid. I move these Hefty's into my retirement years as like Rosemarie I think I will move away from tv and spend time reading more. Working on the computer all day is a mental tiredness that I just cannot even read in the evenings.

I find those time periods to be unbelieveable for what is expected from women. (More like what is NOT exceptable)

I like that your description of Cecilia, she does her own thing anyways!

Thank you for sharing Kathy!