Virago Modern Classics discussion

Hi everybody,

I read VMC books from time to time and thought it would be interesting to read them with other GR readers.

I see the group is on hold, but perhaps we could revive the group?

I’d be up for that! E xxx

Me, too!

Great, Ellen and Christine.

I suggest that we start with choosing a book for June. I shouldn't probably start any kind of poll (since I am not a moderator), but at least this time I will.

Checking the group shelf to read (I would like to add books also outside this list but for now we can start with the list) I nominate:

Brother Jacob by George Eliot (77 pages, first published in 1878)
Complete Short Stories by Elizabeth Taylor (626 pages, stories written in 40.-70. of the XX century)
The Microcosm by Maureen Duffy (304 pages, first published in 1966)
The Vicar's Daughter by E.H. Young (288 pages, first published in 1927)

Write which one you would like to read in June.

Hello everyone - I am a notoriously slow reader but would be very in favour of keeping the group going. I have The Microcosm in my library and the Complete Short Stories by Elizabeth Taylor so can read either of those. :) Thanks for the nudge Mela :)

I would be into this idea. I’m especially interested in the titles by Eliot, Taylor, and Young (I love both George Eliot and EH Young but haven’t read either of those books by them).

Abigail wrote: "I would be into this idea. I’m especially interested in the titles by Eliot, Taylor, and Young (I love both George Eliot and EH Young but haven’t read either of those books by them)."

Yes I love George Eliot too and hadn't heard of Brother Jacob so will be ordering this from my library. Taylor is wonderful and a joy to read.

Hi, Alexandra and Abigail.
Thanks for your vote.

I would vote for the E H Young! If it was a poll! E xxx

Okay team - I have downloaded Brother Jacob on to Overdrive and purchased The Vicar's Daughter on eBay from NY - estimated delivery to Oz is 12 July unfortunately but I can read any of the other three in time. Being a slow reader Brother Jacob appeals ;)

Alexandra wrote: "Okay team - I have downloaded Brother Jacob on to Overdrive and purchased The Vicar's Daughter on eBay from NY - estimated delivery to Oz is 12 July unfortunately but I can read any of the other th..."

We can read "The Vicar's Daughter" in July.

I would also love to see a revival of this group. I have a copy of The Vicar's Daughter so I will definitely join in on that one. I can read either of the novels in June, and while I don't have the complete short story collection, I do have 3 of the Virago collections, so can join in on most of them. Would you create a separate thread for each story?

Thanks Mela.

Tania wrote: "...Would you create a separate thread for each story?"

It sounds like a good idea.

For now, I want to gather votes here.

Here is a link to the complete list of VMCs

https://www.virago.co.uk/imprint/lbbg...

I looked at the bookshelf - only 17 books have been added so far.

I am not a huge fan of short stories, so I probably wouldn't read a 600 page collection of short stories, although if we selected some specific stories, I would probably join for between four and six over the course of the month.

Based on my research, both The Vicars Daughter and The Microcosm will be a challenge to source. The Microcosm is out of print, and the copies on amazon are almost $50.00; on Abebooks, they would all be shipped to me from overseas & shipping is prohibitive. The Vicar's Daughter is also out of print, but seems a bit more available. It looks like I could order a used copy for around $15 US.

That leaves The Book of Jacob by George Eliot for me, which is available as a free kindle book.

Alternatively, we could open up for additional suggestions that are more easily available. I'm not sure that we need to feel limited by the books that were added a decade ago.

Christine PNW wrote: "...That leaves The Book of Jacob by George Eliot for me, which is available as a free kindle book..."

"Brother Jacob" is in the public domain, and is available on gutenberg.org and librivox.org (an audiobook)

"The Microcosm" and "The Vicar's Daughter" (also "Brother Jacob") are available on archive.org

The short stories by Taylor we can stretch over several months. Like Tania suggested each story can have a separate thread.

Christine PNW wrote: "...Alternatively, we could open up for additional suggestions that are more easily available. I'm not sure that we need to feel limited by the books that were added a decade ago."

Definitely, I have written earlier, I would like to add books also outside this list but I started with the to-read list.

Summarizing (at the moment) this kind of poll here, "Brother Jacob" and "The Vicar's Daughter" are the most popular. So, if nothing changes I would suggest we will read one of these novels in June, the second in July (the short stories through a few months)

And we open a thread for nominations for another month - August.

Hello! Coming late to say I would be excited to see this group revived. Happy to join in on The Vicar’s Daughter whenever it is scheduled.

Mela wrote: ""The Microcosm" and "The Vicar's Daughter" (also "Brother Jacob") are available on archive.org.."

I have learned something new today!

Christine PNW wrote: "I have learned something new today!"

Archive.org is my lifesaver. In Poland, most books I want to read aren't available at all. And most of those that are - are too expensive. So without OpenLibrary.org, I would despair.

PS OpenLibrary is more user-friendly (and I use it for searching, etc.), but in the end, the books one finds on OpenLibrary one reads on archive.org. And (I have found out just recently), some titles not find through OpenLibrary one can find directly through Archive search engine. So, I recommend using OpenLibrary, but when you don't find the title there, just check for sure Archive search engine too.

By the way, Christine, can I add to the to-read list books I would like to read with the group someday (from the mentioned list: https://www.virago.co.uk/imprint/lbbg...)?

I vote for Brother Jacob on the grounds I have a brother named Jacob

Mela wrote: "By the way, Christine, can I add to the to-read list books I would like to read with the group someday (from the mentioned list: https://www.virago.co.uk/imprint/lbbg......"

I don't see any reason that you couldn't add books to the group bookshelf.

I am familiar with one of the mods through IG and blogging & she seems to be a really wonderful person. If you want to try to get the group back off the ground, it's going to need an active moderator. You might consider reaching out to Amanda to see if she would make you a co-mod. It's a lot easier to increase/maintain group engagement if you are a moderator and can organize shelves, create folders & send out group messages.

Christine PNW wrote: "If you want to try to get the group back off the ground, it's going to need an active moderator. You might consider reaching out to Amanda to see if she would make you a co-mod. "

Thank you, Christine, for a suggestion. I just tried to send a message to Amanda, but I got the info that "this person isn't accepting messages". So, I send a friend request.

I am reading your messages and I will read with you whenever there is a book I would like to read!

I’m in for any and all VMC’s! Glad that you all have revived this group.

Mela - I will help you with the book adding process as I have some extra time. I've just added a few, and have tried to select the VMC edition, if possible. The GR editions for a lot of the books are a mess, though, so all we can do is our best.

Christine PNW wrote: "Mela - I will help you with the book adding process as I have some extra time. I've just added a few, and have tried to select the VMC edition, if possible. The GR editions for a lot of the books a..."

Great, Christine. I was too busy for the last three days, but I am going to add books today.

Update: I've just added the first 50 from the list. I suggest that if you add more, start from the end of the list. That way we won't try to add the same ones.

Mela wrote: "Christine PNW wrote: "Mela - I will help you with the book adding process as I have some extra time. I've just added a few, and have tried to select the VMC edition, if possible. The GR editions fo..."

That's a good idea. My additions were random books that I already own. If anyone notices that we duplicated, they can delete one of the editions.

Hello everyone! I would love to join this, too. I'm very open to any VMC book. Thanks for reviving! :-)

Christine PNW wrote: " If anyone notices that we duplicated, they can delete one of the editions.
"

When you try to add a book that already is on the list GR shows it. At least I saw it a few times.

Have we decided on our June read yet? Just want to make sure I have time to get The Vicar’s Daughter if that’s the selection. Will need to get it through ILL which can take a few days. Thanks!

Brother Jacob and The Vicar's Daughter got an equal number of votes. Because "Brother Jacob" has only 77 pages I am setting both books for June.

In a few days, I am going to open a thread where everyone can nominate a book for July. Then, we will vote on a poll.

I would like also to make separate threads for short stories by Elizabeth Taylor (but for now I am considering how to do it because I don't want to do a big mess in threads/discussions).

PS Because none of the moderators replied to my messages, I can't send everyone an email with information about the next reading, etc. If someone has contact with any of the moderators - could you please ask them to contact me? I would like to keep order within the group, but to do it I think I need moderator permissions.

Sounds like a good plan. Thanks Mela!

Mela wrote: "PS Because none of the moderators replied to my messages, I can't send everyone an email with information about the next reading, etc. If someone has contact with any of the moderators - could you please ask them to contact me? I would like to keep order within the group, but to do it I think I need moderator permissions"

I have heard that people trying to revive a group have previously been successful in asking GR to add them as a moderator if the current moderators are out of the picture. There is a moderator group that you can join, which might be a good place to ask? Are you part of that group?

I suppose one alternative would be to start a new group and post the invitation in this thread, although that seems like a bit of a waste since this group is already here.

A couple of links for you, Mela:

Here is the link to send a message to GR support:

https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

Here is a link to the moderator support group:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

You have to be a group moderator in order to join, so if you aren't, I can post a question for you if you want me to, since I moderate several groups.

Thank you, Christine, for your support and information.

For now, I don't have any questions, just what I can do in a situation when moderators aren't available. (No, I am not a part of the mentioned group, I was never a moderator on GR.)

I will wait a bit more, perhaps one of the moderators answers me. If not I will do as you have suggested and write to GR support.

Hi Mela

Just a wave to say thanks for all that you have done. Looking forward to our reads and thanks for organizing us. Not easy I know :)
Alex

Mela wrote: "Brother Jacob and The Vicar's Daughter got an equal number of votes. Because "Brother Jacob" has only 77 pages I am setting both books for June.

In a few days, I am g..."

Marvellous news; thank you.

I plan to start read brother Jacob at the weekend as it's so short, but it will probably be much later in the month for The Vicar's Daughter.

Super excited to report that a copy of The Vicar's Daughter has turned up in my post box today so I can participate in both readings. Hoorah!

Alexandra wrote: "Super excited to report that a copy of The Vicar's Daughter has turned up in my post box today so I can participate in both readings. Hoorah!"

Great, Alexandra!

I have lots of VMCs so I'm in!

Paul wrote: "I have lots of VMCs so I'm in!"

Great, Paul.

By the way, I am following your reviews for some time and I love them! I can wait to read your thought about VMC books.

Thank you for starting the group up again! I have copies of both of these, so I will try to join in :)

I'd definitely be interested in joining future reads, I've been collecting vintage Virago classics for a while so have quite a few now.

I am happy you are joining, maven and Alwynne.

I just saw Mela introduce herself on the Moderator's forum and am happy to learn about this group. Over the years I have picked up and read a number of the dark green books and really enjoyed them. There is a lot to talk about as they often feature women's lives in the various decades. The only issue for me might be getting some of the books - I am in the US and some of these need to be ordered from the UK or tracked down on used book sites.

I read a lot of genres - historical fiction, mystery (mostly historical), some sci-fi/fantasy, some romance (mostly historical), some nonfiction.

Robin P wrote: "..,The only issue for me might be getting some of the books - I am in the US and some of these need to be ordered from the UK or tracked down on used book sites....."

If you can read books online you can read on OpenLibrary.org / Archive.org. Many titles from VMC are available there. I personally own only a few "dark green" editions and a few more titles of the collection I have by other publishing companies. So, I rely mostly on Archive.org.

Robin P wrote: "The only issue for me might be getting some of the books - I am in the US and some of these need to be ordered from the UK or tracked down on used book sites."

My local library systems have a pretty good selection of VMC titles, although not always VMC editions.

Mela wrote: "I am happy you are joining, maven and Alwynne."

Thanks and thanks so much for doing this!

Mela wrote: "Robin P wrote: "..,The only issue for me might be getting some of the books - I am in the US and some of these need to be ordered from the UK or tracked down on used book sites....."

If you can re..."

I'll check that out. I have an app that allows me to read Gutenberg titles on a tablet but a lot of the Virago selections aren't on there.

Of course, you need to watch out because there are many books called The Vicar's Daughter, including some in public domain!

Robin P wrote: "...I have an app that allows me to read Gutenberg titles on a tablet but a lot of the Virago selections aren't on there...."

Yes. Most of the VMC aren't in the public domain yet.

By the way, in Canada, copyrights for books are shorter (than in most countries, including the USA). So you can find some books earlier available here https://www.fadedpage.com/index.php than on gutenberg.org. Of course, as the creators of this website wrote: These books are public domain in Canada (because we follow the Canadian copyright laws), but if you are in another country, you should satisfy yourself that you are not breaking the copyright laws of your own country by downloading them. ;-)