Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Wide, Wide World a work of sentimentalism about the life of young Ellen Montgomery.
The story begins with Ellen's happy life being disrupted by the fact that her mother is very ill and her father must take her to Europe, requiring Ellen to leave home to live with an almost-unknown aunt. Though Ellen tries to act strong for her mother's sake, she is devastated and can find solace in nothing. 608 pgs

As a work of sentimentalist literature, the conflict created by the story is dealt with almost entirely through the emotional response that Ellen has to the conditions in which she is put in the novel. In this, the main conflicts that Ellen encounters deals with how she can internally deal with each of the emotional problems she is met with in a way that is characteristic of strength and perseverance.

If you are planning on reading this one, having other reads as well that you want to delve into, 608 pages is like reading a Husky.
Please let me know if you would like this to be two month read or three.

I wouldn't mind a three month read, but two works for me as well.

I wouldn't mind a three month read.

Two or three months works fine for me.

Three months it is!!
Thank you for your input and hope this helps.

Thanks, Lesle!

Has anyone started this?
Im looking to see if I would be interested in this one before putting it in my cart to purchase.

I'll be starting at the end of next week, once I finish my February reads.

I'll be starting in March also.

I hope to start soon.

Oh good!
Let me know what you think in the first few chapters.

I've read 15% of the book so far, at two chapters a day. This is a sentimental book but Ellen is a sweet little girl who really misses her mother. There is a very religious element in the book, typical of its time, but it's not an overwhelming presence in the book.
I like it so far. In a way, it reminds of A Little Princess, but in this case, Ellen's father is anything but loving.

I've finished the book and true to it's description on Goodreads, it is Christian fiction. Like Rosemary said above, it doesn't overwhelm the story of a young girl who lives with a variety of people - some relatives, some not - over a period of about seven years. We meet many lovely characters, and some not so nice (Aunt Fortune!) I enjoyed reading this quite a lot for it's story and for it's picture of the times that it was written (1850).

I'm at the section where Ellen is on the farm and getting used to country life and having to make her own bed. She led a very sheltered life in the city.

Yes, her mother kept her close-by, although I don't blame her for that. They had such a short time together.

I'm at 44% of the book. I'm glad Ellen has found a friend in Alice since her aunt is so cold to her.
I don't know what to make a Nancy, who is a bully at times.
I like the Van Brunts.

I've just finished the book. My favourite part is Ellen at the Humphreys' house. She really had a chance to thrive there.
The Wide, Wide World was one of the first best-sellers in the United States.

Rosemarie wrote: "The Wide, Wide World was one of the first best-sellers in the United States..."

That is very interesting Rosemarie. Had no idea.
Thank you for that tidbit!