Victorians! discussion

Yes, it's that time again! I love this part - seeing what everyone nominates.

We only have a month for the Oscar Wilde book as it is fairly short so our next group read will begin on June 1st.

The rules are (please read carefully):

1) Any book by any author (regardless of nationality) so long as the book was published between 1837 - 1901.

2) One nomination each please (if two or more are nominated I will only count the first one)

3) If you can, please try to include a link to the book so that people can check it out.

4) Please try to include a sentence or so to why it would make a good group read (try and sell it to other members - it may make them vote for it!)

5) Have fun!!!

Nominations will close on 5th May and then voting will begin.

I would like to nominate "The Sign of Four" by Sir Author Conan Doyle, which was originally published in 1890. I think it would make an outstanding group read because it captures so much about who Holmes was, in addition to being a "masterpiece of suspense". Although it is relatively short, I think we would find a lot to talk about. Check the link for more details! If you find an anthology of Sherlock Holmes novels, it will certainly include this one.

The Sign of Four

Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope

Jamie wrote: "Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope

"

All right, Jamie!

MaryZorro wrote: "Vanity Fair by Thackeray - classic has been read by many but not by us new Victorian enthusiasts. We need your help! Often nominated, but never chosen - now is the time!
http://www.goodreads.com/b..."

I almost nominated that myself, as I have just recently picked up a copy of it.

I second Vanity Fair

Hmmmm, is there any chance that in this next poll we could keep the top 2 or 3 so that folks wouldn't have to keep nominating the same books?

im up for vanity fair. love the idea of the author portaying an immoral fortune hunting vixen-interesting how we will relate to Becky and how we will judge her.

MaryZorro wrote: "Vanity Fair by Thackeray - classic has been read by many but not by us new Victorian enthusiasts. We need your help! Often nominated, but never chosen - now is the time!
http://www.goodreads.com/b..."

I hope you're in sales or marketing MZ, because that was a great selling line, and even though I've read it twice, I think it should be a group read at some point, indeed!

Kay wrote: "Hmmmm, is there any chance that in this next poll we could keep the top 2 or 3 so that folks wouldn't have to keep nominating the same books?"

We've tossed around that idea, but as much as moods change, we prefer to start fresh each time around. Also, we ask that the nominators consider leading the group read, and that can change as people have (or don't have) time in their schedule to read the chosen book.

I agree; although, reading any of her reviews typically makes me want to read the book anyway :)

Paula wrote: "I agree; although, reading any of her reviews typically makes me want to read the book anyway :)"

My editorial self is totally impressed with your punctuation here, Paula!

So far we have:



The Sign of Four - Arthur Conan Doyle

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James


Can you Forgive Her? - Anthony Trollope

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

oh 2 i want to read in there so ill not nom another

Last day to vote people - any more for any more????

the portrait of a lady - henry james!

I read Vanity Fair last year and although I enjoyed the story I found it long and at times I became lost at what point Thackeray was trying to make. I know references will be made to people, places, and ideas based on the time the book was written but this seemed to be more prominent in this novel than other Victorian books I have read. I was wondering if anyone else felt this way? If this does become the group read maybe the discussion well help me with these details.

The Portrait of a Lady would have the dual advantage of being shorter than several of the others mentioned and of having an American author instead of an English one, for a change:).

However, I would like to nominate Zola's Germinal, one of the most significant French novels of the Victorian period and of all time. Zola has been compared to Dickens as he was also a journalist, writing at the same time, who exposed social problems in his novels.

Germinal is 'an uncompromisingly harsh and realistic story of a coalminer's strike in Northern France in the 1880s..The novel describes the hope for a better future which grows amongst the miners.'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Germinal-Peng...

Oh no, I should have reminded people that the nominations closed on 5th May and that voting has begun.

Sorry, Madge - can you re-nominate next time (I probably would have voted for this).

Check out the poll at the bottom, guys.

I vote for Vanity Fair-wonderful book.

I vote for Vanity Fair as I've never read it and I have read the other three (though nominating a book without Lady Glencora in itseems blasphemous!)

I want to vote for Can YOu Forgive Her. Trollope needs to be represnted. Good choice Jamie!

Oh dear - missed the boat again :(:(

I'll vote for Portrait of a Lady then.

Vanity Fair, please. I'm already three quarters of the way through it and want to talk!!

We already have a Vanity Fair thread, don't we?

Yes but it has not been a group read. I am sure we can try to combine the two discussions.

Don't forget - the official poll is set up, so please cast your vote there! Also, the nominator of the winning selection has an opportunity to lead the discussion (hint, hint, MZ!) so if that person would like to combine the two threads, they can do so.

Totally up for Vanity Fair.

MadgeUK wrote: "The Portrait of a Lady would have the dual advantage of being shorter than several of the others mentioned and of having an American author instead of an English one, for a change:).

However, I w..."
Please (re)nomintate this for the next group read!

I never seem to get there in time - will someone please email me when it is the right time!!

Madge - which time are you referring to, the nominations or the polls? A mass email already goes out to all members for the polls, and going forward a mass email will go out asking for nominations.

I don;t know Paula - I haven't caught up with these Goodreads procedures yet. I only know that I missed the notifications whenever they took place. I don't think I picked up my email in time. My fault:(.

Madge sorry you missed your chance on this one. For some reason, the nominations didn't get much attention this time round so I will definitely send out a broadcast message for the next one. We always inform about the poll when it's up though.

Looking forward to seeing what you go for in the next one.

MadgeUK wrote: "I don;t know Paula - I haven't caught up with these Goodreads procedures yet. I only know that I missed the notifications whenever they took place. I don't think I picked up my email in time. My f..."

Typically we do nominations from the 1-5 of the month, and the poll from the 6-10th. Sometimes it changes a bit, based on the time allotted to read the book. We've also been playing around with some slight changes for the group lately, so apologies if this added to the confusion.

Great! I missed the nominations and voting (family trip), and it's just what I would've picked!

We have it, and I actually know where it is! Don't die of shock, y'all!

Excellent all around, Susanna! :)Did you go anywhere fun?

Quick question for anyone on here who already has a copy of Vanity Fair- Can someone tell me the title of the last chapter of the book? I have an ebook download and found out that I only had a part of the book. I found another download that picked up where the other one left off. However, I am not sure if I now have the whole book or not.

Thanks!

Thanks so much Mary ZOrro!

Susanna wrote: "Great! I missed the nominations and voting (family trip), and it's just what I would've picked!

We have it, and I actually know where it is! Don't die of shock, y'all!"

You knew where it was? I thought your books outnumbered The British Library so I'm impresesed, Susannah! ;o)

Paula wrote: "Excellent all around, Susanna! :)Did you go anywhere fun?"

Colonial Williamsburg, and I had a blast!

Boof wrote::"You knew where it was? I thought your books outnumbered The British Library so I'm impresesed, Susannah! ;o) "

It's on Mt. TBR, so it's been staring me in the face before I go to bed of late!

Susanna wrote: "Paula wrote: "Excellent all around, Susanna! :)Did you go anywhere fun?"

Colonial Williamsburg, and I had a blast!"

Oooh, I should have known it would be both pretty and full of history! How fun!!

Paula wrote: "Susanna wrote: "Paula wrote: "Excellent all around, Susanna! :)Did you go anywhere fun?"

Colonial Williamsburg, and I had a blast!"

Oooh, I should have known it would be both pretty and full ..."

I'm visiting Williamsburg in early-July while visiting the kids living in Petersburg, VA. I haven't been there in aeons!

I hadn't been there since 1978, which was before they switched to the social history emphasis. Quite a change. For the better in my book.

The gardens were gorgeous.

Oddly enough, this was my sixth visit, and the first not in the winter.