Victorians! discussion

It is hard to believe but it is that time again. Time to start our nominations for what we want to read in December.

You may choose a Victorian book, which is a book that was published between 1837-1901 by anyone anywhere.

Or you may choose a Neo-Victorian book which is a contemporary book which takes place predominately within the Victorian era.

Only one nomination per person please, and try to avoid nominating books already read within this group. If you are unsure, you can scroll down to our bookshelf at the bottom of the page for a list of books we have read.

Nomination period will be open until November 15th and than the poll will be set up.

Is the policy that those who recommend a book are expected to volunteer to moderate it still in effect?

Everyman wrote: "Is the policy that those who recommend a book are expected to volunteer to moderate it still in effect?"

No, you need not worry about that, now that I myself have taken Paula's role as mod, and there is another canadiate to take Boof's place, as well as the possiblity of a 3rd mod (which is undecdied) you will not have to moderate your own nominations.

I would like to nominate She by Henry Rider Haggard.



The story is a first-person narrative that follows the journey of Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey to a lost kingdom in the African interior. There, they encounter a primitive race of natives and a mysterious white queen, Ayesha, who reigns as the all-powerful "She", or "She-who-must-be-obeyed". In this work, Rider Haggard developed the conventions of the Lost World sub-genre, which many later authors emulated.

She is placed firmly in the imperialist literature of nineteenth-century England, and inspired by Rider Haggard's experiences of South Africa and British colonialism. The story expresses numerous racial and evolutionary conceptions of the late-Victorians, especially notions of degeneration and racial decline prominent during the fin de siècle. In the figure of She, the novel notably explored themes of female authority and feminine behaviour. It has received praise and criticism alike for its gendered representation of womanhood.

Is this nomination for December or for January/February?

Silas Marner by George Eliot

I would like to nominate .

Jamie wrote: "Is this nomination for December or for January/February?"

It is for December, I just realized the mistake on The Moonstone which said it ended on Dec. 31st, so I fixed it to say that it will end on Nov. 30th.

I nominate The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.

Mr. Timothy, by Louis Bayard. Tiny Tim is all grown up.

Susanna wrote: "Mr. Timothy, by Louis Bayard. Tiny Tim is all grown up."

That sounds like an interesting concept

Silver wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Is this nomination for December or for January/February?"

It is for December, I just realized the mistake on The Moonstone which said it ended on Dec. 31st, so I fixed it to say th..."

Ok cool. So are we going to be doing one book a month now instead to one book every two months or will it just depend on the length of the book? It would be nice to read more books but I guess some people wouldn't have as much time.

Jamie wrote: "Silver wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Is this nomination for December or for January/February?"

It is for December, I just realized the mistake on The Moonstone which said it ended on Dec. 31st, so I fix..."

I am thinking about doing a book a month, which is how this group was when I first joined, but then changed in the middle.

If there is a particuarly long book I will give it more time.

I am thinking about posting a poll so people can vote on just what method for dissuasion they would prefer.

I'd like to nominate Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

A truly great novel in my book.

I'd like to nominate The Odd Women by George Gissing

I'd like to nominate Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Glaskell.

Maya wrote: "I'd like to nominate Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Glaskell."

I recently picked up a copy of that book, I would like to read that one. I read a short story by her and I would love to read more of her work.

I'd second the George Gissing suggestion. The Odd Women is new to me.

Angela wrote: "Hello all I am new to the group and not sure how this works -- do we just nominate in this thread or are we supposed to second or vote for ones that have already been nominated too?

I would like t..."

Greetings, yes, you post your nomination here in this thread, and you do not have to 2nd the nominations of others, but if someone nominates a book which you really want to read, or a book you yourself was going to nominate you could 2nd their nomination rater than nominating the same book twice.

Risa wrote: "I would really like to read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. So I'm putting this one up for nomination."

oh oh.. I nominated The Odd Women but would love to read North and South too!

Silver wrote: "Maya wrote: "I'd like to nominate Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Glaskell."

I recently picked up a copy of that book, I would like to read that one. I read a short story by her a..."

I would like to "third" this nomination. I watched the PBS mini-series, and it was pretty good.

I would like to nominate little women by Louisa Mary Alcott!

So many great choices! I am particularly interested in the Elizabeth Gaskell novels that were nominated and Little Women. Louisa May Alcott would be wonderful to read over the holidays!

...

Thinking about it I would have to second Little Women.

I have to second Wives and Daughters!

Silver wrote: I am thinking about doing a book a month, which is how this group was when I first joined, but then changed in the middle. "

My recollection, which could easily be wrong, is that the idea, followed for at least a few months, was to start one book a month, but alternate true Victorian and neo-Victorian, with each discussion thus going two months but a new book starting each month.

I nominate Hardy's Jude the Obscure.

This was Hardy's last novel, and arguably his most controversial. The outcry which met this story of the clash of conventional society and individuals trying to live according to their own dreams was so strong that it caused Hardy to stop writing novels and turn exclusively to poetry.

Everyman wrote: "Silver wrote: I am thinking about doing a book a month, which is how this group was when I first joined, but then changed in the middle. "

My recollection, which could easily be wrong, is that the..."

I think I am going to try with the idea of doing one book a month, making an excerption for particularly long books of which I will likely allow a two-month period for. And since the majority of people so far seem to have a preference for True Victorin in our group dicussions I do not think I will reintroudce the alternation with Neo-Vic.

Silver & Everyman,

We may want to go ahead soon and just open a thread for views on what types of reads are of interest in the group. We can certainly do our main reads in line with the majority poll vote, but I will be willing to moderate/lead discussions of neo-Victorian as well if there is enough interest by smaller groups among the members. If that is something we want to wait about delving into until after the holidays, that is certainly understandable too.

Thanks Risa and great that Silver has it posted. Also feel free to make written comments under the poll to tell us your additional thoughts about the types of reads you want to discuss within the group -- all ideas are welcome.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

I third Little Women by Alcott.

I would like to nominate The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

I second little dorrit by Charles Dickens

I third Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

I would like to nominate The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells - a little something from this side of the ocean!

Hi everyone--I'd like to second Stephanie's choice, Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

Risa wrote: "No problem!^_^ Will do so... "

Risa, you brought you're cat! That's lovely.

I would like the nominate The Debacle by Emile Zola.

Thanks, Paul. Everyone, nominations are closing today, so please post if you have any more in thought.

some how I missed this thread. Ah! how come 'North and South' is holding the second place for two months but never emerges!!

These days I'm pretty interested in the Elizabeth Gaskell novels. I'd also like Little Women.

By the way Sarah, I didn't see you there before, being a Moderator, congrats, if it's new:)

Thanks, Amalie and good to see you. Your thoughts on North & South are properly noted and understood -- I very much like Gaskell too. The mods are discussing hosting some feature reads during certain months, which could be separate from the poll selections. While we iron out the details, keep up the interest and think about assisting in leading one of those possible discussions :)

The poll for the December book is really close between North and South and Little Dorrit. Those who voted for other books which don't have much chance of winning the poll but who would like to read one of those top two as an alternative (as Silver said in the poll Comments, if you don't plan to read a book with the group it is better not to vote for it) have a very short time in which to decide which of the top two they would prefer and change their vote to get the one they would rather read and discuss.

Editorial comment: Go Little Dorrit!!!

Go, North and South! Boola, boola!!

Eman, Laurel's been hit by snow, probably messing up her holiday. You, too?

I'd like to read Little Dorrit, then I can watch the TV series which I have but don't want to watch until I've read the book.

I just switched my vote from Little Women to North and South. Go North and South! ;-)

North and South!

North and South. I prefer Gaskell to Dickens.

Where did the poll go? I don't see it with the other polls anymore.

NM. I see North and South won. Yay yay!

Where? I see only the last poll.