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Original poster

'Little Dorrit' readalong

290 replies

Piggywaspushed · 07/04/2021 12:36

Hello and welcome to our next proposed Dickensalong after the success of our previous readalongs!

On our previous thread I suggested our first month as commencing in April and convening on June 1st to discuss the first instalment : gives everyone time to get copies and get settled down.

Everyone is welcome! We always start with about 10 people and end up with about 5...

Instalments I have chosen follow Dickens' shorter 19 instalments (which were all exactly the same number of pages originally - that must have taken considerable planning and editing!) but come in pairs or trios:-
The novel comprises only two Books, which forces a break at a particular point, too.

May 2021 - Book One , Chapters 1-11
June - Chapters 12-18
July - Chapters 19-25
August - Chapters 26- 36
September - Book Two Chapters 1-11
October - Chapters 12-18
November - Chapters 19-26
December - Chapters 27 - 34

So finished by 2022. I think that suits reading speed of most.

Happy Reading!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 31/12/2021 11:37

I finished it in early Dec so happy to chat whenever!

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/12/2021 10:55

Sure Grin

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 31/12/2021 10:51

I shall keep my powder dry for a while and see if anyone else appears!

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/12/2021 10:49

I finished it today. I'm around, whatever suits!

I really enjoyed the final installment.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 31/12/2021 10:48

Here is Katie for those who are ready:

She really really loves it.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 31/12/2021 10:09

I have finished and written my review. Will watch Katie Lumsden later.

Are we all OK to convene tomorrow or do folk want to do it today, if everyone is finished?

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/12/2021 12:37

Great, Piggy. That sounds good.
I'm looking forward to a new challenge!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 28/12/2021 09:55

Next readalong (having reverted to normal name so it isn't Christmas Piggy all year round!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/what_were_reading/4437561-Hard-Times-readalong-2022

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Piggyinblankets · 28/12/2021 09:40

Dickens could be such an arse!

I am currently sorting out Hard Times instalments. It is short and in 3 'books' but was serialised in 20 instalments which seems rather bitty!

Think I shall go for maybe about 4 or 5? Then it'll be a shorter readalong but not too chunky each time.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 23/12/2021 18:11

Really Grin she annoyed me no end, the way she rambled on and on, but she's a great character; she's memorable.

ChessieFL · 23/12/2021 14:02

I’ve just read today that the Flora character was based on Dickens’ first love Maria Beadnell - apparently he met her again in middle age and was appalled how she had changed so he immortalised her as Flora.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/12/2021 19:07

Hi cludgie. Glad you are still here with us!

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/12/2021 18:40

@InTheCludgie

Hi all, wanted to say I'm still here! Real life got in the way and now I'm way behind on my reading but will catch up. I'm up for a Hard Times readalong also.
Good to hear from you! We're nearly at the finish line.
InTheCludgie · 06/12/2021 18:37

Hi all, wanted to say I'm still here! Real life got in the way and now I'm way behind on my reading but will catch up. I'm up for a Hard Times readalong also.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/12/2021 16:03

That's definitely a bonus!

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/12/2021 10:06

I would be interested in reading 'Hard Times'. I read it in school many, many years ago, so I would like to reread it. I haven't any memory of it at the moment. I can only say that it isn't as long as 'Little Dorrit'!

ChessieFL · 03/12/2021 06:57

Dickens is very good at names isn’t he!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 03/12/2021 06:53

Oh, that is interesting! I don't read the introductions til I have finished but that does make sense!

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/12/2021 21:54

I found it interesting that Merdle was only given a physical description in death.
'...was the body of a heavily-made man, with an obtuse head, and coarse, mean, common features'.
He had been such a vague, shadowy figure up until then and then was suddenly revealed as a crook. This line was good too; 'being at all times a mind that had as little as possible to say for itself, and great difficulty in saying it'.
In the introduction to my book, it suggests that the name 'Merdle' is a play on words, the French word for 'shit' (merde) and 'swindle', which now seems very obvious when you think how shady he was.

BadSpellaSpellaSpella · 02/12/2021 13:20

Managed to catch up in time for the last month! Lots to tie up in the last few sections as it seems to be speeding along.

Enjoyed miss wades letter explain her life but honestly, who does that.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 02/12/2021 11:36

Thanks IsFuzzy. That's a great illustration, you can really see Flora hamming up the need for support and Clennam wondering how the hell to extricate himself from the situation Smile

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/12/2021 10:31

'Flora's tour of inspection'.

'Little Dorrit' readalong
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/12/2021 10:28

I really enjoyed your summary, Desdemona!

Poor Frederick, yes. Things were going so well for him. He seemed to be thriving under the Italian sun and the friendship between himself and Amy was lovely.

There is a picture in my book of Flora looking around the Clennam's house that I will put up in a minute as I rather like it :)

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 02/12/2021 10:02

Love a bit of breathless Katie enthusiasm! 💕

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/12/2021 06:48

Great summary. I am waiting til I have finished to check in with Books n Things on YouTube but I know she has lots to say about possible lesbianism in Little Dorritt and that it's one of her favourite Dickens so I am expecting lots of breathless enthusiasm from Katie!

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