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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:
DesdamonasHandkerchief · 03/10/2021 14:25

Ha! I think we all had the same thoughts about Blandois, he's like a Zelig character. He must have some sort of teleporter! He's such a pantomime villain too, I can almost see him twirling his moustache!

InTheCludgie · 03/10/2021 13:38

Thanks Piggy!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2021 10:53

The main thing is that I am glad you are feeling better!

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InTheCludgie · 03/10/2021 10:50

Hi im doing much better now Piggy and IsFuzzy. As usual, I'm behind with my chapters! Need to do better this month

LadybirdDaphne · 03/10/2021 07:42

Sorry - I always read the chapters on time then forget to comment on the 1st! I don’t think Arthur has done anything in particular wrong - I think it’s just that he knows too much about the Dorrits’ time in prison and was involved in getting them out, and they don’t want any reminders of their former life or that they once needed that sort of assistance. They also might fear that he would ‘out’ them as former debtors to their new acquaintance.

I don’t know how Brandois managed to be everywhere at once either, but I have a feeling Tattycoram’s parentage (and/or Miss Wade’s) might be significant in resolving the plot. I didn’t like the bit with the dog, poor thing.

ChessieFL · 01/10/2021 20:16

I don’t know how Blandois is everywhere at once; the timings of these chapters didn’t seem to make a lot of sense. I also don’t know why the Dorrits (except Amy) now don’t like Arthur. Hopefully all this will be explained in due course!

I feel very sorry for Amy; she just gets dragged around behind everyone else and nobody cares what she wants.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 01/10/2021 14:05

Uncle Frederick is really coming into his own, standing up for Amy. He is her champion.

Mrs General is another odious character. She gives me the urge to throw a bowl of prunes at her.
At least Flora stayed behind and isn't on this trip :)

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 01/10/2021 13:56

Hello! I hope everyone is well; Piggy and Cludgie especially.

I need to read over these chapters again, so here are just a few thoughts.

I agree with Piggy in her assessment above. The Dorrits are floundering; they are displaced, William and Amy especially. 'Her present existence was a dream...'. It's like she's sleep-walking her way around Europe. Funnily enough, I actually missed the Marshalsea in this section. I think I had become rather used to it!

It's amazing how Blandois, the Dorrits and the Gowans all find themselves in the same travel lodge!

I have no idea either what Clennam did that was so offensive to them. I have read back a bit, but can't see anything at all. Some perceived slight to the family's honour, I suppose.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 01/10/2021 06:42

ps hope you are OK @InTheCludgie

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 01/10/2021 06:42

Well, this was a long old section. Poor Amy, wandering around Europe being controlled. The ‘prunes, prism, poultry’ bit sticks with me the most. As a side note, Shmop tells me that this became such a byword for controlling governesses and their airs that this is why the character in The Importance of Being Earnest is so named. I always thought that was a whimsical name and now I know!
Blandois confused me by being everywhere all at the same time. The time frames and geographical locations have befuddled me a bit, owing to me not paying enough attention. I also feel I am missing something about why the Dorrits now have ostracised Clennam. Is there a thread to be resolved here, or should I know?? And, really, genuinely, no idea what gives with Tattycoram and now in England Blandois.

Everyone is so opportunistic and the people surrounding Amy and Arthur are all horrors. Matriarchs abound and dreadful grasping people fixed on money and a place in society. Poor Amy sees now that she is just in a new form of prison (not one of Mrs General’s favoured p words, I note...)

So, in short : Doyce, nice; Arthur, good; Amy , aww bless; Pet, poor Pet ; Flora doesn’t half bang on but means well ; Panks is a good egg I guess; Meagleses mean no harm; Miss Wade, enigmatic; Tattycoram, messed up and vulnerable Everyone else, awful ; Blandois, villain. Is Cavaletto, or whatever he’s called going to matter at some point??

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 08/09/2021 14:36

Yes, what's that word ? Arrivistes?

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InTheCludgie · 08/09/2021 12:23

Thanks Piggy and IsFuzzy, feel not too bad atm but get a bit tired if I exert myself. It's DS's birthday 11 days after my positive result but thankfully its going to be fairly low key this year!

Anyway back to the book, the Dorrits (apart from Amy) are showing themselves up to be a horrible lot, aren't they?

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 07/09/2021 18:54

Aw, Cludgie best wishes to you. It must seem so unreal to you. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will put it over you quickly, but as Piggy says, take it easy.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2021 15:20

Oh no cludgie. Hope you fare OK. Experience tells me , do NOT go on a long and exciting day trip 11 days after your result, thinking you are 'fine'.

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InTheCludgie · 07/09/2021 11:45

Thanks for your good wishes, however PCR results are now in and I'm also positive Sad

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 07/09/2021 10:08

Good luck Cludgie, I do know families where half have caught it and the other half haven't, even though they're living in close quarters so here's hoping you're one of the lucky ones 🤞

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2021 09:59

Oh, I hope you remain safe and DCs are OK .

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InTheCludgie · 07/09/2021 09:36

Desdemona I never caught the DNF thing but to be fair, I'm someone who hardly gives up on a book even if it's load of crap (I need to change this I know, life is too short!). So once again I'm behind with my chapters, only on 32 atm. My plan to catch up on my reading was blown out the water with DS contracting covid a week after starting back at school, now DD has it. Please keep your fingers crossed that DH and I are not next!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2021 15:20

This month even. Bit overly excited there!

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/09/2021 14:26

So... chapters 1-11 of Book Two this week! We are more than halfway!

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/09/2021 14:48

Woah! That looks headless to me too. Creepy!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 05/09/2021 14:36

She definitely does!

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ChessieFL · 05/09/2021 14:29

Ok, she’s not actually headless, but that’s how it looks!

ChessieFL · 05/09/2021 14:29

Mine has a headless woman on the cover which is rather disconcerting…

'Little Dorrit' readalong
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/09/2021 12:02

@Piggywaspushed

Merdle and Meagles : me too!

My cover has DNF on it : I hope it's not an omen.

Mine too! :)