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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:
BadSpellaSpellaSpella · 02/07/2021 14:17

.'The part where she walked around with Maggy at night was well written. I really felt for them.'

That's been my favourite part so far

InTheCludgie · 02/07/2021 11:22

Just finished chapter 18 and agree June chapters were more of a mixed bag. Am very glad of the Shmoop recommendation, really needed it! It definitely would have come in handy during the OMF read when I didn't have a clue whether I was reading about a piece of furniture or an actual person.

Agree that Arthur's dad may have had something to do with Mr Dorrits imprisonment. Just hope they don't turn on Arthur if/when the big reveal comes.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/07/2021 09:46

Arthur trying not to be in love with Pet did remind me of David Copperfield's ill advised passions!

Once you have read several Dickens you definitely come to a better understanding of what 'Dickensian' means.

OP posts:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 02/07/2021 09:17

Little Dorrit is a walking saint, she is so good. The part where she walked around with Maggy at night was well written. I really felt for them.
Arthur seems to have fallen in and out of love with 'Pet' in one breath. I agree, she doesn't have any substance.
The treatment of Tattycoram by Mr. Meagles is despicable; making her count up to twenty-five repeatedly. So degrading.
I was also puzzled about Tip, Plornish and the horse. Good that it was not just me then!

RavenclawesomeCrone · 01/07/2021 21:19

I agree with Chessie, it's a mixed bag of chapters. Some of them I have really enjoyed and some I was a bit lost and resorted to Shmoop.
There's a lot of characters to keep track of.

There is bound to be a link between Arthur's father and Mr Dorrit getting into debt. Not at all sure where Cavaletto fits in at all and am finding that whole sub plot a bit annoying.
I want to know more about Tattycoram.
Little Dorrit is a bit irritating - a bit too good and nice. I am picturing Cynthia from Call the Midwife (the little one who became a nun)

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 01/07/2021 21:15

No, Plornish went over my head too.

OP posts:
LadybirdDaphne · 01/07/2021 21:13

I’m still enjoying it too, although I’m a little frustrated at Arthur for choosing to fall in love with the vacuous Pet Meagles instead of far more interesting Amy. Also, I didn’t understand the bit about Plornish buying a horse and how that got Tip out of prison…

StColumbofNavron · 01/07/2021 20:45

Obviously I haven’t yet managed to catch up enough, but wanted to flag a book called ‘Mansions of Misery’ by Jerry White which is a micro historical study of Marshalsea.

I totally need the Wikipedia list of characters open whilst reading and love schmoop so thanks for that recommendation, I’ve never come across it before.

BadSpellaSpellaSpella · 01/07/2021 17:15

I'm getting on alot better with this than our mutual friend so far.

It helps to have marshalsea as a sort of anchor and working out how the different characters relate eventually to that place or someone from there

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 01/07/2021 13:19

So, I have done it. I found it most interesting this month to reflect upon Amy as another prisoner , even though she has committed no crime. When she leaves the Marshalsea she has gone for an 'airing' and really only Arthur wants to see her out of there. Her dear lover, bless his deluded heart, who imagines her epitaph as There she was born, There she lived. There she died

Even Amy feels safer inside. She says when I come outside the gate, I am unprotected and solitary.

It is poignant and thought provoking on the social issues of institutionalisation and dependency cultures.

That hastily reimagined epitaph at the end of Chapter 18 did make me chuckle though!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 01/07/2021 12:56

This has been a mixed bag of chapters, with lots of new characters introduced and no real indication of how significant they may turn out to be. I am getting some of them mixed up - after reading the above post I had to stop and think ‘who is Mr Casby again?’.

Some other characters we met previously have popped up again - they obviously will be significant but not clear how yet! We don’t know what Cavaletto is now doing in London and Miss Wade has also been mentioned again.

I also enjoyed the Henry Gowan chapter, especially the dinner where Clarence Barnacle kept losing his eyeglass and sticking cutlery into his eyes instead! I felt very sorry for John Chivery.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 01/07/2021 08:31

I'm enjoying the characterisations of Mr. Casby and Harry Gowan.

'The Patriarch, apparently not yet understanding his own part in the drama under representation, glowed with vacant serenity'.

'Henry Gowan (...) was of that exclusively agricultural character which applies itself to the cultivation of wild oats'.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 01/07/2021 07:06

Aaargh! I haven't read Chapter 18. Will squeeze it in later. I have nothing to kick us off with until then really but chat away.

OP posts:
StColumbofNavron · 30/06/2021 10:38

I’m half way through chapter 2! But it’s fine, I follow the chat and spend the next month catching up properly.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/06/2021 22:26

Place-marking with a glass of fortified wine for 1st of July!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 29/06/2021 20:12

Just popping on to remind people it's nearly July!

I concur about Shmoop and will be needing it this month!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 27/06/2021 10:16

Shmoop is good because each chapter summary is on a different page so no risk of spoilers.

RavenclawesomeCrone · 25/06/2021 12:47

I was lost in Chapter 12 too. Shmoop is your friend

InTheCludgie · 25/06/2021 12:12

Thanks Chessie will look into Shmoop. I sometimes feel wary about trying to get background info online as I've come across spoilers by mistake in the past.

ChessieFL · 25/06/2021 07:11

Whenever I read a chapter I then go and read the chapter summary on Shmoop to make sure I have understood it. I almost always find there’s something I have missed!

nowanearlyNicemum · 25/06/2021 06:44

Thanks for the reassurance, inthecludgie. I'd better crack on with the other chapters and see if things become clearer!

InTheCludgie · 24/06/2021 16:48

Same nowanearly, first chapter that I've felt a bit lost with.

StColumbofNavron · 24/06/2021 16:06

Right, I’d better get going then.

ChessieFL · 24/06/2021 15:12

Not too late StColumbo, welcome! Yes, we’re discussing chapters 12-18 on 1st July.

StColumbofNavron · 24/06/2021 14:10

Is it too late to join this readalong? I've always become aware of the readalong too late to join any of the others. I see I need to read 18 chapters to catch up by July? Is that right?