Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Hard Times readalong 2022

242 replies

Piggywaspushed · 28/12/2021 09:52

Hello and welcome to the selected Dickensalong of 2022 : Hard Times.

This is Dickens' shortest novel (yay!) but was still serialised in instalments running from April to August 1854.

I propose shortening this slightly:

January BOOK ONE Chapters 1- 6
February Chapters 7–12
March Chapters 13 -16
April BOOK TWO Chapter 1- 5
May Chapters 6-12
June BOOK THREE Chapters 1 - 5
July Chapters 6 to end.

Some version number chapters consecutively but I have gone for the Wordsworth edition numbering. Hope that is OK.

So this is kind of a pint sized readalong! Might be more manageable for some of those who fall by the wayside normally (naming no names...)

I enjoy Dickens when he does social commentary so am looking forward to this one and to eventually meet Gradgrind.

OP posts:
KaptainKaveman · 29/12/2021 00:32

I might join in if I have time. It's one of my favourites and I've read Dickens' novels , a lot of them twice. Taught HT and GE for GCSE many years ago. Smile

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 29/12/2021 00:27

I'm in again 👍 thank you Piggy.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/12/2021 22:26

I must see if I can do that on mine. It's fairly old though. I was thinking of using a jotter!

StColumbofNavron · 28/12/2021 19:23

I make notes on my kindle - it isn’t quite the same but still useful.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/12/2021 19:07

I have a version on Kindle. I might regret not getting a paperback. I liked writing in comments in the margin as I went along during 'Little Dorrit'. It was useful for jogging the memory and making wry observations!

StColumbofNavron · 28/12/2021 18:43

I’m signing in for this as well as W&P. I started Little Doritt too late then couldn’t catch up so pleased to be here for the start. I have a hard copy and it looks like it is very handily split into parts.

InTheCludgie · 28/12/2021 16:59

I'm up for this one too (despite still being only three quarters of the way through Little Dorrit 🙈)

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 28/12/2021 16:16

Oops, I have just latterly realised that Dickens' instalments were weekly, so we have ended up with a readalong that actually pretty much aligns with his instalments! In fact, ours is a bit slower...

OP posts:
SapatSea · 28/12/2021 15:51

Count me in too

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 28/12/2021 15:25

Yes, of course! Welcome one and all!

OP posts:
52andblue · 28/12/2021 15:24

Oooh. Can I join in please ?

MaryasBible · 28/12/2021 14:19

I’m in! I also plan on the War & Peace read along.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/12/2021 12:46

Joining in! Thank you for setting it up, Piggy.
I'm looking forward to this one. I read it a long time ago in school and I'm curious to see how much I remember it!

ChessieFL · 28/12/2021 12:03

Thanks Piggy, looking forward to another Dickens!

rc22 · 28/12/2021 11:37

I fell off the Little Dorrit readalong at some point in the summer and still need to finish it but I remember reading Hard Times at university 25 years ago and loved it so will have a go at joining in. Off to Amazon to order book. My original copy is probably still lurking in my parent's loft somewhere!!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 28/12/2021 10:20

You are more than welcome. I never read Dickens at all as youngster (Scottish school largely put paid to that but also Thomas Hardy) and swerved the Victorians module at uni but I really am a convert!

OP posts:
Tarahumara · 28/12/2021 09:58

Thanks Piggy. I haven't read Dickens since GCSE - I wasn't that keen, so have never attempted him as an adult, but maybe it's time to change that? I haven't quite decided but will lurk on this thread until I make up my mind!

Swipe left for the next trending thread