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Original poster

WomanInWhitealong readalong 2022/3

246 replies

Piggywaspushed · 05/06/2022 07:02

After several years of Dickensalongs, we have decided to ring the changes and read The Woman in White together. All welcome - old faithfuls and newcomers!

This was published in 40 instalments which is a bit much!

So I have tried to split it via the various voices as follows -

The First Epoch :
June - The Story begun by Walter Hartright
July - Vincent Gilmore
Marian Halcombe
The Second Epoch:
August - Marian
September - Frederick Fairlie
Eliza Michelson
October - The Story continued in several narratives : Hester - Walter (takes us up to end of second epoch)
The Third Epoch :
November - Walter
December - Mrs Catherick ; Walter
January 2023 - Fosco ; Walter

Eight months in total.

I hope all the editions match this. The Collins has these parts clearly marked at the beginning - in amongst all this are chapters so it is touch confusing and the Penguin edition is less clear. I tried to do something with original instalments but some of them ended mis chapter (as Collins changed his chronology in 1861!) . My instalments do vary quite wildly in length.

We begin this month so grab a copy and join me!

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StColumbofNavron · 09/12/2022 20:29

I have actually read TOC though think I might have just stopped around 80% and remember little so happy to read this.

CountFosco · 08/12/2022 12:43

Finally caught up. The last time I read this Marian's section was my favourite and Walter's sections felt flat in comparison. I still feel like that although I've enjoyed the more comic sections (Frederick Fairlie esp) more this time. I suppose Collins needs a more neutral authorial voice but I also find Walter annoying with his love of the sappy Laura. Marian and Fosco are much more entertaining characters. I bet if this was a modern novel there'd be some fan fiction written where Marian and Fosco have a relationship 😂. At least it does mean I can now jumps steaight into the next section.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/12/2022 10:15

I agree with you Cludgie! He is a flamboyant character.

InTheCludgie · 06/12/2022 10:11

That's me finally caught up with the readalong! This has been a standout for me this year, for some reason I haven't had as many standout reads this year but TWIW is definitely up there. I agree that Fosco makes a great villain but there's a slight touch of 'panto baddie' about him (not sure if anyone would agree with me!).

I'm open to another readalong and would be happy with Dickens. I'm pretty sure I have The Old Curiosity Shop on my kindle which has been sat there for years so I wouldn't say no to that.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/12/2022 09:51

I haven't read a Dickens book that I haven't liked yet (five read altogether). I really enjoy his writing; I think he has a wonderful turn of phrase. I would like to read at least one of his books every year, so I would be very happy if we read TOC together* *if others would like to.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/12/2022 08:54

Disclaimer 1 : I realise Les Mis is French
Disclaimer 2 : I am definitely NOT suggesting we plough through Thomas Mann.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/12/2022 08:21

StColumbofNavron · 05/12/2022 21:01

I think Les Mis has a good deal of support on the W&P thread as we’re aiming for a year long read.

I‘m not huge on Dickens and failed miserably at Hard Times but I know that traditionally this a Dickensalong so willing to try again.

This is very courageous of you!

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 06/12/2022 08:20

I have read W and P but not sure how much Russian literature appeals really. It's funny how much more appeal it seems to have than German or French!

Shall we try OCS then? I have heard it divides critics.

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LadybirdDaphne · 06/12/2022 06:51

Tried Anna Karenina as an audio book a few years ago but I couldn't stand all Levin's farmy bits... I suppose I could skip over the farming if I did it in print instead?

StColumbofNavron · 05/12/2022 21:11

Though I will say I read Anna Karenina one chapter a day in 2021 and the chapters are very short and often move from character to character so it lends itself to reading along I think. That said, I’ve read it twice and love it so I am totally not the right person to be inputting into this decision.

StColumbofNavron · 05/12/2022 21:01

I think Les Mis has a good deal of support on the W&P thread as we’re aiming for a year long read.

I‘m not huge on Dickens and failed miserably at Hard Times but I know that traditionally this a Dickensalong so willing to try again.

ChessieFL · 05/12/2022 11:50

I fancy The Old Curiosity Shop as well, but I haven’t read any of the others Piggy mentions so happy with any of those.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/12/2022 10:12

I don't think that 'The Moonstone' is as exciting as TWIW. It's not half as gripping.

I would be fine with another Dickens and I haven't read any of the ones mentioned by Piggy. I quite fancy 'The Old Curiousity Shop' but I'll fall in with anything.

On the W+P thread, there was a mention of 'Les Misérables' and a ginormous George Elliot readalong, but nothing has been decided yet.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 05/12/2022 09:24

We have time to think about this , so no pressure.

Perhaps I should read up on Trollope...

If not Moonstone is fine with me but it doesn't really seem long enough for a readalong. Mary Barton is the only Gaskell I haven't done but again it's not Dickens in length!

We need something about 700+ pages, I think. The Warden is very short.

The Dickenses I haven't read:

Nicholas Nickleby
The Old Curiosity Shop
Martin Chuzzlewit
Dombey and Son
Barnaby Rudge
Pickwick Papers

I know very little about any f those really in terms of the pantheon.

I've done all the big Eliots and Hardys!

Then there's Anna Karenina or Crime and Punishment...both definitely LONG!

Do the W and P people have plans for another russianalong? Pun intended...

The Way We Live Now is certainly the right length!

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Terpsichore · 05/12/2022 08:55

It was just a suggestion, I’m perfectly happy to let the group go with whatever they want.

ChessieFL · 05/12/2022 08:22

I would be happy with Trollope as I’ve never read him and I think I do have The Warden hanging around on a shelf somewhere. However Piggy puts in such sterling work hosting the threads it would be a shame to pick something that leaves her out!

Terpsichore · 05/12/2022 07:54

Fair enough!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 05/12/2022 07:49

That's fine if you want to do it (that's not meant to found aggressive or pass agg!) I really have never wanted to read Trollope. No idea why!

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Terpsichore · 05/12/2022 07:48

Could I put in a quiet plea for Trollope again? I’d love to suggest The Way We Live Now but it’s long, so maybe The Warden instead, which is the first of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, and (relatively) short?

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 05/12/2022 07:25

I think I have always said I won't do VF as I am not a reread person
But happy for someone else to organise a readalong if that's a popular option.

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ChessieFL · 05/12/2022 07:06

I don’t mind what we do next. I’m happy to go back to Dickens (I still have lots of his I haven’t read yet) or to tackle another Collins (maybe The Moonstone?). Another suggestion we’ve had before is Vanity Fair - I have read that before but would be very happy to read again and would be interested in the discussions about it. Also
open to other suggestions.

LadybirdDaphne · 05/12/2022 01:58

That's ok, I will read it without the benefit of the collective readalong wisdom Wink

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 04/12/2022 21:04

I've read that really quite recently, unfortunately.

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LadybirdDaphne · 04/12/2022 20:45

I'm personally planning to read North and South soon, would that be good for a readalong? I know Dickens published it in serialised form. It might be good for a compare and contrast to Hard Times too.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 04/12/2022 20:45

Piggywaspushed · 04/12/2022 20:28

Three times for me too :(

That's very meta discussing this thread on the W and P thread! I haven't really given it much thought yet...open to suggestions!

😁

Get well soon ☕

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