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Oliver Twist Readalong October to December. Everyone Welcome

98 replies

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 09/09/2026 15:00

For the Dickens aficionados and the Dickens curious alike. We’re going to attempt a three month readalong of Dickens second published full length novel Oliver Twist.
As it was published in three volumes we will be tackling a volume a month:

October Volume 1
22 Chapters

November Volume 2
14 Chapters

December Volume 3
15 Chapters.

We’ll discuss each volume on the last day of the month (so volume one on 31st October) and have a check in mid month for those who want it.

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Terpsichore · 11/09/2026 16:27

Place-marking with a silk handkerchief 😊

DiscombobulatedHedgehog · 11/09/2026 21:42

What a lovely idea, I’m definitely in. It’s been so many years since I read Dickens, I keep contemplating a reread so this is serendipitous timing.

readingmytealeaves · 12/09/2026 15:04

OK I got a cheap Kindle version so I will try this. I always feel I should have read more Dickens.

HagCymraeg · 12/09/2026 18:01

I am checking in to join you.
I am going to listen on Audible and I have downloaded a version read by Jonathan Keeble who I have listened to as a narrator before and I like him.
I listened to Great Expectations earlier this year read by Stephen Fry which was an absolute joy.
My knowledge of OT is mainly from the musical

Scatterbugg · 12/09/2026 18:38

Oh that clothbound edition is beautiful. I'm now looking at them all!

DaisyDukesAuntie · 13/09/2026 06:48

This is a great idea. I have started the free audible version read by Jonathan Pryce. Enjoying it so far 😀

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 13/09/2026 11:07

Scatterbugg · 12/09/2026 18:38

Oh that clothbound edition is beautiful. I'm now looking at them all!

It was a great marketing idea from Penguin to sell the free on line classics to people at inflated prices 😂

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Waawo · 13/09/2026 11:53

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 13/09/2026 11:07

It was a great marketing idea from Penguin to sell the free on line classics to people at inflated prices 😂

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I think it is interesting how atm there are apparently more books being sold and less books being read…

nowanearlyNicemum · 14/09/2026 17:55

I have downloaded the audiobook narrated by Martin Jarvis. I'm hopeful I might actually stay on track this time, thanks to my driving / listening commute!

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 15/09/2026 17:28

That is interesting @Waawo More books bought for show and less for reading. Quite a sad reflection on the times.

I saw Jonathan Pryce as Fagin in the West End Oliver! revival many moons ago @DaisyDukesAuntie I’m sure he’d be a good narrator. But otoh I listened to Martin Jarvis narrate Hard Times and A Tale Of Two Cities and enjoyed his unfussy style so will have to listen to the samples.

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Terpsichore · 15/09/2026 17:34

I had a brilliant drama teacher at secondary school who was a professional actor and he famously played Fagin in our nearest big town's Christmas production of Oliver! (I can’t remember going to see it, though!).
He was great, actually - we had really excellent drama facilities and more than one of my cohort went on to become actors, at least one very well-known.

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 15/09/2026 17:36

Oooh give us a clue who @Terpsichore !

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Terpsichore · 15/09/2026 17:43

The drama teacher isn’t famous at all (I just looked him up and he was in ‘Coronation St' a couple of times, and toured in 'John, Paul, George, Ringo…& Bert' - he was Ringo 😂) but Lesley Sharp was one of the drama group at my school and everyone could see she was going to be a star.

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 15/09/2026 17:50

Oh wow she really is famous. I wouldn’t have liked to be competing against her for the lead in school productions! 😂

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ChessieFL · 15/09/2026 20:09

One of the drama supply teachers we often had at secondary school ended up in Coronation Street years later too! I definitely didn’t go to school with Lesley Sharp though so not the same school.

nowanearlyNicemum · 18/09/2026 23:13

I am already halfway through October's chapters. I fear I may peak too soon.

DuPainDuVinDuFromage · 19/09/2026 06:48

I haven’t started! What’s the timetable - do we talk about October’s chapters at the end of October?

CharityShopMensGlasses · 19/09/2026 06:52

Oh yes please :) this sounds lovely!

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 19/09/2026 11:05

Definitely don’t peak too soon @nowanearlyNicemum! Make notes of any thoughts for our discussion.

Welcome @CharityShopMensGlasses

I haven’t started yet either @DuPainDuVinDuFromage. A few other books to finish first. And yes 31st October we’ll discuss the first book, although around the 15th October I’ll post the synopsis of the first 7 chapters as some people wanted a mid month check in to keep on track.

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DuPainDuVinDuFromage · 19/09/2026 18:05

Thanks @DesdamonasHandkerchief ! I’ll plan to start at the beginning of October then.

Towanda12 · 25/09/2026 19:13

Oh, may I join please? I've never read the unabridged and it's a lifetime since i read the school version..gosh 50 plus years..scary. This seems like a wonderful idea, many thx for setting it up

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 25/09/2026 23:42

Aaarh thank you @Towanda12 We’d love you to join us.

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DesdamonasHandkerchief · 04/10/2026 19:48

Ooops! Probably should have welcomed everyone to the read along on 1st October! So somewhat later than intended:
Oliver Twist (or The Parish Boy’s Progress) is the second full length novel by Dickens (after The Pickwick Papers and before Nicholas Nickleby) published in serial form from 1837 to 1839 and as a three volume book in 1838.
We will be reading a volume a month between October and the end of December.

How is everyone getting on?
I started last month and got somewhat carried away reading 11 chapters (which brought me to a natural pause) before I stopped myself so I had something to read this month!
I must say I’m enjoying it very much and found it a straightforward and page turning plot, unlike some of Dickens later novels.

I’ll post the first few pictures from my illustrated book and chapter summaries for the first 7 chapters mid month.

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readingmytealeaves · 04/10/2026 20:05

I am only 3 chapters in but enjoying it more than I expected to - more humour than I recall from having to read Dickens at school.

Benvenuto · 04/10/2026 22:11

I hadn’t realised that OT was such an early novel!