2018 Reading Group - January: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - *Spoilers from 25 January*

[Plentyoffishnets]

Hi, lots of interest on a different thread for starting a 2018 MN reading group.
Aim is to read one book a month, finishing by 25th of each month then discussing and selecting the next month's book.
For January we have gone for North and South by Elisabeth Gaskell.
So this thread is for those who want to join in, all are welcome

[MyOtherProfile]

Totally worth it for the phwoar factor of Richard Armitage as Thornton apart from anything else.

[Plentyoffishnets]

well I've finally finished it! wanted to write a few comments before reading everyone else's thoughts.
I thought it was very well written and particularly loved the second half. despite not being massively keen on any of the main characters, the plot is very engaging and I think it gives a very interesting view of class at the time as well as showing how few choices women had. I found it so sad that Margaret was passed around so much. I was really glad for the ending, but wish more of romance could have developed - another couple of chapters wouldn't have hurt! I think you can tell it was serialized which is why the story develops so slowly. I loved the use of poetry at the start of each chapter. I re read the poems at the end of each chapter to see why they had been used.
right, can't wait to read everyone's comments!

[Chillywhippet]

Yeah Plenty. You're back and you've read the book

Come over to the book list thread and chip in

[Plentyoffishnets]

thanks chilly Feel really proud to have read n and s. I still struggle to put my damn phone away but have got into more of a habit of reading at certain times and definitely have the time to read.
I'll take a look at the other thread.
Great to read everyone's thoughts about the novel and see that we all seem to think the ending was rushed.
I'm going to try to listen to the Melvyn Bragg thing and watch the mini series as well.
then will make a start with fatherland.

[JaimesGoldenHand]

I started the 2004 mini series yesterday. Was astonished- I thought we'd be lucky to get to Milton by the end of ep 1 and there we were, not 5 mins in, with the Hales on the train Northbound. No explanation of why or anything. OH came in then so we watched something else - perhaps all the backstory will be explained in flashbacks.

[Plentyoffishnets]

just listening to the in our time podcast.
Did not realise Milton was Manchester? I don't know about anyone else but in my mind Milton was not an especially big place. But then maybe Manchester would have been that small in the 1850's? I guess it rapidly expanded at that sort of time due to the industrial revolution.
Also very interesting how her own family background influenced the novel- her living with a loving aunt, her brother disappearing overseas and also being married to a vicar.

[stilllovingmysleep]

I know it is now March! But this is when I finally finished North & South (I've been reading a chapter a day as I found it a struggle as a book).

So I thought I'd read everyone's thoughts herethanks for such interesting pointsand also just share some of my own.

Perhaps I'm not used to books written in the Victorian era, but this was just not my cup of tea. I found the death-after-death element very contrived. I found the ending completely abrupt. Half a page? come on...after so many chapters of building up to it.

I did though appreciate the social class elements, the vivid depiction of a northern UK struggling town, the point of view of the southerners. And I did warm to the characters--that was probably the strongest point of the book for me, the characters & their relationships. From all the deaths, I found the mother's death the most heartbreaking & best written about.

I don't think I will be going on to read any more Gaskell, however I am actually interested in reading her biography.

[Chillywhippet]

Still that's great you ploughed on. The good thing about the book group thread is you can catch discussion anytime.

I still can't get over how long ago it was written. I enjoyed the TV adaptation although it wizzes through the first half of the book really quickly.

I'm in danger of missing deadline for March's book. Better get cracking.