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

[ClashCityRocker]

Iris yes, I was!

I thought after the conversation with her father events were going to take a different turn.

[IrisAtwood]

What was the decision about discussing the book? It is hard to discuss it without talking about the story and plot.

[mamapants]

I think it was decided that open discussion after the 25th of each month with a clear message on the 25th that there would be spoilers from then on.

[runwalkrun]

Would it work if we broke the book into sections.
So, as a (very rough) example:
On 11 Jan we will be discussing up to Chapter 10
By 18 Jan we will be discussing from beg. up to Chapter 20.
and so on.
and then on 25th we discuss the whole book.

I've never joined a BC, either on here or in RL so I'm not sure if it would work?

[Plentyoffishnets]

I'm still waiting for the book to arrive 😣! I think the trouble with breaking it into sections to discuss is that it makes it harder for people to read at their own pace. if we are keeping it at one book a month then it is a relatively easy target to stick to but if we have had to have read a certain amount by a certain date it starts making it harder for people to join in with. maybe when we get to the point of discussion we could break it that way? Or by consensus have an earlier part of the month we start the discussion from? it's very early days for this group and the book was chosen in the last few days of Dec so think it's very much finding its feet at the moment and very much up to however everyone wants to do it by consensus.

[desperatelyseekingcaffeine]

I think I'd prefer to discuss the whole book than sections but will go with group consensus. I've done it once before and struggled to remember how much I could discuss if I'd read further ahead than the section.

Can someone encourage me along with this book, I'm not an Austen style of book person and I'm finding it a bit hard going? I think I've slipped into easy to. read, fast paced books since having the kids!

[stilllovingmysleep]

I also think discussing the whole book would be much better, after a certain date eg 26 January?

[Dammyjodgerer]

I’d like to give it a go too please. I’ve not been reading nearly as much as I used to and I think a bit of structure might just motivate me. I’ll download today.

[IrisAtwood]

@desperatelyseekingcaffeine, When I first started reading Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Henry James I also found it hard going.
I find that slowing my reading down and thinking about the characters and plot really helps. It helps to relax into the book and forget about the next plot development or how many pages you’ve read.

[boldlygoingsomewhere]

I'm currently reading it and enjoying it. It definitely helps to read at a slower pace than usual. I'm finding myself quite absorbed with it all and noticing where the tv adaption differs.

[mamapants]

caffeine how far in are you? I've found it's picked up as I've gone along.
Im finding some of the speech making regarding the Mills a bit long and more as though she is putting them in for her own point making than feeling like real dialogue by the characters.
Love Mrs Thornton though, great character I think.

[desperatelyseekingcaffeine]

Thanks - I think it's the slowing my reading down that I'm struggling with. I'm used to reading very quickly so it's a big change. Think it will be good for me though

[Baubletrouble43]

I'm in! Though I have form for not finishing books. I have a dusty copy of this on shelf never got round to reading
Thanks for the motivation

[Wolfiefan]

I read this many years ago. Would love to take the chance to re read. Now where did I put it?!

[beachygirl]

I'm in. Looking forward to our first discussion.

[Plentyoffishnets]

thankfully my copy arrived in the post this morning so should be able to get stuck in this weekend. 600 ish pages though....eek!

[Chillywhippet]

Great to see people joining. I think it might be hard for people to manage the discuss in chunks this month but we could perhaps try with another book? Ot would be nice to catch the people who have steadily read it and the people who cram it in the last couple of days.

[Chillywhippet]

Just to echo people who are struggling a bit. After being so enthusiastic i almost had a wobbly lip on the first chapter. The text was small and the language dense (but beautiful). I had to reread bits and thought i would fail.

I think my difficulties were:

I have been reading modern, easy to read stuff

My attention span has shrunk due to reading MN

I'm knackered and busy

I just watched Little Women so for the first couple of chapters I saw the characters in America

I am determined to do it. I feel like I'm using a muscle that is really out of condition.

I can't believe it was written in 1852. Amazing. If only the author could have known we'd be reading it now.

[Macauley]

I’m struggling a little with it too. But I think it’s because I’m trying to read it too fast. After a while I get in to it but I have to really slow down to take in what’s happened. Far to used to skim reading so it’s good to slow down.

[Chillywhippet]

Some nice ideas here for those of us who are reading time challenged

want to tead more books?BBC

[AiryFairy1991]

I’ve reached Chapter 11 but I’m seriously concerned I’m not going to finish it all in time! I’m in a similar position to a lot of you I think. My DS is 5 months old and since he’s arrived I’ve been reading MN and FB almost exclusively so I’m finding it hard changing to more descriptive reading. I’m a big Austen fan and find the writing similar but a lot more descriptive which is making it more difficult.

I’m also not sure I like many of the characters. I’m hoping that will change as the book goes on.

[endehors]

I'm rather late to the thread but I'd like to join in if I may. I mentioned in another thread earlier that I'm actually rereading North and South at the moment, so would love to discuss. I'm about half way through (48% according to kindle).

[mamapants]

I should be finished in a couple of days.
How do we come up with discussion points, never been in a book club.
Do you always look at discussion points at the end rather than beforehand?

[mamapants]

Just did a quick Google of discussion points and the second site I clicked on was a bit spoilery so probably not a good idea to look beforehand.
Seemed easy enough to find good suggestions though.
Some would have been good to have beforehand so could take notice while reading it.
I have to say I'm enjoying it a lot and quite fancy watching the adaptation again now. Maybe watching the adaptation would motivate those who are struggling a bit.

[boldlygoingsomewhere]

I've finished too. I enjoyed it and it was nice to read at a slower pace to absorb it all.

The tv adaption does change some things but it's still enjoyable. It's available on Netflix at the moment if anyone wants to see it.