Bleak House Readalong: March 2018 - Sept 2019

[ScribblyGum]

Some of us are doing this on the 50 books thread so I thought I would start a separate discussion thread.

Inspired by Books and Things on YouTube, aim is to read Bleak House in the time frame in which it was published, so reading 3-4 chapters per month starting in March this year and finishing in September of next.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=W-DYX4lyw1M

I’ve linked the original YouTube video (she is really really excited about Bleak House ), Katie also has chapter discussion threads on her good reads page, and a picture of the chapters and the months in which they are to be read.

Yes, she's completely grossed out by it. Atoms of Mr Krook

It is certainly a detailed description. Dickens enjoyed writing it to gross out all his present readers and readers Yet To Come!

Love the addition of the freaked out cat, just to really ramp up the theatre of it all.

I have just read January's chapters, no major drama this month. I am really liking Ester as a character and I love the relationship between her and Lady Deadlock. I can't wait to find out how that storyline developes.
I feel similar to Scribbly about reading this way. I probably would not have read Bleak House without this read along. I love Katie's videos and there are definitely things I would have missed of not understood fully if I was reading this by myself at my usual pace.

But she does admit right at the end that she is in love with hunky whathisface (Woodcourt?) or rather that he 'loves her' which I am sure is typically evasive Esther.

It's so sad isn't it? She is all disfigured and she thinks she is on the scrapheap.

Complete January chapters reading fail, which is bad, but also appear to be in the same boat as Katie so that’s made me feel less bad.

I'm in the smug zone

I’m up to date now in Jan + Feb chapters. Accidentally read a March chapter in my splurge yesterday.
No Jan vid from Katie.

Absolutely in team Esther camp now. Can actually follow what’s happening and who is who. March is back with Team Tulkinghorn et al and once again I was plunged into ‘Er, who are you and what is going on here?’ confusion.

Has Esther post small pox become a bit more bad ass? I think she might. She’s rocking the dramatic usage of a veil if nothing else.
(apologies if I’m now talking about Feb chapters)
Come on Katie, we need a recap!

I daren't tweet her again! She got the hump last time! and then posted a video

The Esther chapters are definitely less confusing.

Read my February chapters last night after my Suitable Boy marathon! These chapters aren't the most active, are they, but of course there is the central event of Esther discovering her parentage (or at leats 'motherage'!) and Mr Guppy being a twat.

Esther seems to have become a stronger charcater due to the double traumas of the pox and the Lady Dedlock reveal, doesn't she? I like her more.

Still no Jan vid from Katie. Dear oh dear. She’ll be having to do a mega one for Jan+Feb.

Yes Esher deffo getting her big girl Victorian pantaloons on. I like it. I hope the book ends with her telling that arse Skimpole to go take a long walk off a short pier.

I watch all of Katie's book tube videos now and she did mention in one of her last ones that she was going to be really busy in Feb and would not be able to record much. Hopefully she will be back soon

This read along has started a book tube habit - I never really used u tube before now I am following loads of people and have a long 'watch later' list.

I love BookTube too. I save up videos to have on in the background when I’m sorting out washing or chopping food. It’s not terribly helpful for keeping my want to read list in check though.

I was about to tell you this! Halleluia! Will watch tomorrow...

She says in the comments that her February update should be up tomorrow :)

And it is here!

Dutifully reporting in on March.

Tulkinghorn really comes into full bastard mode in these chapters. Dickens certainly knows how to do menace.

I don't remember Lady D being so sympathetically portrayed on telly by Ice Queen Anderson, but it's a while since I watched it. Poor Lady Deadlock.

I’m getting on with April in the garden with pringles, moretti beer and a big hat.

Isn’t Tulkinghorn great. He might be the standout character of the nivel for me. I didn’t really watch the tv series but know he was played by Charles Dance, who also plays Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones. Of course the two fictional charters are now all blended up in my head within the body of Charles Dance and that is who I see now whenever he appears in the book.

Hortense is cross isn’t she? I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her vs Tulkinghorn.

Am keeping an eye out for Katie’s March chapters. She’s just posted a new video saying it should be within the week.

Nivel = beery novel

Sorry I haven't been on for a while, I got a bit behind but over the last few days, I have caught up on February, March and April. I wanted to carry on because there is a bit of a revelation in the last April chapter and I want to find out more!
Has everyone read the April chapters yet I want to talk about them .
Katie's March chapters video was posted yesterday. I will see if I can do a link.

I agree about loving Tulkinghorn becoming more sinister and menacing and also about Hortense, I was almost expecting her to murder him when she turned up at his office. I expect she will play a part in revealing Lady Deadlock's secret.

The March updates have now appeared on YouTube for our edification.

Oh oops, see the link above Thanks princess