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.

We used to use this format in a Trollope (Anthony) book group I used to be a member of. I think it worked very well

I read mine all in one go mamapants, well, with a brief toilet interlude between chapters 2 and 3. Hope will be able to retain who all the characters are by next month.

Which editions are people reading? I have the Oxford Classics one. Finding the footnotes very useful.

I think I might read all in one go next month, a chapter doesn't seem enough to get going. Just worried after a month I will forget what's happened. Interesting to try such a different way of reading anyway.

Mine is a Vintage? Edition. It was a set of CDs novels I got for £10 from Book People, no footnotes.

Mine is just a free version I downloaded on Kindle. Will possibly keep my eye open in charity shops for a 'real' copy

I listened to the first four chapters while travelling at the weekend. Was surprised by how much I remembered. Fully intend to write myself a brief email on the important bits. I realise that that was the approach my English teacher took all those years ago, which quite put me off Dickens. Compare to Austin and Waugh, Dickens was just tedious. Now, it seems like quite a good idea to let the descriptive stuff just flow over me and take notice of the really key parts.

Like Lady D when noticing a certain handwriting, which struck me as pretty heavy signally. Sigh.

The audible version I have is read by Peter Batchelor, I have the linked kindle version, which is described as "converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers". I also have a kindle version I purchased in 2014 which is described as the "complete, unabridged version including all the illustrations, as it was intended to be read". I couldn't easily find the publisher's details, shall look them up when i get a chance.

2014 (!). As I may have mentioned, I have been meaning to reread/properly read Bleak House for some time.

I should have an old Oxford paperback reading copy in the attic but I'd have to wade through boxes and boxes to find it (nor order you see!) So I've taken one from the Dickens set I have on the bookshelf if that will do. I'd say it was early-ish - mid 1900s (at a guess, it doesn't say), published by Hazell, Watson and Viney.

I'd live to join. Studied Bleak House for my degree except I never actually read very much of it . Am going to apply myself properly this time!

Ohh, glad it was not just me, @OneForTheRoadThen, though mine was just A-level...

Good idea. I've only read a few shorter Dickens books but this might be a manageable way to get through a longer one. I'll get the book and see how I get on.

Well today I opened the book and started reading, I probably read for about half an hour but only managed the Preface, Chronology, part of the Introduction, a Note on the Text and another Preface.

Hoping to start the actual story very soon .

Oh gosh, I didn't read those bits!

Finished the four chapters now.
Really good so far.

I read the first 4 chapters today too. I wanted to keep going but I don't have long to wait until April for the next 3.
I have never read a book like this before, I am wondering if I can last the whole 18 months or if I will give in one month and finish

Fabian I've had to put mine up on the top shelf away from temptation.

OK, all ready to discuss tomorrow but I think I have forgotten what happened. How did the Victorians manage? Did they have genteel conversations in their drawing rooms after each chapter?

@Piggywaspushed I made a few notes for myself, to remind me what actually happened. If yo7 strip out all the description and just consider what we have learned about people or how the plot has moved forward, there are only a few key things in each chapter.

It may change in later chapters, it i somehow doubt it. I am convinced that Dickens was writing to a word count. 😀

I love the thought that they were having genteel drawing room discussions about the book Piggy. Mini monthly book clubs.

I'll post Katie's Books and Things video (it’s quite long) which I'm sure will provides a really good summary of the first four chapters.

I'm going to need to go back and refresh my memory of a few of the characters but for me the points that stuck in my mind were:
London is miserable, muddy, foggy and generally ghastly. Dickens doesn’t think to highly of lawyers either.

Esther is obviously not stupid but I can’t work out (yet) if she really believes that to be true or that she's assumed this depreciating mantle in order to protect herself from future hurt and heart break. The burying the doll scene was very sad, Dickens laying it on thick there.

The mystery dude is in the carriage who throws the cake out of the window is important and I like his style.

Mrs Jellyby is Dickens' AIBU character.
AIBU to expect women to keep their house clean and orderly, and ensure the safety of their own children wrt outdoor railings before troubling themselves with matters regarding to social justice in Africa?
(YANBU replies everyone sitting in their parlours at home discussing the book over plum cake)

[grin} at AIBU!

I watched the fabulous BBC adaptation years back and the bit I remembered was Charles Dance and Jarndyce and Jarndyce.

I am liking the atmosphere of Bleak House so far. As is often the case with Dickens' early chapters, there are a lot of characters to acquaint oneself with : he really is C19 Eastenders!

Thanks for YouTube link : will watch later.

fail!

I don't remember a doll being buried!! This is the problem with slow reading!

but I can recommend SparkNotes for chapter summaries!

I am watching the YouTube video : do you know what Katie does in RL and how she finds the time? I did an English degree but I am so in aware of her reading, her knowledge, her detailed memory : she must be an academic surely? I also want to know where she went to uni, out of sheer nosiness. I have not taught someone at A level who loves books as much as her for many years, if ever!

I altos want to know what the tablets on top of Little Dribbling are... surprise messiness on bookshelf!!