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.

I think she must be an academic too. Maybe the tablets are pro-plus and she only sleeps for two hours a night, the rest of her time is spent reading Victorian literature.
If you want really messy shelves go to Steve Donoghue's YouTube channel Piggy 😱

The doll burying happens after Esther's wicked aunt dies. All she is left with is a bird in a cage. Then she gets on a coach and can’t even eat a bit of cake. Enough now with the violin playing Charles I thought, we get it.

I did think she was a bit po faced (sp?) about Mrs Jellaby. Obviously, Katie has lead a sheltered life (or basically she is too young!) because I reckon everyone on MN has met Mrs Jellaby types. I once went to a kids' party at a successful radio DJ's house and it was chaos : detritus everywhere(sorry, nicked from the other thread!) , literally potties full of poo and filth. I was shocked. And she talked constantly about her 'community work'. Mrs Jellaby is one of those deluded 'free parenting' BoHo types before her time. I don't think this is Dickens being sexist. Mr J is utterly useless, too and they are just typical Dickensian caricatures. Dickens is full of bad parents!

I was trying to remember the literary term for 'cultivating the coffee and the natives' : I think it's hendiadys , but I always get that confused with zeugma... Pope loved doing this : 'to stain her honour, and her new brocade'

Don't need to go to YouTube to see messy shelves: can just trot over to mine .

I have decided the tablets are Sinutab because of all the dust from the books.

Oh jut seen them. His shelves are MUCH tidier than mine (and I can spot a copy of Clarissa a mile off!)

Have finished the video now. Helpfully refreshed my memory ready for the next three chapters.
I agree piggy that I'm not convinced Dickens is being sexist in his portrayal of Mrs Jellaby as opposed to critical of a certain type of person. Interested to see where he goes with it though.
It almost feels like being in school again, reading chapters slowly and then discussion of key points and themes.
Although I always went ahead and finished the book when I was at school.

Oh mama you'd be my fantasy student these days!

I managed to lose the thread. Will catch up and check back shortly.

I have started reading the April chapters.
Does anyone know what - - M - - means?
In chapter 5 when the old lady is talking about the shopkeeper she says 'For he is a little - you know! - M -!'
It is used a few times in the chapter and I don't know what it means.
Maybe mad but if so why the dashes and it does not seem to fit on all occasions.

I have watched the chapter 1-4 video and I am amazed by how much she has to say on just the first 4 chapters
I think this is going to much more educational than my normal reading, themes and symbolism normally go straight over my head

I think the M s mad. I suspect it wasn't allowed in Victorian novels! Like it always say D- me, instead of damn me!

So definitely not motherfucker then Piggy?

Well, that never crossed my mind !!

It would change the whole Dickenscape for sure!

More street?

definitely ! Like proper gangsta innit?

Scribbly

Sorry. I've lowered the tone.

I was racking my brains to think of swear words beginning with M and Motherfucker never crossed my mind either

I have finished the April chapters and the book is back on the shelf until next month 😁

Bit late but can I join in? I haven't read this for about 25 years!

Come on in wolfie !

Thanks. It's been a long while. Will be interesting to re read. Now to find my copy!!

I think the -m- is mad too.
Although didn't Richard call her mad earlier on?
Every time I pick this up I feel like just keeping on going. Just read chapter five now while the children are watching My Little Pony.

I'm sitting here dithering over having a crack at this. Like Wolfie it's (at least) 25 years since I last read BH. Strangely, I just said the same thing on the OMF thread and was thinking I should, perhaps, read BH again and then I spotted this thread. Almost as if the universe is trying to tell me something...

I'm 90% decided. I think I'll be giving it a go even though it means doing a double shift this month to catch up with everyone else

It’s deffo a sign Beatrice. I won’t take long to catch up.

I'm not one to ignore what is written in the stars

OK, I'm committed. At least to the extent that I've downloaded the Penguin edition to my Kindle. I now just have to find the time to read the thing.