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've bought Wives and Daughters in the Audible two for one sale so am going to give it a go in October. I'm hoping that as it’s an audiobook, narrated my Prunella Scales that I'll be OK keeping Dickens and Gaskell separate in my head. Trying to imagine who I would want narrating Bleak House. Is Charles Dance in the tv adaptation? He'd be great. Funny that, considering that half the book is from a woman's perpective, that I think a man should narrate it

PrincessFabian, yes I find fantasy, sci-fi and non fiction are the best palate cleansers between books.

I know it’s a day to early to be discussing September but I loved chapter 22. Amazing writing, just so good.

too early

Happy Victober!

I have done my September chapters. I found these a slog as they seem to be treading water/ a bit of a hiatus to me and I have little interest in some of those characters - still not very sure who Snagsby is. The long awaited Mr Bucket (this first detective in fiction, apparently) was introduced but (I probably wasn't concentrating!) I couldn't tell whether he was kindly, or whether Dickens was deploying irony (I have this issue with quite a few of the characters!).I missed Esther's Narrative : I always find those chapters more interesting.

I bet Katie bloody loves these chapters!!

Happy Victober!

Yes agree re treading water, he's done this a few times now with only the merest snippet of info pertaining to the actual plot. However I'm willing to forgive Charles for procrastination with characters for giving us Grandfather and Grandmother Smallweed (great name) and the arguments ending in a pillow being flung across the room. Properly did a lol at that scene.

I read Mr Bucket as straight (nice).

Katie will be brillianting and really-reallying all over chapter 22 I bet. A detective, social commentary, ethics, Mr. Tulkinghorn being dark and secretive and then a poor old big-handed Hortense all dressed up as Lady D, I'm expecting huge amounts of enthusiasm all over the shop.

I forgot Hortense came back. I liked that bit!

Here we are, in late October and no chpater summaries from Katie

Katie please don't make me tweet you again!!!

You may have to Piggy.
She's gone and got all distracted again by other Victorian literature.

I noticed!

I shall send her a gentle reminder...

I am 2/3 of the way through my October chapters.

Can anyone emlighten me as to who Gridley is?

Dickens seems to think I will remember....

Katie has just tweeted me. It's been a bit hectic for her. She will try but 'is promising nothing'. I feel like I have just been pass agged by a very polite Mafiosa!

Ooh, well get you on tweeting terms with Katie. Lol at “promising nothing”. How very firm.

Did you remember who Grindley was? I’m afraid I have no idea.

Can’t believe I left my copy at home. What a plonker.

I am none the wiser on Grindley!

I'm in that thing of recalling nothing about the chapters again, even though I concentrated really hard and actually liked the chapters as I am better with the Esther chapters , memory wise. That Richard is a bit of a wastrel , isn't he!? Reminds me of my son...

Katie still hasn't done it, mind...

I have not read the October chapters yet, I am waiting for Katie's review of September first. I like to watch the review to remind me of what has happened before I move on. Hopefully it will be done soon now that Victober is out of the way.

I still have to read mine. Currently bogged down with Shardlake but they’re on my to do list for this weekend.

I shall watch that later ! Watching Dr Zhivago at the moment ... Thanks scribbly!

Hooray it's up at last. I have watched the video and am now reading the October chapters. Happily 2 of them are from Esther's point of view as I find those much easier to read than the others.

I do too, although I like the atmospheric quality of the other chapters which always seem very modern in their voice.

Correction: sorry that video is September's not October's chapters. Katie is even more behind than me, which I am no longer as I finished October's chapters yesterday. Yay.

She must be frightened of getting another Tweet from me!

Argh! Went to bed last night feeling pretty pleased with myself for finishing the November chapters before the end of November only to discover this morning that November was a tricksy four-chapterer. Poor show Dickens.

Just when I'm starting to get a little fed up with this book because the plot seems to be meandering all over the shop and I can’t quite keep up with who all the characters are Dickens writes something like the first paragraph of chapter 29 and I'm back in love with it again.
How fantastic is that? Oooh it’s like poetry. Lovely, lovely stuff and so perfect for this time of year.