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David Copperfield Dickensalong

539 replies

Piggywaspushed · 04/01/2020 11:36

Hello All

Inspired by the Bleak House readalong, I have decided this might be the year to tackle David Copperfield.

Those of us who did BH read it obediently in Dickens' instalments ,which wasn't to everyone's taste! We had a chat at the end of each month. It took 18 months and I think we had three stalwarts left at the end.

DC was published as follows (note different months!):

• I – May 1849 (chapters 1–3);
• II – June 1849 (chapters 4–6);
• III – July 1849 (chapters 7–9);
• IV – August 1849 (chapters 10–12);
• V – September 1849 (chapters 13–15);
• VI – October 1849 (chapters 16–18);
• VII – November 1849 (chapters 19–21);
• VIII – December 1849 (chapters 22–24);
• IX – January 1850 (chapters 25–27);
• X – February 1850 (chapters 28–31);
• XI – March 1850 (chapters 32–34);
• XII – April 1850 (chapters 35–37);
• XIII – May 1850 (chapters 38–40);
• XIV – June 1850 (chapters 41–43);
• XV – July 1850 (chapters 44–46);
• XVI – August 1850 (chapters 47–50);
• XVII – September 1850 (chapters 51–53);
• XVIII – October 1850 (chapters 54–57);
• XIX-XX – November 1850 (chapters 58–64).

I am happy to negotiate reading faster so that we tackle three instalments at a time? Thus , the first would be Chapter 1 -9 and we would be finished in the summer.

What does everyone think?

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Terpsichore · 16/02/2020 21:38

I'm loving it even more now. I finished the Feb chapters a little while ago and I'm really enjoying spinning it out. It's no wonder Dickens was so popular with readers from right across the board: his writing is incredibly immediate and fresh, and yes, the hilarious, lightning-quick pen portraits of the characters are a triumph.

MrsFezziwig · 16/02/2020 22:07

Does colour blind casting assuming that we are in a parallel (preferable) universe were there is no racial prejudice and people can be any colour irrespective of their parents colour of skin?
I think this must be correct, as I’ve seen the film today and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which characters are which colour. I didn’t find this a problem, nor the fact that I think it’s very likely that the film is extremely loosely based on the book (haven’t read the book as yet).
I have the free edition on my Kindle so I might give it a go - will have a lot of catching up to do though!

nowanearlyNicemum · 20/02/2020 09:56

Just popping on to say that this is really the perfect reading speed for me. Any slower and I'd definitely feel I'd forgotten what happened in the previous chapters but at this speed I don't feel pressured to read quickly and I'm really enjoying reading in instalments. Have just finished Chapter 12. What will become of dear Copperfield??!

Piggywaspushed · 20/02/2020 11:08

Bless him, he is very likeable , isn't he?

I much prefer him to Pip, who I wanted to drown in the bloody Marshes.

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Terpsichore · 23/02/2020 15:19

Just popping back to say I saw the film last night and enjoyed it, but perhaps not quite as much as I was expecting to. It takes quite a lot of liberties with the plot, but I suppose that's inevitable with a long book. I was slightly disappointed that the Murdstones didn't have their big come-uppance scene Grin

Piggywaspushed · 23/02/2020 15:59

I have now just got to Betsy Trotwood's reintroduction. the description of her sounds so like Tilda Swinton that I need to see her in it now!

I laughed out loud at 'Janet! Donkeys!'

Mr Dick is adorable.

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Terpsichore · 23/02/2020 17:25

I ❤️ Miss Trotwood

Piggywaspushed · 23/02/2020 17:52

I cannot possibly see why anyone would not love her. I want to be her.

I can shout at the window 'Nigel! Neighbours parking badly!' or 'Ambrose! Evil cat from next door!' ; 'Hepzibah! Cold Callers!'

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Terpsichore · 23/02/2020 17:56

GrinGrinGrin

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 24/02/2020 13:39

Also went to see the film at the weekend. Loved Dev Patel, Paul Woodhouse, Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie (totally captured Mr Dick) thought Peter Capaldi as Micawber was a bit low key and under used, he didn't even get to say his famous income vs expenditure line come to think of it. Wasn't impressed by the actor playing Wickfield, and I know it's sacrilege to criticise Ben Whishaw but I prefer my Uriah Heep to be even more obsequious and 'umble, at least initially, although no doubt that's due to the direction and the speed at which this film moves.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it but my goodness they took some liberties with the plot!

bibliomania · 24/02/2020 16:45

Yes, love the book scene of Betsey Trotwood routing the Murdstones!

Terpsichore · 24/02/2020 16:50

They really did, didn't they? Rather to its detriment, I felt. I haven't finished the book by a long chalk but I can see how what might at first have felt like longueurs in Dickens's writing actually enrich the texture of the book. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

For example, in cutting out his first (unhappy) period at school and shoving it together with the second (much happier) one, and making him grow up by what appears to be about ten years in the blacking factory, it messes up the whole chronology. He's still a little boy when he sets out to find Miss Trotwood, but in the film he's pretty much adult, or at least late on in adolescence.

I did enjoy it, though. I wouldn't want to put anyone else off seeing it!

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 24/02/2020 20:29

I think they wanted to get their moneys worth out of Dev Patel!
And don't get me started on Micawber turning up as a teacher Shock

bibliomania · 25/02/2020 09:00

Agree that the film is definitely worth seeing. Even if it's not entirely faithful to the book's plot, it does capture something about the mood - even when faced with adversity, there will be jokes and good people and a chance of better things.

nowanearlyNicemum · 25/02/2020 10:24

Aaaaargh, my eyes!!!!! Too many spoilers people!!!!!

Piggywaspushed · 25/02/2020 11:08

Yes, ahem.

Let us pledge not to discuss the chapters ahead of time. Partly my fault as I got over excited by donkeys. Grin

Not too many days to go. Am on Chapter 15.

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Terpsichore · 25/02/2020 17:03

Sorry!

Piggywaspushed · 25/02/2020 17:14

Mine or your own??!

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Terpsichore · 25/02/2020 20:24

Mine, Piggy!

MsAmerica · 26/02/2020 01:00

Six months to read one novel?!?

Piggywaspushed · 26/02/2020 08:18

You certainly don't need to join in. But, in case you aren't aware, Dickens published all his novels in instalments (in fact, many more than six). Many of us read Bleak House in 18 months! we enjoyed our monthly chats and it helped us to analyse in more detail and left us often in suspense more effectively.

Also, it's over 800 pages long.

Also, it's taken me 30 odd years to read Ulysses so far.

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bibliomania · 26/02/2020 09:09

Okay, I'll be good, pinkie promise.

nowanearlyNicemum · 26/02/2020 09:56

Could Ulysses be our next read along piggy?

Yes, I know, I need to get on with reading Copperfield first!! Am on Chapter 13...

Piggywaspushed · 26/02/2020 11:19

Ummmm... not a fan of Ulysses but maybe...

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FranKatzenjammer · 26/02/2020 15:14

I have a slight hankering for a Canterbury Tales readalong...