WomanInWhitealong readalong 2022/3

[Piggywaspushed]

After several years of Dickensalongs, we have decided to ring the changes and read The Woman in White together. All welcome - old faithfuls and newcomers!

This was published in 40 instalments which is a bit much!

So I have tried to split it via the various voices as follows -

The First Epoch :
June - The Story begun by Walter Hartright
July - Vincent Gilmore
Marian Halcombe
The Second Epoch:
August - Marian
September - Frederick Fairlie
Eliza Michelson
October - The Story continued in several narratives : Hester - Walter (takes us up to end of second epoch)
The Third Epoch :
November - Walter
December - Mrs Catherick ; Walter
January 2023 - Fosco ; Walter

Eight months in total.

I hope all the editions match this. The Collins has these parts clearly marked at the beginning - in amongst all this are chapters so it is touch confusing and the Penguin edition is less clear. I tried to do something with original instalments but some of them ended mis chapter (as Collins changed his chronology in 1861!) . My instalments do vary quite wildly in length.

We begin this month so grab a copy and join me!

[ChessieFL]

I don’t mind what we do next. I’m happy to go back to Dickens (I still have lots of his I haven’t read yet) or to tackle another Collins (maybe The Moonstone?). Another suggestion we’ve had before is Vanity Fair - I have read that before but would be very happy to read again and would be interested in the discussions about it. Also
open to other suggestions.

[Piggywaspushed]

I think I have always said I won't do VF as I am not a reread person
But happy for someone else to organise a readalong if that's a popular option.

[Terpsichore]

Could I put in a quiet plea for Trollope again? I’d love to suggest The Way We Live Now but it’s long, so maybe The Warden instead, which is the first of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, and (relatively) short?

[Piggywaspushed]

That's fine if you want to do it (that's not meant to found aggressive or pass agg!) I really have never wanted to read Trollope. No idea why!

[Terpsichore]

Fair enough!

[ChessieFL]

I would be happy with Trollope as I’ve never read him and I think I do have The Warden hanging around on a shelf somewhere. However Piggy puts in such sterling work hosting the threads it would be a shame to pick something that leaves her out!

[Terpsichore]

It was just a suggestion, I’m perfectly happy to let the group go with whatever they want.

[Piggywaspushed]

We have time to think about this , so no pressure.

Perhaps I should read up on Trollope...

If not Moonstone is fine with me but it doesn't really seem long enough for a readalong. Mary Barton is the only Gaskell I haven't done but again it's not Dickens in length!

We need something about 700+ pages, I think. The Warden is very short.

The Dickenses I haven't read:

Nicholas Nickleby
The Old Curiosity Shop
Martin Chuzzlewit
Dombey and Son
Barnaby Rudge
Pickwick Papers


I know very little about any f those really in terms of the pantheon.

I've done all the big Eliots and Hardys!

Then there's Anna Karenina or Crime and Punishment...both definitely LONG!

Do the W and P people have plans for another russianalong? Pun intended...

The Way We Live Now is certainly the right length!

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

I don't think that 'The Moonstone' is as exciting as TWIW. It's not half as gripping.

I would be fine with another Dickens and I haven't read any of the ones mentioned by Piggy. I quite fancy 'The Old Curiousity Shop' but I'll fall in with anything.

On the W+P thread, there was a mention of 'Les Misérables' and a ginormous George Elliot readalong, but nothing has been decided yet.

[ChessieFL]

I fancy The Old Curiosity Shop as well, but I haven’t read any of the others Piggy mentions so happy with any of those.

[StColumbofNavron]

I think Les Mis has a good deal of support on the W&P thread as we’re aiming for a year long read.

I‘m not huge on Dickens and failed miserably at Hard Times but I know that traditionally this a Dickensalong so willing to try again.

[StColumbofNavron]

Though I will say I read Anna Karenina one chapter a day in 2021 and the chapters are very short and often move from character to character so it lends itself to reading along I think. That said, I’ve read it twice and love it so I am totally not the right person to be inputting into this decision.

[LadybirdDaphne]

Tried Anna Karenina as an audio book a few years ago but I couldn't stand all Levin's farmy bits... I suppose I could skip over the farming if I did it in print instead?

[Piggywaspushed]

I have read W and P but not sure how much Russian literature appeals really. It's funny how much more appeal it seems to have than German or French!

Shall we try OCS then? I have heard it divides critics.

[Piggywaspushed]

@StColumbofNavron

I think Les Mis has a good deal of support on the W&P thread as we’re aiming for a year long read.

I‘m not huge on Dickens and failed miserably at Hard Times but I know that traditionally this a Dickensalong so willing to try again.

This is very courageous of you!

[Piggywaspushed]

Disclaimer 1 : I realise Les Mis is French
Disclaimer 2 : I am definitely NOT suggesting we plough through Thomas Mann.

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

I haven't read a Dickens book that I haven't liked yet (five read altogether). I really enjoy his writing; I think he has a wonderful turn of phrase. I would like to read at least one of his books every year, so I would be very happy if we read TOC together if others would like to.

[InTheCludgie]

That's me finally caught up with the readalong! This has been a standout for me this year, for some reason I haven't had as many standout reads this year but TWIW is definitely up there. I agree that Fosco makes a great villain but there's a slight touch of 'panto baddie' about him (not sure if anyone would agree with me!).

I'm open to another readalong and would be happy with Dickens. I'm pretty sure I have The Old Curiosity Shop on my kindle which has been sat there for years so I wouldn't say no to that.

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

I agree with you Cludgie! He is a flamboyant character.

[CountFosco]

Finally caught up. The last time I read this Marian's section was my favourite and Walter's sections felt flat in comparison. I still feel like that although I've enjoyed the more comic sections (Frederick Fairlie esp) more this time. I suppose Collins needs a more neutral authorial voice but I also find Walter annoying with his love of the sappy Laura. Marian and Fosco are much more entertaining characters. I bet if this was a modern novel there'd be some fan fiction written where Marian and Fosco have a relationship 😂. At least it does mean I can now jumps steaight into the next section.

[StColumbofNavron]

I have actually read TOC though think I might have just stopped around 80% and remember little so happy to read this.

[LadybirdDaphne]

Would be happy with The Old Curiosity Shop

[Piggywaspushed]

Have finished this now. A satisfying and very sentimental ending with all the villagers crowding around Laura.

The last sentence was beautiful, wasn't it?

But what does Marian get? A future as a lady's companion is to be her satisfaction?

[Palegreenstars]

Ah a very sweet ending!

I did find the book quite all over the place in terms of tone, each section almost a different genre, but I’m not sure how much of that was to do with this style of reading over a longer period of time.

id like to read more Collins, for sure.

Did anyone spot @JaninaDuszejko’s comment on the 50 book thread (I’m not sure if Janina’s here too) about her book intro suggesting Collin’s might have inferred a throuple between Walter and his women 😬.

im glad it’s all worked out for Laura and I did enjoy Marian and Laura rushing to Limmeridge to secure their inheritance.

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

Yes, it was a lovely ending. So glad for the happy throuple 😁

I felt sorry for poor Fosco on display in the morgue after his watery demise. I was thinking that he had disguised himself years ago by putting on all that weight when he wanted to create a new identity, but it worked against him second time round. He stood out a mile.

I really enjoyed reading this one again. There had been a big gap between readings, so it felt like I rediscovered it. I may read it again in the future, who knows! I think it's a brilliant book. And I'll read another Collins next year.

Thank you all for your company on this readalong. I enjoyed it immensely!