Dickensalong 2023 : The Old Curiosity Shop

[Piggywaspushed]

Come along and join me in this year's Dickens readalong.

We have chosen The Old Curiosity Shop which was originally published by Dickens across 88 weeks in his won periodical.

Obviously 88 weeks is a bit much for our modern concentration spans and multitasking minds , so I propose an 8 month read. There are 73 chapters in total, not split into volumes or books (thanks for this Dickens!!) but I found little stars every few chapters so think these indicate breaks:

January - Chapters 1- 8
February - Chapters 9- 16
March - Chapters 17 - 26
April - Chapters 27 - 36
May - Chapters 37 - 45
June - Chapters 46-53
July - Chapters 54 - 63
August - 64 - end

I hope that's all OK. It's not as long as some of the others we have done so 8 instalments seems to work.

All welcome - old curiosities, and new!

Yes, I fear Dick’s chances of getting Sophie back now she’s married someone else are pretty limited (I mean, I wouldn’t want to see him embroil himself in scandal), but fingers crossed for him anyway.

Seeing as we're on the home stretch now, what are people's thoughts on the next readalong (if you all want to do one, that is!)

I haven't given this much thought . I have a copy of Martin Chuzzlewit in my TBR. It's not calling to me though, for some reason.

I’m still behind on TOCS but will catch up on holiday next week!

I am up for another readalong. The Dickens books I haven’t read yet are Martin Chuzzlewit, The Pickwick Papers, Barnaby Rudge, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Bleak House, Nicholas Nickleby, and Dombey & Son. I have read Great Expectations but not since school and I do want to reread so would be happy with that.

I would also be happy with another Wilkie Collins as I loved TWIW. What about The Moonstone?

Vanity Fair is another suggestion - I have read it but again would be happy to reread.

Vanity Fair and The Moonstone would be a yes from me, I've got the Moonstone on my read-this-year list. I would equally be happy with another Dickens as there's loads of them I've still to read.

I still haven't commented on the July discussion. Don't have much to add, but realised I also read chapter 64 by mistake, so want to check exactly where I'm up to first.

I'll fall in with the majority. I read 'The Moonstone' two years ago, but would read it again. TWIW is my favourite of the two Collins's I've read though. I'm curious about 'Vanity Fair'. I have still lots of Dickens to read.

I think Barnaby Rudge would be my least favourite, but I'll read anything and go with the majority. Gaskell, Trollope or Zola might be nice if we're not reading Dickens.

Pickwick Papers might be a nice, entertaining contrast to this book, though. Not that this book has been without its moments.

Very happy with The Moonstone or Vanity Fair (have read the first and started the second but never finished it).

Could I put in a plea for Nicholas Nickleby because it is very funny and picaresque with no angelic little girls destined for heaven, although there is an amusing Infant Phenomenon

PS I know you aren’t keen on Trollope, Piggy, but I long to do The Eustace Diamonds

No need to decide now. I'll off and have a think!

I don’t know any Trollope but happy to give it a go.

Of the Dickens I haven’t yet read, Nicholas Nickleby would be my first choice.

I’m happy with any of these suggestions - I haven’t read most Dickens (at least, not since a teenager) - possibly have a preference for trying Great Expectations or rereading Nicholas Nickleby. Also happy with Vanity Fair or Moonstone, or would be interested to try some Trollope after listening to the recent Backlisted episode on The Eustace Diamonds.

That was why I’m keen to do it, @LadybirdDaphne

I looked up The Eustace Diamonds and it does sound good.

How long is it? It needs to be long enough.

800 pages, Piggy.

I think Eustace Diamonds can easily be read as a stand alone novel, definitely, even though it's not the first of the Palliser novels.

I'm happy to read again as it must be 20 years since I last did.

They talked about this on Backlisted and were clear that it’s a standalone. A couple of characters from the Pallisers make brief appearances but you don’t need to know who they are/how they fit in; it’s not one of the series.

Yes, I agree. It can easily be read as a stand alone, as I said. By the same token it could be skipped without disruption, if for some reason you wanted to do that, and you were reading Pallisers in order!

Are you doing the series, @ArabeI?

I shall ponder. This thread has always been Dickensian, although our foray into Collins was fun.

I don't know what I have against Trollope ! I think it's 'books about posh people' perhaps.

Definitely not VF. Read it onky a few years ago.

I was going to ask what it was you didn't like about Trollope, piggywaspushed.
He wrote his books in a very practical, routine-like way, I thought (which sometimes thought to come across in his writings), and would put aside a set, regular time to write before his PO job. Many people dislike the long hunting chapters and detail (I can't remember if there's anything of that in ED). The Warden, on its own, is a favourite of mine.

Terpsichore I'm happy to read (or re read) anything chosen. I did read that series many years ago.

I am conscious that time is marching on and we need to decide. Wish we could do polls!

Happy with either:
Martin Chuzzlewit (only because I have a copy!)
Nicholas Nickleby
The aforementioned Trollope
or a different Trollope if anyone thinks there is a better 'first Trollope' as it were!