Group Read-Bleak House (February)

Hi Everyone:

I have a note in my calendar for a group read of Bleak House in February. Are we still interested? I still plan to read it. Maybe the middle of the month?

I've got my copy read. It will probably take me all month.

I may or may not join in, depending. But I am interested!

I think I am in. Gotta buy a copy but February is a much better month for me than January is.

I'm interested and have a copy. I've read this before (a long while ago) but have wanted to re-read and will take the opportunity.

I have the copy I read 40+ years ago and have been thinking of rereading some Dickens. February should work for me.

February is good for me. I may start it soon and then get back to it from time to time.

I hope to join in. We'll find out if I'm overcommitting :-)

I've jumped the gun and started. I don't have much time to read at the moment so I knew I'd have to start early to keep up with everyone.

I'm in and I may start next week to give me time to finish it by the end of February.

I figure with 2 10 hour car rides in February I should have plentty of time to get it done.

I don't belong to this group, but I'll happily join in. I've already started, but I'll put it on hold.

You don't need to be a member of the group to join in, the more the merrier!

Welcome citygirl! What chapter are you up to and what do you think so far?

Thank you.

Chapter 13. Esther's Narrative. I'm still getting settled in the book. I am enjoying it and it is a bit different from the other Dickenses I've read, but I don't want to say too much just yet.

Does everyone think we should set up threads for blocks of chapters or keep the discussion here?

I took a look at my version, it's a B&N Classics that I will be reading on the nook. It has 67 chapters so I figured it would take about 2 months for me to get through (realistically speaking). I think I will start it next week.

My edition is the B&N Classics as well. I do love the extra information provided in these editions. I'm only up to Chapter 2 and it may take me a while to finish too. The trouble is that it's too heavy for a commute book and doesn't fit in my handbag so I can only read at home. As well, I am finding some of the endnotes irritating as I have to keep going to the back of the book, effectively slowing down my reading progress. Does anyone here skip the endnotes?

To get back to your question, jonesli, I think threads for blocks of chapters would be a good idea as it is the best way to avoid spoilers but I've seen the recent BBC production so spoilers won't bother me. However, I'm happy to go along with what the group decides.

I have it on B&N classics on my Nook so it's going to be great carrying around. Hadn't thought about spoiler effects with the chapter breakdowns but that's a good idea.

Ok, so how about something like this:

Chapter 1-8 Week 1
Chapter 9-16 Week 2 etc....

Everyone can read at their own pace and post to each thread whenever they have time. Some people may only need a month, I know I will need about 2.

Please don't tell me that I will be reading this book the rest of my life!
I'm hoping to get it done in 2 weeks max.

All of the threads could go up at once so that fast readers vs. slow readers isn't a problem.

#20 Lol, I hope to be finished sooner rather than later too!

I do admire your 2 week attempt, I was actually hoping for four, but we'll see. I'll just put up the threads in blocks of 8 chapters and the last thread will be the remainder. I mght start this afternoon if I get my chores done.

And, it may just go faster on the Nook, I hadn't thought of that.

Thanks for putting up the threads jonesli. I admire your diligence in doing your chores first.

I have the next two days off work so I'm hoping to get a lot of reading done. The weather is hot and sultry and perfect for sitting by the pool and reading.

I'd like to join in, if I may. I got a copy at the library tonight.

xuesheng - welcome, the more the merrier!

I started reading my copy yesterday - I'm going to try to read 40 pages a day so that my 1,004 page version will be finished this month. Of course, I allow myself the option to read more, but at least 40 pages.

Good reading everybody!

I'm having some problems with this book so far. The first two chapters seem so jumbled and chaotic. Is it just me or is everyone else feeling that way?

Yes! I know exactly what you mean, that is why I haven't gone back to it in over a week, but I will try again soon. I do want to read it.

Chapter 3 seems to move a bit easier...FYI

I agree the first few chapters were slow but it does seem to pick up, I'm on chapter 5.

I find it's best to stay on top of it because of the number of characters introduced early on, but once you get adjusted to them, it goes more smoothly.

I hope to get my copy next week, so I will start reading then. It's good to know that I should have patience in the begining!

I had the same problem - trying to remember all the different characters but it does get easier so don't give up. I'm up to Chapter 21 and Dickens has even now introduced two new characters. I'm finding the characters 'larger than life' so they do stick in my memory as I'm reading. Some are so large that they become a bit irritating - Skimpole and Mrs Jellyby for instance. I do love the mystery of orphan Esther's real parentage. I find that storyline more interesting than Jarndyce v Jarndyce but don't want to give away any spoilers. In some ways, it's a curse to have seen the BBC television production of Bleak House as I already know the plot of the novel but I'm enjoying seeing how Dickens weaves all the different strands into the one narrative.

I agree. I had a hard time with the first few chapters, but it's moving along at a good pace now; I'm on Chapter 12.

I wonder. Would it be okay if I posted on the chapter threads some of the characters that I find difficult to remember? I find that I'm having to go back a few chapters every so often to remember who people are. For example, I got to Mrs. Rouncewell and had to flip back to remember who she was. I wouldn't catch all the characters, but I would definitely get some.

I thought it would be convenient to have the separate threads posted here. I had trouble finding them originally:

Chapters 1 thru 8
Chapters 9 thru 16
Chapters 17 thru 26
Chapters 27 thru 37
Chapters 38 thru 45
Chapters 46 thru 54
Chapters 55 thru 62
Chapters 63 thru 67

Edited on 2/6/11 to add the remaining threads.

#34 This is a good idea, I hadn't thought of it before. I got sidetracked and didn't finish the threads, I will do so shortly.

I read the first chapter!! Progress!!

Once I get farther into it, as with most books, I'm sure it'll go more smoothly.

I'm on Chapter 9 now, and it does seem to be flowing a little better for me.

The bad news is, my car needed more work than expected last night. The good news is, it gave me time to finish Bleak House! I feel as if it had been going on at least as long as J v J. I think I finished at least six other books since I started BH back in November.

I don't think I can possibly remember which events and characters came along in which of the chunks for which I see threads. I guess I'll wait for a few more folks to get further along and chime in as others start the discussions.

I just finished Chapter Two but its kind of slow going.

I started today, hoping to get past the first few chapters tonite.