tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post4591702638613450871..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: A Victorian CelebrationKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-6675230267558203522012-05-12T14:34:54.524-04:002012-05-12T14:34:54.524-04:00Proprietrix! I really must look up words ending in...Proprietrix! I really must look up words ending in "ix." There must be a name for that! <br /><br />I keep hearing good things about The Odd Women so I'm looking forward to that one.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-81243918904751400352012-05-12T14:34:08.407-04:002012-05-12T14:34:08.407-04:00I'm underwhelmed by Hardy so far, but I have s...I'm underwhelmed by Hardy so far, but I have some more on the TBR list so I haven't given up yet. I'm really enjoying Our Mutual Friend, I think it will be high on my list of Dickens rankings! <br /><br />I also have a copy of Drood which I'll tackle after Edwin Drood, and another book called The D Case which is translated from Italian. I think it incorporates the book and possible solutions. <br /><br />And if you like Victorians you must really try Trollope! I've read four of his works so far and really enjoyed them. I loved Barchester Towers but it's better to read The Warden first, though it's rather slow starting out. It's short, but worth reading before BT.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-41272466200930898272012-05-12T14:31:32.540-04:002012-05-12T14:31:32.540-04:00I've heard of Strachey, he sounds intriguing. ...I've heard of Strachey, he sounds intriguing. It would be interesting to read a biography of a Victorian by someone who actually lived during the era. The library has several of his books (including one in the rare books collection which is intriguing). Thanks for the suggestion!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-39358545199450315022012-05-11T18:20:16.176-04:002012-05-11T18:20:16.176-04:00I enjoyed At the Back of the North Wind, Under the...I enjoyed At the Back of the North Wind, Under the Greenwood Tree and The Odd Women. What about 'proprietrix' that's my favourite 'ix'.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138715309807238198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-35791716082126946372012-05-11T09:35:03.053-04:002012-05-11T09:35:03.053-04:00I loved The Mystery of Edwin Drood! It's unfo...I loved The Mystery of Edwin Drood! It's unfortunate that it was never completed, but the entire history behind it, including Dickens' near-death and the affter effects of that, plus his relationship with Wilkie Collins ...just fascinating! It also might be good for you to read, since you'll have read Our Mutual Friend (which is closely linked to this whole time period in Dickens' life). <br /><br />I'll be reading Our Mutual Friend later this year, and then Dan Simmons' DROOD, which tackles the historical/biographical side of the period when these texts were written. I also plan on reading The Old Curiosity Shop very soon, too! <br /><br />As for the others.. I haven't read many. I love Thomas Hardy, so ya can't go wrong there, in my opinion. I also have Agnes Grey on my shelf.. can't recommend it because I haven't read it yet, but I do plan to read it - so that's something, right?<br /><br />I haven't read any Trollope which, I know, is rather blasphemous considering how much literature I read and considering my educational background... but oh well!Roof Beam Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06792884580084363046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-27765049107752556872012-05-11T09:34:12.794-04:002012-05-11T09:34:12.794-04:00Charles Kingsley also wrote an interesting adult n...Charles Kingsley also wrote an interesting adult novel called Hypatia about Hypatia of Alexandria, a sort of pagan martyr of the early days of the Catholic church. Its very easy to see where it comes from - mroe than a touch of English anti-Catholic snobbery in it for example - but that was part of its charm for me. Its fairly short. Also George MacDonald wrote a lot of digestible things - The Wise Woman, for example, is a really short fairy-tale thats very intriguing. Even his long novel, Lillith, isn't THAT long, and is VERY interesting if you're interested in the religious thought of dissenters and Unitarians. If you want non-fic you could always read Stracheys Vic biographies, they're supposed to wonderfully gossipy.Keshalyihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900218197083383905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-48679119399999379812012-05-10T09:57:34.364-04:002012-05-10T09:57:34.364-04:00That's because Octave Mouret features both in ...That's because Octave Mouret features both in Pot-Bouille and in The Ladies' Paradise, he also makes an appearance in The Masterpiece later on, while you can find his brother Serge in Abbe Mouret's Transgression.<br />Ludo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-85801588780964333902012-05-10T09:37:59.636-04:002012-05-10T09:37:59.636-04:00Thanks! I read Pot-Bouille last year, which immed...Thanks! I read Pot-Bouille last year, which immediately precedes it in the series. I'm not necessarily reading them in order but I heard it's better to have read that one first. I'll probably read Ladies' Paradise or The Masterpiece next.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-13263619352267294642012-05-10T06:11:33.419-04:002012-05-10T06:11:33.419-04:00I'm not a blogger, but I will tell you that Th...I'm not a blogger, but I will tell you that The Ladies' Paradise is really interesting because it's quite different from your average Zola's work and a more optimistic one than most of his novels.<br />Ludo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-40718995640938446172012-05-09T22:55:48.474-04:002012-05-09T22:55:48.474-04:00I think I have more unread books by Trollope than ...I think I have more unread books by Trollope than any other author! I love him and silently curse him for writing 47 novels. I'm hoping to get through the Barchester series this year so I suspect The Small House at Allington will be my next Trollope.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-31270878667372360582012-05-09T22:54:22.488-04:002012-05-09T22:54:22.488-04:00I think you recommended Emily Eden when I made my ...I think you recommended Emily Eden when I made my list of Top 10 Victorians earlier this year -- I checked and the college library nearby has it. I do want to read it, thanks again for reminding me. <br /><br />I still haven't touched Margaret Oliphant and I have two of her books. Miss Marjoriebanks is tempting but I may stick with Mrs. Blencarrow since it's so short, can cross off more books if I stick with shorter choices.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-85684753438414610282012-05-09T22:52:35.001-04:002012-05-09T22:52:35.001-04:00First, LOVE your screen name "Editrix." ...First, LOVE your screen name "Editrix." Not enough -ix suffixes used to feminize nouns, in my opinion -- off the top of my head I can only remember "aviatrix." Must google this.<br /><br />I do love North and South, read it last year and MUST read more Gaskell soon. Wives & Daughters is an all-time favorite. <br /><br />I picked up A Pair of Blue Eyes at a library sale. I do want to get to Hardy eventually but Trollope and Dickens are so tempting!Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-35489400434709491062012-05-09T22:50:23.327-04:002012-05-09T22:50:23.327-04:00I really want to read The Odd Women, I think it is...I really want to read The Odd Women, I think it is a must-read this summer. The Carlyles has been on my TBR list since I started reading Persephones, and my library has a copy! That would help me cross books off two lists, so that's a good choice for the summer -- and it's fairly short.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-20537329110402858582012-05-09T22:48:40.545-04:002012-05-09T22:48:40.545-04:00It will take me YEARS to finish all those Trollope...It will take me YEARS to finish all those Trollopes! I did start Daniel Deronda last year, I read about half and got stuck. I may watch the miniseries to get me jump-started on it. I loved Middlemarch and I've heard Adam Bede is wonderful also.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-33323573960951478252012-05-09T22:47:42.376-04:002012-05-09T22:47:42.376-04:00I've only read Tess and The Mayor of Casterbri...I've only read Tess and The Mayor of Casterbridge, though I've promised a friend I would read Return of the Native this year. I'll have to take a look at it after I've finished RofN.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-41830600669075460052012-05-09T22:46:46.065-04:002012-05-09T22:46:46.065-04:00I love your pile of Trollope! He is undoubtedly m...I love your pile of Trollope! He is undoubtedly my favourite Victorian author, though I'm also very fond of Thackeray and Gaskell. If you're look for less-lengthy Victorians - and since you mentioned the challenge accepts books from that period by authors of any nationality - Louisa May Alcott's books are nice and quick. And though I don't think of her as a Victorian, Elizabeth von Arnim's first couple of books were published before 1901.Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-43689390744485637242012-05-09T22:46:19.277-04:002012-05-09T22:46:19.277-04:00Yes, that was so exciting! I need to update the p...Yes, that was so exciting! I need to update the post and add that. I may have to wait on Dickens as I'm still listening to Our Mutual Friend on audio, which will take forever since I'm only doing it in the car. I'm thinking about Pictures from Italy, especially since my daughter is going to Rome this summer.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-68922059442598864022012-05-09T19:37:58.324-04:002012-05-09T19:37:58.324-04:00I think the proportion of Trollope to Dickens is j...I think the proportion of Trollope to Dickens is just right :) and I'm glad to see Margaret Oliphant on your list, she seems overshadowed by Elizabeth Gaskell. I can't remember if you have read Emily Eden - The Semi-Attached Couple and the Semi-Detached House? or if you want Victorian travellers, there is Isabella Bird - but your list is already impressively long & varied.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782561487396697870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-78243187316491752492012-05-09T17:43:19.850-04:002012-05-09T17:43:19.850-04:00Not sure if you've already read Elizabeth Gask...Not sure if you've already read Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, but it's one of my favourites!<br /><br />I noticed you've got A Pair of Blue Eyes in your pile of "others" - I loved it when I read it last year!<br /><br />EliseThe Editrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184804847476554759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-55593803189981152942012-05-09T14:47:30.507-04:002012-05-09T14:47:30.507-04:00By now you know I absolutely adore The Odd Women b...By now you know I absolutely adore The Odd Women but I can also highly recommend The Carlyles at Home. Visiting the actual house last September probably heightened the experience but still...it's wonderful!Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07415316482631852565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-55981583677291906302012-05-09T14:32:00.812-04:002012-05-09T14:32:00.812-04:00Wow that's a lot of Victorian novels! You are ...Wow that's a lot of Victorian novels! You are set. I have to say my favorite Victorian novelist is George Eliot and I see you have Daniel Deronda on your pile, so I'd recommend that one.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-8581132649206213042012-05-09T13:20:58.433-04:002012-05-09T13:20:58.433-04:00Have you read Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madd...Have you read Thomas Hardy's <i>Far From the Madding Crowd</i>? I read it last year and adored it -- it was amazing. My first Hardy -- I was blown away. It was ... 300ish pages on my ereader, I believe, and read quickly. Quite dramatic!Audrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07511122937603890352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-21863181102004407122012-05-09T11:45:18.274-04:002012-05-09T11:45:18.274-04:00I saw that you won one of the Penguins for Allie&#...I saw that you won one of the Penguins for Allie's giveaway...how exciting:) Edwin Drood is a must read for sure. For the unfortunate reason that it is short I don't like but what is there is so good and I guarantee you will fly through it. Best wishes for your Victorian journey.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387313238448432017noreply@blogger.com