Reading the Classics discussion
Member-Led Side Reads
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Side Read
Oh, good, I saw the other threads were closed and I was hoping you'd open a new one just for us to suggest books we are reading.I don't know if Cry, the Beloved Country, is considered a classic, but would anyone be interested in reading that with me in Nov? I can't do it until I get moved into my new place, but I've been wanting to read it all year and just have not gotten to it. If anyone else is interested, when it gets closer to Nov I'll set up the thread.
I am planning on reading Little Women in November if anyone cares to read that along with me.
Jennifer, I would, because I would love to reread it, but I'm reading two other series right now and if I read that, I'd want to read the rest of the books, too, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that yet. Unless I can get them on audio. We'll see.
Thanks Alana. I see that you are doing a side read too. Looking forward to your review to see if I should add that to my list of books to read. The list keeps growing and there isn't enough time in a day :)
I don't know if I'm going to do the side read, depends if I see any other interest, but I would like to. If I get settled pretty quickly after my move I would love to read the Alcott books with you :).
Jennifer wrote: "I am planning on reading Little Women in November if anyone cares to read that along with me."I reread Little Women so many times...but if after reading that you feel like reading Good Wives I'll join you :)
I'm interested in doing the Little Women/Good Wives combo next month. Is anyone interested in reading Little Men and Jo's Boys as well?
Liz, are you thinking of reading Little Men and Jo's Boys in November too? I might be able to commit to all four depending upon what the main read is for next month.
Can someone please explain Good Wives to me? I had never heard of it, and it appears to just be the second volume of Little Women? So, if I have read Little Women, have I read Good Wives? Which part of the story is Good Wives?I did just find this:
"Good Wives starts with the war being over, Mr. March home for good, Mr. Brooke having been wounded and sent home and working to make a home for Meg. As I recall, Meg's wedding is in Good Wives, what happens to Beth & Amy & Laurie are all in that part, even meeting Professor Bhaer takes place in Good Wives. (If my recollection is correct, and I believe it is, and you have read about the meeting between the professor and Jo or some of the rest of this, your copy of Little Women must include Good Wives, without your knowledge.)"
So, I guess I have read it!
Interesting. I didn't realise it was two books in one.
I thought it was Little Women, Little Men, Good Wives and then Jo's Boys? But I may have completely made that up. I'm up for it if a bunch of people decide to do it. I kind of need a break from my heavier reading anyway. I just hope my library has it on audio...
Nevermind, if I actually read the comments, I wouldn't look like a total idiot.... :)
From Wikipedia: The first volume, Little Women, was an immediate commercial and critical success, prompting the composition of the book's second volume, entitled Good Wives, which was also successful. Both books were first published as a single volume entitled Little Women in 1880.So I guess Little Women is both books in one then. Don't remember if my copy mentioned that or not.
I haven't read Little Men or Jo's Boys but if they are anything like Little Women I'm sure I'll love them!
Alana,I think I confused things by mentioning four books. Anyhow all of the comments here clears things up for me. I wasn't sure where Good Wives fits in but now I know. Should a different person take responsibility for each of books?
Since side reads are now member led, do we have to a new month to start a side read? What would everyone participating in the Little Women trilogy side read prefer?
We could start it now, if we want to. I just figured everyone was very involved with the current reading and might want a little time to figure out what they want to read in a month. If we're all ready now, though, we might as well start a thread. And it doesn't have to be done in a month, that's something we can just continue on the side at our own pace. That's the point of doing it on our own; it's just nice to do in a group where you're already familiar with the others who will be discussing with you instead of just starting a thread on the book in general.
To my understanding, Little Women and Good Wives are two separate books. At least that's how they were always published in my country. There might be editions comprehending two in one.Then comes Little Men and after that Jo's Boys. I am fully certain of that.
For the time being, I have a book to finish first and then I might be doing Good Wives. Not certain about the others. But I change my mind often so... :)
I would like separate threads for each volume, so as not to reveal anything for the ones that are behind.
Hi everyone, I am trying to work on my book challenge for another group, so won't be joining you on Little Women. I have read the book a couple of times - as a child and then as an adult - and really enjoyed it.If anyone is interested in reading either Light in August or East of Eden, they are both on my list and so I will be reading them before the end of the year. I would be happy to have a buddy or two on either of these reads!
Oo, I've wanted to read East of Eden forever! I normally love moving, but man, it's cutting into my reading time!
I have just returned home from the book store where I picked up Little Women at the bargain price of $4.00. Part II in this book includes Good Wives. I am thinking that we should have one side read thread for Part I and a separate thread for Part II or Good Wives given that some peoople have already read Part I aka as Little Women but not Part II aka Good Wives. What does everyone else think? Is there a preference as to when I should start this thread?
Start it whenever, I picked it up from the library today :) I'm ok with one thread for all of it, or two separate, as Part One - Little Women, Part Two - Good Wives. Or however.
Too bad I can't join you guys for Little Women. Between the books I've ordered, and my read for The World's Literature group, I'll be spending November catching up with my Soviet and Japanese literature. I hope I'll squeeze in our main read.
Steve wrote: "I hope I'll squeeze in our main read". I read in one the threads that out main read may have already been decided on. I think that the book was A Tale of Two Cities. Is this true?
Oh dear, if it's already been decided, that would be unjust. I was hoping to nominate Henry David Thoreau's Walden, and thoroughly expecting it to get out-voted.
Steve, I am not sure if it has been decided. There was a post from someone who thought that it may have been decided. I can't remember which thread I read the comment on though.
Sorry, I was speaking hypothetical. Mostly just being a drama queen though.
Mod
I read in one the threads that out main read may have already been decided on. I think that the book was A Tale of Two Cities. Is this true?"
The main group read for November has not been decided yet. The main group read for October is The Woman in White as shown on the group home page.
Susan wrote: "Hi everyone, I am trying to work on my book challenge for another group, so won't be joining you on Little Women. I have read the book a couple of times - as a child and then as an adult - and real..."Susan, I would love to read East of Eden with you! That book has been on my to-read list for some time.
Jennifer wrote: "I am planning on reading Little Women in November if anyone cares to read that along with me."Jennifer I would love to join you in reading Little Women :D
Sary, that's great. I have already started two threads; one for Little Women and the other for Good Wives. I am looking forward to finally reading this book.
So am I! I have heard wonders about the books!
Does anyone want to read Woman in Black? I have been wanting to read it! :D
Meghan wrote: "Susan wrote: "Hi everyone, I am trying to work on my book challenge for another group, so won't be joining you on Little Women. I have read the book a couple of times - as a child and then as an ad..."I am reading East of Eden right now, so if you read it in the near future I would love to discuss with both of you!
Gretchen, I may get to East of Eden next week. I'm working on It Can't Happen Here and want to wrap that one up before moving to a new book.
Steve,If Walden doesn't get voted in for a main read between now and then, I'll likely be up for it as a side read in January.
I finished Little Women. Is anyone interested in continuing with Little Men and Jo's Boys? I started Little Men yesterday, so can set up a folder if anyone else is interested.
I'm a little confused about the side reads now. I know Little Women was a side read, but are there any others? I see some talking about another side read but no threads about it. Will there be more than one side read per month?
Renee,Per Jenn's post at the top, "any number of side reads can go on at a time."
I'm following the Edgar Allen Poe thread right now, and reading or re-reading some of the stories as mentioned, and will probably be doing Little Women, with Good Wives and possibly the two sequels, in November as my "side read."
I would guess that people who initially post the side read, possibly along with those who join in, might set deadlines if so inclined. Although with the notification system, I don't know how crucial that is, since former posters would know if someone pops up with a pertinent comment.
Thanks Sheryl! I guess I missed that line :)
Hi Renee,I am still reading Little Women for my side read this month and have mentioned what other books I will be reading in case anyone wants to make any of the books a side read for November. I think someone else posted something about another side read too.
Gretchen wrote: "Meghan wrote: "Susan wrote: "Hi everyone, I am trying to work on my book challenge for another group, so won't be joining you on Little Women. I have read the book a couple of times - as a child an..."Hi Gretchen, I'm going to start East of Eden tomorrow. If you are still reading, perhaps we could start a discussion.
Sheryl wrote: "Steve,If Walden doesn't get voted in for a main read between now and then, I'll likely be up for it as a side read in January."
If you decide to read Walden in January, I'd join in, too.
Susan and others, I just received my copy of East of Eden in the mail, so if anyone is still reading/still wants to read it, we could start a discussion thread.
Meghan, I finished the book last week, but I would be happy to discuss it with you if you like. It was a very interesting book - I gave it 4/5.
I really need to read my copy of Good Wives, somehow I keep putting it off- anybody interested in doing a buddy read? =)
Jey wrote: "I really need to read my copy of Good Wives, somehow I keep putting it off- anybody interested in doing a buddy read? =)"I want to read Good Wives too! :)
The thread is still up from our side read, jump in! I love when discussions get started again with new perspectives :)
Reading the Classics
Books mentioned in this topic
Things Fall Apart (other topics)Mansfield Park (other topics)
Sentimental Education (other topics)
An Old-Fashioned Girl (other topics)
Madame Bovary (other topics)
More...
This is member chosen and member led completely!! That means no polls and no nominations. If you want to read a book and are willing to lead the discussion, suggest it. If it gets interest from others, then set up the discussion thread in the Side Reads Folder and start reading. This means that any number of side reads can go on at a time with varied time lengths and start/end times.
What can be read? Anything classic really. Plays, short story collection, epic poetry, nonfiction, essays, children's, YA, novels, novellas - anything as long as it is classic and follows the groups one rule for a classic: that it be at least 50 years old.
Oh, and it can't be a recent(within a year) Group Read either.
I hope we can all enjoy our new Side Reads folder and read some more great classics!