x - Gaskell Poll Now Open

[Silver]

It was a close race, but Gaskell came out ahead in the end, so starting in March we will be reading one of her works.

I have randomly selected 5 of her works and the poll is now up so please take the time to vote for which one of her books you are most interested in reading.

Depending upon the length of the work which is chosen we may like Wilkie Collin's read more than one of her works.

The poll will close on Feb. 15 this means that the 14th will be the last day to actually vote.

[Lynnm]

I put this under the poll as well.

Where is North and South?

It's such a wonderful story. And has a BBC series to go along with it.

[K]

Yes, I was rather hoping that North and South would appear on the poll! But if it's a random selection then it makes sense.

[Silver]

The choices are done completely randomly, I inserted the titles into a computer program and took the top five it spit out at me.

[Lynnm]

Silver wrote: "The choices are done completely randomly, I inserted the titles into a computer program and took the top five it spit out at me."

Probably not the best way. ;)

North and South is one of her best. It's a shame that it's not on there.

[Casceil]

I think it is time to tamper with the random sample. Throw out the 48 page "Half a Lifetime Ago" (described by one reviewer as Gaskell's worst), and replace it with North and South. I have not yet read any Gaskell, but North and South is the one I hear most often recommended.

[Silver]

Lynnm wrote: "Silver wrote: "The choices are done completely randomly, I inserted the titles into a computer program and took the top five it spit out at me."

Probably not the best way. ;)

North and South is o..."

North and South will be taken into consideration for future discussion/polling.

[Lynnm]

Casceil wrote: "I think it is time to tamper with the random sample. Throw out the 48 page "Half a Lifetime Ago" (described by one reviewer as Gaskell's worst), and replace it with North and South. I have not ye..."

I agree - random is fine as long as all the top books are on as well.

Kind of like leaving out Middlemarch from a poll of George Eliot books.

[Lynnm]

I see North and South now. Thanks, Silver. Didn't mean to be a pain...

[Silver]

Lynnm wrote: "Casceil wrote: "I think it is time to tamper with the random sample. Throw out the 48 page "Half a Lifetime Ago" (described by one reviewer as Gaskell's worst), and replace it with North and South..."

Well part of the reason for the randomness and why some of the top books may not be included is to try and expose readers to lesser known works, otherwise you know Middlemarch is probably going to win even if half the people already read it, while other books of which perhaps nobody has read before will continue to be neglected.

A lot of people to just vote for name recognition instead of venturing into something new.

[Silver]

Be that as it may, this time I shamefully gave into the peer pressure, and the poll has been revisised.

[Lynnm]

Thanks again, Silver. And I do see your point. I like to try new ones as well.

But I've been wanting to read North and South since I watched the BBC series, having never read it, and was bummed when I didn't see it on the poll.

And I don't think N&S is as read as Cranford and Wives and Daughters. To me, those two are the novels people think of when they think Gaskell.

[K]

Oh dear, I already voted but wish I could change ny vote now. Never mind!

[Silver]

Lynnm wrote: "And I don't think N&S is as read as Cranford and Wives and Daughters. To me, those two are the novels people think of when they think Gaskell. ..."

Yes that is a good point, it just turned out that North and South is the first book of hers I happened to read, that in my mind I tend to group it up there with Cranford and Wives and Daughters, but I can accept it as not being quite as popularized as those two are.

[Lynnm]

K wrote: "Oh dear, I already voted but wish I could change ny vote now. Never mind!"

K - you can change your vote.

Under the poll to the left, you'll see "Change Your Vote." Click on that, it will remove your original vote, and you can vote again.

[Casceil]

Thanks, Silver. I appreciate your flexibility.

[K]

Oh brilliant, thanks Lynm!

[Denise]

Silver wrote: "Lynnm wrote: "And I don't think N&S is as read as Cranford and Wives and Daughters. To me, those two are the novels people think of when they think Gaskell. ..."

Yes that is a good point, it just ..."

I group the three together, too, because those are the three that have miniseries (which I have in one set), and I've read all three. Although, actually, the Cranford and Return to Cranford miniseries also include the storylines of Mr. Harrison's Confessions, My Lady Ludlow, The Moorland Cottage, and a short story called The Cage at Cranford. Someday I would like to read My Lady Ludlow, since that was a favorite storyline of mine.

[☯Emily]

Well, I've read North and South and Mary Barton, so I'm up for something else.

[☯Emily]

K wrote: "Oh dear, I already voted but wish I could change ny vote now. Never mind!"

You can change your vote.

[Silver]

I will also add that being that Half a Lifetime Ago is only 48 pages, it could be read in addition to a group read, either as a buddy read or part of the short story salon if anyone was in fact interested.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I've read most of these when preparing a presentation on Gaskell some years back. Cranford is charming but kind of lightweight. Mary Barton is rather preachy. Wives & Daughters I think is a great transition between Austen and Eliot, but I think North & South has the most to discuss.

[Lynnm]

Now I don't feel so bad that I commented on North and South not being on the original poll. Things can change quickly, but it is leading right now.

Robin - I agree that North & South would have the most to discuss. I liked Wives & Daughters, but did wonder what we could discuss during the course of a very long novel. (Also, I just read it a short time ago). I've never read Cranford, but that also doesn't look as if it has a lot to discuss.

Plus, I'm very interested in books that talk about the affects of the Industrial Revolution and capitalism. When I was in Grad school, we had an interesting discussion on the lack of novels that really have an in-depth exploration of those topics. Yes, there are some, but considering how important the Industrial Revolution and capitalism is on the West, you would think there would be far more.

Whatever book wins, I'll gladly join in the discusson. (Except Wives & Daughters, but only because again I just read it and don't want to read it again so soon). But I am hoping for a N&S win. ;)