Introductions

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Nawwww, I didn't mean it like that. You are right though - I did mean that some people would have read the novel before the adaptation came out. :) I think we have discussed the appearance of the characters before... Armitage is a perfect Thornton, but with Margaret/Daniela... I totally see where you're coming from, but I think Daniela was a perfect choice, I think it's only her hair that doesn't fit the description. I don't know, she just seems so... Margaret. She has that air, you know?

[Marquise]

I haven't seen pictures of the actress that played Margaret yet. I'm on chapter 12 now, and I already have a mental picture of Margaret that's my own, with no influence from the serials.

That said, I can't help but see Richard's face when trying to visualise John Thornton... It's hopeless. :)

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Marquise wrote: "I haven't seen pictures of the actress that played Margaret yet. I'm on chapter 12 now, I already have a mental picture of Margaret that's my own, with no influence from the serials.

That said, I ..."

I'll be interested to see what you think of the series Margaret when you see her! :) And wow, you're getting through that book fast...

*sigh* Hopeless, yes... :)

[Marquise]

I'll let you know, Becca.

A quiet and lazy weekend is responsible for the speeding up of my reading :). I'll be trying to comment on each 3-chapter batch, though.

[Ceri]

I actually didn't like her casting as Margaret, I'd seen her in other things before so I wasn't that fussed on her as an actress, so it took me a while to warm to her. To be fair I think she did a better job of Margaret than anything else I've seen her in.

Marquise, that is just what I mean, it is nice to be able to picture your own characters without influence, but I have adjusted my mental image to include RA, Thornton is just better when he looks like that...sigh!

[Marquise]

I agree, Ceri. I mostly prefer to read books first, and I can't recall any instance when I've watched the film or TV adaptation first, not recently at least. Sometimes, I've postponed watching something till I read the books, too.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Ceri wrote: "Well thank you for reminding me of my aged status, LOL.

Ceri, from your picture I assumed you were one of the young whippersnappers! ;)

[Ceri]

Thank you Tadania! :)

Marquise, I completely agree, much prefer to read before I watch, and if possible I prefer to read before I've even seen casting so I can see what my imagination makes without being influenced.

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

@ Marquise:
Thank you! I really would love to know what you think. :) And my reading will probably speed up once I start taking the train and the bus to and from university tomorrow. Unless I doze off again, public transport makes me sleepy...

@ Ceri:
Ah, well you see, I'd never seen Daniela in anything before, so I didn't have any preconceptions about her. :) Then too, I hadn't read the book when I first saw the series, and I thought Daniela did a great job!

[Clorinda]

Hi everyone, I'm Clorinda and I live in south New Jersey in the US ... not too far from Philadelphia. I only discovered North and South a little under two years ago ... I bought the DVDs of the miniseries and fell in love with the story ... everything about the series, the characters, the story line, the music (the music was so amazing it was almost a character) and the cast. I read the book after watching the series multiple times and I ended up falling more in love with Thornton than I already was. I decided it was time to read it again and this group gave me the perfect opportunity :-)

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Hi Clorinda, and welcome! :)

I only discovered N&S about nine months ago myself - I wish I had known about it longer! It's lovely to have a new member that loves both the novel and the series, and I must say I'm already very much enjoying chatting with you on some of the other threads.

Welcome again, and I hope you have a wonderful time here! :) If you have any questions about anything at all, feel free to ask me.

[victoria_tonks]

Hello everyone! *waves* I've just joined the group and hope to take part in the group read. There can never be too much discussion about N&S! :)

[Ceri]

Hi Victoria, welcome to the group. You've timed it well, the group read has only just begun :)

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Welcome Victoria! You're right, there can never be too much discussion about N&S, so I look forward to talking about it with you! It'll be lovely to have you with us during the group read. :)

[Rose]

I'm super late to the party but I wanted to say hi. I "joined" earlier but didn't get to start reading until the other day. I might even catch up in a few days given my penchant for staying up super late to read something I enjoy. It helps that my writing muse has seem to gone on a long vacation. :)

This is my first time reading N&S but I have seen the miniseries a few times and adore it. I'm a huge Austen fan and have to admit I'm comparing the two a lot. It's been awhile since I've read Victorian lit so it's an interesting difference!

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

Nice to meet you, Rose! I like your comment on Chapters 4-6. Looking forward to seeing more from you.

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Rose wrote: "I'm super late to the party but I wanted to say hi. I "joined" earlier but didn't get to start reading until the other day. I might even catch up in a few days given my penchant for staying up supe..."

Hi Rose! :) It's quite all right to have only started reading now, I know a couple of other members in the group have only just started as well. Welcome to the group, and I really hope you enjoy reading N&S with us. :)

[Ceri]

Hi Rose, I'm glad you've joined us :)

[Kate]

Nice to meet you all, young whippersnappers and oldie moldies alike!

And moldy though I am, I watched the series before I read the book. And being a librarian I have no excuse for that at all. But N&S was the first book in my librarian friends' book discussion (classics being chosen because some friends who clearly did not attend my Very Full of Itself high school felt they hadn't read classics in high school or college.) N&S is still my favorite of the titles we've read, but I did like War and Peace quite a bit.

[Trudy]

Welcome, Kate! Like most Americans, I had no idea who Gaskell was before I stumbled upon the mini-series. I'm forever grateful to the BBC for producing such a brilliant piece and leading so many to a wonderful classic book and a too-overlooked author. I think the BBC and Richard Armitage have single-handedly propelled Gaskell's fame into the next half century. ;)
War & Peace is intimidating. I've read a couple of Dickens' tomes, but....

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

@ Kate: Haha, that's me at the moment! Except I'm searching out classics for myself, rather than with a group, because my education in classic literature at school was pathetic. We read three Shakespeare's, The Great Gatsby, Doll's House... and a few other random things. So now I'm searching out Gaskell, Thomas Hardy, Henry James, Shakespeare, and the Bronte sisters. :)

@ Trudy: Half century? I'd like to think it would be more than that. :D (You're right though, I am SO grateful to both the BBC and Richard Armitage)

[Ceri]

@Trudy I was intimidated by War and Peace, but I would say it's really worth reading, despite how long it is. That being said, I did skim read over some of the war parts!

[Candide]

Hello all, I just joined you group.
I'm following a blog/website : http://www.westofmilton.com/ and that's how I learned about that group!
I've watched the BBC series I don't know how many times now and I've read the book at least 3 times... !
Have a great day!

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Welcome to the group, Candide! :)

[Candide]

Thanks a lot!

[Michaela]

Welcome Candide! Looking forward to your comments on the book!

[Grace]

Hi
I just joined yesterday. I absolutely love N&S. I've read the book and I've seen the BBC series many times. I enjoy reading fanfics on C19 and of course I always look forward to Lori's posts on West of Milton.
Grace

[Ceri]

Welcome to the group Candide and Grace :)

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Hi Grace! Welcome! :)

[Elizabeth]

Hi, I'm in college and I think I first read North and South about two years ago. I absolutely love it. Elizabeth Gaskell is a wonderful writer who is sadly overlooked. I am not as much of a fan of the mini series because of the ending. (I'm a nerdy history major who absolutely can't stand historical mistakes.) I would like to join the group reading but it is a little late. Can I still jump in?

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Hi Elizabeth! Welcome to the group. :)

As to the group read, you are perfectly welcome to jump in! There are a lot of discussions still going on, and I know a few other members have only just started as well. Besides, we always love to hear new opinions on the novel; there is so much to discuss!

I hope you enjoy the group and the group read, Elizabeth. :)

[Michaela]

Welcome Grace and Elizabeth!

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Evie wrote: "Hello!
Just downloaded the book onto my Kindle.. super excited! :D"

Hello Evie, lovely to see you here! I hadn't the least idea you were planning on joining, what a pleasant surprise! I hope you enjoy talking with all the wonderful ladies here. :) I'm sure Soph will be glad to have a supporter on the issue of Darcy. :D

[Marren]

Candide were you named after Voltaire's Candide? by Voltaire

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Evie wrote: "Hahah yes but if it turns to Brandon I must defend my dear Colonel..."

You need have no fear of my insulting the Colonel, my dear, I quite love him - though not as much as you, I think. :) I can't speak for the others, but I'm sure they won't tease the Colonel overly.

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

:D

[Connor]

Hey guys! Just joined the group, and am very excited to be here. Our wonderful head mod, Becca, got me into this series, and I absolutely loved it. :D Thanks Becca!

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Hi Connor! I'm so glad you were finally able to join us, and I hope the group lives up to your excitement. :) No need to thank me, I was very happy to invite you!

(Just realised I won't be able to begin my general messages with "Hi Ladies" now... dammit. :P Eh, I suppose I'll just have to use the "Ladies and Gentlemen" introduction. :D)

[Sophie, ~I've seen hell, and it's white...~]

Welcome! And it's thanks to me that Becca was introduced to the series! :)

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Soph wrote: "Welcome! And it's thanks to me that Becca was introduced to the series! :)"

Haha, yes, indeed it was - thank you again, Soph! :) <3

[Sophie, ~I've seen hell, and it's white...~]

Hahaha you are welcome - again! ;) you took some persuading though!

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Aww come on, it wasn't that much persuading! :P I was mildly curious to see Richard in something outside of the Hobbit (and prosthetics)... it was just the end of my final school year and I was busy! *pouts* Believe me, I wish I'd discovered it YEARS earlier. :)

[Sophie, ~I've seen hell, and it's white...~]

Hahahaha I know I'm teasing ;) <3

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

:P :P :P (<3)

[Candide]

Welcome Connor!

[Michaela]

Welcome Connor!

[Julia]

Hi, just joined the group. I was using the app on my phone and could not get anything to function. On my tab now, much better. I recognize the many quotes from the tv drama. I will be interested to see how many are found in the novel.

[Camilla Black]

hi! i've just started to read the book and probably i will spend he next 120 years reading it because i'm too busy in this period but i'm here!

[Ceri]

Hello and welcome :) I have the app on my phone but I much prefer using the website on my tablet, I find the app frustrating! I hope you both enjoy North and South.

[Rebecca, ~Look back. Look back at me...~]

Welcome Camilla and Julia! :)