Please Introduce Yourself

[Peter]

Welcome Jantine

Bleak House is my favourite Dickens. I hope you do tag along and perhaps join in on the conversations soon.

[John]

Welcome, Jantine.

I certainly look forward to reading Bleak House with the group.

[Mary Lou]

Hi, Jantine. Bleak House is my favorite, also. hoped you enjoy it as much as I do. Sorry about your grandfather. He obviously had good taste in books! Hope you'll join the discussions soon.

[Mary Lou]

PS Sorry about the typos. We should call them "swipos" - I never make this many mistakes when I'm actually typing!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks :-)
It's actually a re-read, I've read the book about 7 or so times since I got it. It became a favorite. And yes, granddad had a great taste in books! Also, being a binge-reader is kind of hereditary in our family.

[Kim]

Hi Jantine, welcome to the group! My mom was the great reader in our family. I can remember as a girl her going to bed even before the rest of us because she was so tired, and yet hours later when I would walk past her room I would see the light still on and peeking into her room you would see her propped up in bed reading. I do the same thing now. :-)

[Bobbie]

Welcome, both Patrick and Jantine. I am fairly new to the group and I did skip the Old Curiosity Shop but am really enjoying the group. You will enjoy it here.

[John]

Peter, I am always reminded of one sentence the literary critic Harold Bloom wrote of Bleak House in his book The Western Canon: No other novel in English invents so much.

[Julie]

Kim wrote: "My mom was the great reader in our family. I can remember as a girl her going to bed even before the rest of us because she was so tired, and yet hours later when I would walk past her room I would see the light still on and peeking into her room you would see her propped up in bed reading. I do the same thing now. :-)"

Me too.

Welcome, Jantine and Patrick!

[Peter]

John wrote: "Peter, I am always reminded of one sentence the literary critic Harold Bloom wrote of Bleak House in his book The Western Canon: No other novel in English invents so much."

Yes. It is both a grand and massive novel.

[Tristram]

Hi, Jantine, and welcome to the group!

I am another Curiosity whose favourite novel is Bleak House, and it is probably the Dickens novel I have read most often up to now.

You're from the Netherlands, which makes us neighbours because I live in Germany. Together with Jean, we are the European branch of the Old Curiosity Club. This is important to remember when it comes to settling the ever-unsettled question here whether in giving dates it is dd/mm/yy, which it obviously is, or mm/dd/yy.

I hope you will find the time to join in our discussions on the books we are reading, but if you don't, you can always drop in with our general conversations. At the moment, we have assembled in the Maypole Inn.

Enjoy!

[Kim]

It isn't that important for settling the date question Jantine. I am right and he is wrong. Always. :-)

[Tristram]

Of course, it's exactly the other way round, Kim. And you know it :-)

[Kim]

Now we remember which one of us is right always, don't we? Besides, Dickens did it my way.

[Peter]

Evening all, new member reporting in from soggy Surrey after toiling in London. Lifelong enjoyment of Dickens' works, and enjoy the comedy the most, with a nod to his social conscience commentary. So many great books yet to read, but always manage one of his a year. The thing that strikes me is that when you read them every decade or so different things chime.

[Peter]

Peter wrote: "Evening all, new member reporting in from soggy Surrey after toiling in London. Lifelong enjoyment of Dickens' works, and enjoy the comedy the most, with a nod to his social conscience commentary. ..."

Hello Peter

We are not far into Barnaby Rudge so why not join us? The sun always shines on our group.

[Mary Lou]

Greetings, Peter. I, too, love Dickens' humor, and I know exactly what you mean about subsequent readings. I've read Great Expectations at three different times in my life, and each time was a new and different experience. Do join us for Barnaby Rudge! I'm finding it a relatively easy and enjoyable read.

[Tristram]

Hello Peter, and welcome to the Old Curiosity Club!

You are right: Rereading good books is, to a certain extent, like reading something you have never read before. Maybe, this is because of their richness in detail and also because they tend to allow various interpretations.

Barnaby Rudge has not been on our schedule for long, so, indeed, why not join us?

[Kim]

Hello Peter and welcome! Barnaby Rudge is one of my favorites, so join us, it's fun reading it together so why not read along with us? Now we have two Peters, at least we only have one Tristram. :-)

[Nightfall]

Hello! I'm Cam and for me, Mr Dickens has been a long-lasting affair. I met him at primary school and since then I have been reading and researching. Currently, I'm finishing my PhD thesis on his serialised fiction and I really enjoy sharing a listening to what others have to say about the impressions he has effected on their minds.

Anyways, I could say I'm just another Dickens reader who enjoys very much his writing, the way in which he makes familiar characters who lived a century ago.

[Mary Lou]

Hi Cam. Welcome to the group. I hope you'll join the discussions and give us the benefit of your research!

[Peter]

Hi Cam

Welcome. Please join us in our discussions.

[Kim]

Welcome Cam, it's nice to meet you.

[Julie]

Nightfall wrote: "Hello! I'm Cam and for me, Mr Dickens has been a long-lasting affair. I met him at primary school and since then I have been reading and researching. Currently, I'm finishing my PhD thesis on his s..."

Hi, Cam--I teach classes on Dickens as a serial writer. What a good PhD thesis topic!

[Nightfall]

Mary Lou wrote: "Hi Cam. Welcome to the group. I hope you'll join the discussions and give us the benefit of your research!"

Hi! I hope I can measure up to your expectations! I'm thrilled to be here :D

[Nightfall]

Peter wrote: "Hi Cam

Welcome. Please join us in our discussions." Hi! I will :D

[Nightfall]

Julie wrote: "Nightfall wrote: "Hello! I'm Cam and for me, Mr Dickens has been a long-lasting affair. I met him at primary school and since then I have been reading and researching. Currently, I'm finishing my P..."

Really? Wow, may I ask you where? I have found this topic so nurturing I really love it :D

[Nightfall]

Kim wrote: "Welcome Cam, it's nice to meet you."

Hi, the same here :D

[Tristram]

A big welcome from me, too, Nightfall! I hope you'll feel interested in joining our animated discussions!

[Nightfall]

Tristram wrote: "A big welcome from me, too, Nightfall! I hope you'll feel interested in joining our animated discussions!"

Hi.... I will do my best of course :D

[L.]

Hello Dickens Book Buddies,
My name is Lena, and I read my Dickens in The beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont in the USA.
I have read 12 out of the 15 novels written by Dickens as well as other writings. I first fell in love with Dickens 33 years ago when I read Oliver Twist. Last December I pledged to read all of Dickens novels and works. I am happy to be apart of the Old Curiosity Club and look forward to joining all of you with reading of Martin Chuzzlewit.

[Mary Lou]

Your timing is perfect, Lena! Welcome to the group. I look forward to hearing your impressions as we read Chuzzlewit. Which reminds me... time to get started!

[L.]

Mary Lou wrote: "Your timing is perfect, Lena! Welcome to the group. I look forward to hearing your impressions as we read Chuzzlewit. Which reminds me... time to get started!"

Thank you!!!

[Bobbie]

Welcome, Lena.

[L.]

Bobbie wrote: "Welcome, Lena."

Thank you!!!

[Peter]

Lena wrote: "Hello Dickens Book Buddies,
My name is Lena, and I read my Dickens in The beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont in the USA.
I have read 12 out of the 15 novels written by Dickens as well as ot..."

Hi Lena

Welcome aboard the Curiosity Express. We are just starting our journey through Martin Chuzzlewit and we are glad you are with us.

[L.]

Peter wrote: "Lena wrote: "Hello Dickens Book Buddies,
My name is Lena, and I read my Dickens in The beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont in the USA.
I have read 12 out of the 15 novels written by Dickens ..."

Thank you!!!

[Bionic Jean]

Welcome Lena! You are in good company here, with lots of fellow Dickens-lovers. I hope you soon feel right at home :)

[John]

And I'll guess we'll soon be toasting a final drink or cup of tea at the Maypole Inn and taking up at a new pub, whatever that may be.

[Peter]

Curiosities

Here is a link to the massive Sotheby’s auction of Dickens material. Perhaps we could pool our money?

We can always dream ...

Peter


https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/aucti...

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Lena!
Your timing is much better than mine :-) (Not that I objected to a bit of Barnaby Rudge binge-reading, not in the slightest!)

[John]

Peter wrote: "Curiosities

Here is a link to the massive Sotheby’s auction of Dickens material. Perhaps we could pool our money?

We can always dream ...

Peter


https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/aucti......"

Wow, interesting stuff, Peter. That's quite a collection.

It did raise in my mind a philosophical question of sorts. Would I really want a dusty old book because it had been owned by Dickens or someone close to him? What would I do with it and how would I prevent it from deteriorating? It would be sitting in my house and if I showed it to someone, they might say, oh, very nice.

I do know that Dickens had a love of cats. Frankly, any money I had that was disposable enough to buy an old book, I'd rather donate it all to a shelter for cats.

[Tristram]

Lena wrote: "Hello Dickens Book Buddies,
My name is Lena, and I read my Dickens in The beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont in the USA.
I have read 12 out of the 15 novels written by Dickens as well as ot..."

Welcome to the Old Curiosity Shop, Lena! I hope you'll enjoy our discussions on the upcoming read of Martin Chuzzlewit and will also feel moved to contribute to them. Let the reading begin!

[Kim]

Welcome Lena! I've been away for the last few weeks far away in Michigan at the only place I care about visiting, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, so I wasn't here to greet you when you joined us. I hope you have fun while you're here. :-)

[Tracey]

Hello all. I am a British ex-pat now living in Alberta Canada since 2000. I think my first Dickens was Oliver Twist followed by Nicholas Nickleby. That was when I fell in love with Dickens. I have read others since but felt it was time to read some Dickens again. I was just thinking I would like to read Barnaby Rudge, which I have never read and came across this group. I see you’ve just read it so I will just jump in on Martin Chuzzelwit, another that will be new to me. I have just read Dombey and Son so will pick up BR when the group gets there. I am slowly working my way through the novels of Walter Scott with another group and feel Dickens alongside will keep me out of trouble.
I have recently discovered a love of some American authors, Shakespeare and Golden Age mysteries. I find books are like rivers and I never step into the same book twice. My experience of a book changes with the river of time and I have also found I enjoy hefty classics now more than when I was younger.
I studied Science at University but have always loved history and literature. I had to stop working 2 years ago due to health issues but every cloud has a silver lining; I now have more reading hours.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Tracey :-) I'm glad you found your silver lining!

[Peter]

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: "Hello all. I am a British ex-pat now living in Alberta Canada since 2000. I think my first Dickens was Oliver Twist followed by Nicholas Nickleby. That was when I fell in love with Dickens. I have ..."

Hello Tracey

Welcome aboard. I live in Toronto and Dickens is my favourite novelist. Please join in our discussions.

[Kim]

Welcome Tracey, it's nice to meet you! Good luck with Walter Scott, if I had to read all of his novels I think I'd lose my mind. :-)

[Tristram]

Hello Tracey! Welcome to the Old Curiosity Club, where we go through Dickens's novels in chronological order. I hope you will feel invited to participate in our lively discussions and will enjoy being around.

[Julie]

Kim wrote: "Welcome Tracey, it's nice to meet you! Good luck with Walter Scott, if I had to read all of his novels I think I'd lose my mind. :-)"

Hi, Tracey--strangely (or not so strangely) I'm teaching a chapter from Scott's Redgauntlet next Tuesday. He can go on but he has brilliant moments. Nice to meet you!