Middlemarch - General Discussion

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

This thread is for general Middlemarch discussion. I will be doing my best to add some sub-discussion threads if I can determine if the book can be broken up into segments.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I am not sure about breaking this up into smaller parts. It appears to have 8 separate "books" within it, but I am not quite sure it is worth breaking them down as when I moved from book 1 to book 2, the transition was not all that obvious. Meaning, sometimes there is a major event that divides the book and creates the perfect dividing line. This just seemed like the author decided to change it to book two after a chapter.

Maybe it has to do with the way it was originally released? No real reason to break where it does, that was just all Eliot was releasing at the time?

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I have been using this site to help!

https://www.shmoop.com/middlemarch/

[Brooklyn]

Matthew wrote: "I am not sure about breaking this up into smaller parts. It appears to have 8 separate "books" within it, but I am not quite sure it is worth breaking them down as when I moved from book 1 to book ..."

I read that they purposely released it as 8 separate books - I think two at a time?

[Brooklyn]

Matthew wrote: "I have been using this site to help!

https://www.shmoop.com/middlemarch/"

Thanks for the shmoop link - i have used them before and they are very helpful

[Brooklyn]

I see the light at the end of the tunnel - I am within a 100 pages of finishing! I took a break in the middle half-way through because it was tough going. I have to say that the last 200-300 pages have been great - story-wise and writing and very engaging and moving. Maybe i finally got used to her style - and there also seemed to be less endless asides into local politics which were indecipherable for me.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Brooklyn wrote: "I see the light at the end of the tunnel - I am within a 100 pages of finishing! I took a break in the middle half-way through because it was tough going. I have to say that the last 200-300 pages ..."

I am at a spot where there is lots of gossiping and what I think it comes down to is one basic point (i.e. this is what everyone thinks about this one thing), but it is very drawn out.

[Brooklyn]

Ding! Dong! Finally finished this door stop of a book. I have to admit that I really enjoyed the last 300 pages - half of the book - but I almost gave up a few times before that. I hope someone else reads this besides Matthew and myself! I would like to get other feedback. A great book - an infuriating book at times - i think a good book to be in class for. Nevertheless I was very moved by the story of Dorothea, Lydgate, Bulstrode and Chausabon.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

I am also finished!

Click here for my review

Listening to it and using online summaries was a big help in getting it done fairly quickly for such a big book. In the end, it was a slog, but enjoyable!

[Brooklyn]

Is anybody else reading this book or books? I feel like we are the only commenters! LOL

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Brooklyn wrote: "Is anybody else reading this book or books? I feel like we are the only commenters! LOL"

Probably just us - it definitely takes a commitment and staying it through to the end was a chore. So, I imagine a few may have bowed out!

[Carol]

I read it in college, hated it (although I don't remember why), and have no desire to read it again.

[Matthew, Assistant List Master]

Carol wrote: "I read it in college, hated it (although I don't remember why), and have no desire to read it again."

I can imagine - this is definitely a one time read for me!