Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy → Start Date: January 1st, 2015

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

feel free to join Vicki and I as we start this classic story by Thomas Hardy.

[Vicki]

Awesome! I haven't read a new classic in awhile!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

right?! me either

have you seen the new trailer??

http://youtu.be/WCm1XNVD_0c

ugh, I love the actress. I can't wait! I need to read the book before I can watch the movie! LOL

[Vicki]

That looks SO good! It looks like a real classic, too. I can't wait to read it and then see the movie. Thanks for posting that for me.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

soooo.....how should we tackle this?

should we make another schedule?
I can if you want!

[Vicki]

Would you mind? I'll love you even more than I do now. Lol :)

[Vicki]

Btw I have a paperback that has a total of 415 pages to the story, then an appendage and explanatory notes. I HATE that the print in my book is very small and compact, making it far more difficult to read!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

actually...I was going to map it out
but 5 chapters looks pretty good

that's about 50 pages per day
at least in my edition....mine is actually longer than yours at 468 pages
and I have some illustrations! LOL

I can still map this out tho. want me to make a list with days?? :D

[Vicki]

That would be perfect! :)

Thank you, Trisha.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Okay, I've mapped it out for taking 9 days. Does this sound okay (it's about 50 pages per day)

Day 1: Chapter 1: Description of Farm Oak - An incident to Chapter 5: Departure of Bathsheba - A Pastoral Tragedy
Day 2: Chapters 6: The Fair - The Journey - The Fire to Chapter 11: Outside the Barracks - Snow - A Meeting
Day 3: Chapter 12: Farmers - A Rule - An Exception to Chapter 19: The Sheep-Washing - The Offer
Day 4: Chapter 20: Perplexity - Grinding the Sears - A Quarrel to Chapter 27: Hiving the Bees
Day 5: Chapter 28: The Hollow amid the Ferns to Chapter 33: In the Sun: A Harbinger
Day 6: Chapter 34: Home Again - A Trickster to Chapter 40: On Casterbridge Highway
Day 7: Chapter 41: Suspicion - Fanny is Sent For to Chapter 46: The Gurgoyle: Its Doings
Day 8: Chapter 47: Adventures by the Shore to Chapter 51: Bathsheba Talks with Her Outrider
Day 9: Chapter 52: Converging Courses to 57: A Foggy Night and Morning - Conclusion

[Vicki]

Thank you SO much! That's very helpful and doable!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

no prob! it's nice to see this one won't take us 21 days like the last big one
PLUS we're starting out the year with a classic! WOOHOO :)

[Vicki]

YIPPEE!!! And my first 2015 buddy read is with YOU!!! That's a blessing!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

OMG Vicki!!

Have you seen this???

http://youtu.be/QsDvon92Sp4

[Vicki]

NO!!! OMG! I'm already crying! LOL I'm such a cry baby, but that brought back those emotional feelings I had reading the book. It literally is the book that completely turned me on to reading in a big way like I hadn't been in years. I PM'd her and told her that she/her book, literally changed my life and I can still stand by that.

You know that she used to sell her books from the trunk of her car and the publishing companies would't take her books? Unbelievable! Imagine your name being on the big screen for a book YOU wrote! So cool!!! Too bad we can't see it together.

[Vicki]

I had to buy myself an ebook (only .99) because of the small, crammed print in my version.

Does you copy have the chronology in the front and explanatory notes in the back?

The book has several names we can use for the scavenger hunt!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

oh man! no, my copy doesn't have either !! Darn.....

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Too bad we can't see it together. .."

I know, doesn't that look GOOD! I think they did a good job adapting it to the screen

I KNOW! i thought the same thing! I wish we could drive and see it halfway!
:) now half way would be half way into the middle of the US!!! LOL a little further now...

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "oh man! no, my copy doesn't have either !! Darn....."

Well, I'll be using my ebook like I said, but there is some good info in the book that I have. I'll read the book when my eyes allow.

I'll let you know if there's anything in particular that's super good to know. Funny thing is that it has a lot of names in my book under the chronology and in the explanatory notes. But I'm trying to find the ones within the story itself.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 1: Chapter 1: Description of Farm Oak - An incident to Chapter 5: Departure of Bathsheba - A Pastoral Tragedy

Ch 1: Description of Farm oak - An Incident
Gabriel Oak (view spoiler)[ I like him. silent and observant. not too handsome, not homely
28 and a bachelor...I wonder who he is in the trailer :D (hide spoiler)]

Mirror (view spoiler)[ I Love that she's caught peaking at herself in the mirror. is she vain or thinking of a memory of the mirror? I think he might be misreading her.... (hide spoiler)]

chapter 2 &3

Hut (view spoiler)[ yikes, they were both a little forward weren't they?
he in asking to hold her hand
and she in offering a kiss. A KISS! LOL (hide spoiler)]

Ch 4:
Bathsheba (view spoiler)[ it's good of her to recognize that she's too wild
that she would hurt Gabriel and he would grow to despise the fact that she doesn't love him like he loves her (hide spoiler)] but (view spoiler)[ his telling her he'd love her forever
that was so sweet (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I'll be getting this one started in about 30 minutes.

BTW do you feel any better?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

ch 5

I'm so sad (view spoiler)[ for both the poor lambs
and the poor poor young dog :( (hide spoiler)]

Gabriel (view spoiler)[ what will he do now? walk away? (hide spoiler)]

there are some really great parts in here that are pretty funny
I'm really enjoying this so far!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "I'll be getting this one started in about 30 minutes.

BTW do you feel any better?"

Yes, I'm slowly slowly getting better
:) thanks! (and my poison ivy is going away! i was both sick with a cold AND covered in poison ivy.. UGH lol )

[Vicki]

I'm glad you enjoy it so far! That helps! LOL the last couple books you read with Katie (I think) look so good. I'm dying to retire and just read. LOL

Glad you're better! Is the poison ivy a new case or lingering from some time ago when you told me about it?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

The poison ivy....new. ugh, it's everywhere here and really hard to dodge

I am enjoying this :) I hope you do too!
YES, Katie has amazing ability to pick some really good reads so I always try to buddy read the picks! they are always really good!!

I can't wait for our next few too!!! :)

yay!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 2: Chapters 6: The Fair - The Journey - The Fire to Chapter 11: Outside the Barracks - Snow - A Meeting

meeting at the farm (view spoiler)[ Ugh! I can't believe it! he saved her farm!!! and then they took him in. I love it! (hide spoiler)]

but great goodness (view spoiler)[ that talk in the tavern/inn
bleh. that was long and boring (hide spoiler)]

Fanny (view spoiler)[ ut oh
something tells me...she's in the family way (LOL)
and that that soldier isn't going to marry her
I hope Gabriel doesn't get wrapped up into her craziness (hide spoiler)]

and did I get it right (view spoiler)[ how on earth did an unmarried female niece get the farm after her uncle died?? wouldn't it transfer to the next male in line?? (hide spoiler)]

these 5 were tougher.....maybe because I'm more tired. lol
but the story is moving right along :)

[Vicki]

So sorry, so behind. LOL

Day 1: Chapter 1: Description of Farm Oak - An incident to Chapter 5: Departure of Bathsheba - A Pastoral Tragedy

OMG I adore Gabriel, Farmer Oak, Oak. LOL He's too funny! I cracked up reading about (view spoiler)[her maneuvers on the horse as he watched her privately. But what really cracked me up was the hut scene when she threw milk on him. But then he said he apologizes for letting go her hand, so she says, "You may have it again, if you like; there it is." LOL OMG I thought I'd die laughing. Can you imagine. Sounds like flirting while being mechanical. But THEN when he admits he hadn't thought of kissing her hand she's kind of insulted and snatches it back. (hide spoiler)] I love this book so far.

I know it's really sad. :o( His (view spoiler)[sheep were his livelihood. I'm wondering if somehow he'll go help out the girl (Bathsheba) and her aunt. They'd talked about needing or wanting a man to do some of their work, but do they have the money to pay him? Hmmm. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know! LOL I loved her riding the horse too!!! I can just imagine his face watching her!

I know... Poor puppy and poor sheep :(

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

oh and now worries about being behind. :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 3: Chapter 12: Farmers - A Rule - An Exception to Chapter 19: The Sheep-Washing - The Offer

ch 12 (view spoiler)[ interesting. I wonder how she learned about selling her crop and the little things to do to barter. I'm glad they accepted her and didn't shun her...although that sounds like it's just because she's pretty UGH (hide spoiler)]

ch 13 & 14

Boldwood (view spoiler)[ wow
I can't believe she kept the seal on there that said "marry me" yikes! (hide spoiler)]
Letter (view spoiler)[ to gabriel
I wonder if it's from fanny... (hide spoiler)]

ch 15 - 19

Boldwood (view spoiler)[ Wow, she really got him going
i didn't like how jealous he got earlier - when she was handling business
and he makes it sounds like he just wants to put her in a house and make her all pretty. Bathsheba doesn't seem like the kind of girl who would like that
she really is struggling to find someone who would be good for her temperament (hide spoiler)]

wow, this one is really tough to read sometimes, lol

[Vicki]

Day 2: Chapters 6: The Fair - The Journey - The Fire to Chapter 11: Outside the Barracks - Snow - A Meeting

I had a feeling that Gabriel was going to end up (view spoiler)[working on her farm, but I no idea how it would come about. I hadn't figured on a fire. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, that talk was long and boring, but there are enough funny parts that I can overlook that. LOL I couldn't handle it for the entirety of the book! That would be Wally Lamb The Hour I First Believed. I think I read 150-200 pages before giving up on it. I was bored to tears!!! It was AWFUL for me!

Yep, you got it right. I hadn't really considered how it would go to her, to tell you the truth. I'm not sure about that one.

Fanny is definitely a bit crazy, right? LOL And she is most definitely (view spoiler)[pregnant. I don't think he will marry her either. (hide spoiler)]

I'm still enjoying it.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay! i'm so glad you're enjoying it
but yes, I am so so glad we're taking this one just 50 pages at a time lol
my eyes are crossing by the time I'm done :D

I haven't tried that Wally Lamb. I've read a book or 2 of his but no others...yikes, I'll have to avoid that one

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 4: Chapter 20: Perplexity - Grinding the Sears - A Quarrel to Chapter 27: Hiving the Bees

ooooh what a turn of events!!

Gabriel (view spoiler)[ My heart breaks for him. he's the steady good guy. the guy she can depend on, the hard working, trust worthy, good guy.
ugh, I hate that she doesn't see it (hide spoiler)]

and I think we got our "motto" of the book(view spoiler)[
"Love Yields to Circumstance."

I think Bathsheba will find that she is able to love Gabriel but will it be too late!??

and she's making the worst decisions, good golly! She needs a female rolemodel to help her through this.
leading on Boldwood
and now Troy
(hide spoiler)]

Soldier (view spoiler)[ Troy. UGH. the womanizer
he clearly isn't/hasn't married Fanny
and now he's off flirting with her
ugh.....she's going to make a bad decision here..isn't she? just because he called her beautiful. (hide spoiler)]

wow... I'm still liking it!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 5: Chapter 28: The Hollow amid the Ferns to Chapter 33: In the Sun: A Harbinger

ch 30

oooooh man (view spoiler)[ Bathsheba is losing her mind!!! what a crazy person she is being, right???
You know...she kind of deserves to have her heart broken, since she's lead 2!! other men on only to crush their hearts
but I have a bad feeling she may be more than broken hearted when this is done. Do you think he will ruin her? (hide spoiler)]

chapter 33 (view spoiler)[ well....looks like...she is
I don't think Troy is the settling down/marrying type...do you?
and...where did Fanny go? (hide spoiler)]

Gabriel(view spoiler)[ my heart breaks for him (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I doubt I'll be able to read any of this tonight and soak it in but if not then tomorrow for sure...I hope for sure. LOL

[Vicki]

Day 3: Chapter 12: Farmers - A Rule - An Exception to Chapter 19: The Sheep-Washing - The Offer

Haha! I guess Bathsheba is rather (view spoiler)[forward and straight to the point. Quite a Valentine letter: Marry Me. Like it's a statement. LOL I wouldn't think women would do that back then. (hide spoiler)]

It did strike me funny/ironic that (view spoiler)[Sergeant Troy got so upset that Fanny was late to their wedding that he refused to marry her. Just because she went to all SOULS instead of all SAINTS! LOL I guess he figured if she was late on their wedding day, what else would not be that important to her? (hide spoiler)]

Yes, the (view spoiler)[letter was from Fanny to Oak because she told him about marrying Frank Troy, right? (hide spoiler)]

I agree about the (view spoiler)[jealousy spoiler. But she DID say that Oak wouldn't be able to tame her and she wanted someone who could. Maybe he can, but I don't know if that's taming! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Day 3: Chapter 12: Farmers - A Rule - An Exception to Chapter 19: The Sheep-Washing - The Offer

Haha! I guess Bathsheba is rather [spoilers removed]

It did strike me funny/ironic that [spoilers r..."

oooh I totally forgot (view spoiler)[ that she arrived at the wrong place!! Do you think he told her the mistake on purpose? to get out of marrying her?? (hide spoiler)]

letter (view spoiler)[ yes, I was kind of typing as I read. lol (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Day 4: Chapter 20: Perplexity - Grinding the Sears - A Quarrel to Chapter 27: Hiving the Bees

I don't know if I agree that she is going to (view spoiler)[fall in love with Oak. I think she MIGHT already care about him, but one of the issues back then was social status and now that he is just a "hired hand" he's beneath her. She backed off from him after he lost his farm/material goods, don't you think? (hide spoiler)]

Also Boldwood (I thought) (view spoiler)[pretty much pressured her into marrying him. He didn't really marry her out of love, I don't think. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Day 3: Chapter 12: Farmers - A Rule - An Exception to Chapter 19: The Sheep-Washing - The Offer

Haha! I guess Bathsheba is rather [spoilers removed]

It did strike me funny/ironic th..."

No, I don't think he told her the (view spoiler)[wrong place because she realized she'd gone to the wrong place and he as ANGRY! It's almost like he felt slighted or that HE wasn't important enough to get there on time. He's egotistical. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 6: Chapter 34: Home Again - A Trickster to Chapter 40: On Casterbridge Highway

ch 34 OH! (view spoiler)[ so they are....already married?? and he says Fanny left
can we really believe that?? is it really that straightfoward?
then what are the next hundreds of pages about?? (hide spoiler)]

36 (view spoiler)[ OMG I can't believe it
Troy totally blew off Gabriel and Gabriel had to save all that grain ... Yikes (hide spoiler)]

ch 39 (view spoiler)[ oh, Fanny is back. wow, and he's giving her money. so she really did disappear.
I was beginning to worry he'd hurt her. Do you think he meant what he said when he said he really loved Fanny more because he could be whoever...but Bathsheba wanted someone she could control (hide spoiler)]

Bathsheba (view spoiler)[ her crying and whining over her husband spending money. I'm sad she's become this girl. she used to be headstrong and so strong-willed. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 7: Chapter 41: Suspicion - Fanny is Sent For to Chapter 46: The Gurgoyle: Its Doings

wow, this was a big set of chapters
or at least a lot of stuff happened

Fanny (view spoiler)[ well, now we know she was with child (hide spoiler)]
Sargeant Troy (view spoiler)[ why does she call him Frank? is his name Frank Troy?
anyway.....I was surprised to realize he actually had wanted to marry Fanny and that he regrets not marrying her
I figured he was a cad and was just stringing everyone a long until he could marry money (hide spoiler)]
Bathsheba (view spoiler)[ wow, and she is just tangled up in Troy's mess - well, and the mess she made for herself.
Troy has said some pretty awful things to her. I feel bad for her.... (hide spoiler)]
Gabriel Oak (view spoiler)[ he's been strong and steady through this all. if only she'd accepted him, I think he could have made her happy. she was just so headstrong and young. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Day 8: Chapter 47: Adventures by the Shore to Chapter 51: Bathsheba Talks with Her Outrider

Troy (view spoiler)[ wow. he's faked his death and run away
he was crazy to show his face again as a performer. again, I'm surprised he left even tho there was more money. I hope he finds happiness (hide spoiler)]

Bathsheba (view spoiler)[ she's really tiring
I can't believe she's miffed Gabriel didn't mention he still loved her. ugh.
I am glad she's agree that she was wrong to manipulate Boldwood and play with him. if she hadn't, she wouldn't be in this mess
(hide spoiler)]

Boldwood (view spoiler)[ wow,he really does seem to be losing it (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

sorry, this book is starting to suck the life out of me! LOL
I'm going to keep reading and just finish it already.....

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

ch 53

Ooh OMG...(view spoiler)[ boldwood. shot. Troy??
wow...he finally did. he lost it (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Lol I'm sorry! I'm still behind but I know what you mean!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

and I'm done

Gabriel (view spoiler)[ he was my favorite thing about this book. he was strong and steady and such a true person and friend. he was a wonderful guy and I"m glad he's going to finally get Bathsheba but he doesn't have to beg for her or do any of the silly things she tried to get him to do in the beginning
(hide spoiler)]

Boldwood (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for him. to lose his mind so much over having and possessing someone
It was so creepy when they were mentioning all the things he'd bought Bathsheba and had at his house hidden with dates 6 years out. Just...yikes. I'm glad they didn't kill him - he'd clearly lost his mind (hide spoiler)]

Troy (view spoiler)[ that guy. honestly (hide spoiler)]

Bathsheba (view spoiler)[ ugh. I'm glad she's more settled down now and isn't as flighty or ridiculous as when Gabriel first met her. I think now they really can settle down and she will be content and happy with him (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

What's your rating?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

3 stars
it was really killing me about midway to keep going lol

[Vicki]

I'm so sorry! I've been SO busy that I forgot to post here but I finished it sone days ago. I also rated it 3 stars. There were parts of it that I really like, but just like you...it was dragging for me after a while. But we got a classic done! :o)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yay!!! congrats on finishing! ! I know, we did it!! WOOHOOO!!!


so...did it shock you what Boldwood did??? about Troy? and troy faking his death??

I was COMPLETELY shocked! although, with Boldwood's crazy obsession, I should have seen it coming!