Task 22: A Book Published Before 1850

[Srividya]

I'm cheating a bit for this challenge. I re-read A Tale of Two Cities , my favourite Dickens. I think it was published in late 1850s.

[Bonnie G.]

Judith wrote: "I have planned to read Wuthering Heights for this challenge too. Have always thought of this book as being about obsession or obsessed love and power struggle, not a true romance which is why I hav..."

It is definitely not a romance. That said, the Bronte siblings all had some pretty messed up views on love (and none of them ever really had a healthy romantic relationship) so maybe it was intended as a love story. I love books about detestable people, but I don't deal well with the whiny and/or melodramatic sorts. I have tried with the Brontes, but I just dislike everything I have tried to read, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights. Villette, Agnes Gray, all made he want to slap the characters. One woman's opinion...I look forward to other people's thoughts.

[Judith]

Bonnie wrote: "Judith wrote: "I have planned to read Wuthering Heights for this challenge too. Have always thought of this book as being about obsession or obsessed love and power struggle, not a true romance whi..."

Women's place in society and what they expected from life in the days these books portray is something quite different from what women expect from life today. That makes us view these books in a completely different way than how previous generations saw them.

[Glenn]

I commented a few comments ago, but should say that I read Wuthering Heights during another century, and can't claim it as my answer to this challenge. For Pre-1850, Ovid's Metamorphoses is on my desk.

[Krista]

I'm currently reading Persuasion by Jane Austen for this task. I'm about halfway through and I'm quite enjoying it.

It was first published in 1818.

[Robin P]

Another GR group I am in just started Northanger Abbey by Austen. It's lesser known but delightful, as it is a satire on the popular Gothic novels of the time as well as having Austen's usual wit.

[Jen]

Do plays count? I read 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore by John Ford.

[Glenn]

I would think plays count. Don't see why not.

[Judith]

Jen wrote: "Do plays count? I read 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore by John Ford."

The challenge states a 'book' it doesn't specify what type of book. As long as it was published prior to 1850 I'm thinking you are good for it.

[Katie]

For this challenge I read "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. Here is my review:
https://bookmouseblog.wordpress.com/2...

[Sophia]

I also read Wuthering Heights for this one. It was not at all what I expected and will definitely have to revisit it again in the future. Wavered between 3 and 4 stars, but settled on 3 for now.

[Sophie]

Almost done with Jane Austen's Persuasion!

[Bonnie G.]

Sophie wrote: "Almost done with Jane Austen's Persuasion!"

I reread Pride and Prejudice for this category, but I am just about to start my reread of Persuasion as well!

[Book Riot]

Jen wrote: "Do plays count? I read 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore by John Ford."

Sure, you can count plays!

[Nicole]

I am really struggling with this category. I started Wuthering Heights and just can not do it!

[Bonnie G.]

Nicole wrote: "I am really struggling with this category. I started Wuthering Heights and just can not do it!"

Do not force yourself. I simply cannot with the Bronte's. Step away from the gloom and tackle some Jane Austen or Dickens instead. You will be glad you did.

[Nicole]

Thanks Bonnie! I'm going to work on Pride & Prejudice instead.

[Bonnie G.]

Nicole wrote: "Thanks Bonnie! I'm going to work on Pride & Prejudice instead."

I hope you love it as much as I do. It is one of my top 5 favorites ever.

[Mary Sue]

I read by Charles Dickens for this task. I absolutely loved it! 5 stars.

[Judith]

I will be reading Wuthering Heights for this challenge.

[Judith]

Kirin wrote: "I read Candide by Voltaire for this task. I had originally picked The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself but I'm pushing toward fini..."

Just keep repeating, "it's the best of all possible worlds." LOL

[Sam]

I read Machiavelli's 'The Prince' for this. I'd been meaning to for years and it was interesting.

[Jen]

Like others, I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was my first time reading it, and I loved it!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Elizabeth]

I am in the middle of reading Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for this task. It's good so far and I enjoy her feminist ideals.

[Kate]

OK- just joined the challenge and had met the requirements in some categories, not this one...yet....thoughts? have read Wuthering Heights ( not my fav), some Dickens, Jane Eyre ( loved) all before 2015....any real " you've got to read this" recs?

[Jen]

Kate wrote: "OK- just joined the challenge and had met the requirements in some categories, not this one...yet....thoughts? have read Wuthering Heights ( not my fav), some Dickens, Jane Eyre ( loved) all before..."

If you haven't already read it (or even if you have lol), you might want to try Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Or just read the three pages of this topic and see if anything else others have read appeals.

[Kate]

Thanks, Jen, Have read Pride and Prejudice, also Emma....maybe I'll try another Jane Austen...or maybe Candide...have never read that...thanks for the advice, I will go back and see what others have read.

[Bonnie G.]

Kate wrote: "Thanks, Jen, Have read Pride and Prejudice, also Emma....maybe I'll try another Jane Austen...or maybe Candide...have never read that...thanks for the advice, I will go back and see what others hav..."

If you have not read Persuasion I highly recommend it. I reread it this year after having not liked it on my 20s, and thought it was wonderful. I also hated Wuthering Heights (okay, you did not say you hated it, sorry to put words in your post) but liked Jane Eyreso assuming we have similar Bronte tastes I will mention that I thought quite highly of Villette.

[Heidi]

I just finished Dante's Divine Comedy published in 1320 for this challenge. Toughest read I've tackled this year.

[Kate]

Bonnie wrote: "Kate wrote: "Thanks, Jen, Have read Pride and Prejudice, also Emma....maybe I'll try another Jane Austen...or maybe Candide...have never read that...thanks for the advice, I will go back and see wh..."

Thanks, Bonnie, Persuasion it is!! Will check out Villette, too. Have tons of books in the house ( all alphabetized thanks to one snow day too many years ago! C'mon kids, today we will alphabetize all the books in the house! has come in handy all these years!) Have Persuasion, do not have Villette....

[Bonnie G.]

Kate wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Kate wrote: "Thanks, Jen, Have read Pride and Prejudice, also Emma....maybe I'll try another Jane Austen...or maybe Candide...have never read that...thanks for the advice, I will go ..."

I used to keep my books alphabetized, but they got out of control and I can't seem to reign them in. Now that I think of it, I had them alphabetized when I lived up north, and have never gotten them back in order since I moved to Atlanta, so it may be all about the snow days. Hope you enjoy Persuasion as much as I did. Anne Elliott became a favorite Austen woman for me (though she is, of course, no Lizzy Bennett.) Also, the love letter (be patient, you will get to it, its Austen so there is going to be a love letter) is the single best love letter in English literature.

[Bonnie G.]

Heidi wrote: "I just finished Dante's Divine Comedy published in 1320 for this challenge. Toughest read I've tackled this year."

One imagines it would be one of the toughest you would tackle any year, unless you are sitting around reading Nightwood and Ulysses in your free time.

[Jennifer]

I picked a book at random from a list of books published before 1850. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë was the choice, and it was tedious. If the book had been written in modern-day English, it would be about 1/3 of the size it is. All of those long, drawn-out, descriptive, polite, eye-roll-inducing conversations make me want to beat my head against the wall. I gave it two stars. I simply do not have enough culture for the classics. Sorry/not sorry.

[Diane]

I decided to read Ivanhoe for this task. Now I've finally read something by Sir Walter Scott, although I'm not likely to read another one of his novels.

[Katie]

Elizabeth wrote: "I am in the middle of reading Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for this task. It's good so far and I enjoy her feminist ideals."

I loved "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" I read it for another challenge and it has become one of my favorites :)

[Wellington]

I just finished Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass. With everything that has been in the news over the past year or so about racism, i wanted to read this to understand the roots of racism in our country. Douglass was an excellent writer and I am very glad I read this autobiography.

[Angela]

Dana wrote: "I just finished Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass. With everything that has been in the news over the past year or so about racism, i wanted to read this to understand the roots of racism..."

Good Idea! I have that one on my shelf, I think I'll read that too :)

[Kate]

Persuasion by Jane Austen, done! Whew! Little bit of a slog getting through it, enjoyed, but not as much as some of her others... On to my Indie read!

[Kim]

Reading "A Journal of the Plague Year" by Daniel Defoe

[Miss Jones]

In the spirit of Halloween, I read Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Instead of being scared, I found myself sympathetic towards the monster. Great read!

[Britany]

Finally finished by Jane Austen-- 4 Stars!

How have I gone this long in my life without having met Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Highly enjoyed this book!

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Clark]

I think I'll end my year with this book, whatever it is. I'm thinking Stendahl, either The Red and the Black, or The Charterhouse of Parma.

[Jeannette]

I read Martin Chuzzlewit bye Charles Dickens and really enjoyed it! I didn't know what to expect, but I'm glad I read it.