Dickensians! discussion
David Copperfield - Group Read 1
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May - June 2020: David Copperfield: chapters 1-14
I'd definitely like to join in Jean. I have a kindle copy, so I'm ready to go.
Mod
I often buy a cheap copy on kindle though, just to see the original illustrations, as Project Gutenberg doesn't usually include them.
I have a couple of other group reads to finish up first. Being a slow reader, I may not start this right on time but I will join in. I have The Complete Works on my ereader, so I'm ready to go.
I have not read this book for decades, so now seems like a good time to reread it.
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I will be joining in. Just got my free kindle copy.
Mod
I am going to seriously consider joining this one. I've been wanting to re-read this book for ages! However, I am going to play it by ear and see what happens with my work situation, school, etc. Everything seems so up in the air not knowing when things will get more hectic again :)
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I do hope you are able to join in Candi, and am really looking forward to reading this with everyone. It is such a treat of a book!
I will plan to read this one, since it is on my re-read list still. I am a big believer in you cannot read Dickens too many times...always something new to find.I do not think I would be good at waiting a year and a half to get to the end of the story. My goodness they were patient back then!
I just bought the book, and should receive it by the beginning of May. This will be my first time reading David Copperfield. I'm looking forward to joining everyone for this read.
I'll be joining in, I have quite a few books on the go for April, but I should be ready to start by 1 May.
Mod
I feel exactly like this too! I'm not sure how patient his fans were though ... there were newspaper reports of him being mobbed by fans in America, and generally pestered by readers who wanted to know what happened next.
There's one story, possibly apocryphal, which says that he overheard someone in London, telling her friend that she had read what would happen in the next episode of his most recent work, only for him to turn round and say "Madam, I haven't written it yet!"
I do think that things went more slowly in those days, but perhaps a year and a half was pushing it!
Mod
Well I have got my copy on my Kindle so I'm going to give it a go as well. Especially as its not an aggressive reading schedule. :-)
So we just read at our own pace and post questions or comments about Part I here and Part II on the other thread at any time during the process? I just want to make sure I'm not missing a reading schedule or timetable of any kind!
Mod
Yes please. I'm keen to make this group inclusive, and don't want to impose a rigid timetable. So far I've just split it into two threads, and will unlock the next one after a little while, but not right at the start. I'm relying on everyone to use spoiler tags when appropriate, rather than have a lot of threads.
There won't be a schedule, but will be a side read for those who like to read quickly. This is our first read, though, and so far it's not known what the level or depth of discussion will be.
The top thread in this folder explains the broad concept LINK HERE
Since I haven't read the book yet I would love to join the group read. Just have to find a copy first :)As for the serial publication - I don't know how people remained patient after only receiving a small part every few weeks. On the other hand, it adds a lot to the reading process as you had to stay focussed on the story to read it over such a period.
Mod
Yes, indeed, the Victorian serials were a completely different way of reading, from nowadays, when we can just stroll into a bookshop and have hundreds of books at our disposal! I also admire how Charles Dickens managed to keep the characters and plot uppermost in people's minds, with a gap of a few weeks every time! He has more characters in his fiction - little cameos and the like - than any other classic author I know. And his readers were ordinary people - largely uneducated - and often had to pay someone a penny or so to read the chapters to them.
Skill on both sides there, I think :)
Bionic Jean wrote: "That's great Kathrin! Because many of us are finding it difficult to get books during the lockdown, perhaps it might be worth you considering reading it on a kindle, or ereader - or even online. On..."I am kind of ashamed to admit that I already got a Kindle copy in 2013, but on the other hand, this means I am definitely joining the group read :)
Mod
Reading books by serial was the equivalent of waiting for the next Star Wars movie or TV episode of Game of Thrones, etc. The good thing about doing it that way for Dickens was that, just like a TV show, he could beef up a character's role if the public enjoyed it.I am a big fan of audiobooks and there are some excellent recordings of Dickens. There are still people who insist audiobooks aren't "real" books, but studies have shown they engage the brain in the same way. One person even went so far as to specifically say that it was wrong to read a classic like Dickens on audio. Well, as Bionic Jean mentioned, that's exactly how many people first experienced Dickens.
All of Dickens is available free or cheaply on tablets or e-readers. Some even have the illustrations.
I have read David Copperfield at least 3 times, so I don't think I'll reread but will chime in.
Mod
That's absolutely fine Robin, although I will
"The good thing about doing it that way for Dickens was that, just like a TV show, he could beef up a character's role if the public enjoyed it."
Yes! Audience response was akin to today's soaps. Charles Dickens tended to drop a character if his audience didn't like them, or introduce a new one if sales were flagging. For his early novels, he hadn't a clue where his plot would go! And more than once he had to rewrite a character, if the person he based it on recognised themselves. One, a dwarf manicurist, threatened to take him to court, as she didn't like the way he had portrayed her.
I always think of his stories as Victorian soaps, (at least in this way, although far superior of course :) )
I’m in Jean. I first read David Copperfield after watching Gone with the Wind when I was about 12. For those unfamiliar with the film, one of the characters reads aloud from the novel. Luckily my Mum is a Dickens fan and had a set of most of his works so it was just a case of going to the shelf and finding it. I still have her books now.
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And what a fabulous story for the reason behind reading this at age 12! I'll put another in the next post.
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This is a photo of the actual copy, from 1910. It's stained with black fingerprints from the seal blubber lamps that were used to light the ice cave, and apparently still bears a faint whiff of smoke and fish.
Isn't this amazing? :)
I have a copy on Kindle but also an audiobook read by Richard Armitage. I do love his voice, so this should be a joy. Mind you, it's 36 hours long!!
Does anyone remember him from the TV adaptation of North and South?
Bionic Jean wrote: "Captain Scott’s men read parts of David Copperfield aloud every night while they were trapped in an ice cave in the Antarctic, on their doomed expedition. It was one of three books tha..."What a fascinating story. I hope their books were all long ones to fill in their lonely hours. I guess that light to read by was very precious though.
Mod
Mod
On the other hand he's an actor isn't he, so can obviously adapt! (Duh!) You must tell us what it's like, as I think this is a great book for reading aloud, or dramatising :)
I just listened to the first chapter or two while I was out with the dog. He does a good Scottish accent for Miss Betsy. Not sure if she is Scottish in the book but the accent was convincing.I'm now going to read the same chapters on kindle, because I am already really confused! What was that bit at the beginning about a call being sold?
In my defence I was distracted by having to keep crossing the road to remain the appropriate distance from the other dog walkers!
Mod
So a word about how these threads work. This group is for everyone, and we all have different ways of approaching a book. So a rigid timetable within the set period is not really appropriate.
1. If anyone is looking at this book, and wondering how to pace such a lengthy classic novel, then it is possible to just read 1 chapter a day, and finish at the close of the group read, as evidenced by Captain Scott! This is quite a good approach if you are new to Charles Dickens, or if Victorian literature is unfamiliar to you, as you can read something else alongside.
2. If you prefer to read 2 or 3 chapters at once, then maybe read a portion every 2 or three days, to keep the same pace.
3. But if you always read for the story, (with no analysis) and devour far more than this each day, then that's fine too, and you can just comment in retrospect :) There will be a side read opened up in the second half of May, with this approach in mind.
I personally will try to steer the middle, and add interesting side notes as we go, sometimes under spoiler tags. Please make sure you use these as necessary too! Thanks.
I like Richard Armitage too and think he reads beautifully - I've heard him read a couple of Georgette Heyer books (in abridged versions). I prefer to read Dickens on the page though, so will resist his 36-hour version, although I'm sure it is wonderful and will be interested to hear what you think, Sue. I am looking forward to joining in.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Captain Scott’s men read parts of David Copperfield aloud every night while they were trapped in an ice cave in the Antarctic, on their doomed expedition. It was one of three books tha..."Wow, thanks for sharing that, Jean! I love early polar exploration, but didn't know this! Not sure If I will be joining in this group read or not, it really depends on if the library opens again soon. But I have read it once before so I will at least follow along with your discussions. :)
Mod
Otherwise it will be great if you pop in with your comments from memory - and anyone else who find it difficult to get the book at this time.
Sue wrote: "I just listened to the first chapter or two while I was out with the dog. He does a good Scottish accent for Miss Betsy. Not sure if she is Scottish in the book but the accent was convincing.I'm ..."
The call was a”caul”. It is something about the membrane surrounding the baby and there were superstitions about it. That is one downside of audio, you can’t tell how things are spelled. I will look for info on it.
Mod
I'm hoping to be able to leave this thread open, not locked, so people can announce themselves as they join in, and also so we can share any suitable information we like about the novel, prior to reading it.
Thanks.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Do you use an ereader, Meg? Just a thought ...Otherwise it will be great if you pop in with your comments from memory - and anyone else who find it difficult to get the book at this time."
No the only way I have to read online is on the computer, which I can do but it takes me a forever to finish a long book that way! ;)
Mod
Oh yes, I can only read short stories like that really, or remind myself of something.
Mod
If there's demand, then we could start this bit early - say a week from now? That splits the difference, and anyone just joining the group will still be able to catch up.
Would anyone like to do this?
Bionic Jean wrote: "I'm wondering - are others itching to get started too? I'm aware that this is a unique occasion, since we have no previous group read.If there's demand, then we could start this bit early - say a..."
I'm easy Jean, although I probably won't start till May anyway.
I won't be starting before May, Jean. I've got another group read to finish in April before I will start this one. I am looking forward to starting, though. It's been ages since I've read a book by Dickens.
I will be starting close to May, maybe a couple of days early. I am finishing a couple of other books first.
I'm easy with whenever the read starts. :)
I'll be starting around 1st May, I have other books to finish for April so won't be able to start early
I can start reading the book whenever the group decides to start. Looking forward to the read :)
Sue wrote: "I have a copy on Kindle but also an audiobook read by Richard Armitage. I do love his voice, so this should be a joy. Mind you, it's 36 hours long!!
Does anyone remember him from the TV adaptati..."
That is one of my favorite movies.
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Our first ever group read is of David Copperfield. This is a moderator's selection, to begin with, although next time the choice will be decided by a group poll.
Please note - Comments on the text itself, begin with comment 95. Here are links to all the chapters in this thread, kindly provided by Nisa :) (Thank you Nisa!) If you click on each underlined chapter number, it will take you directly to the summary post for that chapter.
I – May 1849 (chapters 1–3);
Chapter 1 (Message 95)
Chapter 2 (Message 129)
Chapter 3 (Message 149)
II – June 1849 (chapters 4–6);
Chapter 4 (Message 176)
Chapter 5 (Message 212)
Chapter 6 (Message 245)
III – July 1849 (chapters 7–9);
Chapter 7 (Message 275)
Chapter 8 (Message 289)
Chapter 9 (Message 313)
IV – August 1849 (chapters 10–12);
Chapter 10 (Message 351)
Chapter 11 (Message 377)
Chapter 12 (Message 399)
V – September 1849 (chapters 13–15);
Chapter 13 (Message 421)
Chapter 14 (Message 439)
David Copperfield was Charles Dickens's own favourite book :) Of it he wrote, "like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield." It was his 8th novel, so just over halfway through his oeuvre. It is often termed an "autobiographical novel", as so many incidents are drawn from his own life.
David Copperfield is actually Charles Dickens's longest novel, by word count! And yet it is a good one to start with, as it is so accessible, has many wonderful characters, and makes you both laugh and cry. It is the sort of novel which can be read over and over again, finding something new every time.
Here is the cover from the first part of the serial in May 1849:
David Copperfield was first issued in monthly parts. Dickensians living then, had to wait until November 1850 - over a year and a half - to read the conclusion of the story! In the 21st century, this is difficult to imagine.
Please feel free to begin this novel as soon as you join the group, even if it is a little ahead of time. And please remember the courtesy rule, and avoid or hide any major plot reveals. Since this is a kind of "bildungsroman" or coming of age story, there shouldn't be too many mysterious secrets which are essential to hide!
So without more ado, who's joining in with us here?