Buddy read of David Copperfield May 2021 onwards with Cozy_Pug, Sue, Bridget, Fiona and Jenny

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Here is the thread for a buddy read of David Copperfield with Cozy_Pug, Sue, Bridget, Fiona and Jenny. Others are welcome.

Welcome to Trisha, Janelle, Franky, Sammy, Angela and Nancy too :)

Have fun with Charles Dickens's own favourite everyone - it's a fantastic romp of a read! And do remember to post on the main threads now and then, when you reach the end of a section. Thanks :)

[[deleted user]]

Thank you Jean! :D

David Copperfield Installments -

I – chapters 1–3
II – chapters 4–6
III – chapters 7–9
IV – chapters 10–12
V – chapters 13–15
VI – chapters 16–18
VII – chapters 19–21
VIII – chapters 22–24
IX – chapters 25–27
X – chapters 28–31
XI – chapters 32–34
XII – chapters 35–37
XIII – chapters 38–40
XIV – chapters 41–43
XV – chapters 44–46
XVI – chapters 47–50
XVII – chapters 51–53
XVIII – chapters 54–57
XIX-XX – chapters 58–64

Link to the original group read discussion, chapters 1-14 -
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to the original group read discussion, chapters 15-29 -
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Week 4 Reading Schedule -

Saturday May 29 - free/catchup day
Sunday May 30 - chapter 16
Monday May 31 - chapter 17
Tuesday June 1 - chapter 18
Wednesday June 2 - free/catchup day
Thursday June 3 - chapter 19
Friday June 4 - chapter 20
Saturday June 5 - chapter 21
Sunday June 6 - free/catchup day

[Sue]

Wonderful to have our own “home.”

[Fiona]

Great! Have we decided on a start date? I need to go up in the loft to retrieve my copy!

[[deleted user]]

How does everyone feel about starting on Monday, the 10th?

Yay our own home! :D

[[deleted user]]

Does everyone want to follow the same type reading schedule that we did with Dombey?

From what I've found of the original serialization of David Copperfield, we would read 3 chapters then have a day off. Occasionally we'd read 4 chapters then have a day off.

[Bridget]

Jean, just want to add my thanks as well for giving us a home thread.

Cozy_Pug, love your idea about following the serialization like we did with Dombey and Son. I'm looking forward to Monday. Right now I'm off to buy the book.

[Tr1sha]

May I join you, please? I already have a copy & would be happy to start reading on Monday.

[[deleted user]]

Trisha wrote: "May I join you, please? I already have a copy & would be happy to start reading on Monday."

Hi, Trisha! Absolutely, the door's open so come on in! :D

[Sue]

I think the plan sounds good. As always, I will probably need reminders about when we have days off. But I will be sure my copy is downloaded and ready. This is a book I feel like I have read but see no sign that I’ve read it since joining GR in 2010 so maybe it’s just that I’ve read parts and seen adaptations. Of course if I download the book and see highlights then I will know. 😄

[[deleted user]]

Sue wrote: "I think the plan sounds good. As always, I will probably need reminders about when we have days off. But I will be sure my copy is downloaded and ready. This is a book I feel like I have read but s..."

Lol Sue, it might be that so many bits of DC are part of popular culture, it feels like you've read it :D

[Sue]

I just opened the book and I see that I haven’t highlighted anything. So it is a first time read. I do think some details are almost hardwired into us now and I may also be remembering some details from Great Expectations, which I loved. I’m thinking of the time in the city I think. I am looking forward to this.

[[deleted user]]

Sue, I read through the first group read thread last night, up until the reading actually began. The pre-read chat and information made me so excited to dive into this book!

[Tr1sha]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Trisha wrote: "May I join you, please? I already have a copy & would be happy to start reading on Monday."

Hi, Trisha! Absolutely, the door's open so come on in! :D"

Thank you!

[Sue]

Perhaps I will check it out. There’s an introduction in my Penguin copy but I have found, over the years, that reading introductions isn’t always useful. Maybe a read of the introductory information here would be better.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Introductions to Charles Dickens novels nearly always include spoilers - even the Prefaces he wrote himself. Here's a quickie list of the installments, so you can tell when to have your breaks, if you decide to go that way:

I – chapters 1–3
II – chapters 4–6
III – chapters 7–9
IV – chapters 10–12
V – chapters 13–15
VI – chapters 16–18
VII – chapters 19–21
VIII – chapters 22–24
IX – chapters 25–27
X – chapters 28–31
XI – chapters 32–34
XII – chapters 35–37
XIII – chapters 38–40
XIV – chapters 41–43
XV – chapters 44–46
XVI – chapters 47–50
XVII – chapters 51–53
XVIII – chapters 54–57
XIX-XX – chapters 58–64

Also here is the first thread of the group read, with lots of extra info LINK HERE

[Sue]

Thank you so much, Jean.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

You're very welcome :)

[[deleted user]]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Introductions to Charles Dickens novels nearly always include spoilers - even the Prefaces he wrote himself. Here's a quickie list of the installments, so you can tell when to have ..."

Thank you for this, Jean! You saved me the effort of entering this information! :)

[Janelle]

This looks like fun, and I’m missing reading my dose of Dickens every morning, so I’m going to join too. It’s been a long time since I’ve read DC. Did anyone see the most recent film, last year I think it was?

[[deleted user]]

Janelle wrote: "This looks like fun, and I’m missing reading my dose of Dickens every morning, so I’m going to join too. It’s been a long time since I’ve read DC. Did anyone see the most recent film, last year I t..."

Yay! I'm so glad you're joining in, too, Janelle!

I love that - a daily dose of Dickens! :D I've been missing him myself.

I've somehow never seen a film or television adaptation of DC, it looks like there'll be quite a few to watch after we finish reading.

[Franky]

I have my copy ready, but I just need to finish a couple of books so I'll be a little tardy to this read. Will this read go on for awhile?

[Sue]

This is going to be quite a read!

[[deleted user]]

Hi Franky! Good to see you here!

There's 64 chapters, our plan is to read one chapter a day with a one day break between each installment. (See message 16 for the installments.)

So this read will last over 2 months - join in when you're ready!

[[deleted user]]

Sue wrote: "This is going to be quite a read!"

I know! I'm excited this has attracted so many people!

[Franky]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Hi Franky! Good to see you here!

There's 64 chapters, our plan is to read one chapter a day with a one day break between each installment. (See message 16 for the installments.)

So this read will..."

Hey there, that's great. I can really make progress once June hits and it's summer ;)

[Bridget]

I got my book today, so I'm all set! I think its kind of cool that we are reading DC right after reading DS (Dombey and Son) because the serialization of DC started (1849) soon after the serialization of DS ended (1848) (my Penguin edition of DC had a list of momentous occasions in Dickens life so I pieced that together).

Can you imagine writing a massive novel like DS and then starting up pretty much right away with another huge story?? It boggles my mind to think of the energy Charles Dickens had.

[Jenny]

Wow Bridget, thats cool info to have! I cant imagine how many sleepless night Dickens had writing! It's obvious he loved doing it though, which is why we all love the books so much :)

[[deleted user]]

Franky wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "Hi Franky! Good to see you here!

There's 64 chapters, our plan is to read one chapter a day with a one day break between each installment. (See message 16 for the installments.)

..."

Wonderful! I'm glad you're able to read with us!

[[deleted user]]

Bridget wrote: "I got my book today, so I'm all set! I think its kind of cool that we are reading DC right after reading DS (Dombey and Son) because the serialization of DC started (1849) soon after t..."

That's amazing! I wonder if Dickens constantly had ideas and characters and plot lines swirling through his mind, if his mind was always working on the current book and the next book. I'm imagining that on every walk Dickens took, all the daily household occurrences, he was watching and listening and storing up things he saw and heard and could develop into characters, plots, and dialogue.

[Angela]

Hi all, I wasn't going to join but the schedule you've laid out seems very manageable so I am in! Yay!

[[deleted user]]

Angela wrote: "Hi all, I wasn't going to join but the schedule you've laid out seems very manageable so I am in! Yay!"

Yay I'm so glad you're joining in! I can't wait to start reading!

[Fiona]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Hi Franky! Good to see you here!

There's 64 chapters, our plan is to read one chapter a day with a one day break between each installment. (See message 16 for the installments.)

So this read will..."

Thanks for explaining this, Cozy_Pug. This is my first ever buddy read so I wasn’t sure how it worked. I’m looking forward to getting started now that I’ve retrieved my copy from the loft.

[[deleted user]]

Fiona wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "Hi Franky! Good to see you here!

There's 64 chapters, our plan is to read one chapter a day with a one day break between each installment. (See message 16 for the installments.)

..."

You're welcome! I hope this will be a great first buddy read for you!

I'm really having to restrain myself from starting DC - I think I'm in Dickens withdrawal :D

[[deleted user]]

If this is helpful, here's the reading schedule for the week starting tomorrow -

Monday May 10 - chapter 1
Tuesday May 11 - chapter 2
Wednesday May 12 - chapter 3
Thursday May 13 - free/catchup day
Friday May 14 - chapter 4
Saturday May 15 - chapter 5
Sunday May 16 - chapter 6

Jean mentioned this but definitely read through the original group discussion thread as we go. There's so much amazing information that Jean provides to make the reading even better.

I think this has been mentioned as well - beware of reading prefaces or introductory essays in your edition of David Copperfield. They tend to contain spoilers - I've made this mistake before and regretted it lol.

[[deleted user]]

I'm wondering if we'll have the issue with David Copperfield that we did with Dombey, where some texts are missing bits. The text I'm reading is within a complete works ebook -

The Complete Works of Charles Dickens: All 15 novels, short stories, poems and plays

Hopefully between all of us, someone will notice if they're missing text and we can fill it in here.

[Angela]

I think I have the same as you, Cozy. Amazon, 25¢?

[Tr1sha]

I’m using the Amazon Classics edition David Copperfield this time. Depending on your Amazon account you may be able to borrow it free. It’s good that we have different versions as it will be obvious if there are bits missing.

[Fiona]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "If this is helpful, here's the reading schedule for the week starting tomorrow -

Monday 5/10 - chapter 1
Tuesday 5/11 - chapter 2
Wednesday 5/12 - chapter 3
Thursday 5/13 - free/catchup day
Friday..."

This is helpful, thanks. Once my British brain has reversed all the dates 🤪

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

I'm not sure whether to chime in here or not really ...

but I will just say that a huge amount of David Copperfield is autobiographical, with just a tweak here and there. Charles Dickens was ashamed of his early life and kept it secret from even his close friends for many years. Also he felt it would be hurtful to his mother to publish it. Some pages are copied word for word from his notes for this! He finally told his friend and mentor John Forster, and he quotes various passages in his Life of Charles Dickens (which we are reading now and then as a side read).

And LINK HERE for a couple of posts with photos from both last year's film (Janelle mentioned this), and a TV series - also the header at that top of that thread is of the young Daniel Radcliffe as David.

When you do come to look at the earlier threads, all the chapters are linked as they were for Dombey and Son so I promise there are no spoilers. Everyone here is very careful in the discussion :) But you will find lots of great info, such as who was based on who in real life. No there are no missing bits - except those parts of his autobiography which he burnt and kept the secret of (mostly) to his grave.

OK I'm off now :) Cozy_Pug feel free to copy the installment list (plus any reading scheme) to comment 2 if it helps.

[[deleted user]]

Angela wrote: "I think I have the same as you, Cozy. Amazon, 25¢?"

Yes that's the one! I still can't get over that bargain price! :D

[[deleted user]]

Fiona wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "If this is helpful, here's the reading schedule for the week starting tomorrow -

Monday 5/10 - chapter 1
Tuesday 5/11 - chapter 2
Wednesday 5/12 - chapter 3
Thursday 5/13 - free/c..."

Fiona, I'm so sorry! I just edited my post to show May instead of the number.

[[deleted user]]

Bionic Jean wrote: "I'm not sure whether to chime in here or not really ...

but I will just say that a huge amount of David Copperfield is autobiographical, with just a tweak here and there. [author:Cha..."

Jean please chime in any time - we need your knowledge! :)

I meant missing bits where in Dombey, Dickens cut some lines to fit the installment, but then some texts had those lines added back in. Remember early on some people had the conversation between Mr Dombey and Mr Toodle about Biler's name, but my black spine Penguin edition was missing that? That's the kind of missing bits I meant.

[Tr1sha]

Cozy_Pug & Fiona, the dates made me laugh! I’m trying to get used to either system. In another group I’ve been reading some Pulitzer books - after a lifetime of using British dates, for some reason it seemed logical to use US dates for my reference list of books completed. It was only today when I tried to add to my list that I realised it was a really bad idea!

[Lori]

You are all tempting me. I just bought the kindle complete works so don't be surprised if I show up here tomorrow!

[[deleted user]]

Lori wrote: "You are all tempting me. I just bought the kindle complete works so don't be surprised if I show up here tomorrow!"

Hope you join in! :D

[[deleted user]]

Trisha wrote: "Cozy_Pug & Fiona, the dates made me laugh! I’m trying to get used to either system. In another group I’ve been reading some Pulitzer books - after a lifetime of using British dates, for some reason..."

Lol, at you least you tried! From now on, I'll try to remember to write out the month :D

I edited message #2 above to include the installments, the link to the first thread of last year's DC group read, and the reading schedule for this week. Thank you Jean for the helpful hints! :)

[Sammy]

This is my favourite Dickens! I won't get around to it this month, but I'll join in a little later if that's ok? I'll read the whole thing in a couple of days anyway, because the audio version (read by Richard Armitage) is addictive, and I can't listen to just a little every day! lol.

I know the story well enough to pop in on the discussion in the meantime, other commitments allowing :)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "my black spine Penguin edition was missing that? That's the kind of missing bits I meant ..."

Yes, I knew what you meant and there are none like that in David Copperfield, as far as I know. In Dombey and Son they were edited out by Charles Dickens himself, if you remember. It was always to fit his self-imposed limit for each installment.

We went into this in detail, when we discussed his mems, and Judy found (and quoted) the differences for us. It just related to a few chapters of Dombey and Son. A lot of little incidents are omitted, and even the final two paragraphs in the book, but the worst one I think is the repeated sentence about "Dombey and daughter".

Thanks, and obviously I'll pop in :) but hopefully you'll come across most of my research on the original thread. It's silly (and time-consuming!) to repeat it all. I like it being the only book that Captain Scott's expedition took to read, and keep them going - or Dostoyevsky when he was exiled to Siberia :)

[Fiona]

Cozy_Pug wrote: "Fiona wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "If this is helpful, here's the reading schedule for the week starting tomorrow -

Monday 5/10 - chapter 1
Tuesday 5/11 - chapter 2
Wednesday 5/12 - chapter 3
Thursday..."

Oh my goodness! There was no need really but it’s very kind all the same. Thank you.