The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding - Group Read (hosted by Debra and Angela)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Anyone?

[Debra Diggs]

Angela wrote: "Is it just me, or are the opening chapters of each book difficult to follow?"

Yes, they are difficult to follow. I don't think they add to the story. I quit reading the opening chapters halfway through.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Thanks Debra :) Maybe Angela and others who are still working their way through this might also find it helps.

[Sara]

The opening chapters are almost individual essays, with the narrator making asides and talking to the reader mostly about the writing itself. I found them interesting in the beginning, and irritating by the end. They disrupt the flow of the story and can really be skipped without missing anything or distracting from the narrative itself (which I know because I foolishly read them all).

[Angela]

Thanks y'all. I was struggling through one last night and trying to makes sense of.it while secretly wondering if I could just skip it and get on to the story. I felt a little bad but obviously not bad enough to prevent me.from posting to complain, lol.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

It's always worth a mention Angela - we learn from each other :)

[Chris]

Angela wrote: "Is it just me, or are the opening chapters of each book difficult to follow?"

I really dislike the opening chaps. They add little if anything to the story and are very disrupting to the flow of the story which gets bogged down too easily by itself. (I'm just starting Book 13 AAUGH!!) Anytime the narrator spoke directly to me, the reader, as I have moved through the novel, I found it very irritating.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Speaking to the "dear reader" does seem to be a style which has had its day!

[Angela]

Chris wrote: "Angela wrote: "Is it just me, or are the opening chapters of each book difficult to follow?"

I really dislike the opening chaps. They add little if anything to the story and are very disrupting to..."

Don't feel bad Chris. I'm only on book 8.

[Chris]

I really enjoyed Chap 12 of Book 12 about their interactions with the gypsies. Probably one of my favorites actually. Quite the lesson that in this day and age we people still need to learn about demonizing "the other".
I thought the "king of the Gypsies" was quite Soloman-like in his sense of justice.
So, in this time period the English thought the gypsies came from Egypt? I had not heard that before. I had always associated their origins as an ethnic group from Romania and learned later they migrated from northern India to Romania before dispersing throughout Europe.

[Chris]

I recently finished book XIV and found it moved at a better pace especially the last few chapters. Mrs. Miller warmed my heart and will surely be a favorite character.
My feelings about Nightingale felt like a ping-pong ball as things unfolded:
1) He appears to be honorable to remove himself from contact with Nancy (reputation intact, so he says) when he learns his father has arranged a marriage for him
2) WHAT??!!! You lied about bedding Nancy. You scoundrel!
3) Oh, you love her you say, and are willing to marry her against your father's wishes. Well, we shall see what plays out and if you redeem yourself.

And Tom- what a pretty speech he makes about Nightingale's behavior towards Nancy. I couldn't decide on whether this was a redeeming look into his character or whether he was being hypocritical. Didn't he deflower a young woman early on or at least he thought he was the first. I suppose seeing Sophia again has him thinking these purer thoughts. Another scene which highlights the good but flawed Tom.

[Sara]

Our Tom is not exactly a consistent character, is he? lol.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

I do love the word "scoundrel"! I wonder if I can bring it back into my my vocabulary. Maybe "You've overcharged me, you scoundrel", or "Call these tomatoes fresh, you scoundrel?" :D

[Debra Diggs]

Mrs. Miller is one of my characters. I also liked the Man of the Hill. (Even though I was disappointed that he did not play more of a roll in the Tom Jones story.)

The last three chapters moved at a quick pace for me. I don't know if it was because I was excited to be at the end or if they really did move faster.

[Angela]

OK friends, where is this discussion located now? I went through every board to no avail but found it in notifications.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Sorry Angela - side reads! I think I might have mentioned it for those who didn't bookmark it, but it would be easy to miss. It seems to suit it better, somehow.

[Angela]

Thanks Jean!!

[Chris]

Debra Diggs wrote: The last three chapters moved at a quick pace for me. I don't know if it was because I was excited to be at the end or if they really did move faster
The last 3 chapters of the entire novel? Oh my, I still have quite a ways before I get there. I am hoping that as storylines need to come to conclusions that it will continue to move faster. My goal now is definitely by the end of the month if before even better :)!!

[Angela]

Chris wrote: "Debra Diggs wrote: The last three chapters moved at a quick pace for me. I don't know if it was because I was excited to be at the end or if they really did move faster
The last 3 chapters of the..."
Chris I will join you in that goal. I'm only to book 9 or 10???

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Think how satisfying it will be to finish this incredibly long book though :) What an achievement!

[Chris]

Finished book XV and could not believe what a scheming, manipulative woman Lady Bellaston is. I'd add evil for the suggestion to Lord F. that he may need to rape Sophia to trap her into marriage.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Yes!

[Angela]

This is a long book. I am a little crabby that my 2021 book challenges is 25 books, not a number of pages. this one should count for three, at least.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

I agree Angela! It's longer than "The Lord of the Rings" and that's three books!

How about finding an edition which is 2 volumes, and adding those as the ones you are reading? Alternatively you can "fudge" it a bit, and add other editions :) I've managed to review different editions of the same book, so I know it lets you add one at that stage.

Or you could always add a short story to increase your total :)

[Angela]

Jean, I love your style. :)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Well if GR only has limited options, we just get round them, don't we :)

[Chris]

Angela wrote: "Analysis -This section amps up the drama through the suggestion of incest. The shocking revelation that Mrs. Waters is Tom’s mother contributes high drama, tension and pathos to the narrative without the need to resort to vulgar description or lewd explanation. The information, if it turned out to be true, would have made Tom Jones a truly tragic character in the mold of Oedipus. Fielding cleverly manipulates his plot to extract our pathos and then to raise Tom to a level of supreme happiness, all without unwarranted length of narrative and without supernatural devices. In fact, this revelation leads Tom to an important epiphany: “ Fortune will never have done with me, ‘till she hath driven me to distraction. But why do I blame Fortune? I am myself the cause of all my misery. All the dreadful mischiefs which have befallen me, are the consequences only of my own folly and vice” (815). The moral realization not only influences the plot but also nicely sums up many of the book's themes.

I have just made it to Book XVIII. Based on your analysis, perhaps I can say I am finished? I'll be a good girl and read on.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Chris, you are nothing if not tenacious! One more book? You'll likely be finished by the end of the year :)

[Chris]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Chris, you are nothing if not tenacious! One more book? You'll likely be finished by the end of the year :)"

That is my hope!!! The previous two books did move faster and had more substance in them, so that is what I am hoping for as I move to the end and can put this away forever!

[Chris]

HALLELUJAH, I am finally finished with the book!!!! The last couple of books did move at a faster pace; shoot, more was happening in them than in almost the whole book!! I did enjoy hating or loving many of the characters and a few scenes were laugh out loud. I did appreciate that everything was tied up nicely, after all the difficulties for the characters and my personal slog, I needed a happy ending! But I thought, as Sara wrote, it could have been cut in half and still pack all the pertinent action in. I wish I could have kept up with the group so I could have expressed my thoughts and discussed with everyone. I felt like I missed out.
Mrs. Miller was my favorite character. Unlike Debra, the encounter with the gypsies was one of my favorite chapters.

[Debra Diggs]

Yay, Chris! I am glad you got through it and least found part of it enjoyable.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

YAY well done Chris! We know how much of an achievement this is ... GR ought to give you (and everyone who made it though!) a shiny crown for this. Congratulations :)

[Angela]

I am in the middle of book 13. Our 'hero' is now, errr, on intimate terms with Lady Bellaston?? wth. Not sure about this guy's ideas about honor.

[Debra Diggs]

Angela wrote: "I am in the middle of book 13. Our 'hero' is now, errr, on intimate terms with Lady Bellaston?? wth. Not sure about this guy's ideas about honor."

I went into this book with one opinion of Tom Jones, and came out with an entirely different opinion.

[Angela]

This guy is a huuuuuge player!!!! omg!!!!

[Angela]

That Lady Bell Aston is a piece of work. I am not easily shocked, but geeez..

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

I'm really happy to see some are still enjoying this read (though the word "enjoying" perhaps needs a bit of qualifying ...)

[Angela]

36 pages to go. The story now changes so often it.is almost humorous!!

[Chris]

Angela wrote: "36 pages to go. The story now changes so often it.is almost humorous!!"

You can do it!!! Yes, I felt Fielding crammed a lot of "action" by the characters into those last few books that it moved more swiftly and took your emotions on a ride.

[Angela]

DONE AND DONE.

[Debra Diggs]

Yay, Angela! Woo-hoo!

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

🏆🏆🏆
to all who finished this mammoth novel! Ring the 🔔!

[Angela]

Bionic Jean wrote: "🏆🏆🏆
to all who finished this mammoth novel! Ring the 🔔!"

Jean, remember our number of pages vs. number of books discussion. After finishing Tom Jones I plotted out my 2022 reading. In 2021, 16 books and 9,838 pages. For 2022, I'm planning 26 books for 10, 156 pages. An approximate 300 page difference but 10 more books. Hmmm.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Exactly! Great example.