Daniel Deronda 2024: Reading Schedule

[Frances, Moderator]

Here is the reading schedule for our Daniel Deronda read. We will start discussing on the first day of the week listed.

Jan 7-13: Chapters 1-7
Jan 14-20: Chapters 8-13
Jan 21-27: Chapters 14-19
Jan 28-Feb 3: Chapters 20-24
Feb 4-10: Chapters 25-29
Feb 11-17: Chapters 30-34
Feb 18-24: Chapters 35-37
Feb 25-Mar 2: Chapters 38-42
Mar 3-9: Chapters 43-49
Mar 10-16: Chapters 50-54
Mar 17-23: Chapters 55-62
Mar 24-30: Chapters 63-70

The sections don't really line up with the book divisions but it works out to 63-80 paperback pages/week.

[Abigail]

Excited to start!

[Nancy]

I’m looking forward to this one! Happy New Year to all!

[Abigail]

My grandmother had a lovely set of the complete works of George Eliot, vintage 1900, published by Little, Brown, with blue leather and marbled covers, illustrations covered with slips of tissue paper, the whole nine yards—and I inherited it! So I will be reading in style.

[Nancy]

Drowning in envy over here!

[Lori, Moderator]

I read this a few years ago and am not up for a reread this time, but will follow the discussions.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Abigail wrote: "My grandmother had a lovely set of the complete works of George Eliot, vintage 1900, published by Little, Brown, with blue leather and marbled covers, illustrations covered with slips of tissue pap..."

Sounds great, but I realized that some of the old editions have such tiny print that it is easier for me to read on a tablet using one of the Gutenberg-type apps. Also I am terrible about sometimes accidentally bending/marking/spilling on my books.

[Abigail]

My edition is in two volumes, so fortunately, the type is quite large and easy to read.

[Brian E]

I recently read Felix Holt and have now read all of George Eliot's 7 novels. But they are now ripe for re-reads.
I read DD about 25 to 30 years ago but its been long enough that I don't remember much about it except that I liked it. My memory is fairly blank on plot events even though I also watched and enjoyed the miniseries with Hugh Dancy and Romola (a good Eliot name) Garai.
A reread will still feel fresh to me. I'll try to make the time to join in.

[Emmeline]

Ask and received this for Christmas and looking forward to joining you!

[Lindenblatt]

I will listen to this on Audible during my daily commute. In addition, I'll get a library copy for catching up on weekends, where needed. Very much looking forward to this group read and Happy New Year to you!

[Deborah, Moderator]

I’m reading a beautiful old book I found as part of a set in a used bookstore

[Jaylia3]

After recently finishing The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life, a biography that talks a lot about Eliot's novels, I was so inspired I decided I wanted to read or re-read all of Eliot's books, so I'm very happy about this group read.

Middlemarch is one of my all time favorite novels, but I didn't love Daniel Deronda the first time I read it, which several years ago. I'm guessing I'm going to enjoy it more now and I'm looking forward to the discussions.

[Frances, Moderator]

So glad you are all joining, and jealous of the beautiful editions a couple of you have! I found a second hand 1986 penguin paperback in my local used bookstore-the one upside of a worn out copy is I feel free to dog-ear/annotate!

[Hedi]

I will try to join, I have wanted to read this for a while already and have seen the miniseries, but I am not sure whether I will make it all the way as I would also like to join the other Group Read starting one week later, which I would like to read in the Swedish original, but may take me longer as my Swedish is not as good as my English.

[Sydney]

Thank you so much for organizing this! this is one of my favorite books, I have always loved Adam Bede but haven't been able to make it through some of her others - I did finish Middlemarch as a pandemic goal read but wouldn't go back to it, Daniel Deronda I really did like. I did have to skip some small parts (which I am sure we will note when we get to them) and it certainly has some issues. I very much look forward to revisiting it with you all!

[Robin P, Moderator]

I believe I read this back in the 1970's but all I remember is that the character is Jewish. Maybe this is a good part of getting older, you can read books again and they will be new! A few years back this group read The Return of the Native. I know that was an assigned book in high school but literally all I remembered was that there was a scene with bonfires. Of course, many of the classics slid right by me when I was 15 or so because I had no personal experience with passion, ambition, or personal tragedy.

[Old Scot]

Robin P wrote: "I believe I read this back in the 1970's ." I think a lot of us are discouraged from reading "the classics" by being forced to read them at school, when we are far too young to appreciate them. That's my opinion, anyway.

[Cosmic]

Looking forward to starting too!

[Cosmic]

Anne wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I believe I read this back in the 1970's ." I think a lot of us are discouraged from reading "the classics" by being forced to read them at school, when we are far too young to appr..."

I agree. I hated reading when i went to school. I was dyslexic. But around my 20's decided that i wanted to be well read..so started reading classics. I think i was fortunate for starting late.

I wonder what we might be like if we had focused more on the fairytales in school rather than jumped ahead? Feel that these tales are underrated.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Cosmic wrote: "Anne wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I believe I read this back in the 1970's ." I think a lot of us are discouraged from reading "the classics" by being forced to read them at school, when we are far too ..."

In the last few decades, American high schools have assigned shorter books and more modern ones, like The Bluest Eye and The Things They Carried. There are undoubtedly some specialized classes for college prep that still read classics, but many students don't take those.

[Frances, Moderator]

I'm so glad so many of you are able to join this read. I'm really looking forward to this.

[Tom]

I will join in, too. Have been looking for a reason to read! I have a digital copy, but it is also on Spotify, so I'll probably mix and match!

[sabagrey]

This will be my third George Eliot novel, after Middlemarch and Felix Holt. I loved Middlemarch, and I loved Felix Holt even more (although or because it is her least famous novel?). So I'm very curious to extend my Eliot bookshelf.

My problem with group reads is that when I like a book, I can't stop myself reading ahead of schedule. When I like a book very much, though, I re-read it slowly and according to plan ... the real problem then is to avoid spoilers. But I promise I will be good ;-)

[Lori, Moderator]

sabagrey wrote: "This will be my third George Eliot novel, after Middlemarch and Felix Holt. I loved Middlemarch, and I loved Felix Holt even more (although or because it is her least famous novel?). So I'm very cu..."

I always read ahead too, so I just keep notes week by week so I remember what happened when.

[LiLi]

@Hedi, Swedish original?

[LiLi]

@Frances, my copy is similar to yours! Comfy and cosy

[sabagrey]

LiLi wrote: "@Hedi, Swedish original?"

I guess Hedi stumbled into the wrong thread ;-)

[LiLi]

Yes, I think she's referring to the Stadserien! Whoops :)

We're happy for you to join us, @Hedi

[Hedi]

No, I did not. I will try to read Daniel Deronda, but will at the same time try to read Gösta Berlin’s saga in Swedish as the other group read. However, I do not think I will be able to keep up with the schedule for both books at the same time, as I will not be able fast reader of the Swedish book and that will take some of my available time for Daniel Deronda. Sorry for not having been clear enough about that.

[LiLi]

I understand how that goes! I read much more slowly in other languages as well.

[Robin P, Moderator]

It's always fine to read more slowly and post on the threads when you get to that section.

[Chad]

I’ve been meaning to read this one. I love Eliot’s novels but have never read this one. I’ll get a late start but will catch up.

[Frances, Moderator]

Welcome Chad-we're just starting the third week so you should be able to catch up quickly.

[Chad]

Thanks Frances! I’m going to get on it this coming week.

[Frances, Moderator]

Please note that I've added an extra chapter (a very short one) to the week of March 3-9 so that we line up with the book divisions.