Nominations for December Group Read

[Malcolm]

Is that confirmed? I don' t want to fork out on one title if the group are going to read another :o)

[Malcolm]

I wonder how many boxes of mansize tissues I should get in? Several of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories have caused me to shed the odd tear - 'Christmas Storms snd Sunshine' was one of those ironic feelgood tear-jerkers and an extremely funny satire to boot; and 'Libbie Marsh's Three Eras' makes one count one's blessings. My favourite of her short stories tho' is 'The Crooked Branch'. I couldn't help crying during the court case when blind Bessie was forced to testify against her beloved, worthless only child.

[Silver]

It is confimed that North and South is the winner, the poll closed today and that is why it is no longer on display.

[Malcolm]

Thanks Silver, and reading begins 1st December?

[Silver]

Yes, that is correct!

[Linda2]

Malcolm--my supermarket has a special price on triple packs of tissue boxes.

Have never read her. Is she maudlin or melodramatic in the typical Victorian fashion?

[Malcolm]

She's certainly not maudlin. I wouldn't say that she was overly melodramatic neither. She's just an expert and smaking the reader in the eyes and making them cry.

Chapter Three of Cranford is a brilliant example :o)

[Malcolm]

There is so much power in the tragedy of that chapter. It comes as a surprise to the reader and a shock to their system. And Cranford is such a charming and genteel comedy of manners. Mrs Gaskell truly is a genius writer :o)

[Malcolm]

That should read she's an expert AT smaking the reader in the eyes etclol

[Linda2]

actually smacking :D

[Linda2]

Thanks. She's going to be a whole new experience for me.

[Malcolm]

I suppose 'The Moorland Cottage' could be deemed typically Victorian melodrama, and perhaps 'The Doom of the Griffiths'.

But she is an excellent writer and storyteller. Check out the opening chapters of Cranford to see how with Gaskell you can be laughing one moment and reduced to tears the next :o)

[SarahC]

Rochelle, North & South is one novel I really recommend that most readers of classics give a try. And I have a different way of looking at things I guess, because I have not read one Victorian novel this one that I would call typical. Hope you enjoy the read.

[Katie]

I haven't really had time to join in any of the discussions here. I love this one and I would love to read it again (I will have to dig around for it, though - I've had to put most of my books in storage for now). With everything that I know I will have going on in December, I think I will try to make an effort to participate in this discussion (hopefully I will be able to!).

[Amalie]

yah!!! North and South in December :D I'm definately going to join the discussion whenever I can.

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

Malcolm wrote: "I wonder how many boxes of mansize tissues I should get in? Several of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories have caused me to shed the odd tear - 'Christmas Storms snd Sunshine' was one of those ironic fe..."

Now I need to find those short stories, Malcolm. The Crooked Branch sounds like one I want to read (I like a good tear-jerker).

[Malcolm]

Boof wrote: "Malcolm wrote: "I wonder how many boxes of mansize tissues I should get in? Several of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories have caused me to shed the odd tear - 'Christmas Storms snd Sunshine' was one of..."

It's online at the Gaskell page Boof, alternatively it's availiable in print in a Penguin Classics collection of her stories 'Gothic Tales'. :o)

[Malcolm]

Boof wrote: "Malcolm wrote: "I wonder how many boxes of mansize tissues I should get in? Several of Mrs. Gaskell's short stories have caused me to shed the odd tear - 'Christmas Storms snd Sunshine' was one of..."

'The Crooked Branch' and 'The Doom of The Griffith' are in the Gothic Tales collection; 'Christmas Storms and Sunshine' is in the collection 'The Moorland Cottage and other tales'. At present, I forget which collection contains 'Libbie Marsh's Three Eras' but all are availiable online at the Gaskell Page - happy yet tearful reading Boof ;o)

[The Book Whisperer (aka Boof)]

Thanks Malcolm! I have Gothic Tales at home - in fact I've read a few of the stories from it so I will dive back in and look for the others ☺

[LauraT]

I've finished re reading North and South a couple of months ago, so for this time I skipp; but I hope to be one of yours next month!