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Oliver Twist
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Dickens Project > Oliver Twist: Reading Schedule

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message 1: by Loretta (last edited Sep 13, 2011 04:34PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Loretta (lorettalucia) Original serialized schedule

Book 1
February 1837 - i-ii
March 1837 - iii-iv
April 1837 - v-vi
May 1837 vii-viii
July 1837 - ix-xi
August 1837 - xii-xiii
September 1837 - xiv-xv
November 1837 - xvi-xvii
December 1837 - xviii-xix
January 1838 - xx-xxii

Book 2
February 1838 - i-iii
March 1838 - iv-v
April 1838 - vi-vii
May 1838 - viii-ix
June 1838 - x-xi
July 1838 - xii-xiv

Book 3
August 1838 - i-ii
October 1838 - iii-iv
November 1838 - v-vi
December 1838 - vii-viii
January 1839 - ix-xi
February 1839 - xii-xiii
March 1839 - xiii (pt.)
April 1839 - xiv-xv

The Readers Review schedule
Book 1
Week of October 2 - Chapters i-iv
Week of October 9 - Chapters v-viii
Week of October 16 - Chapters ix-xiii
Week of October 23 - Chapters xiv-xvii
Week of October 30 - Chapters xviii-xxii

Book 2
Week of November 6 - Chapters i-v
Week of November 13 - Chapters vi-ix
Week of November 20 - Chapters x-xiv

Book 3
Week of November 27 - Chapters i-iv
Week of December 4 - Chapters v-viii
Week of December 11 - Chapters ix-xiii
Week of December 18 - Chapters xiv-xv

Twelve weeks total, and done just before Christmas (useful if you happen to celebrate the holiday), and nice to finish the book up before the new year, so the next Dickens can start in 2012.


Jenny | 57 comments I'm looking forward to the read. I'd like to do two sections per week, especially if each set is 15-20 pages. I really like Pickwick, but think we may have lost some readers because of the slow pace. I know many people are in several groups and so want a lighter schedule. Whatever the group decides, I plan to be part of this read...Thanks for organizing this Loretta.


message 3: by Deborah, Moderator (new) - rated it 4 stars

Deborah (deborahkliegl) | 4617 comments Mod
Have the book ready and waiting. Looking forward to it.


Loretta (lorettalucia) @ Jenny: If a lot of people want to double-up the weekly installments, we can do that. I was thinking that might not be a bad idea myself.


Anne | 95 comments doubling-up sounds good to me


whimsicalmeerkat I like the idea of doubling the pace, but am in either way.


Loretta (lorettalucia) I think that makes sense. Otherwise we'd be spreading a book that tends to be under 500 pages (depending on the edition, and exlcuding endnotes and appendices) over 24 weeks, which doesn't seem quite right.

When I get home this evening, I'll update with page numbers, etc.

Also, does everyone have thoughts for when to start?


Sasha Oh hey, this is happening! Wonderful! I've been planning to read Oliver Twist this fall. I'm in; I also vote for doubling up; I find it hard to get into a book if I read it too slowly.


Kristen | 142 comments I completely agree that doubling up the sections would be preferable. I know I had a hard time maintaining interest for Pickwick because the schedule was so slow. Thanks for organizing this, Loretta. :D


Kristen | 142 comments btw, next week is the last section of Pickwick.


Loretta (lorettalucia) We could start October 2nd? That would give us 2 weeks between the end of PP and this... and I really must finish PP.


whimsicalmeerkat Wasn't this the last week for Pickwick?


Loretta (lorettalucia) LOL... I'm far behind enough that I wouldn't know.


message 14: by Anne (new) - rated it 4 stars

Anne | 95 comments The schedule got off by a week partway through, so next week is the last week. I'll be able to finish Pickwick Papers by early next week, so I'm ready to start Oliver Twist at any time.


Lynnm | 3025 comments I'm looking forward to Oliver - I've got the book and am ready to go!


Kristen | 142 comments Denae wrote: "Wasn't this the last week for Pickwick?"

We discuss ch. 52-57 startin Sunday, Sep. 11


Kristen | 142 comments Loretta wrote: "We could start October 2nd? That would give us 2 weeks between the end of PP and this... and I really must finish PP."

The 2nd sounds good to me. I have a lot going on until next month, so that would be perfect.


message 18: by Robin P, Moderator (new) - rated it 4 stars

Robin P | 2650 comments Mod
I am ok with doubling up, sometimes with Pickwick there wasn't that much to say in a smaller section. And it will still give plenty of time for other reads. I think Oliver Twist is one of the few Dickens I've never read all the way through, but it's so often referred to and I've seen TV or stage versions, so I'm not even sure!
I don't know if page numbers will help, as there are so many different editions. I am reading on my iPad with the app Megareader (1000s of free public domain books) and I have the print adjusted to be large, only a few paragraphs per page. As long as we can go by chapters, that is fine.


Kristen | 142 comments I agree chapters would probably be the best reference point.


message 20: by Loretta (last edited Sep 10, 2011 02:42PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Loretta (lorettalucia) I would be posting chapters, I just usually also include pages as well as a reference point (i.e. so you can say to yourself, oh it's about 30 pages of reading this week).

But if you don't want me to do that in addition, that's fine. It would save me the extra work.


message 21: by Hedi (new) - rated it 4 stars

Hedi | 1079 comments Loretta wrote: "We could start October 2nd? That would give us 2 weeks between the end of PP and this... and I really must finish PP."

This sounds good to me, too, esp. as I still have to finish the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and hopefully get a few hours a week to spare to participate despite my current move to Europe.


message 22: by Sasha (new) - rated it 1 star

Sasha Where in Europe? Cool!


Lauri | 32 comments I am done Pickwick and ready to start Oliver Twist whenever everyone is ready! So excited! I have never read this book before, but of course have seen the movie a zillion times. When I was a kid it always seemed to be on tv at least once a year around Easter (or maybe it was Christmas, I can't remember). I tried to get my children to enjoy the movie as well, but they were terrified of it. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang seemed to have the same effect, the child catcher gave them nightmares for weeks. Were we just a tougher generation? Seems unlikely....


toria (vikz writes) (victoriavikzwrites) so am I and doubling up sounds good.


Loretta (lorettalucia) All: See the original post in this thread for the updated schedule, taking 12 weeks, and ending just before the end of the year.


Zulfiya (ztrotter) | 1591 comments I am going to enjoy it - the last time I read this book was 15 years ago. It is high time I refreshed some of its hidden gems:-)


toria (vikz writes) (victoriavikzwrites) Loretta wrote: "All: See the original post in this thread for the updated schedule, taking 12 weeks, and ending just before the end of the year."

Looking good.


Karen (granuaille) | 22 comments This is great - thanks. Also the 2 Oct start gives me a chance to finish Pickwick as I fell behind during the holiday season.


Lynnm | 3025 comments I like the 10/2 start date as well. Gives me a bit of a break between Pickwick (which I miss!) and Oliver.


Captain Sir Roddy, R.N. (Ret.) (captain_sir_roddy) | 1494 comments Mod
I'm looking forward to reading this again. I remember, as very little boy, seeing a musical production of "Oliver" and just being howled over with the story and the music. I think doubling up will work fine too for a schedule.


message 31: by Hedi (new) - rated it 4 stars

Hedi | 1079 comments Alex wrote: Where in Europe ....

Hi Alex,
Sorry for answering so late, but I haven't had
much of an Internet connection lately. I have been mostly in Germany over the last 4 weeks. However, starting tomorrow I am going to Sweden. So now I am facing all these nice things such as looking for houses and cars and getting used to an absolutely new environment, incl. language and job. That will be exciting!


message 32: by Christina (new)

Christina (christinalc) I am still trying to finish Pickwick, but I hope to join you on "Oliver Twist." It's been ages since I've read it, so I'm anxious to enjoy it again. Hope to join the discussion next week!


Lynnm | 3025 comments We are supposed to be starting OT today, but I don't see a new thread?


Susan Margaret (susanmargaretg) Lynnm, the schedule says the week of October 2nd, so I am thinking the thread will show up tomorrow. I have started reading Oliver Twist and Uncle Silas and I am enjoying them both!


Susan Margaret (susanmargaretg) I better have another cup of coffee. I just realized today is October 2 nd. So yes Lynnm perhaps there should be a new thread today.


Loretta (lorettalucia) It'll be posted. I'll most likely be opening threads in the evenings for the duration, FYI.


Lynnm | 3025 comments Thanks!

@Seeuuder - I'm also enjoying both the books. It's making me a bit crazy that I can't read them as fast as I would like, but it is offset by being able to discuss with everyone.


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