Anyone interested in a Middlemarch buddy read?

[Janie]

I'd love to read Middlemarch by George Eliot in the near future. Would anyone else like to join? I'd like to read it in April but I can wait until May, too.

[Martha]

I had planned to read it with another group, but couldn't fit it in. Maybe April would work better for me. Were you planning on starting the first or later in the month?

[Marialyce]

I could join in if it were later April or May.

[Denise]

It's on one of my challenges to read this novel this year, but I don't think I could do it until at least May.

[Janie]

I'm pleased to see that a few people are interested! Let's wait until May. Martha, could you read ahead and join the discussions with us later?

[Denise]

Ok, it's my main read for May, then! I keep joining discussion groups just after they've read it, so this will be great.

[Martha]

No, I'll be fine to wait until May. I'm swamped right now so that will help me read some of my smaller books & work on challenges. I'm glad we're going to do this!

[Rebecca]

I started a while back and never finished so I would like too.

[Janie]

Great! Martha, Marialyce, Denise, and Rebecca, let's plan on starting on May 1st.

[Marialyce]

Sounds wonderful, Janie. Thanks!

[Christyb]

I would love to read Middlemarch with the group. Im looking forward to starting it May 1!!

[Rebecca]

Looking forward to this book and discussion.

[Janie]

Christyb wrote: "I would love to read Middlemarch with the group. Im looking forward to starting it May 1!!"

Welcome, Christy!

[[deleted user]]

Count me in too.

[Janie]

Great, Pigletto! :)

[Everyman]

I would probably follow the discussion and maybe inject a comment or two, but I've read the book often enough that I don't want to read it again as a buddy read. For whatever that's worth.

[Cary]

id like to read middlemarch too!

[Jenn]

I'd like to join in too if it's ok.

[Martha]

What a nice big group we're getting!! Should be some interesting discussions!

[Nicole]

Yesssss!

[Janie]

Awesome! This will be fun. :-)

[Kaion]

Haven't posted in this group, since, say... North and South? But if you'll have me, I'm in!

[Janie]

Hey all!

I'm so exciting about our upcoming Middlemarch read. We'd agreed to read in May, but would you all rather the discussion last one or two months?

I have proposed schedules for both. Please voice your preference between the following two plans.

TWO MONTH SCHEDULE

Week 1 (May 1-7): Prelude & Book I
Week 2 (May 8-14): Book II
Week 3 (May 15-21): Book III
Week 4 (May 22-28): Book IV
Week 5 (May 29-June 4): Book V
Week 6 (June 5-11): Book VI
Week 7 (June 12-18): Book VII
Week 8 (June 19-25): Book VIII

ONE MONTH SCHEDULE

Week 1 (May 1-7): Prelude, Book I, Book II
Week 2 (May 8-14): Books III & IV
Week 3 (May 15-21): Books V & VI
Week 4 (May 22-28): Books VII & VIII

*Neither plan ends on the last day of the month. I can tweak that if you'd prefer. Please note that in your comment regarding preference.

Thanks,
Janie

[Denise]

Either is fine with me, so whatever the majority wants.

[[deleted user]]

I don't really mind how long the read will last as long as the topics get posted near the beginning as I'm more likely to start posting if they are there when I'm reading the book rather than if they are posted weeks after I've read that part.

[Denise]

I agree with Pigletto; I prefer the threads to be posted up-front.

[Marialyce]

I agree..I am good with whatever you want. Thanks Janie....I am looking forward to reading this.

[Everyman]

Janie wrote: "Hey all!

I'm so exciting about our upcoming Middlemarch read. We'd agreed to read in May, but would you all rather the discussion last one or two months?"

The Tennyson In Memoriam read is scheduled for June, in case that impacts your decision on a one or two month read for Middlemarch.

[Janie]

Thanks for the feedback. I will post the threads all at once then people may contribute/discuss at their own pace.

[Marialyce]

Sounds great to me. Thanks again for doing the lead on this novel.

[Martha]

Thank you, Janie!

[Rebecca]

This is great Thank you Janie.

[Denise]

I started reading last night. Wow, I hadn't realized that my edition (in a hardcover along with two other Eliot works) has really small type! Plus, it's about 650 pages. And no footnotes to take up some of that space. This will be a challenge, as I'm unfortunately a fairly slow reader!

[Marialyce]

Denise, I know that small print is awful. I am reading it from my iPad because the print is so much better=larger.

[Ace]

I just joined - but would love to reread Middlemarch.

[Marialyce]

.....and we would love to have you join in, Ace! Perfect timing....

[Janie]

Welcome, Ace! I just posted the threads for each section under this group.

[Becky]

It is a long book. I read parts of it in book format, and listened to other sections on audiobook. The audiobook is provided for free at Librivox.org since its all in the public domain. I'm normally a rather slow reader to, so being able to jump between audio and print always helps me. Plus sometimes I just enjoy someone reading to me.

[Janie]

Becky, I love to listen to the audio and read a book when I can, too. Its especially helpful with a long book or a classic that can be more demanding of my brain. I almost always listen to the boko du jour in the car for my commute, but I also listen while I run and sometimes while I'm getting my daughter to sleep. She doesn't mind... lol.

Thanks for the great advice for us.

[Parikhit]

Count me in. A latercomer though. I do hope I am allowed :)

[Marialyce]

Parikhit wrote: "Count me in. A latercomer though. I do hope I am allowed :)"

Absolutely!

[Martha]

Parikhit, I haven't had a chance to start it yet, but hopefully will this weekend.

[Denise]

The more the merrier!!!