Read Runners discussion

Hi friends,
We are starting this book. The plan is to read it leisurely and discuss thoroughly in the month of August. And if needed it spills over to September.
As of now, only Shilpa, Rebecca and myself have pledged for this read. Anyone who is interested, please do join in.
The more, the merrier. :)
ADDED INCENTIVE _ it is free in public domain, and GOODREADS itself offers a free copy to read.

SOME FACTS:
First published - 1848
Length - 535 pages

Blurb:


Gilbert Markham is deeply intrigued by Helen Graham, a beautiful and secretive young widow who has moved into nearby Wildfell Hall with her young son. He is quick to offer Helen his friendship, but when her reclusive behavior becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation, Gilbert begins to wonder whether his trust in her has been misplaced. It is only when she allows Gilbert to read her diary that the truth is revealed and the shocking details of her past.

Note: Editions of The Tenant that start with: "You must go back with me..." are incomplete. Actual opening line of the novel is: "To J. Halford, Esq. Dear Halford, when we were together last..."

The one I downloaded from gutenberg starts with you must go back with me.

Update finished chapter 1. This one is interesting.

Mine starts with "You must go back with me..." too.. where do I get the complete version?

its in public domain. If you message me your id I can email it.

Read some background info. Anne died young of tuberculosis at the age of 29, a few years ago shed worked as a governess, but had bad experience, left the job and started this book, her second and last, as she succumbed the very next year this was published.

the male lead is based on her wayward brother who professed to have seduced the lady if the house where they were tutoring.

Done..and will do! :)

I read this book recently and loved it. Helen, the protagonist is one of my all time favorite character. I will join the discussion whenever you people start.

sure, Varsha:-)

(view spoiler)[Wow! Anne Bronte sure has an opinion on feminism and that too in that era! (hide spoiler)]

Hope to start by tomorrow!! :)

Am at chapter 15. (view spoiler)[ The love stricken hero and the reclusive heroine !!! Curious to know how this will end up.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Oh my!! Gotta catch up!! I read the intro and stuff and have already become a fan of Miss Anne Bronte...
Life has been giving me a hard time.. will get to the book asap! :)

Me too Shilpa. Have the book. But was too busy to read. Last week was my all time low in ploughing the pages. :/

You are tackling a giant called Infinite Jest on the other hand.. so.. can't say anything to you! :P

I am trailing far, far behind at just 5%, i.e., end of chapter 1, where Gilbert watches Helen in the church. Am just getting acquainted with the various characters, minor and major, but it seems like a book which would appeal to me.

Am enjoying the sparring between Helen and Gerald regarding gender discrimination. And tips on how to bring up a son not very helpful as different people have different opinions, almost diametrically opposite. :-P

True Smith. Helen is a super strong women her methods and opinions are a bit shrewd but one cannot say its wrong. Reading about her makes your confidence grow at least for me it did. :)

I am one chapter in and I must say I really like the setting, the characters seem interesting! :)
Really looking forward to where this goes! :D

Am at chapter 5 - conversations, descriptions, old English setting,- am in my element as a reader :)

I have been meaning to read more classics as it's one area that's fairly weak for me. I haven't managed to touch much on them. I'm participating in the Book Riot Read Harder challenge and one of the tasks is a book published before 1850. I'd been planning on reading Anne Bronte in general as I own this and Agnes Grey both. I was really excited to see that this is the classic of the month here though (and it was my deciding factor) since I am a very mood based reader and have a hard time forcing myself for the sake of participating in these things. I figure the chances that what I want to read and what is being discussed actually lining up are slim and I should take advantage of it.

ANYWAY.

I have finished the first two chapters, so I'm a little behind. I am really enjoying this though. The descriptions are lovely and I am intrigued by the characters and the story.

Elizabeth, I too have earmarked this book for the very same challenge. At chapter 16, 25% through.

@Elizabeth: I am just 3 chapters in too.. And I go really slow with classics.. And now it seems I have no time to read.. I'll most probably do a chapter a day..

@Smitha ji: Please hang around for the discussions! :P

This may be too soon..but I can say Anne Bronte is going to be one of my most favorite authors ever!!!

That discussion between Gilbert, his mother and Mrs. Graham totally blew me off..I had to remind myself that this book was written more than 160 years ago..which put me in a further state of awe!

I am reading an e-version and wish like hell that I had a paperback of it.. If not within this read, I am going to buy a copy after that!! This one has to be on my shelf!!!

Shilpa, ditto here. Read on, and there are many things really worth ruminating upon. Am into chapter 17.

I hope everyone likes it as much as i did. :)

How do you like Arthur and his devil may care attitude ?

I am at 50%
can't really hate Arthur as of now. He's just like myriad other human beings. if I were Helen, I would have given him a taste of the same medicine.
let me read further to find out how he turns out to be.

Still not very far in, but these are some pretty feminist ideals being touted early on. I like it. It makes me want to read more.

At 60%, started hating Arthur. Also loving the stern mind and sense of right, which Helen never loses.

@ Elizabeth that is something that surprised me. Such strong feminist feelings in that era. Anne Bronte must have been a real strong and bold person. An unusual personality in those times. .

Rebecca, even Jane Austen was a strong feminist. The feminism of that era was based more on mental strength and endurance, than outright rejection of male domination.
I don't think many ladies of this current era would tolerate husbands such as those, not me for one.

True Smitha regarding the tolerance of wayward husbands. But to realise his faults Helen had to marry him and this is something that is going on even today. Arthur was quite charming in his courting period and you cannot deny that . A young girl of eighteen had no chance against his overflowing charm. I see this happening all around me. Women succumbing to charm and ending up in unsatisfactory marriages. And not everyone has the guts to find means of getting out of it even today. Living in a village in Kerala at least that is the scenario here. So I am surprised that people like Anne Bronte found the courage to voice her opinions in those times .

Rebecca, you are right. No one shows their true colors during courting. Appearance, behaviour, everything is altered to show oneself in the best possible light. Applies to both sexes, though it's women that suffer in many a case.

Almost to the end
(view spoiler)[
Why doesn't Helen consider a chance for happiness when she's offered it? o-O
(hide spoiler)]

Finished.
Didn't relish the last quarter at all... nah nah
Everything was contrived to (view spoiler)[ make the ending a proper one in terms of pairing of all the good people of the story. Can anyone change their nature when about to die? I dont think so. And why is Helen, a mentally strong and relatively intelligent woman, so bound to show that she is pious, godfearing , blah blah.... I hated Helen towards the end when she went back to Arthur.
I didnot like any of her paramours including Gilbert. Were all men of 18th and 19th century pansies or rakes or intellects who were self-centered ? [yes, I find Gilbert pompous and self-centered]. Of the characters, I liked the brother Lawrence, and Esther ( the girl who ends up marrying him ) the best.
(hide spoiler)]

When I had spoken of feminist ideals, I wasn't even just referring to relationships (although what I know of the book still leads me to believe it's true of that as well), but even just in how Helen Graham treats her child. and the people around her. She's a very modern character. Then again, I haven't read a lot of classics, perhaps this is standard fare? It doesn't seem like it to me from what I have read and from the non-fiction works I have read on the time period.

In any case, I have read up to the end of chapter eleven. I have really liked the story so far, but I mostly just want to know more at this point. I do find the writing style to be a bit dry, but that's typical of for me of what I have read of the classics. It's well worth reading through the writing style to appreciate the story unfolding.

I am at 80%. (view spoiler)[ I hate Arthur and would have gladly killed him with my own hands. What a sadist! An insensitive brute! (hide spoiler)]

I finished. To tell the truth not very satisfactory.

Liked it much better than Gatsby, though it was a run of the mill story. And I see that immediately after reading I have given it 4 stars. To be honest if I am asked to rate it now, I would probably be giving it 3 stars.

(view spoiler)[ I liked the initial part where there was a mystery concerning the identity of "Mrs.Graham". Later as her story unfolded I felt anger and resentment against the senior Arthur. His character portrayl I felt was effective. Without one instance of physical violence we feel repulsion and abhorrence towards him. But towards the end I was sick of the despondency and self pity of Gilbert. I am still wondering what was so special in him that made Helen fall for him . (hide spoiler)]