Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

As you start this classic selection, what are your first thoughts?

My first thought is i need to get used to the writing style, I'm finding that i have to concentrate more than usual haha

I know what you mean - getting started on a classic novel can be tough after reading or while reading contemporary fiction. Sometimes by the end I find the classic style to be a great improvement over the contemporary writing (especially after I get past the phase you are describing, Alex). But, sometimes it remains tough to read and I start to wonder why it was a classic (I seem to remember The Scarlet Letter being like that).

I never finished this book :( uni got a little full on with assignments. I am determined to finish it though, but I am thinking after exams haha

Understandable - it is that time of the year when silly things like end of the school year get in the way ;)

haha middle of the school year for me. We get a few weeks off then I get into second semester! End of the year and I will be finally done with uni. I cannot wait!

That's right - it is winter in Australia. It is finally summer here!

winter in australia is nothing compared to winter there though hahaha no snow for me! I actually have never seen snow. . . maybe something to add to my list haha

I have seen enough snow to last me a thousand lifetimes! :)

hahaha I bet haha

Haha, so I was kind of kicking myself for not reading this book when it was appropriate for the club so I went back and picked it up this month. I'm probably more than half way through. I have to say that this book is boring. It's so boring that it makes it hard to fall asleep reading it, although, my brain really wants to. I don't think I can physically finish this book.

I guess in its time it was more exciting - I feel that a lot with the classics. At some point someone thought they were exciting!

It was definitely ground breaking. I could see the science, the journey, the idea of adventure all being quite amazing. The perils of the travel and the distant countries. That is what keeps me reading. What blocks me up is how wordy it is. It's like the author was getting paid per word. The lights went out and he was scared. That sentence was turned into a whole chapter. And it's also a little disorienting, I didn't think there were multiple paths to go down. I thought they were following just the one, then... there are multiple? In all the over explaining I was slapped by that large detail that was not there until then. (Maybe I dozed off through it, though).

If I take it 30 minute chunks, though. The book is quite good. It's not quite good enough for me to the only book I'm reading, but... in small doses I see the charm of it.

at least you made it half way I couldnt even get that far. It is sad though I really wanted to finish but I don't think Iever will.

I cheated a little bit. I skimmed and skipped a few chapters.