VICTOBER 2025 discussion

A place to discuss what you'll be doing for the general challenge where we read a novel and watch the film adaptation of it.

Thought having specific folders could make it easy for everyone to track down specific books.

I want to read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I read it long long time ago. And I’ll watch some adaptations.

I'll be watching Wives and Daughters because I''ll be participating in the readalong, but I'm sure I'll plan more films/tv series to watch as soon as I decide on my TBR.

I'd forgotten about this challenge when I posted my TBR. This is where Kidnapped will fit and I can watch the 1971 film version with Michael Caine.

A Victorian historical novel about Jacobites and a film with Michael Caine doing a Scottish accent - what's not to love ;-)

I haven't strictly made up my mind yet, but am considering doing Dicken's A Christmas Carol for this challenge. I know most people wouldn't read or watch that until December, but I just go with what I'm feeling at the time. There are tons of screen adaptations to choose from...and all of them are good.

Beatrice-Joanna Michael Caine doing a Scottish accent sounds amazing!

It isn't the best Scottish accent I've ever heard, to be honest, but he is a very good Alan Breck and the film altogether is fab.
The landscape is glorious.

I'm determined to finally get past my persistent failure to get further than 100pp into Daniel Deronda for my women writing under a pseudonym challenge, and there's an adaptation on Netflix I think. If I can get to Christmas having finally read Wives & Daughters and Daniel Deronda, I shall feel that 2018 has not been wasted!

I'm not sure if I want to choose Dickens' Our Mutual Friend or Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Can anyone recommend one book or an adaptation of one of the books over the other? :)

Leena wrote: "I'm not sure if I want to choose Dickens' Our Mutual Friend or Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Can anyone recommend one book or an adaptation of one of the books over the other? :)"

Well, Our Mutual Friend is my favourite book ever! The 1998 adaptation is very good too. I enjoy the Moonstone too, but not nearly as much.

I found all the booktubers last year just in time for Victober so I am thrilled to see everyone posting here as I cannot wait!

Katie wrote: "Leena wrote: "I'm not sure if I want to choose Dickens' Our Mutual Friend or Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Can anyone recommend one book or an adaptation of one of the books over the other? :)"

W..."

Good to see a recommendation for Our Mutual Friend - I ran aground last time I tried to read it, but I'll have another go (at some point). The Moonstone is good, but of Collins's works, I enjoyed TWIW and The Law and The Lady more. (The Law and The Lady isn't one of the big four, but I think it's fascinating)

Anne, I found a really nice copy of The Law and the Lady so that’s good to hear you enjoyed it!

Kate wrote: "Anne, I found a really nice copy of The Law and the Lady so that’s good to hear you enjoyed it!"

I'd really like to know what you think!

Katie wrote: "Leena wrote: "I'm not sure if I want to choose Dickens' Our Mutual Friend or Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Can anyone recommend one book or an adaptation of one of the books over the other? :)"

W..."

Anne wrote: "Katie wrote: "Leena wrote: "I'm not sure if I want to choose Dickens' Our Mutual Friend or Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. Can anyone recommend one book or an adaptation of one of the books over the..."

Thanks Anne and Katie! After your opinions, I'm definitely leaning towards Dickens :)

The Moonstone is a seminal work of detective fiction. The detective is based on Mr. Whicher who was a real detective, and a real case. The Moonstone is eye first novel in which the detective at the country house occured..it launched the genre we all know and love. It us much more significant than Mutual Friend. Which I also loved.

I plan to read and watch The Moonstone.

I figured I had to do something Halloweenish considering it's October, so I'm going to read and watch the picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde for this challenge.

Middlemarch by George Elliot is my choice, suggestions for a screen adaptation are welcome.

Annie wrote: "Middlemarch by George Elliot is my choice, suggestions for a screen adaptation are welcome."

There's a BBC version from 1994? I'm not actually aware of another one, though I'll be interested to see if anyone knows of one!

Anne wrote: "Good to see a recommendation for Our Mutual Friend - I ran aground last time I tried to read it, but I'll have another go (at some point).."

Anne, let me make a suggestion for reading Our Mutual Friend. Katie did a series of videos on each section of the book. The group followed the serial publication order and read one section a month for about 18 months. I discovered the videos after the whole read-along was finished. I followed the publication order, but instead of reading one section a month, I read one section a day. After I finished the section I watched Katie's video covering that section. It was a great way to read the book. Katie gave lots of insights and had great enthusiasm since it's her favorite book. I'm going to read Bleak House this way when her group finishes their Bleak House read-along. Highly recommended.

April wrote: "Anne wrote: "Good to see a recommendation for Our Mutual Friend - I ran aground last time I tried to read it, but I'll have another go (at some point).."

Anne, let me make a suggestion for reading..."

Oh, that sounds brilliant! Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. I will definitely give it a go.

Far from the madding crowd by Thomas Hardy (Carrie Mulligan adaptation)

Marge wrote: "I'm going to try Daniel Deronda, even though George Eliot is not my favorite author. It's a long novel so I probably won't get it finished by October 31 - this time of the year I make Christmas qui..."

I want to tackle DD as well, but I'm hoping I haven't bitten off more than I can chew! I've always run out of steam somewhere around page 150 to date, but I'm hoping that Victober will give me the impetus to finally get through it.

Jane Eyre fits all of the challenges this year, doesn't it?

Heather wrote: "Jane Eyre fits all of the challenges this year, doesn't it?"

It absolutely does :)

For this challenge I'd like to read Alice's Adventures by Lewis Carroll. This is a re-read for me, but I have the Annotated Alice on my shelf and it's been on my to-read-list for a while now. I probably watch the latest adaptation of it, since I've only seen the first part of it.

I am going to read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy. The 2008 mini series can be watched for free on Amazon Prime. I am looking forward to seeing that.

However, if my reading slump continues I am going to double up on this callenge and watch "The Invisible Man." I just bough the 1933 version on DVD.

Katie wrote: "Heather wrote: "Jane Eyre fits all of the challenges this year, doesn't it?"

It absolutely does :)"

This is my plan Heather! One book for all the challenges! Ha ha...I am time poor and have never read Jane Eyre so I figured now was the time.

Pia wrote: "For this challenge I'd like to read Alice's Adventures by Lewis Carroll. This is a re-read for me, but I have the Annotated Alice on my shelf and it's been on my to-read-list for a while now. I pro..."

Pia, I have the Annotated Alice, too, and I'm trying to decide if I want to try to squeeze it in during Victober. So many books, so little time!

April wrote: "Pia wrote: "For this challenge I'd like to read Alice's Adventures by Lewis Carroll. This is a re-read for me, but I have the Annotated Alice on my shelf and it's been on my to-read-list for a whil..."

Hey April, I know what you mean. There is so little time and so many books to read.

For my TBR list for Victober I chose for each challenge one book, except favourite author/pseudonym (I chose "Jane Eyre" for both of them). If I don't find the time to read all of them in October, though I will try, I'm going to extend the reading period and finish the rest afterwards.

I'm curious about the extra informations in "The Annotated Alice", because I've loved this story since I was little. Let me know if you decide to read it :-)

Pia wrote: " Let me know if you decide to read it"

I will make sure to let you know. :0)

OK, here is my chance at overcoming fear of Thomas Hardy. Far from the Madding Crowd with 1967 adaptation. I remember it vividly even though it was many years ago. Fantastic cast—Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Alan Bates. The 2015 version also looks interesting.

Historygirl wrote: "OK, here is my chance at overcoming fear of Thomas Hardy. Far from the Madding Crowd with 1967 adaptation. I remember it vividly even though it was many years ago. Fantastic cast—Julie Christie, Te..."

I'd also recommend the 1998 TV film of Far From the Madding Crowd - that's my favourite adaptation of it.

I thought in the 2015 version Carey Mulligan was strong as Bathsheba as well, but most noticeably Michael Sheen was outstanding as Boldwood. I wasn't sure if he could carry off a fairly patrician part when I saw the casting, but he is such a pitch perfect actor that it didn't matter.

So very excited for this challenge! I am still in the process of finalizing my TBR, but going with Daniel Deronda for the general challenge. I love Eliot and have been meaning to read this for quite a while. Will be watching the 2002 miniseries after, which luckily is included in my prime subscription. Looking forward to everyone’s thoughts! Thanks, ladies for organizing Victober and bringing it over here to GR!

I'm thinking of reading " A Sting of Pearls" which is the basis of "Sweeny Todd." There are a couple of filmed versions, I think, plus a local theater is producing the musical version this October so this seems like perfect timing.

I haven't seen Vanity Fair yet, I've been thinking about it though. A friend said she was really enjoying it.

Wow I watched that movie a long time ago and twice I think. I am excited to see which one I pick. I love P & P and Keira's movie and the BBC mini-series. Both have dashing Darcys!!

I found a version of Middlemarch on Prime. It’s a BBC series, and it says “Season 1”. Does anyone know if there are more seasons or is this just something Prime puts on mini-series?

One of my goals for 2018 was to read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women trilogy. I'd read Little Women before countless times but not Little Men or Jo's Boys. I didn't know how to fit Little Men into Victober, but I knew I wanted to. It turns out there have been a few film adaptations of it. Here's my review of the book. I'll have to make time to watch that adaptation. I read the 1998 adaptation of it KILLS OFF Professor Bhaer! So I don't think I'll be watching that one :)

Becky wrote: "One of my goals for 2018 was to read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women trilogy. I'd read Little Women..."

Louisa May Alcott was American so I don't think the little women series qualifies for Victober, though check with the hosts to be 100% certain

Nada wrote:

Louisa May Alcott was American so I don't think the little women series qu..."

Thanks for letting me know. I've hosted so many Victorian challenges myself and never limited it to just British. It never occurred to me that others might narrow it down. If it doesn't count officially, I'll still count it unofficially on my own blog.

It may even be a blessing in disguise since the version on YouTube (1940) is HORRIBLE.

Antía wrote: "Hi, has anyone around watched that new tv-series adaptation of "Vanity Fair"? I loved the book years ago and am currently in the mood for re-reading plus watching the tv-show. Opinions are welcome ..."

I haven’t read Vanity Fair yet, so can’t say how faithfull is to the book, but the new tv-series is very enjoyable and beautifuly done.

Rather than watch a movie adaptation of a book I am re-listening to Orson Wells' 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds".
I've listened to it numerous times and loved it.
I did see the movie with Tom Cruise but found it very disappointing.

How cool! That’s a great idea.

I have watched Great Expectations (1946). I didn't like how they changed the ending...but overall I liked it okay. Is there a better adaptation?

Becky wrote: "I have watched Great Expectations (1946). I didn't like how they changed the ending...but overall I liked it okay. Is there a better adaptation?"

That's the one I liked the best. There was also a long BBC series filmed in the 80s, which got a bit ponderous at times, but was still good.

Margaret wrote: "Rather than watch a movie adaptation of a book I am re-listening to Orson Wells' 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds".
I've listened to it numerous times and loved it.
I did see the movie wi..."

Have you ever listened to the concept album by Jeff Wayne? That was massive in the 70s. It's better than the book imo.

I have! Actually we own the LP which I have listened to many times and will be listening to again in the coming days.
I just finished the book and although I liked it I think, like you, I liked the LP even better. Love Richard Burton's voice and the entire atmosphere is amazing.