VICTOBER 2025 discussion

A place to discuss Lucy's challenge to read a victorian novel by a woman written anonymously or under a male pseudonymn.

I would like to read Middlemarch by George Eliot but...I would need some extra time. So I’ll read another book by her, The lifted veil. I’ve read about it that it’s a masterpiece of suspense.

I'm planning to read Villette and Agnes Grey, either of which will meet this challenge.

I am going to read wuthering heights for this one

I'd like to read Shirley for this one or maybe The Mill on the Floss.

Hi, folks!
For this challenge, I am going to read Moths by Ouida (Maria Louise Ramé, 1880)



:)

I’m going to read George Eliot’s Silas Marner for this challenge. I can’t believe I haven’t ever read this one. Thanks for the reason to finally get to it!

I'm doubling up in this category: Daniel Deronda, and also watching the TV adaptation for the general challenge. I'll find another title and adaptation for the general challenge if I have time, but DD is a long'un!

I’m reading Middlemarch by George Eliot as a read along for a book club. 😊

I am eager to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte for this challenge!

I'm choosing to read a Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott for this one. I've never read anything by her and the summary piqued my interest.

Mike wrote: "I'm choosing to read a Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott for this one. I've never read anything by her and the summary piqued my interest."

But wasn't she American? I thought only British & Irish authors were allowed...

I'm reading Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot for this one.

Damn. You're right. She was listed under Victorian authors somewhere. Looks like I'm gonna find something else for this challenge.

Rachel, I’m also hoping to get to scenes of clerical life via audiobook! I thing will be interesting to read short stories by George Eliot since her novels are quite challenging.

I’m reading Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell for this one - she published it anonymously at first.

ashappyasiget wrote: "Kate wrote: "I’m reading Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell for this one - she published it anonymously at first."

I wonder what pseudonymn she used? Was it Cotton Mather Mills?"

I don't think there was any name attached to it when it was initially published--though it was revealed fairly quickly that Gaskell was the author.

Ashappyasiget, Melissa’s correct - it was published anonymously.

I’m going for Wuthering Heights as not only does it double up for Katie’s challenge but I need to read it for a November book club. T will be a reread but I last read it over ten years ago so I’m looking forward to rediscovering it.

Going to read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (one of my most favorite two books. I would read the other again but it’s not Victorian). Am so excited I cant wait to read it again.

I plan on reading:

A DOG OF FLANDERS BY LOUISA DE LA RAMÊ (ÓUIDA).

I am going to be reading "Silas Marner" by George Eliot for this one.

For this Challenge I will read Shirley by Charlotte Brontë, which she published under the pseudonyme of Currer Bell on 1849!

I'm not quite sure if this qualifies, but Mary Augusta Ward's book Robert Elsmere (1888) was published under the name Mrs. Humphrey Ward.

I'll be reading Middlemarch by Eliot (it'll be the only Victorian I attempt this time because it's 900 pages). I've decided that I'll start with just this one and if I have any more time, I will pick up another book.

I, too, am tackling Middlemarch by George Eliot for this challenge. I found an audiobook to hopefully make it go a bit faster when I can’t actually sit down to read it.

For this I looked through my TBR shelf and found "Cecilia de Noel" by Lanoe Falconer a.k.a. Mary Elizabeth Hawker. I had picked this up a while back when I was looking for Victorian haunted house stories.

I will also be reading Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell for this one.

For this one, I may double dip and use Agnes Gray or I may read Villette. It would be good to read something else by Charlotte Bronte.

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
Scenes from a Clerical Life by George Eliot

I was thinking I would do the Story of an African Farm but forgot Olive Schreiner was South African not British or Irish. Too Bad.

Jill wrote: "I plan on reading:

A DOG OF FLANDERS BY LOUISA DE LA RAMÊ (ÓUIDA)."

So I have now changed my mind. I found a Penguin Little Black Classic on my shelf by Emily Brontë titled The Night is Darkening Round Me that I’ll read. I’m not a fan of any of the Brontes or of ppetry, so this will be our of my comfort zone but that’s why we do read alongs, right?

Jill wrote: "Jill wrote: "I plan on reading:

A DOG OF FLANDERS BY LOUISA DE LA RAMÊ (ÓUIDA)."

So I have now changed my mind. I found a Penguin Little Black Classic on my shelf by Emily Brontë titled The Nigh..."

Lady Susan.

I just finished Middlemarch by George Eliot for this challenge. This is a novel I’ve meant to read for years but was intimidated! I will admit I slogged through it a bit, but I’m the end I really loved it. I love all the characters in their own ways.

Noël wrote: "Lady Susan."

Hm... Jane Austen died in 1817, meaning Lady Susan was written before that, even if it was published in Victorian times (1871 if memory serves). I would not consider it as a Victorian book, but feel free to do as you wish.

ashappyasiget wrote: "I have Shirley by Charlotte Bronte for this challenge. I started the book yesterday and found it difficult to follow through. She has put so many complicated words and so many dialogues in the firs..."

I'm starting Shirley this evening. Read the first two chapter months ago but stopped because it seemed a bit boring compared to the others Charlotte Brontë's books, and I wasn't invested enough in the character or the plot. But after hearing it gets better after 60 pages or so, I can't wait to pick it up again.

Just completed this with The Lifted Veil. Definitely well-written but a bit underwhelming.

Cendaquenta wrote: "Just completed this with The Lifted Veil. Definitely well-written but a bit underwhelming."

That's just how I felt last Victober when I read The Lifted Veil.

ashappyasiget wrote: "Nuria wrote: "I'm starting Shirley this evening. Read the first two chapter months ago but stopped because it seemed a bit boring compared to the others Charlotte Brontë's books, and I wasn't inves..."

You’re welcome! Hard Times is fun to read, though I don’t remember many details, I’ll have to re-read it sometime :)
Shirley do improve a lot in chapters six or seven, when Caroline is introduced.

I've just finished Garthowen A Story of a Welsh Homestead for this challenge and really enjoyed it. It's a fairly short book full of interesting characters, wonderful scenery and a nice story.

A wise woman, a rugged sailor, a sympathetic dog and a cow that likes to be sung to. What more could you want?

I think I found out about it from Katie's channel - so thank you Katie. I will definitely look out for more by Allen Raine.

It's a shame she felt she needed to use a pseudonymn because Anne Adaliza Puddicombe is a fabulous name.

Becky,
I'm really interested in Garthowen from your description (it was the nice dog and the musical cow that really sold it!)
I've put it on my tbr for the future. Thanks.

ashappyasiget wrote: "Planning to read Silas Marner. Is it good?"

I read Silas Marner a couple of years ago. I didn't love it like I love Middlemarch, a bit less nuanced and tart, but it's ten years earlier so less mature as a work. Still worth reading, though, I think!

Currently reading Wuthering Heights for this challenge.

For Lucy's challenge I am reading Silas Marner by George Eliot.
This is my first book by this author and I'm excited.

I just finished Silas Marner by George Eliot. I never have read any of her work (and did not realize she was a woman), and I loved this book!

I may have a new favorite book. Maybe. I just finished reading Agnes Grey.

Currently reading Agnes Grey but in looking at everyone’s comments have picked up a copy of Silas Marner and borrowed a copy of Middlemarch! So many recommendations!!

Just finished Silas Marner.
This was my first George Eliot book but it certainly won't be my last.

Hi, folks! For this challenge, I read the short-story collection "The Virgin of the Seven Daggers", by Vernon Lee (nom de plume of Violet Paget). I reviewed my favourite story in this collection, "A Wicked Voice", on my blog: https://theblankgarden.com/2018/10/25...

I've been reading The Beth Book by Sarah Grand (real name Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke). The way the author follows her character's development is interesting but I'm disappointed that she seems only to care about her - to the detriment of the story - and she will not acknowledge that she has any failings. I'll finish the book, but it's going to take time.