VICTOBER 2025 discussion

A place to discuss what we're reading for Katie's challenge to read a book from the first and/or last decade of the Victorian era.

I'll probably read The White Company. Interested to explore one of ACD's more obscure works.

My choices for Katie's challenge are The Pickwick Papers which was published in 1837 and I'm also hoping to read Arms and the Man and/or Lady Windermere's Fan which are from the last decade. I figured I might manage one or two plays but not a long novel.

I chose Pickwick because I've set myself a challenge to read all of Dickens' novels in order of publication over the next two or three years.

Arms and the Man is one I've not read before but I've read other Shaw plays and enjoyed them.
I know both The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband quite well but I've never read or seen Lady Windermere's Fan - I'm hoping (and expecting) it will be as good as the others.

Cendaquenta, that’s one of my husbands favorite books! He has a beautiful illustrated edition - I really should read it.

Amelia, Emma from A Bookish Princess made Kim sound like such a wonderful book in several of her videos!

I’ll read Love and Mr Lewisham by H G Wells. As he is known for his works of science fiction I had no idea he had written this sort of book, more romantic and a bit autobiographical. I’m very surprised and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Beatrice-Joanna wrote: "My choices for Katie's challenge are The Pickwick Papers which was published in 1837 and I'm also hoping to read Arms and the Man and/or [book:Lady Windermere's Fan|417..."
I was considering reading the Pickwick Papers myself. Buddy read, maybe?

Whitney - yes, I'm totally up for that :-)

For this, I am reading Zoe by Geraldine Jewsbury (1845) & Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley (1899)

Juliana, I’ll be reading Zoe as well!

For this challenge, I will be reading Dracula by Beam Stoker 1897.

Beatrice-Joanna wrote: "My choices for Katie's challenge are The Pickwick Papers which was published in 1837 and I'm also hoping to read Arms and the Man and/or [book:Lady Windermere's Fan|417..."

Oh, I love Lady Windermere's Fan! It's one of my favourite plays by Oscar Wilde and I can definitely recommend it. :)

I'm going to read another play by him, A Woman of No Importance, and I have really high expectations for it, too. If I have enough time, I'll also read Nicholas Nickleby and try to cover the first 10 yrs, too!

For the moment I am leaning towards Martin Chuzzlewit

Ah, this one is fun. I'm going to read the old curiosity shop by Dickens for the beginning and war of the world's by H.G. Wells for the end. Yes, I'm gonna try to do both.

For Katie's challenge I am going to read The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. It has been on my shelf for a while and I have never read it, soooo....perfect opportunity!

Cheshta wrote: "I'm reading Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte which was first published in 1847."

I really enjoyed reading Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte when I read it this past year!

I'm going to be reading Dracula, which was published in 1897.

Kate wrote: "Juliana, I’ll be reading Zoe as well!"

Great! I think Katie is also going to read it, so this will be almost a readalong :)

first 10 years Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Last 10 years The picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

My choices are Wuthering Heights and Tess of D'Ubervilles.

I'll be reading the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. When I was younger I saw the adaptation and really liked it. So I know the story itself, but I'm excited to see how I like the play.

I am going to be reading "The Invisible Man" by H.G. Wells for this challenge.

I’ll be reading The Pickwick Papers by Dickens for the front end and Kim by Kipling for the back end.

I just randomly found this on my bookshelf from way back when I was in college. It’s going to be my pick for the last decade of the period.

Rainey wrote: " I just randomly found this on my bookshelf from way back when I was in college. It’s going to be my pick for the last decade of the period."

That's one of my picks for Katie's challenge. I was sure my dad had a copy but we couldn't find it so I bought a lovely New Mermaids edition.

I remember seeing a tv production of Arms and the Man years ago with Richard Briers and Alice Krige IIRC but I don't remember much about it at all. I like Shaw though so I'm looking forward to reading it.

Mine are all from the last decade.

Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley
Marcella by Mrs. Humphrey Ward
The Beth Book by Sarah Grand

Today I read the play Arms and the Man by Shaw, which according to the intro pages was first performed in 1894 and published in 1898.

Just finished The Island of Dr. Moreau from the last decade.

I enjoyed it. It was a good, although disturbing, adventure story with lots of thought provoking elements concerning the ethics of science, animal rights, religion, humanity, morality…

I'm currently halfway through The Island of Dr. Moreau which is a heck of a trip so far.

I've also got The Turn of the Screw lined up to read if I find the time. I was initially unsure if I could count it, since James was American, but he moved to Sussex the year he wrote The Turn of the Screw so it counts.

Lauren wrote: "I'm currently halfway through The Island of Dr. Moreau which is a heck of a trip so far.

I've also got The Turn of the Screw lined up to read if I find the time. I was i..."

I originally had The Turn of the Screw on my TBR but I took it off. I replaced it with The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Are you copying me or am I copying you?!

Becky wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I'm currently halfway through The Island of Dr. Moreau which is a heck of a trip so far.

I've also got The Turn of the Screw lined up to read if I find th..."

Great minds think alike I guess!

Finished reading Uncle Vanya.Enjoyed the book.

May read Arms and the Man,not sure though..as I read The Doctor's Dilemma: A Tragedy recently.

Originally I had planned to read Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men on the Brummel" for this challenge.
Then I saw "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells sitting on my bookshelf and decided to read that instead.
I have listened to Orson Wells radio adaptation many times and loved the atmosphere. No wonder people believed it to be true when it was first aired for Halloween in 1938.
Now it is time to read the original.

I finished Dracula yesterday.

Did you like it?
I thought it was Ok.

siriusedward wrote: "Did you like it?
I thought it was Ok."
Yes. Like is a good word. I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it. It was a quick read.

Yea..I liked it too.. not what I was expecting but not bad either.

I just picked up today. My library has the ugliest cover. LOL I'm listening to it, but I wanted to check out the physical copy to read along when I have the chance. My month so far has been all about vampires, since I just finished An Interview with a Vampire.

I am reading Jane Eyre, which I have had for awhile. Now there is no excuse!
I just checked out Lady Windermere's Fan from our library's digital collection.

Just a note to those of you that live in the US: If you have an account with your library, you can check out digital copies of many Victorian novels through your library's digital library and Project Gutenberg. Got to promote the library!

I'm sure many other countries have sources like this as well. Saves buying the book and gives value to your library!

As I’m reading Agnes Grey, I think it just falls into this challenge as well (1847) but I have recently picked up a copy of The Turn of the Screw, so I might choose that as well!

I just started What Maisie Knew for this. Bit iffy since Henry James was American but he did live in the UK for a good portion of his life and "Maisie" is set in England.

I just started “The Statement of Stella Maverly” which is a tale of madness and possession so that sounds appropriate for Halloween. So far I’m getting some “Yellow Wallpaper” type vibes. The author also wrote “Vice Versa,” the Victorian “Freaky Friday” which I didn’t know existed but now must be added to my TBR.

I've just finished my book for this challenge - Helbeck of Bannisdale by Mrs Humphrey Ward.

She was a great storyteller and I loved her exploration of love in the face of differences of religion. The way she resolved the story didn't quite work for me and I think she lost her way, maybe because she set up a problem without a solution, but I liked this more than enough to want to try her other books