The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

August's Moderator's Choice is Wyllard's Weird, a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. I've elected to take 6 weeks for this one, scheduled as follows;

Aug 4-10: Vol 1, Ch 1 to end of Vol 1, Ch 5 (People Will Talk)
Aug 11-17: Vol 1, Ch 6 (A Clerical Warning) to the end of Volume 1
Aug 18-24: Vol II, Ch 1 to end of Vol II, Ch 5 (A Face From The Grave)
Aug 25-31: Vol II, Ch 6 (Struck Down) to the end of Vol II
Sept 1-7: Vol III Ch 1 to end of Vol III, Ch 7 (One Who Must Remember)
Sept 8-14: Vol III, Ch 8 (The Last Link) to the end.

As we will likely be reading from different editions, I hope this will make everything clear.

Thanks! I downloaded the Gutenberg ebook.

I bought an inexpensive ebook version.

This looks good! I just ordered a used print book.

I downloaded the Gutenberg free ebook, thanks!

I'm hoping to join in if time permits. Scribd has few versions that I can chose from.

Glad you can join us, Daniela. Piyangie, I hope you're able to find the time to join us! Lori, Rosemarie, Linda-great to see you all back for the next Moderator's Choice!

I got it on Kindle because I will be traveling a lot.

I’ll be joining with the Gutenberg edition.

Hi Frances! I received my book today, but it does not indicate volumes, only chapters 1-34. I can figure out the reading scheduled based on the chapter names you gave, except could you please tell me the chapter name of either the last chapter in volume II, or the first chapter in volume III? Thank you so much!

I will likely be late in posting for the first week as I head out for vacation this weekend, and I suspect I will not have much time to read as I will be spending it with a couple of other families and lots of kids. :)

D'oh! I thought I'd covered every possible difficulty with the schedule!

Vol II Ch 1 is Leonie's Mission
Vol III Ch 1 is Wedding Garments.

Hope that helps.

Got it. Thank you!

I'm in the second chapter and all I want to do is curl up and finish this whole book (it's that interesting so far!), but I have a tight editing deadline. I hope to at least stay on schedule.

I plan on starting this one on the weekend and hopefully be able to keep to the group's schedule. 🤞

Lori wrote: "I'm in the second chapter and all I want to do is curl up and finish this whole book (it's that interesting so far!), but I have a tight editing deadline. I hope to at least stay on schedule."

Yes, I was surprised how quickly I was swept up-it definitely has a great start!

I'll be joining in. Made few adjustment to my August reading plans so that I could accommodate this book as well. I loved Lady Audley's Secret . Its one of my favourites. I've not read any other books by her yet, so don't want to miss this opportunity.

I know Wyllard's Weird lost in a recent poll and, while I don't remember if this was Gem, Frances' or both's moderator's choice, I've been curious as to why the moderator chose this hidden gem in the first place. I'm not in on this read, but the comments I've read show that readers are really enjoying this book, with 4 and 5 star final ratings.
I am curious because Wyllard's Weird is only the 8th most popular Braddon book on Goodreads with a mere 85 ratings. There are 4 Braddon novels with over 1300 ratings. This is not the natural choice to be the 2nd Braddon group read. So this is truly a 'hidden' gem and I am curious about how it was discovered.

My guess as to why it's not that high on GR is maybe it hasn't been as much reprinted as some of her others.

Brian wrote: "I know Wyllard's Weird lost in a recent poll and, while I don't remember if this was Gem, Frances' or both's moderator's choice, I've been curious as to why the moderator chose this ..."

So I did a little digging around and see that in Aug 2017 Tracey the Bookworm (who I don't think is a member any more-correct me if I'm wrong) suggested this book and it got added to our list. Then in the spring of this year it was one of Deborah's choices for our group read but it lost in the polls. As someone who loves mysteries as well as Victorian lit and things with at least a proto-feminist bent, this book had piqued my interest when Deb proposed it so when my turn for moderator's choice came up I picked it. i hadn't looked into much else that Braddon has written, having only read Lady Audley's Secret previously, but if this was one of her lesser books I'm interested in reading more!

Wow, that is quite an effort. So Tracey the Bookworm first suggested it. While she may no longer participate here (I'd bet she'd return for a Walter Scott read) I do see her 'around' and I'll message and ask her, since I am still curious.
Thanks. Frances!

Frances wrote: "Brian wrote: "I know Wyllard's Weird lost in a recent poll and, while I don't remember if this was Gem, Frances' or both's moderator's choice, I've been curious as to why the moderat..."

I put it on the poll because I’ve always enjoyed Brandon, and hadn’t read it. Some of my favorite works are Victorian sensationalist novels with strong female characters.

Tracey the Bookworm informed me that she tries to be frugal and get books from her local library. She had really liked Lady Audley's Secret and, when she checked her local library, Wyllard's Weird was the other Braddon novel they had. Tracey thought it sounded good, I presume both in title and plot, so she suggested it.
My curiosity is satisfied. It was the other Braddon the library carried, and it sounded good.

Thanks for closing the loop! I realize I don't do much browsing for surprise reads in the library much anymore so it's lovely to have had such a great "find" from a library, even if vicariously.

Even though I didn't read it, I did get to learn that "weird" was used like the word "destiny."