Public Domain Readers discussion

What books are you reluctant to read because of the size of it, or the author? Are you afraid that you won't understand them? These are the type of books we're looking looking for to read as a group read in a new group read and discussion. We'll read these books at a slower pace, lasting more than one month. Well take as long as we need to finish the books. It will be you and the other members of the group that will decide on the books we'll read, but first we need suggestions of books, authors or series. Please leave your suggestions below. When we get to the final month of a book, I'll put up a poll with a choice of four different books to choose from. The book that get's the most votes will be our next selection.

I will be periodically posting discussion questions in the thread for the book corresponding to around the area that we should be in the book at the time I post them. The length of time that we take to read a book will depend on the size of the book.

So, please post your suggestions below.

What books are you reluctant to read because of the size of it, or the author?

Author(s) for me, Brontë sisters and Charles Dickens.

Are you afraid that you won't understand them?
YES!!

What about you, Lanelle and Tim?

Sawako wrote: "What about you, Lanelle and Tim?"

I,m waiting to start reading The Moonstone until we read it in the group. A couple authors are H. Rider Haggard and Joseph Conrad.

I was also thinking about reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens as a group in December if no one takes offence with it. It is under 100 pages and that way the ones that feels his books are intimidating can say they read a book of his, He is among my favorite authors that are in the Public Domain, but I have read very many of his books, yet.

I've read one book by Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White. And I'd like to read more of his work but as a group read. The Woman in White took me forever to finish it even though I enjoyed it when I reached the second half of the book.

As for Joseph Conrad, I have Heart of Darkness in my TBR list because I read Lord of the Flies during college.

That would be nice! I've already read it but I don't mind re-reading it. I consider that book is one of the least intimidating books by Dickens.

I'm planning on reading The Christmas Hirelings in December. It's on LibriVox.

I can’t say I feel intimidated by a book but have been dragging my feet on starting The Moonstone so maybe I am :)

I've been wanting to read Dracula, but I've been afraid to try it on my own. I'd love to read it as a group.

The only Charles Dickens book I've read is A Christmas Carol. That's a great story. His other works have intimidated me. Maybe because they are so long, often depressing, and with children in danger.

I'd like help reading one the classic gothic stories: The Phantom of the Opera, The Monk, The Mysteries of Udolpho, or The Italian.

Henry James is another author that I feel hesitant to try by myself. And, of course, Nathaniel Hawthorne! His language is so difficult to plow through.

JenniferFour wrote: "I can’t say I feel intimidated by a book but have been dragging my feet on starting The Moonstone so maybe I am :)"

We'll make sure to notify you once we start reading The Moonstone. As we all want to read it as a group read. :D

Lanelle wrote: "I've been wanting to read Dracula, but I've been afraid to try it on my own. I'd love to read it as a group."

I don't think I'll have the courage to read that one. 😖

Lanelle wrote: "The only book of Charles Dickens's I've read is A Christmas Carol."

Same here! But I had to study some of his writing during school and college. Thank God, during school, we studied the simplified version of his books.

Lanelle wrote: "I'd like help reading one the classic gothic stories: The Phantom of the Opera, The Monk, The Mysteries of Udolpho, or The Italian."

I've conflict feelings about The Phantom of the Opera. And I got interested in The Mysteries of Udolpho. Could we read Northanger Abbey first? Someone on Goodreads said "Not at all. Some of the things hinted at in Northanger Abbey actually kept me interested in Udolpho because I really wanted to know what they were talking about in Northanger Abbey. I'd recommend reading Northanger Abbey first, actually.


Lanelle wrote: "Henry James is another author that I feel hesitant to try by myself."

Tell me about him. I had to read The Portrait of a Lady during college and I couldn't continue after chapter 3. I ended up reading the summary.

I have entered all the suggestions so far in a spreadsheet so I can track them and what we will read. I have a good list already Keep them coming!

Lanelle's suggestions make me think of more books, authors and series to add.

The books are: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo,
and, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.

The series are Leatherstocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper in which The Last of the Mohicans is part of and The dArtagnan Romances which The Three is the first book.

The authors are the three I listed above and Willa Cather.

Tim wrote: "The books are: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo,
and, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas."

I started reading The Count of Monte Cristo but couldn't finish it. Hopefully, I will when it's a group read.

Hans of Iceland; Volume 1 by Victor Hugo, is a book that I started reading but haven't finished it yet, its LibriVox audio is astoundingly narrated by Sonia.