19th Century Epic Romances discussion

Sorry!! I have been so busy this Fall with work and family obligations and haven't had time to get my home computer fixed.
Please use this thread to post your nominations for next month's book discussion.
I will create a poll on 11/23/14, post the winner of the poll on the group home page on 11/28/14 and will open the discussion on 12/1/14.
I'll also send out a reminder as a group email from my work computer today.

The Mill on the Floss

Stacey just suggested "The Mill on the Floss" by George Elliot - I never heard of it but it sounds good:

"If life had no love in it, what else was there for Maggie?"

Brought up at Dorlcote Mill, Maggie Tulliver worships her brother Tom and is desperate to win the approval of her parents, but her passionate, wayward nature and her fierce intelligence bring her into constant conflict with her family. As she reaches adulthood, the clash between their expectations and her desires is painfully played out as she finds herself torn between her relationships with three very different men: her proud and stubborn brother, a close friend who is also the son of her family's worst enemy, and a charismatic but dangerous suitor. With its poignant portrayal of sibling relationships, The Mill on the Floss is considered George Eliot's most autobiographical novel; it is also one of her most powerful and moving.

(Goodreads summary)

FYI . . .

The Homecoming by Earl Hamner Jr., 125 pp.

When Clay Spencer fails to arrive home at the expected hour on Christmas Eve of 1933, his family grows concerned. While his seven brothers and sisters and his mother keep vigil the older son, Clay-boy, goes in search of his father. But on his journey through the snowbound Virginia hills, the boy experiences a series of hazardous, touching and hilarious adventures. His life is endangered by an enraged deer, the family's honor is threatened by a well-meaning outsider, and unexpected help is provided by the fearsome county sheriff. An encounter with the neighborhood Negro community church teaches Clay-boy a lesson in race relations and, while taking refuge from a snowstorm, he is overwhelmed by the intoxicating hospitality of two elderly genteel lady bootleggers. His life is endangered by an enraged deer, the family's honor is threatened by a well-meaning outsider, and unexpected help is provided by the fearsome county sheriff. An encounter with the neighborhood Negro community church teaches Clay-boy a lesson in race relations and, while taking refuge from a snowstorm, he is overwhelmed by the intoxicating hospitality of two elderly genteel lady bootleggers. Finally, at midnight, when all hope for him has been abandoned, Clay Spencer provides a surprising climax to the story, and in a single moment illuminates the triumph of the human spirit. Rich with life that rings true, filled with nostalgia, laughter and tears, The Homecoming is a warm and wonderful classic of American literature.

The Homecoming: A Christmas Story by Earl Hamner Jr. A behind the scenes look. youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8bd9...

I nominate The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

Glenna wrote: "I nominate The Awakening by Kate Chopin."

I second The Awakening. I just read A Pair Of Silk Stockings, a lovely and simple short story, and really enjoyed Kate Chopin's writing.

Hi Carol,
Wasn't that the pilot for The Waltons tv series?
I watched the movie version of that for years until the old tape player broke and we got a DVD player. That's a great Christmas story. I just put The Homecoming and Spencer's Mountain on my Seasonal To Read list!
However, since The Homecoming was published in 1968, we can't have it as a group discussion here.

Terry wrote: "Hi Carol,
Wasn't that the pilot for The Waltons tv series?
I watched the movie version of that for years until the old tape player broke and we got a DVD player. That's a great Christmas story...."


Hi Terry!
I'm almost finished with Spencer's Mountain, it's my first read. But when Christmas comes, I always watch The Homecoming. I have watched that film from when I was in grade school (many years ago). There are four books by Earl Hamner Jr. -the first two listed, and You Can't Get There from Here and 50 Roads to Town. Forgot that the books-to-read are from the 19th century.

My next read is North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I watched the film on Netflix and it is IMO excellent! So I picked up the book for our trip to Texas.

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth GaskellIt seems like a fun read.

I love Gaskell & I've never read that one.

Hi Carol,
I loved the movie and the book of North and South.
You might want to scroll down on our group discussions from last year to read our conversations about it. I think we read North and South in September 2013.

Hi Carmen, I always wanted to read Wives and Daughters...

Wives and Daughters is delightful. It's long, though.

I would love to read another Bronte. Shirley

Bronte is good, too. Love everything I've read by them. This is going to be a hard choice, I think.

I nominate Thomas Hardy 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. There is a movie coming out about it and I would like to read it before.

Oh, great choice, Allison. It's a wonderful read. Beautiful prose in that book.
But I think the poll for next month is already made. Maybe you could nominate it next time around?

Allison wrote: "I nominate Thomas Hardy 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. There is a movie coming out about it and I would like to read it before."

Hi Allison,
We read "Far From the Madding Crowd" for our May 2014 group discussion. You can scroll down on the group homepage to see the discussion and add to it if you end up reading it soon. I keep the discussion folders open so anybody can respond even after we finish as a group.