19th Century Epic Romances discussion

This discussion will start on December 2014.

hi so the group is reading Wives and Daughters in December? I would like to join in

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell is a novel about a young girl named Molly Gibson, who at the age of 17 gets not only a new step mother but also a very beautiful step sister. The novel follows Molly throughout the next couple of years of her life as she adjusts to the new circumstances of her life, and the many challenges it brings with it.

Molly Gibson is the main character of this novel. This novel takes place in England in the 1800's. When Molly is a small child her mother dies leaving Molly to be raised with her father the town doctor. As Molly gets older her father sees the advantages to Molly having a mother to teach her how to be a young woman and all the things he cannot, so he marries a widow woman with a daughter about Molly's age named Cynthia. Cynthia is beautiful and charming and she and Molly become fast friends. Molly loves Cynthia and would do anything for her, but that love is tested many times.

Before Molly's father marries Clare, Molly becomes friends with a family in the neighborhood named the Hamley's. The Hamley's have two sons, Osborne and Roger. Osborne is everything Molly thinks she can like about a boy and Roger is just the opposite of his brother. Molly and Roger become friends and Roger talks to Molly about books and science and teaches her things she has always wanted to learn. During one visit with the Hamley's, Molly overhears a secret she wishes for years to come that she never knew.

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Great description, Terry! This makes me want to read it more!! I started listening to the Audible version today. I don't have much time to read this huge novel this month, but I thought alternating between listening and reading would be nice. Excited about this discussion.

I am actually watching the BBC 4 part mini series before I start reading this - I usually don't do it that way, but it is kind of fun.

I actually like watching BBC adaptations first. I've done the opposite with Dickens stories, but I like enjoying the film without knowing the plot turns ahead of time. I can then fully engage with the film's unfolding drama. Then the book fills in all the details the film glosses over.

Terry, with a book so large (or any of our books)- have you considered breaking up the discussion into chapter groups of 5 or more? Just a thought, as I have noticed other groups doing so. It seems to lesson the probability of spoilers from others that have read much farther and want to discuss it. I'm not sure if this is something difficult to do, or if anyone else would benefit from it- but I'm interested in hear if it can be helpful to any.

Since there are 60 chapters, we will divide the discussion by 5 weeks and discuss 12 chapters per week. To avoid using spoilers, please don't comment about anything past the chapters we are discussing:
Week of 12/1-6, chapter 1 - 12
Week of 12/7-14, chapter 11-24

Thanks Angela, I think this will be helpful.
I kind of do this anyway with the discussions, I usually try not to talk about the ending of the book until the end of the month.

This is a busy month for me at work and home and I am only on chapter 6, but I am enjoying how easy to read this book is. It is very wordy, though!

I've made to to Chapter 21 while listening to it in Audible- mostly in the car, and a little before bed. Sometimes I follow along with the reading in the book. I bought the Prunella Scales reading and she is very talented! I'm surprised how much emotion she gives the characters. Her inflections and tone are superb. It's making it a memorable book to me. It is very wordy, though! I think listening makes that easier. I'm reading enjoying it, very much! I haven't watched the BBC movie, so everything is a surprise to me so far!

Discussing up to Chapter 6:
I thought Mr. Gibson slightly daft for not thinking of one of his apprentices possibly falling in love with her before now! I adore Molly, and I feel it would be hard for someone not to.
She is a sweet girl. (Sorry, I will have to write more later!)

Mr. Gibson has some odd ideas about raising Molly - he hires a governess, but he's afraid to give her too much education. He has young men living in the house with them, but is shocked and surprised that they would be interested in his 17 years old daughter!

It would be helpful for someone like me, who just joined, to put somewhere what book you are talking about.

Sorry Darlene, welcome to the group! , there is always a nice intro it to that Terry does at the beginning of each month's thread that describes the book we are reading for the month. This month it is Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.

At the end of this month, around the beginning of the last week, we open a nominations thread for January and then a poll in which we vote.

I just finished watching the BBC mini series of "Wives and Daughters" and absolutely loved it! It made me cry at the end and I am sniffling as I am writing this...

Welcome Darlene, I think it depends on the device you use to access Goodreads, but the title, author and month we are discussing the book is always at the top of the page or the first folder that you can click on.

Terry wrote: "I just finished watching the BBC mini series of "Wives and Daughters" and absolutely loved it! It made me cry at the end and I am sniffling as I am writing this..."
It's beautifully done, isn't it? I love the proposal scene! The only thing the ending is missing is a kiss to seal it all.

I totally agree with Darlene. I have been following this group for over a year and always am confused over what book is being discussed.

I only know how this site is viewed by my android phone and on my laptop computer.
If anyone wants to take control and edit this format, feel free!
To be honest, I really don't have the time to figure out how to edit the whole page when it is already visible on both my devices.

Hi Trudy, I know you didn't mean it , but please be aware of spoilers. We are only discussing actual events in the book up to chapter 24 this week. Thanks!

Sorry, I just read my post and didn't mean to come off as harsh, I'm not that computer savy and just have been following the same format that was set up by the previous moderator. Angela has said she will try to make these threads a little more user friendly - thanks Angela!

Terry wrote: "Hi Trudy, I know you didn't mean it , but please be aware of spoilers. We are only discussing actual events in the book up to chapter 24 this week. Thanks!"
Ooops, sorry. I thought I was being vague enough not naming names. And maybe it's best not to bring up the film version ending at all since it's an add-on to the unfinished book.
(I amended my previous post.)

Sorry Terry. Did not mean to upset you, only thought it could be mention in someones message as they start talking about the book. Again sorry. Will keep my opions to myself.

That's ok, Darlene. If you scroll up to the beginning of the thread, you can see the book title. Angela has added more topics and headings to make it clearer what we are discussing.

Thanks