VICTOBER 2025 discussion

A place to discuss your plans and recommendations for Petra's challenge, which is to read a Victorian book and watch a screen adaptation of it

I've picked some pretty obscure books this Victober but there is an adaptation of The Mayor of Casterbridge so I might try to watch that.

Hello,

I want to read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and watch the 2002 screen adaptation.
I am very excited!
I always want to read The Time Machine and now it is the perfect timing ;)

Hi All! I'm going to read James' "The Turn of the Screw," and watch the 1999 film adaptation with Jodhi May and Colin Firth. I love Jodhi May as an actress, and I've never read "The Turn of the Screw," so this is the perfect opportunity!

I have read Elizabeth Gaskell's "Cranford" in January of this year, so I might "complete" this challenge by watching the 2007 BBC mini-series in October.

I am reading and watching Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. I have the novel and a friend has the Carey Mulligan version on DVD.

I’ll probably reread Bram Stoker’s Dracula and watch the movie with Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves.

I just realised that Cranford has a screen adaptation too, so I'll go with that one since I bought it ages ago, but can't seem to find time for it.
The only problem is that the 2007 version seems to be combining three of Gaskell's works (which I didn't read), which... I'm not sure I can pull of reading all three of them in a month. So, I might need to watch the 1972 version. Has any of you some experience with Cranford adaptations?

Hello, I want to read Mansfiel Park by Jane Austen and see the 1999 adaptation, it´s the perfect opportunity to read that book that i have on the shelf and left for later

Christine wrote: "Jassmine, the Cranford adaptation is lovely, definitely worth watching!"

Thank you! I'm considering trying to tackle all of the Cranford stories and both of the adaptations, but we'll see how that goes...

I'm thinking of revisiting What Maisie Knew although James is obviously American, I think it's one of the ones he read while he was living in England, and then watching the film version set in contemporary America.

What Maisie Knew sounds interesting and Henry James is one of the classic writers I have not yet read. I don’t think I’ll get to him soon though.

If I get round to reading ‘Wives and Daughters’, the only Gaskell I haven’t read, and which I managed to pick up a second-hand copy of last week, I might try to get the DVD of the BBC screen version.

I am thinking about reading Middlemarch and watch the BBC adaptation if I can find it online :)

Sarai Estrada - Jane Austen was before the Victorian era.

For Petra's challenge, I plan to read and watch
- David Copperfield 1999 miniseries
- The Pied Piper of Hamelin 1957

I plan to watch, but not read the group read The Mayor of Casterbridge 2003

I also plan to watch The Barretts of Wimpole Street 1934, which is not an adaptation, but a depiction of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning’s love story since I already am reading Love Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett 1845-46 edited by their son Robert Barrett Browning

For a quick read and a satisfying watch I can recommend Oscar Wilde's plays An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest.

The late 90s and early 2000s movies based on Oscar Wilde's works directed by Oliver Parker are fun, accessible and excellently cast.

An Ideal Husband (1999 film) - cast: Cate Blanchett as Lady Gertrude Chiltern, Jeremy Northam as Sir Robert Chiltern, Minnie Driver as Miss Mabel Chiltern, Rupert Everett as Lord Arthur Goring, and Julianne Moore as Mrs. Laura Cheveley.

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film) - cast: Colin Firth as John "Jack" Worthing, Rupert Everett as Algernon "Algy" Moncrieff, Frances O'Connor as Gwendolen Fairfax, Reese Witherspoon as Cecily Cardew, and Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell.

Oliver Parker also directed an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray - Dorian Gray (2009 film) - cast: Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray, Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton, and Ben Chaplin as Basil Hallward. This one is not my cup of tea, but it's atmospheric and you never know, maybe you'll going to like it.

Going to try and get through the entirety of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens~

I am currently reading the Pickwick Papers by Dickens so I would love to watch the Apple TV adaptation!

I will be reading The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde, and I will be reading the play, "The Importance of Being Earnest and watching an adaptation on YouTube.

damn North and South would have been perfect for this! but I read it last year!

The goal is to read David Copperfield and watch the newest adaptation with Dev Patel.

Melissa wrote: "damn North and South would have been perfect for this! but I read it last year!"

Re-reads count!

Just started reading Vanity Fair as my first Victober read. Might find an adaptation of that. Would also love to read/watch adaptations of Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

@Nathan: I didn't read Vanity Fair yet, so I can't judge how accurate the adaptation is, but I really enjoyed the 2018 Vanity Fair.

I recently watched the old 40s film version of Uncle Silas (Sheridan le Fanu), a very gothic story which I enjoyed alot. I'm now going to read the book.

Jassmine wrote: "@Nathan: I didn't read Vanity Fair yet, so I can't judge how accurate the adaptation is, but I really enjoyed the 2018 Vanity Fair."

+1. I've neither read it, nor seen it, but it came up in conversation (we were discussing Jane Eyre) with one of my literature teachers, and she praised it, so I expect it's good.

I took out the 2003 adaptation of The Mayor of Casterbridge with Ciarán Hinds from the library.

I am not sure yet if I will watch Great Expectations or Treasure Island. Maybe both.

Finished Oliver Twist, does anyone have suggestions on a good adaptation? I would like something more true to the novel. Thanks!

Regina wrote: "Finished Oliver Twist, does anyone have suggestions on a good adaptation? I would like something more true to the novel. Thanks!"

This one from 2007-2008 is pretty good as far as I remember: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065309/

In addition to reading Victorian books and watching movies, I am watching documentaries about the Victorian period. The first one I found on youtube called The Many Extraordinary Dangers of Living in the Victorian Era, Hidden Killers, by Timeline World History Documentaries. So far I have learned there was arsenic in the Victorian wallpaper, especially that produced by William Morris. It was also most prevalent in the brilliant green wallpaper so popular in those days. The arsenic was so bad that many became ill and died. When people felt ill they often went to the sea side. It was often said that they felt much better there, when in fact, that was the case because they left their home which was toxic if it had the poisonous wallpaper. I wonder now... if this was the case in story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman. For it could have been in yellow wallpaper and caused or added to her demise. I will watch more of the documentary and others to see what else I have avoided by not living in what seemed like the idyllic Victorian era.

Bonnie wrote: "In addition to reading Victorian books and watching movies, I am watching documentaries about the Victorian period. The first one I found on youtube called The Many Extraordinary Dangers of Living ..."

This seems really interesting, thank you for the recommendation! Also, just what a cool idea...

Last night I finished reading and then watching "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." I very much liked the book, but I am not sure what I think of the adaptation. It was a delightful surprise for me to see Toby Stephens, who played one of my favourite Rochesters 10 years later, in the role of Gilbert Markham. There were changes made to the narrative and things left out, which is to be expected. However, the ending was completely reworked, and I did not like that.

I recently watched the 2015 adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd. I enjoyed it and thought the casting was amazing (Farmer Gabriel 😍), but I did feel the plot was very rushed and we didn't get any of the depth that the novel gives. I know this is to be expected in a film adaptation but I feel like they could have done a lot more with it seeing as the movie was under 2 hours long. I think this would have been amazing as a mini series!

Emily wrote: "I recently watched the 2015 adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd. I enjoyed it and thought the casting was amazing (Farmer Gabriel 😍), but I did feel the plot was very rushed and we didn't get ..."

There is a mini series from 1998, which I really love. In this adaptation you can see that Bathsheba still is very young, which makes her sometimes silly behaviour and foolish decisions quite understandable.
I watched the 2015 adaptation for about two years ago and I didn't enjoy it as much as my daughter had promised me I would. About a year later I read the novel (it was my first Hardy), and I liked it very much. And then I watched the mini series and fell in love with Bathsheba (and with Gabriel Oak, of course).

Gaby wrote: "There is a mini series from 1998, which I really love. In this adaptation you can see that Bathsheba still is very young, which makes her sometimes silly behaviour and foolish decisions quite understandable."

Thank you for the rec, I didn't know this! I enjoyed the 2015 adaptation but this sounds amazing...

For Petra's challenge, I read David Copperfield for the first time! I watched the 3hr 1999 miniseries with Daniel Radcliffe as the young Copperfield and the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith as Betsy Trotwood. (Janet! Donkeys!) Oh, and as I read, I simultaneously listened to the wonderful Richard Armitage Audible audiobook.

Lorri wrote: "For Petra's challenge, I read David Copperfield for the first time! I watched the 3hr 1999 miniseries with Daniel Radcliffe as the young Copperfield and the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith as Betsy Tro..."

Thank you Lorri, I think you just helped me on my crossword puzzle.

Lorri wrote: "For Petra's challenge, I read David Copperfield for the first time! I watched the 3hr 1999 miniseries with Daniel Radcliffe as the young Copperfield and the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith as Betsy Tro..."
Maggie Smith IS Betsy Trotwood--so perfect-!

I read George du Maurier's Trilby and watched the 1931 Hollywood version "Svengali".

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished the Mayor of Casterbridge and watched the adaptation from 2003 with Ciaran Hinds as Henchard. I really enjoyed it. It is quite true to the book.
And I read The Canterville Ghost and watched an adaptation from 1975 with David Niven as ghost. It was great fun!

Ciaran Hinds is such a good actor. I loved him in a version of Persuasion some years ago.

I need to get my act together and watch something for this challenge!

I watched the 1934 version of The Barretts of Wimpole Street after reading Love Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1845-46, vol 1. The movie is based on a play that is based on the letters. The movie condenses the action and dramatizes the oppressive obstacles faced by Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. I plan to read volume 2 next year.

Lorri what a clever idea for this prompt. I watched the fairly recent Armando Iannucci version of David Copperfield. The cast was superb and it is a lovely warm-hearted film. The novel is often darker although it ends happily.

I have just watched the 1994 version of Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native, which I had finished reading earlier today. The book had reminded me of Wuthering Heights, which is not one of my favourite works. The movie is equally melodramatic, especially the music. It also changed some key scenes, which I didn't like. The young Catherine Zeta-Jones was lovely, though, and quite perfect as Eustacia!

I have to admit I pretty much failed this challenge since i didn't enjoy the book I chose, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and so refused to watch the adaptation, and nothing else I read has been filmed. However, by reading the comments I got a lot of ideas for things to watch in future. I love Lorri's idea of The Barretts of Wimpole Street. I've never seen (or read, not a Hardy fan) The Return of the Native, and I didn't know there is a mini series of Far From the Madding Crowd. I did find Bernadette Banner of Youtube which is a wonderful channel full of all things Victorian, so I consider that a success.

Diane wrote: "I have to admit I pretty much failed this challenge since i didn't enjoy the book I chose, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and so refused to watch the adaptation, and nothing else I read has been filmed..."

I see on your list in the Wrap-Up thread you listed Martin Chuzzlewit. There is a BBC TV adaptation of this, should you finish that book. It's fairly good. How did you enjoy the Carlingford Books? Which was your favorite in that series?

Kathy wrote: "Diane wrote: "I have to admit I pretty much failed this challenge since i didn't enjoy the book I chose, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and so refused to watch the adaptation, and nothing els..." I didn't know about that adaptation, Kathy. Thanks for pointing that out. I actually really enjoyed the Carlingford books. They got under my skin, especially The Doctor's Family and Salem Chapel. I was so emotionally involved in those books, my husband kept saying, "You know these people aren't real, right?" It seems like a lot of people have only read Miss Marjoribanks, but the whole series is really great. And I would never have read them if not for Katie from Books and Things getting me involved in Victober. Now I have a dozen authors from that era to binge that I never knew about.

Diane wrote: " I actually really enjoyed the Carlingford books. They got under my skin, especially The Doctor's Family and Salem Chapel. I was so emotionally involved in those books, my husband kept saying, "You know these people aren't real, right?" It seems like a lot of people have only read Miss Marjoribanks, but the whole series is really great. "
We've been doing a very slow group read of the Carlingford books in a little Virago Books group on LibraryThing (that's my main reading/recording place). We just read Miss Marjoribanks in October and will probably wrap up with Phoebe Jr next spring. Miss Marjoribanks is certainly the most complex so far; it kept reminding me of Austen's Emma, but in a darker way. Our group read is so worthwhile because we have a leader who takes us through chapter by chapter, gives us background info on Oliphant, High Church/Low Church, etc., and then we discuss as we go along. I think my 2 favorites from the series so far have been The Doctor's Family and The Perpetual Curate. And we have a standing joke about "carpets"--we've noticed it mentioned in passing in the last 3 books! (i.e., see the second to last paragraph at the end of Miss Marjoribanks).