2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This is where we will discuss the book after we start reading it in November.

Please remember to mark spoilers by using spoiler tags: [spoiler]...[/spoiler], but replace [ by < and ] by >

I am through chapter 20 and not hating it (yay). I do feel like there are more words than strictly necessary so it does seem to drag on and on sometimes. I also have a hard time reading the dialects of the Higgins. Usually I can hear what people sound like when the author write out the pronunciation like this but this one isn't resonating with me.

As to the story: (view spoiler)[Margaret's parents are absolutely awful. I don't know how old she is but I assume late teens considering how early women used to marry and she is as yet unwed. Both parents are keeping secrets from each other and using Margaret as their secret keeper. The father telling her that they are moving and giving her the burden to tell her mother. And then the mother sort-of telling her she's dying and not to tell the father. That is WAY too much crap to put on your child, no matter the age.

I like the intellectual political discussions regarding factory strikes and stuff. Some of it gets a bit toooo political for my liking. But I do find strikes more interesting than I used to because I work with coal miners so I hear a lot about them nowadays.

I also appreciate that presumably Mr. Thornton and Margaret are to become romantically involved and I like that they talk as equals and sort of despise each others' views at this point. It's not just a physical attraction, which I didn't expect from a classic romance such as this (though to be fair I don't like or read much romance in the first place). (hide spoiler)]

This is my second time reading this North and South, I read the other too (very recommendable both 😉)
I remember having a hard time with the dialect of the Higgins in my first read too, so this time I chose the Spanish edition in order to the translator did the hard work for me 😅.
I started reading on New Year's Eve and I was so carried away that I've already finished it. I loved it as much as the first time.
(view spoiler)[SarahKat: I totally agree with you about the parents, the mother was an absolute selfish vapid woman and the father, although a bit better person than his wife, was rather selfish too.
Poor Margaret had to change her lifestyle drastically in a short period of time and be the only sensible adult in her home from one day to the next.
(hide spoiler)]

I just finished chapter 8 and find it an easier read (so far) than expected. Thankfully my copy has notes in the back explaining some words or sayings. Figuring out that "hoo" means "she" helped a lot with Higgin's text in chapter 8.

Ilona wrote: "I just finished chapter 8 and find it an easier read (so far) than expected. Thankfully my copy has notes in the back explaining some words or sayings. Figuring out that "hoo" means "she" helped a ..."

Oo! Does it say what "clem" means? I tried to figure it out contextually and I even looked it up (although halfheartedly) and came up with nothing.

SarahKat wrote: "Oo! Does it say what "clem" means? I tried to figure it out contextually and I even looked it up (although halfheartedly) and came up with nothing.

It does! Clemmed means starved with hunger.

This is my first time reading the book- I saw the BBC series on TV first and now the characters are stuck in my mind 🤦🏻‍♀️

SarahKat wrote: "I am through chapter 20 and not hating it (yay). I do feel like there are more words than strictly necessary so it does seem to drag on and on sometimes. I also have a hard time reading the dialect..."

I agree with you on the parents. Spoilers for chapter 25: (view spoiler)[First her father making Margaret tell her mother about him leaving the church, then her mother making her keep her illness a secret and then the letter to Fredrik.
Meanwhile, Margaret clearly does not feel comfortabel telling her parents about some facets of her own life, like the marriage proposals of Lennox and Thornton, or that she was wounded during the strike. (hide spoiler)]

I have just started Chapter 3 and struggling to get into it.... does it get going soon?

Rachael wrote: "I have just started Chapter 3 and struggling to get into it.... does it get going soon?"

It'll never get very fast paced, but chapter 4 has a vital plot point that really starts the story.

I’m on chapter 27 now. I got the audio book because it was free on Audible, and glad I am after seeing your notes about reading the accents in the text!

I do typically love books from this era, but this one does drag on a little bit. I agree with the viewpoints on the parents. What does everyone think of Margaret?

(view spoiler)[While she has some admirable qualities, I do find her a bit frustrating. The whole “how dare he love me” bit is a overdone. It makes you wonder if she has any romantic feeling. Guessing she will based on how these books go, but she sure doesn’t seem interested in men and seems offended at the suggestion that she could be. (hide spoiler)]

I got my book last night and have read the first chapter! Yay! Does anyone else use the Goodreads app on their phone? I can’t view spoilers and I’m afraid to accidentally post spoilers if there is a glitch with the app. Anyone know how to work around that? I’m excited to get into the book.

Jennifer wrote: "I got my book last night and have read the first chapter! Yay! Does anyone else use the Goodreads app on their phone? I can’t view spoilers and I’m afraid to accidentally post spoilers if there is ..."

Unfortunately the app has many flaws, not being able to hide spoilers is one of them. I'd advise you to use the desktop version of the website in a browser on your phone/tablet (the mobile version of the site is also suboptimal).

Finally got to start this properly and I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying it. I think her writing is beautiful and I’m quite gripped by the story.

Only 13% so far, and it feels like the main plot is about to start and I’m excited to see where the story goes. I have actually had this on my kindle for years and years, but was a bit intimidated by it and always chose to read other classics instead. I’m very pleased to read it now :)

On chapter 21 now. I agree with previous members that the Higgins dialect doesn't seem real and there is no "sound to it" in the narrative and the author uses 20 words when 1 would do. Probably mid to late 1800s readers had more time to enjoy books. Those that could read and had access to books.
I'm now into the heart of the story as Margaret begins to understand more of the situation of workers and the conditions, she has been naive up to now. How will she reconcile herself to the social issues and the relationship with John Thornton? Oh! I want to kick the parson in the behind.

I am 11% into the book I believe. I find that when I read classic books, I have to be in a completely different mindset than reading more current books. The pace is always slower and the way they spoke back then was always more wordy and formal. I find them harder to get into because of the slower pace but sometimes worth the push to get to the main plot. I'm not there yet but I'm still pushing.

I'm up to chapter 33, and I'm happy to say I'm really enjoying it! Not counting the aforementioned dialect issue, it's easier to read than I anticipated. Other than Jane Austen, I haven't read much 19th-century literature, and it feels like there's a big difference between Regency and Victorian writing, or at least between Austen and Gaskell. North and South feels so much more modern.

I ended up getting the audiobook from my local library app, Libby and that has helped me a bit. I am reading some, listening some, doing both some 😊. I am on Chapter X I believe and do like the book so far. As others have mentioned, it’s a different pace and the book’s words are so tiny to me. So the audio helps. I like when the characters start talking about the differences between the cities, what people think of tradesmen, etc. the difference in classes is starting to come out. Can’t wait for more. So far I really like Margaret, she seems to have an open mind. Curious what we learn about her.

I'm only 15% into the book and they've just moved to Milton. It's frustrating to read that some parents back then were just like some parents today -- they act like children and expect their children to take on the responsibilities of being an adult! Sad, sad, sad...
Hopefully, things will take a turn for the better, but I'm not expecting it ;-) -- I've read too many of these 19th century dramas LOL

Carol wrote: "I'm only 15% into the book and they've just moved to Milton. It's frustrating to read that some parents back then were just like some parents today -- they act like children and expect their childr..."

Agreed!

Ive started this. Not very far un but unsure how i feel.

I'm up to ch. VII. I find this novel easier to read than George Eliot's Middlemarch but enjoying it. Interesting that Mr. Hale puts the onus on Margaret to inform Mrs. Hale of the family dilemma.

Jordan wrote: "I'm up to ch. VII. I find this novel easier to read than George Eliot's Middlemarch but enjoying it. Interesting that Mr. Hale puts the onus on Margaret to inform Mrs. Hale of the family dilemma."

I thought this too. Like... way to throw your child under the metaphorical bus!

62 % now. It deals with heavier things than expected somehow. Or maybe just the way she writes is more «real» and open than I expected from this era.

(view spoiler)[ Her mum has died now, and I felt the punch of it. I think she writes feelings very well. It’s the part of the book I enjoy the most while the plot about the strike hasn’t been ss interesting to me. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm up to ch. VII. I find this novel easier to read than George Eliot's Middlemarch but enjoying it. Interesting that Mr. Hale puts the onus on Margaret to inform Mrs. Hale of the fa..."

Ugh, I was so mad at that part! Man-child

I'm in Ch XI; Margeret and Mr. Thornton's misjudgment is a little reminiscent of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's prejudiced first impressions of each other.

Who knew they had waterbeds in the 1850’s? Apparently a trough of water covered with rubber then canvas to help prevent bedsores!😳

Sheila wrote: "Who knew they had waterbeds in the 1850’s? Apparently a trough of water covered with rubber then canvas to help prevent bedsores!😳"

I know! I just read that and was like wow!

Halfway through. Yes a definite Pride and Prejudice vibe but the differences between them ideologically are actually very deep and wide so it will take some bridging to bring them together. My favourite character is actually Mrs Thornton as she seems to have the most integrity and strength (even if at times misplaced) especially when compared to Margaret’s parents. I’m worried about Frederick and feel that will not go well.

Sheila wrote: "Who knew they had waterbeds in the 1850’s? Apparently a trough of water covered with rubber then canvas to help prevent bedsores!😳"

I was surprised as well!!

I just finished reading last night.

Is anyone else finding this boring? I'm not usually a classics reader so it's not my genre, but I'm just not finding it interesting. I'm glad I'm listening on audio.

Ashleigh wrote: "Is anyone else finding this boring? I'm not usually a classics reader so it's not my genre, but I'm just not finding it interesting. I'm glad I'm listening on audio."

A bit. I keep wanting to edit it😁

Someone in the thread said you have to approach reading the classics in a particular frame of mind. Life (at least for the part of the population that had time to read novels) was much slower and devoid of all the distractions we have. Also the novel was published in instalments to be read in parts and probably discussed.
That said, if you’re not enjoying it maybe just accept that it’s not for you and move on.

Heidi wrote: "I’m on chapter 27 now. I got the audio book because it was free on Audible, and glad I am after seeing your notes about reading the accents in the text!

I do typically love books from this era, bu..."

I like Margaret's strong character, & agree that a few parts of the story are a bit melodramatic; reminding me a bit of Dicken's Little Nell.

Megan wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "Is anyone else finding this boring? I'm not usually a classics reader so it's not my genre, but I'm just not finding it interesting. I'm glad I'm listening on audio."

A bit. I kee..."

I didn't enjoy this one either. A lot of the other books we've read as a group I've liked, this one not so much. But it's good to get out of my comfort zone and try reading different styles of writing.

Valerie wrote: "Someone in the thread said you have to approach reading the classics in a particular frame of mind. Life (at least for the part of the population that had time to read novels) was much slower and d..."

I enjoy reading books from this era. Although the narrative is quite "flowery" and verbose, I view it similar to how I have to approach reading a fantasy or sci-fi series that takes a bit to setup the "universe"/"world" and get to know the characters.

I finished this book faster than I anticipated, and I enjoyed it more than I expected. I do enjoy a good mid 19th century victorian era novel. What kept me hooked reading this story was how Elizabeth Gaskell was able to keep the juxtaposition of the upper-crust “merchant” class characters connected to, and contrasted alongside, the working-class “laboring” families. I wished there was more development of Fredrick’s character, backstory, and inquiry into the train station incident.

Allie wrote: "I'm up to chapter 33, and I'm happy to say I'm really enjoying it! Not counting the aforementioned dialect issue, it's easier to read than I anticipated. Other than Jane Austen, I haven't read much..."

I found this book to be more "relatable" also.

Finished it. Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I thought the parts that touch on grief and sorrow I thought was really well written, but the ending fell a bit flat unfortunately. Glad to finally have read it!

I agree with you about the ending being falling flat.