The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

Hello! Buddy Read thread for Bleak House. Starting on Monday, January 9.

Excellent! I don’t know how you did that but I am duly impressed. 🤩

I just finished this book for a class, and I am thrilled to see that you'll be discussing it. It was a great book, although it's wordy. You'll all enjoy it!

If you want to join in on the discussion, Denise, please feel free.

My daughter brought my copy to me from the library last night so I’m all set to start tomorrow! Good to hear you enjoyed it Denise, I hope you’ll join in the discussion with us!

That’s great Jess! It must be great to have a librarian in the family.

We haven’t talked about how quickly we want to read this - over 2 weeks, or 4? How long do you think? Or should we each go at our own pace?
There are 67 chapters, all of which seem to be quite short. They are divided into 20 “books”. We could do one book a day, to take almost 3 weeks.
Any suggestions?

Good point! I’m so glad you thought of that because it totally slipped my mind. I think a book a day sounds good! It doesn’t look like any are super long. Looks like most are just a few chapters.

Now I just have to finish Testament of Youth tonight and I will be all set to start tomorrow. 😃

If you need to push our start until later just let me know! I don’t mind pausing until you’re done with your other book.

I just finished Book I. I’ve got to honest, there was so much description of the weather and fog starting out I had serious reservations about continuing but thankfully it got so much better! It went from dreadfully boring to surprisingly funny and interesting and by the end of chapter 4 I didn’t want to stop reading, Im excited to find out what happens to Esther and the cousins!

I have to admit I haven’t started yet. I was trying to find out what exactly a court of Chancery actually is - not very successfully.
Also I tend to be a bit nocturnal and usually read during late evening/night. By tomorrow I will be caught up. Behind after the first day! Sometimes I even amaze myself.

I also got three new books (well, new to me but actually second hand from Abe’s) and I had to leaf through those and enjoy a little. Did I tell you I am a book addict? 🤪

😂🤣😂 As a fellow book addict, I know you had no choice but to check out the new books and hope they all are at least 4 star reads for you! Also, i love Abe books!!

I now have the first book read. It is rather fun, isn’t it? I wonder how these different threads are going to come together?

I forgot to ask you…did you find what a Chancery is? There’s an explanation in the back of my copy I could send you if not. I used to work for attorneys and picked up on the general idea as it explained the courtroom like setting but was still a little confused so the appendix helped.

Just finished Book II. I’m fascinated by these characters. I feel like I’m missing so much information and am anxious to find out. I don’t understand how any of the wards are really related to Mr. Jarndyce or why he has called them all there, although I’m guessing it has something to do with the case.

Thanks Jess, I think I’ve got idea of the Chancery now. My initial search answered me with legal definitions and I have no legal knowledge at all (except “don’t mess with the police”!)
I am just about to start Book 2. I have been thinking about little Peepy all day, bumping down the stairs on his head. He is almost like a cartoon character to me, but kids obviously were a lot tougher in Dickens’ time.
Do you think his name comes from his urination habits (or is that a modern term?), but I sort of imagine him as a little nestling, peeping for attention and food.

Anne wrote: "Do you think his name comes from his urination habits (or is that a modern term?), but I sort of imagine him as a little nestling, peeping for attention and food.."

I took it as him peeping around corners and such, being all over the place. But peeping for food could be a possibility, too.

So many interpretations of one name, all of which seem possible…

Wiglomeration May be one of my new favorite words 😂

Mrs. Pardiggle’s poor sons and husband are in almost as poor a position as Mrs. Jellyby’s family! Yet the Jellyby children were sweet where Pardiggle’s took out their state on poor Edith. Now the Snagsbys. I’m definitely seeing a pattern in the wives…

The man who is rumored to have sold his soul, I know he was mentioned earlier with the old woman from court but I cannot remember what name they gave him then. I don’t think it was Nemo though. Do you? I could look it up but I’m about to go to sleep and don’t have the energy tonight. I’ll look it up tomorrow if you don’t lol

Hey, Jess,
I seem to be reading slower than I expected. I have just finished Chapter 11 and won’t be able to read any more tonight, so I am two chapters behind where I should be. I will try to catch up tomorrow. I hope you are enjoying it. I certainly am. Dickens seems to like to throw in the kitchen sink. There is always something wild happening.

Yes he does! Im also behind. I didn’t get to read at all yesterday but I’m going to try to get book IV done today. Do you wanna adjust our “schedule “? We can do just a chapter or two per day instead.

How about 2 chapters each day?
If you are in Book 4, then I am actually ahead of you. I am in chapter 15 (Bell Yard), and I won’t start the next chapter until tomorrow.

Okay! I’m also in book five now. How’s this for a loose schedule for the week?

Today - Chapters 15 & 16
Jan. 15 - 17 & 18
Jan. 16 - 19 & 20
Jan. 17 - 21 & 22
Jan. 18 - 23 & 24
Jan. 19 - 25 & 26
Jan. 20 - 27 & 28

Sounds good!
But I’m not sure we need to be absolutely in lockstep, as long as we try to avoid spoilers.
For instance, I have just read chapter 16. It seemed very short and now I have the whole evening before me with nothing to read, so I think I will have to go on. I am not one of those people who can read more than one book at a time. I want to be immersed in the book from start to finish. But that’s just me.
So I may be a little ahead by tomorrow morning.

I agree. Don’t want to feel like we have to read exactly the same pace!!

I just finished chapter 16. I keep wondering about Esther’s parents. I don’t know if I believe they’re both deceased. So far, I’ve wondered if her mother was really her godmother or aunt, now I think maybe Lady Dedlock. I’ve also wondered if Mr. Jarndyce is her father but not so much after the exchange between him and Lady Dedlock. What do you think?

Oops!!! I just finished chapter 18, not 16!!!

You speedy thing!
I was wondering if Lady Dedlock was the mother of Nemo, that died, but maybe Esther??? I will read on….
Yes, there was one sentence that made me wonder about Jarndyce as her father. It is all very mysterious.
I am just starting 18 now.

I’ve just finished 20.
Yes, I see what you mean about Esther and Lady Dedlock - they certainly seem like they may be daughter and mother.
Have you ever been to England? I was born and raised there. I only came over here when I was 30. So I am really enjoying Dickens’ descriptions of the countryside - the trees, the flowers, the light on the leaves, the birds. Makes me quite homesick, and it’s only been 40 odd years since I left.

I’ve never been to England. My eldest two daughters (I have six children - 5 girls, 1 boy) have and both love it.

I’ve just finished chapter 22, so will be starting Book 8 tomorrow (later today, actually).
I am very impressed that you ever have time to read a book with all those little bookworms running around.
I see you have been reading about chickens. I love chickens, but I can’t have any here. We live in a condo/apartment so no yard. I used to have some when I was in vet. School.

I just finished chapter 22 and have to admit I’ma little confused lol. Not sure if I’m getting people confused or if there are new characters or what. Poor Jo! I just want to take him in and give him a warm bed to sleep in and lots of soup!!

We can’t have any chickens where we are now but we’re moving in a couple of weeks and will be able to have some there (we’ll have 22 acres and plan on having a small family farm). The kids have already picked out what breeds they want but we’re no where near ready to actually have chickens. Just very excited 😂

I’m very blessed to be able to read so much now. It helps that the little children play so well together! I get to listen to audiobooks and podcasts while they play in the afternoons, and can sneak in some physical books or kindle time if their not paying attention. Sometimes I knit or crochet while I read too but they don’t normally let me do that because then they feel like I’m not paying attention to them. 😂 Once I get them tucked in that’s when I usually get to read physical books and get our school prep done (we homeschool in the mornings). I had to work when the older two were young (sometimes two jobs) so I’m really thankful for getting to enjoy all this time with the younger ones.

He does keep on introducing new people, doesn’t he? I actually printed out a “Character List” from Cliff Notes on line. It was free but, just to warn you, there are a couple of spoilers there, which I am trying to ignore. There may be other lists out there without the spoilers. I got a bit carried away today and just finished chapter 27.

Your farm seems like a great opportunity. It sounds like a perfect place to bring up kids. You seem very fortunate, but I am sure you have had to work very hard for it. Nothing comes easily.

I’ll have to catch up to you tomorrow! I just finished chapter 25. Yesterday was our anniversary and I ended up not reading at all.

I’m going to have to print out one of those lists too! I couldn’t remember who Charley was. I ended up googling her and then felt silly because I had felt so badly for her and her siblings before. It was like she’d just completely disappeared from my mind, poor thing.

Happy Anniversary!

I hope I am not getting too far ahead - I have just finished chapter 31. Now I must go to bed. Good night.

I do enjoy Mr. Snagsby’s repertoire of coughs. He has a cough of “mild persuasion” on p. 507, followed by an “apologetic” one, then one “expressive of not exactly seeing his way out if this conversation” and then a “confirmatory” cough. All in just two pages. 😂

I also love his many coughs. They always are me smile and sometimes laugh out loud! I’m just finishing chapter 31, not sure how much more I’ll read tonight. Probably another chapter at least.

I finished chapter 36 last night. ***Possible spoiler if you’re not there yet….***


Even though I suspected Lady Dedlock was Esther’s mother I still cried during their short “reunion”. Poor Esther, she is so sweet and has gone through so much that could’ve made her hard hearted but she hasn’t let it.

Yes, it was very touching. And nobody is to blame - at least not Lady Dedlock because she thought the baby was dead. Was it her sister who raised Esther? Was Esther’s godmother (who brought her up) Lady Dedlock’s sister then? Or did she pass the baby on to someone else? And we still don’t know the father, although I am assuming it was “Nemo”. Before she married the Lord??
Anyway, I have just finished chapter 37, will probably start 38 tomorrow. I am still enjoying it. Are you?
And we are over half way now! 😃

I just finished chapter 38 and feel like I need to read it again. That whole exchange between Mr. Guppy and Esther has my head spinning lol. I thought they were talking about his proposal then about her parents but then the proposal again? There was so much said without actually saying anything 😂

I have just finished chapter 41. A very interesting turn of events! I won’t say anything else until I am sure you have reached the same point.

I just finished chapter 43. I didn’t want to stop reading but I have to. Eek there’s so much going on! I thought Esther was going to pass out when Sir Dedlock came into the room! I’m glad she confided in Mr. Jarndyce but I can’t wait to see what happens next! Do you think Lady Dedlocks former maid is going to tell all before anyone else? I’m not sure if she really knows about Esther or not but I’m thinking she at least has a suspension. Why else would she have tried so passionately to get Esther to hire her, even volunteer to work for free??

I am at the end of chapter 48. Lots of happenings! I had to stop for a while after 47 because I was very sad, but I couldn’t keep away. No I have to go to bed, but I would much prefer to go on reading.

Hi Jess,
I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I hope you are still reading, but maybe real life is getting in the way. You said you were going to be moving soon and I know from personal experience that can take up every last bit of energy available.
Anyway, I am about to start chapter55, which is p. 839 in my edition - although I may go back and repeat chapter 54, because so much happened there.
Best wishes and happy reading!

Sorry, I’ve been gone a few days but still reading! I just finished chapter 58 and won’t say anything much until I know where you are. So much has happened and I’m so nervous and worried for Esther and the Dedlocks.

I am now starting chapter 58. Thank you for not spoiling anything for me. I am so glad to hear from you. I thought you had dropped by the wayside - as Lady Dedlock may have done!

I have finished 58 but it is too late to go on.

😂🤣😂 It is pretty funny I disappeared and were reading about a character who disappeared now. What do you think happened to her? Do you think she’s just hiding? And where are Richard and Ana in all this? Did I just get so worried about lady Dedlock that my brain ignored info about them lol? Or now that they’re married will we never hear about them anymore? We’re working all the day on the house so we can get moved in tomorrow so I don’t know how much I’ll actually be able to read today but I have so many questions I want answered!!

Well, now we know what happened to Lady Dedlock in chapter 59 - and we got the update on Richard and Ada that we needed in chapter 60. It seems that all the threads are being woven together.
Tonight I finished chapter 64 and would really like to continue, but it is getting late.
I hope your move is going well and you didn’t freeze while moving. I bet the kids are all super excited about the move, whereas you are probably overcome with exhaustion. 🥴