Virago Modern Classics discussion

I suggest that this be a place where you can look for someone to read with. There is an option where we plan a buddy-read for the whole year, but since there has been interest in a more individual approach, here is a new place for it.

When you start reading together, you can open the link in the We are currently reading folder, but in the topic line please indicate that this is an individual buddy-read.

I think this is a good idea Mela, so thank you. For me I think it will work where I want to quickly pick up another book by the same author we have just read or am keen to get on with the next book in a series.

Mentioning a series Mela, do you fancy reading The Diviners the next in our Manawaka reading? I have not got copy so will be reading from the Internet Archive. Maybe the second half of the year?

Sonia wrote: "...Mela, do you fancy reading The Diviners the next in our Manawaka reading? I have not got copy so will be reading from the Internet Archive. Maybe the second half of the year?"

Sure! Which month? I would like to read first A Bird in the House (it isn't part of VMC) so perhaps August or September? Can I put The Diviners on our yearly buddy-read list?

Yes to a Bird in the House. I have a copy, it was the first I came across from Margaret Laurence before I knew anything about her. It is a collection of short stories. I read it way back in the 90s, and apart from remembering I enjoyed them I have no recollection of the stories.

So if we read The Bird in the House in August/September then we can add The Diviners to yearly buddy reads after. We can sneak in our views on The Bird in the House as background to the Virago Diviners. I am interested in how/if the short stories add to the novels.

Yes - I'm agreeing to all of the above also. I love Margaret Laurence - and I am very pleased to see these suggestions. Yes to The Diviners, yes to A Bird in the House - as background to Diviners.

Can I add The Fire-dwellers?

Yes - I'm agreeing to all of the above also. I love Margaret Laurence - and I am very pleased to see these suggestions. Yes to The Diviners, yes to A Bird in the House - as background to Diviners.

Can I add The Fire-dwellers?

Laura wrote: "Yes - I'm agreeing to all of the above also. I love Margaret Laurence - and I am very pleased to see these suggestions. Yes to The Diviners, yes to A Bird in the House - as background to Diviners.
..."

Mela and I read The Fire-Dwellers last year. If you want to read it/reread it add your comments to our thread and we can view them. Mela and I enjoyed The Fire-Dwellers, maybe more than A Jest of God.

So, Sonia, are we picking a month for "The Diviners"? August? September?

I don't see The Fire-Dwellers - in We Have Read Already??

Mela wrote: "So, Sonia, are we picking a month for "The Diviners"? August? September?"

Let's go for August.

Laura wrote: "I don't see The Fire-Dwellers - in We Have Read Already??"

We added our discussion to A Jest of God as we buddy read them back-to- back. If I am looking for something I use the group search box.

Sonia wrote: "Laura wrote: "I don't see The Fire-Dwellers - in We Have Read Already??"

We added our discussion to A Jest of God as we buddy read them back-to- back. If I am looking for something I use the group..."

Hi thanks - I saw - A Jest of God discussion, but didn't know you had added The Fire-Dwellers.

I read a lot of Margaret Laurence when I was a student at Uni of Alberta - back in 1996 - 2000. I've re-read A Jest of God - several times since then. But Fire-Dwellers - no. I'm a big fan of re-reading.

I have not got a hard copy of The Diviners, and will be reading it from the Internet Archive. I be away in August and may not have reliable internet so have started it today. I will pop in with comments in August as and when I can.
Only a few pages in, so no spoilers. We are following Morag and the initial pages are her remembering her childhood. One of her fellow classmates in her first year of school is Stacey Cameron (Fire-Dwellers).

Oh yes - I have my copy. I must have read The Diviners more than 20 years ago - so I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back home in a few days - but I might read The Vet's Daughter first - shorter and then start on Diviners. :)

This is a bit early but I normally like to read a book for Victober. The only Victorian Virago I have is The Semi-Attached Couple, and, The Semi-Detached House. This is two stories in one book. Would anyone fancy reading the first one or both in October? I see that Mela has already read and liked them.
Alternatively does anyone have other suggestions as I could be persuaded.

Sonia wrote: "This is a bit early but I normally like to read a book for Victober. The only Victorian Virago I have is The Semi-Attached Couple, and, The Semi-Detached House. This is two stories i..."

As you said, I read and loved the mentioned books.
I could read in October one of:

Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (656 pages, 1838)
The Rector and The Doctor's Family by Mrs. Oliphant (192 pages, 1861)
Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith (365 pages, 1885)
The Beth Book by Sarah Grand (528 pages, 1897)

Sonia wrote: "This is a bit early but I normally like to read a book for Victober. The only Victorian Virago I have is The Semi-Attached Couple, and, The Semi-Detached House. This is two stories i..."

@Sonia

If you remind me in October and I'm still around on Goodreads I'm happy to do a buddy read of either one.

I just checked my kindle and apparently had bought both (in 2014 !!!!)

Cphe wrote: "Sonia wrote: "This is a bit early but I normally like to read a book for Victober. The only Victorian Virago I have is The Semi-Attached Couple, and, The Semi-Detached House. This is..."

I'll remind you, but no prob if you don't want to. I just want to read more books from my TBR pile.

Mela wrote: "Sonia wrote: "This is a bit early but I normally like to read a book for Victober. The only Victorian Virago I have is The Semi-Attached Couple, and, The Semi-Detached House. This is..."

Deerbrook was the first Virago I bought back in the 80s and started me on my Virago journey. It would be nice to have a reread, I have no recollection what it is about.

@Mela are you still up for reading Deerbrook next month and if so when. No probs if you're not The Semi-Attached/Detached books will occupy a lot of my October.

I have Deerbrook but have quite a few books already earmarked for October but if free would try and join in the discussion.

Sonia wrote: "@Mela are you still up for reading Deerbrook next month and if so when. No probs if you're not The Semi-Attached/Detached books will occupy a lot of my October."

Like Cphe I am rather booked for October (I forgot about Victober), and "Deerbrook" is long, but I will try. Let me know when you start reading - I will add a thread for discussion.

Mela wrote: "Sonia wrote: "@Mela are you still up for reading Deerbrook next month and if so when. No probs if you're not The Semi-Attached/Detached books will occupy a lot of my October."

Like Cphe I am rathe..."

I'm quite happy to postpone it to another month/even year. I could put it forward for a future monthly read.