woodnymph2, I can add to your list a few very good discussions in which I participated since I joined this forum in 2009:

"The Sheltering Sky" - Paul Bowles
"Wolf Hall" - Hilary Mantel
"The Help" - Kathryn Stockett
"Water for Elephants" - Sara Gruen

I am probably forgetting others. I have also read through several discussions that happened before my time. I enjoyed them all, even when I did not especially like the book discussed while I was reading it on my own.

The book discussions are one of my favorite parts of Reader's Paradise, because the posters have REALLY read the books and thoughtfully state what they actually think of them (unlike at some forums I also participate in).

Woodnymph & Lydia -

What do you think we could do -- have a quorum to choose a book to discuss? Some book-discussion sites do this, and it seems to work quite well.

Once it's chosen, we could label a new thread w/ the chosen book's title and keep it "pure". Does that sound like a set-up that could work?

Just found this --
Muriel Spark reading group commencing soon at this Website below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Muriel Spark Reading Group

I would definitely be interested in another book discussion, though I don't have a suggestion for a title just now. Anyone want to toss out a few ideas?

I would be up for a book discussion - I agree; it's been a while...

Let me contemplate some suggestions....

I have recently been having a yen to read some Dickens, and would enjoy discussing my reading. Is anyone else so inclined?

Rosefolly

rosefolly, I have been thinking along the same lines, especially as over here it is all things Dickens in 2012, 200 hundred years since his birth. Lots of TV programmes, adaptations of his works (just seen Great Expectations and Edwin Drood done by the BBC), a set of Royal Mail stamps on their way, museum exhibitions, town walks etc.
A new biography has just come out by Claire Tomalin, to good reviews.

Whatever author/book is chosen, usually as Lauramarie describes, I think we should aim to have a discussion 'leader' who can keep the thread going and/or widen the interest where ever the spirit seems to lead, but, at the very least not let it trail off. In the past this has happened to several discussions as, once the thread has been introduced, the 'leader' disappears into the ether, or worst of all never arrives to take on the job.
I realise sometimes personal circumstances/real life gets in the way of RP but to discuss a book successfully I think we really need to read something we can 'get our teeth into' and be willing to contribute something more than 'It was OK' or 'I didn't care for the main character'.
And that's quite enough from me. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Dickens - Tomalin (interesting video link)

Dickens interests me. I have been trying for years to get motivated to read more of his work but something else always captures my attention.

Dickens sound very good to me. I was going to suggest that we choose something widely available, preferably from a library.

Didn't we discuss A Christmas Carol some years ago? I seem to remember, but I've lost a lot of brain cells since then.

I would recommend Little Dorrit, but maybe we want to try something shorter? Of course, we haven't decided anything yet.

Another advantage is that I believe most if not all of Dicken's work is free on Kindle.

I am up (or down?) for Dickens... I have been looking at "Bleak House" but am open for anything....

Book discusssion always seem to fizzle out as Vee commented.

I recall years ago (don't remember how many!)it was suggested we read & discuss Martin Chuzzlewit. I read it enjoyed it & had my comments - but as I recall no one else read it or commented....anyone around then remember? It was what turned me off agreeing to discuss books!

I did a search but couldn't find it on RP, must have been more than 6 years ago, probably closer to 8 or more- 'cos that is the year I started my Word Book Log & it is not listed on my logs.

Pat

From what I've observed, the best and longest discussions concern choosing the book to discuss. After that decision is made, the discussions vary greatly in content and length.

I've participated in a few that were very useful and informative and may participate in this one, depending on whether the timing works out. I have also been thinking about reading Dickens for quite some time and have collected several of his books in preparation. Bleak House has been first on my list.

Pat, I believe the discussion of Martin Chuzzlewit was the reason I purchased that book but I don't recall ever actually reading it. Maybe it is related to years of school but I frequently have a problem making myself read something that is "required", even if I am the one requiring it to be read. That is the main reason I can't belong to a book club or borrow books from the library.

Edwin Drood will be coming up soon on Masterpiece Theater. It is the one Dickens book I have not read so I was already thinking I need to get it before the showing, but I will happily re-read any Dickens novel.

Have I told you all before that I took a Dickens course in college, and the final exam was to create in outline form a Dickens-type novel and then explain why you did what you did? Everyone in class lay their heads down on their desks and moaned when the professor gave the assignment, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

I have read some of Dickens' better known novels, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and of course his Christmas stories. I would be especially pleased to read any of the others, but wouldn't object to re-reading the ones I already read. The only one I've read at all recently was Great Expectations, a favorite of my husband's that I liked as well.

I just re-read Pat's post. If we decide to select Martin Chuzzlewit as our book, we could be said to be resuming a discussion that was long delayed. Of course, it is quite a long one, but certainly no longer than Kirstin Lavaransdatter, which I remember as one of our best discussions ever.

I actually don't know anything about this particular novel except that Dickens wrote it, but if others would like to read it, it would suit me fine. I find myself eager to make a selection and get started.

I haven't read Dickens since high school, and then it was only A Tale of Two Cities. I most definitely have a gap in my reading education, so I'd be interested in a Dickens discussion, too.

According to this morning's Washington Post, Dickens was born 200 years ago today (February 7). It sounds like he had a very interesting life. I'm going to look for a biography.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Washington Post -- Dickens

Frances, if you follow the link in Vee's post, you will go to a video interview of Claire Tomalin who wrote a new biography of Dickens. I have her biography of Jane Austen on my wish list. If you do read it, I would love to read your comments.

Are we agreed, then, that it is to be Dickens, even if we don't know which novel yet? And does anyone want to suggest titles they have wanted to read? I'm going to suggest another of his books for my book club this year, so I'll be reading two at some point in 2013.

And is there anyone who is interested in taking the lead?

Rosefolly

And on this very topic, has anyone noticed that Google's search page is dedicated to Charles Dickens today?

Thanks, Rosefolly. I had not looked at the video but her biography is the one I'm hopefully going to find at Barnes & Noble today.

At some point in the past I think we had a discussion where those participating read different books on the same subject -- maybe on the Crusades? I don't know how well it would work in this case but maybe we could have a discussion on Dickens and his writing in general rather than specifically one book. I don't mind if you all tell me that it is a lousy idea.

Frances - I don't think that your idea is lousy at all. In fact, it might be a good way to approach the project...

So - options so far:

* The discussion's going to be on something related to Dickens (right?)
* Will it be just one book? If so, which one? And who wants to lead?
* We could do Francis' idea (a multi-faceted project whereby we each read a different book concerning Dickens in some way)?

Any others?

Here is a link that might be useful: List of Dicken's books on-line

Frances, I think that is an excellent idea. Far better to have many people reading something by CD than a few reading one selected title and they drying up/going to ground when the discussion starts.
And as Liz suggest there are so many books about CD from biographies to the 'Dickens in his Times' type, to the recent biography of his artist daughter Katey by Lucinda Hawksley (a Dickens descendant). I'll check out some more and maybe add them to the 'Dickens' thread above.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Katey' by Lucinda Hawksley

I think Frances' idea is an excellent one. Dickens was never my type of author, although I share his birthday. I am more interested in the social and economical mileu in which he created his work, and his exposing the shocking conditions of the poor in the England of his day.

If I had to choose one of his novels, it would be my preference to re-visit "A Tale of Two Cities" which went over my head in high school. However, I would be contented to learn more about his life and bizarre marriage.

The biography by Claire Tomalin, Charles Dickens: A Life, which veer mentioned above, is excellent so far. Biographies, especially those about an historical figure, are my favorite kinds of books unless they are dry. This biography is far from dry and I'm only at the point where he is 22 years old. The maps and "cast list" at the beginning of the book are very helpful and are the reason I purchased the book rather than downloading it to the Kindle.

The book seems to be very well researched and even the footnotes are interesting. As she describes events in Dickens' young life so far, she frequently points out where he used what happened in one of his books later on. One fascinating fact from his childhood is that at the age of 10 or 11 he was already writing character descriptions of older people around him, in spite of only intermittent educational opportunities.

As of now I'm thinking I might read Pickwick Papers, although my mind might change a few times. If we do decide to hold the discussion with each of us reading the book we most want to read, I'm looking forward to hearing about many of his books.

Happy Birthday, woodnymph!

Last night I downloaded Bleak House and am well into it. Dickens could create characters faster and more effortlessly than anyone, methinks.

I think is it wonderful that all his works are available free as ebooks. I am up for whatever we decide on. Reading biographies will really help further the discussion.

Since we are at least considering reading multiple Charles Dickens books, I think I'll stat with Little Dorrit. Over the course of the next twelve months I plan to also read Bleak House and if I don't run out of interest, Hard Times as well. I just put in a request at the library. I could download it, but I thought I'd start with an audiobook. That way I can listen while I sew.

Rosefolly

I have a copy of "Tale of Two Cities" here. I may try to re-read that, if I can't find a copy of one of the biographies Vee mentioned.

So - it sounds like we have decided to go ahead and read our own individual choices for the Dickens Fest?... Do we have a time frame? A leader?

My own vote is that we allow a generous amount of time, since many of these books are quite long. Today is Friday, February 10th. A month from now would be Friday March 9th. Would that suit? Or would people prefer an extra week, say, March 16th?

And is there anyone who would enjoy leading this discussion, someone with a passion for the works of Charles Dickens?

Rosefolly

Because I want to finish the biography and then read one of his books, I vote for March 16.

I'm OK with either March date. Hopefully that will allow me to read more than one selection.

I'm going to be picking up my book from the library today. If I finish it in time, I'll start the biography as well.

R

Did I miss something or has the Dickens discussion fallen through? I checked other threads but I was unable to find a definite plan, so I am posting to this one in hopes that someone will direct me to the right conversation. I am lost.

lydia, I think/hope everyone has been busy reading the Dickens of their choice, or, in the case of some, giving up.

Perhaps I might suggest Rosefolly or Carolyn to lead the discussion as they are both well-read in his works. I know quite a bit about his 'Times' but having only just finished David Copperfield (and enjoying it more than I expected) and previously having read Christmas Carol and a bit of Pickwick I don't feel I would qualify as a leader!

Any starting date would suite me and I wonder if I might suggest anyone wanting to take part (even if it is just with negative comments) would express their willingness on this thread . . . so we know IF it will be worth going ahead.
Is that OK with everyone?

I'm sorry to say I never got started on the Dickens reading, despite my best intentions ... I hope others have done better than I have!

I'm afraid I am with Sheri. I really tried to get into reading Dickens, but it just did not work for me. I, too , had good intentions.

I was about half through the Dickens biography, which I really enjoyed, but then I got caught up in several projects and have not read any book for a couple of weeks. I also tried to listen to Bleak House for the second time but once again found it too difficult and not interesting enough to follow on audiobook. I do intend to get back to the biography, though, because I think his life is more interesting than his books.

I did read The Mystery of Edwin Drood and will (reluctantly) lead a discussion if Rosefolly declines and if there are enough people who want to participate.

Carolyn, I would be delighted if you would lead. I am still have a good 300 pages to go with David Copperfield. It turns out to be over 1000 pages long. My memories of my previous Dickens reading (in the past few years Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol, and very long ago Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities) are not fresh enough for detailed discussion, though I may call upon remembered bits. I do want to participate, but it will be a few days to a week until I am prepared to join in.

Rosefolly

"I think his life is more interesting than his books."
frances, my thoughts exactly!

Okay, I'll do it but very probably not as well as someone else could. Shall we say April 1, or would you prefer it to be later?

Bleak House is taking me a looooong time for a variety of dull reasons so I will be glad to postpone discussion for now.

April 1st suits me as well. And thank you, Carolyn!

Rosefolly

Thank you for taking up the challenge Carolyn. I'm sure you wont do what a frequent 'leader' used to do and start with "So what did you think of . . . . ?" then leave everyone in the lurch. It was the speediest way to pour cold water on the discussion. ;-(
woodnymph, I don't think it matters if you don't enjoy CD's work. These threads are not for gushing about a particular author.

I just finished David Copperfield. I will be mulling over my thoughts in preparation for our discussion.