BookCrossing Readalong

Shakespeare Readalong: The Taming of the Shrew

2008-10-12T11:53:00.006-04:00

These are the participants:
Ibis3
istop4books
katrinat
Extreme-Reader
Mahinaarangi

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, October 12, Induction - Act I **active**
- Thread 2, October 19, Act II-Act III **active**
- Thread 3, October 26, Act IV, i - iii
- Thread 4, November 2, Act IV, iv - Act V

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Shakespeare Literature dot com!
- The Taming of the Shrew on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- notes for the play at Spark Notes

The Bible in 90 Days Readalong

2008-08-31T11:42:00.017-04:00

These are the participants:
bsliv1219
playtheman
classicfox
waderwoman
Cee-Blue
Miss-Owl
macewoman
thistle8
denny08
bearyfriend
pitluv4

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
Thread #1 (Week 1), September 1st - September 7th (to Exodus 40:30)
Thread #2 (Week 2), September 8th - September 14th (to Deuteronomy 23:11)
Thread #3 (Week 3), September 15th - September 21st (to 1 Samuel 28:19 )
Thread #4 (Week 4), September 22nd - September 28th
??

And some other useful links:
- different versions and translations of the Bible online and for free at Wikisource
- the Bible article on Wikipedia--lots of info!
- Wikipedia on the book of Genesis
- Wikipedia on Exodus

Summer of Shakespeare Readalong: Cymbeline

2008-08-16T10:08:00.009-04:00

These are the participants:
Ibis3
playtheman
Elddau1
Nell-Lu
countdebeans

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, August 16, Act I-Act II, i **active**
- Thread 2, August 30, Act II, ii-Act III, iv **active**
- Thread 3, September 13, Act III, v-Act IV **active**
- Thread 4, September 27, Act V **active**

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Wikisource!
- Cymbeline on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- notes for the play at Spark Notes

Summer of Shakespeare Readalong: Two Gentlemen of Verona

2008-07-11T22:37:00.009-04:00

These are the participants:
Ibis3
Megi53
playtheman
buffra
Kiri
Mistlerose
Elddau1
NessMonster

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, July 12, Act I *active*
- Thread 2, July 19, Act II *active*
- Thread 3, July 26, Act III-Act IV, i-ii
- Thread 4, August 2, Act IV, iii-Act V

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Wikisource!
- Two Gentlemen of Verona on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- notes for the play at Spark Notes

Wuthering Heights Readalong

2008-06-21T21:09:00.007-04:00

These are the participants:

thistle8
Ladybug768
Genie6999
meexia
Haugtussa
lovestoreadinmo
pashmack
GMadden
suedo
playtheman
bluecat07

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):

Thread 1: Chapters 1-3 (29th June to 5th July 2008)
Thread 2: Chapters 4-9 (6th July to 12th July 2008)
Thread 3: Chapters 10-15 (13th July to 19th July 2008)
Thread 4: Chapters 16-21 (20th July to 26th July 2008)
Thread 5: Chapters 22-27 (27th July to 2nd August 2008)
...rest to be added later.

This readalong is going to be longish, so lets try to keep it alive until the end.

And some other useful links:
- Wuthering Heights on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- a Reader's Guide to Wuthering Heights
- Google map of the probable setting of Wuthering Heights
- SparkNotes
on the book, including chapter synopses and study questions.
- and the book for free online at Wikisource

The Changeling Readalong

2008-03-03T08:38:00.008-05:00

A modern classic with a new introduction by Andrew Marr

Thirteen-year-old Tom Curdie, the product of a Glasgow slum, is on probation for theft. His teachers admit that he is clever, but only one, Charles Forbes, sees an uncanny warmth in his reticence and in his seemingly insolent smile. So he decides to take Tom on holiday with his own family...

This powerful novel explores one of Jenkins's consistent and most fruitful themes - how goodness and innocence is compromised when faced with the pressures of growing up and becoming part of society.

These are the participants:

canongatebooks
Nu-Knees
inkognitoh
swan-scot
KiwiinEngland
Rivercassini
sheepette

The discussion will begin on:
14th March. canongatebooks will post the main thread in the morning.

And some other useful links:
- the BBC page on Robin Jenkins
- Canongate's web page for The Changeling
- buy the book at Amazon UK
- study notes from Monifieth High School - beware of spoilers!

Another Anna Karenina Readalong

2008-01-29T17:54:00.021-05:00

These are the participants:

thistle8 - Texas
londonlife - UK
spaceystacey - New Jersey
ireland424 - Wisconsin
katrinat - UK
LauraLeterboxer - UK
ladybug786 - Oregon
Nu-Knees - UK
elizardbreath - Oregon
cobradawn - California
jennannej - Nebraska
pashmack - Florida
mahinaarangi - New Zealand

bookworm76 - Australia

Week 1 - Part I, Chps. 1-16 (Sunday, Feb. 10) - http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5123857/1

Week 2 - Part I, Chpts. 17-34 (Sunday, Feb. 17) Thread 2
Week 3 - Part II, Chpts. 1-17 (Sunday, Feb. 24) Thread 3
Week 4 - Part II, Chpts. 18-35 (Sunday, Mar. 2) Thread 4

Week 5- Part III, Chpts. 1-16 (Sunday, Mar. 9) http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5211538/1
Week 6 - Part III, Chpts. 17-32 (Sunday, Mar. 16) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5232303/19

Week 7 - Part IV, Chpts. 1-12 (Sunday, March 23) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5251070/1
Week 8 - Part IV, Cpts. 13-23 (Sunday, March 30) http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5270902/1

Week 9 - Part V, Chpts. 1-16 (Sunday, April 6) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5287991/8
Week 10 - Part V, Chpts. 17-33 (Sunday, April 13) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5304564/5

Week 11 - Part VI, Chpts. 1-16 (Sunday, April 20) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5321037/1
Week 12 - Part VI, Chpts. 17-32 (Sunday, April 27) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5342889/1

Week 13 - Part VII, Chpts. 1-12 (Sunday, May 4) http://www.member.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5361822/1
Week 14 - Part VII, Chpts. 13-31 (Sunday, May 11)

Week 15 - Part 8, Chapters 1-19 (Sunday, May 18)

Anna Karenina will take us fifteen (15) weeks to read. The weekly reads are being divided up so that they are manageable and not too overwhelming! Thanks to Nu-Knees for suggesting this schedule. I think its a good one! All of the weekly chats about the book will be posted on a bookcrossing thread under Book Talk. The first thread will begin on Sunday (February 10) and then we can have all week to discuss that thread while we are reading for the next Sunday's thread). If you can't post that Sunday, you can post all of that following week for the assigned section. Anyone can feel free to start the thread --- just put the title in the thread i.e. Anna Karenina readalong, Part I, Chpts. 1-16. And also, please make sure no one else has started the thread. Also, please do not post ahead of schedule so that we can avoid spoilers! I will provide the threads next to the schedule so that you can just link on to them right here!

I am really excited to be reading this along with all of you. I heard it is a wonderful book! Happy Reading!

p.s. this is the first time I've done a readalong so please feel free to suggest anything or things I can do to make it easier!

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Anna Karenina on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- SparkNotes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the ninth: King Lear

2007-10-08T11:09:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Wikisource!
- King Lear on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

SIY (Set It Yourself) Reading Challenge second edition

2007-09-12T18:33:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for the table which is tracking the progress of SIY participants, it has been moved here. Thanks!

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the eighth: Othello

2007-09-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Wikisource!
- Othello on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

Les Misérables Readalong

2007-08-04T16:54:00.024-04:00

These are the participants:
FancyHorse (hostess)
knitwit
Goddess-Of-Fire
motuduo
Ibis3
mrsgaskell
Elphaba71
Nu-Knees
suedo
E-J-V
dryad23
Beachlover2003
Ladybug768
sunnybrook301
NICNIC2
csc23
whitequeen
Ilios
lara-aine
Starfish6188
stinalyn
nawoo82
istop4books
Cee-Blue
charliewendy

And the schedule:
Read any Forward or Introduction before we start (unless you want to wait until you've finished, so as not to encounter any spoilers).

Any participant may start new threads in Bookcrossing's Book Talk forum for each part. Please use this format: "Les Miserables readalong - Book ____(number of book), ____(title of book or books)"

Part I, Fantine

January 7 - Book 1, An Upright Man
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5022539

January 14 - Book 2, The Fall
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5045589/1

January 21 - Books 3-4, The Year 1817 and To Trust Is Sometimes To Surrender
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5066787

January 28 - Books 5-6, The Descent and Javert
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5091175/2

February 3 - Book 7, The Champmathieu Affair
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5112092/14

February 10 - Book 8, Counter-Stroke
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5130085

Part II, Cosette

February 17 - Book 1, Waterloo
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5152779

February 24 - Books 2-3, The Ship Orion and Fulfillment of the Promise Made to the Departed
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5176869

March 2 - Books 4-5, The Old Gorbeau House and A Dark Chase Requires a Silent Hound
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5194994

March 9 - Books 6-7, Petit-Picpus and A Parenthesis
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5216801/1

March 16 (a short section) - Book 8, Cemeteries Take What Is Given Them
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5235476/12

Part III, Marius

March 23 - Books 1 - 2, Paris Atomized and The Grand Bourgeois
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5256837

March 30 - Book 3, The Grandfather and the Grandson
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5273273/1

April 6 - Books 4 - 5, The Friends of the ABC and The Excellence of Misfortune
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5292559

April 13 - Books 6 - 7, The Conjunction of Two Stars and Patron-Minette
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5309953

April 20 - Book 8, The Noxious Poor
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5329892/1

Part IV, Saint-Denis

April 27 - Books 1 - 2, A Few Pages of History and Eponine
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5351009/4

May 4 - Books 3 - 4, The House on the Rue Plumet and Aid From Below or From Above
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5367625

May 11 - Books 5 - 6, An End Unlike the Beginning and Little Gavroche
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5380493/5

May 18* - Books 7 -9, Argot, Enchantments and Desolations, and Where Are They Going?
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5397369/1

May 25* - Books 10 -12, June 5, 1832, The Atom Fraternizes With the Hurricane, and Corinth
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5417699

June 1* - Books 13 -15, Marius Enters the Shadow, The Grandeur of Despair, and The Rue de L'Homme-Arme
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5447785/1

Part V, Jean Valjean

June 8 - Book 1, War Between Four Walls
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5449513/1

June 15 - Books 2 - 3, The Intestine of Leviathan and Mire, But Soul
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5471700/1

June 22* - Books 4 - 6, Javert Off the Track, Grandson and Grandfather, The White Knight
http://bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5484532/1

June 29* - Books 7 - 9, The Last Drop in the Chalice, The Twilight Wane, and Supreme Shadow, Supreme Dawn
http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5502427/1

*Dates with an asterisk indicate three chapters that week!

And some other useful links:
- Les Misérables on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- our novel online and for free at Wikisource:

-Cliff's Notes

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/135
Les Miserables on the Project Gutenberg site

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the seventh: Merry Wives of Windsor

2007-08-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
playtheman
istop4books
motuduo

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
August 3 - Act I - Thread 1
August 10 - Act II - Thread 2
August 17 - Act III - Thread 3,
August 24 - Act IV - Thread 4
August 31 - Act V - Thread 5

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Merry Wives of Windsor on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

Rivercassini's SIY (Set It Yourself) Reading Challenge

2007-07-06T10:37:00.001-04:00

Participant	Goal(s)	Progress
Nu-Knees	75+ Classic pages per week (target for September 30th: p. 330+)	Finished: North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell; Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope; Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë; Total: July: 4 of 4 weeks; August: 5 of 5 weeks; September: 4 of 4 Current Book: The Golden Bowl by Henry James @page 336 of 464 (reported September 29th)
mrsgaskell	7 classic books on 1001 List & TBR (The Grapes of Wrath; Uncle Silas; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Mrs. Dalloway; Castle Rackrent; Our Mutual Friend; The Forsyte Saga	Finished: The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy; Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck; Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote; Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu; Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens; Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth Total: 7 of 7 (reported September 22nd)
dryad23	10 books, 5 of which are on 1001 List (The Picture of Dorian Gray; King Rat; Life of Pi; Flush; Brave New World; Girl With A Pearl Earring; Dracula; Shaman's Crossing; Never Let Me Go; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)	Finished: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde (7/5/07); King Rat - China Mieville; Life of Pi - Yann Martel; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling; Flush - Virginia Woolf; Brave New World - Aldous Huxley; Girl With A Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier; Dracula by Bram Stoker; Shaman's Crossing; Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Total: 1001: 5 of 5; Other: 5 of 5 (reported September 9th)
istop4books	3 months- 12 weeks- 12 books • 3 books for bookclub (Salem Falls; Water for Elephants; Abundance) • 2 Shakespeare Read-a-Longs • 2 books from bookrings (Life and Times of Michael K; 1 other) • 5 books from my TBR including one classic	Finished: The Life and Times of Michael K (7/8/07); Leeway Cottage - Beth Gutcheon; A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini; Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen; Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck; The Trouble with Islam Today - Irshad Manji; Pigs in Heaven - Barbara Kingsolver; The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins; Salem Falls - Jodi Picoult; Merry Wives of Windsor - William Shakespeare; Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund; Othello - William Shakespeare Total: book club: 3 of 3; Shakespeare readalongs: 2 of 2; bookrings: 2 of 2; TBR: 5 of 5 (reported September 23rd)
bluecat07	18 books in 12 weeks, 6 of them must be TBRs registered by me	Finished: The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides (7/4/07); Love your Life! - Werner and Marion Küstenmacher (7/10/07); Der träumende Delphin - Sergio Bambaren (7/11/07); Rund um den Tee - Curt Maronde (7/14/07); So many books, so little time - Sara Nelson (7/15/07); 24 Hours - Greg Iles; Honigfalle - Thea Wolff; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling; Pizza zum Frühstück - Suzy Becker; Das Mädchen im roten Mantel - Roma Ligocka; Tel Aviv liegt am Meer - Raya Harnik; Männer zappen und Frauen wollen immer reden - Allan Pease, Barbara Pease; So viele Bücher - Gabriel Zaid; Der Kronprinz von Mandelstein - Siegfried van den Bergh; Kaddish for a Child not born - Imre Kertész; How Reading Changed My Life - Anna Quindlen; Pompeji - Robert Harris; In a Place of Danger - Paula Fox Total: TBR: 6 of 6; Other: 12 of 12 (reported September 16th)
likestoreadinFL	• 4 books a month • finally finish As I Lay Dying	Finished: The History of the World in 6 Glasses; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Blink; Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know- And Doesn't; As I Lay Dying; The Bookseller of Kabul; Ghengis Khan and The Making of the Modern World; The Memory Keeper's Daughter; Wise Blood; Veil of Roses; The Book Thief; Memoirs of a Geisha; The United States of Wal-Mart Total: July: 4 of 4; August: 4 of 4; September: 4 of 4; As I Lay Dying (reported September 14th)
MollyGrue	• The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin by 15/8 • Mars series - Edgar Rice Burroughs (12 books) by 30/9	Finished: The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin; A Princess of Mars; The Gods of Mars; The Warlord of Mars; Thuvia, Maid of Mars; Chessmen of Mars; A Fighting Man of Mars; Swords of Mars Total: Darwin: 1 of 1; Mars series: 7 of 12 Current Book: (reported September 19th)
knitwit	• 6 books from other Bookcrossers • 3 plays for Shakespeare Readalong • finish The News About the News	Finished: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; The News About the News; Twelfth Night by Shakespeare; The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett; True History of the Kelly Gang; Steppenwolf; The Love of a Good Woman; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Total: Bookcrossers: 6 of 6; Book Club: 1 of 1; Shakespeare: 1 of 3 Current Book: (reported September 18th)
Buffheart	• finish The Great Gatsby • Great Expectations • finish Wasted • 3 BookCrossing books	(reported July 7th)
Ibis3	• finish Physica (6 chaps.) • De caelo (40 chaps.) • De generatione et corruptione (21 chaps.) for a total of 67 chapters of Aristotle	Finished: Physica Total: 29 of 67 chapters Current Book: De caelo @Book II, Chapter 12 (reported September 4th)
Gnoe	2 of the 5 remaining books on the shortlist for the Best Dutch Book to be finished by the end of the year (De ontdekking van de hemel - in August; and one of Het huis van de moskee; Max Havelaar; Publieke werken; Het Bureau)	Finished: De ontdekking van de hemel; Het Bureau - deel 1 Total: 2 of 2 (reported September 13th)
Katethegreyt	12 books from TBR list	(reported July 13th)
Rivercassini	9 books of which • 3 will be for study • 3 will be for pleasure • 3 will relate to William Hazlitt	Current Book: Hazlitt in Love by Jon Cook (reported July 14th)
QueenMrSarah	• finish To Kill a Mockingbird; The Crucible; Tropic of Capricorn; The Amateur Marriage; First to Die; Invisible Monsters; Chart Throb; The Clergyman's Daughter; The Rotters Club • War of the Worlds	(reported July 20th)

Roots Readalong

2007-06-27T11:40:00.001-04:00

These are the participants:
Nyota24 (hostess)
itsmejudy
lovestoreadinmo
Larkonapost
Torchgirl
Sternschnuppe28
nightraine56 (discussions only -- she's already read it!)

And the schedule:
For July: Chapters 1-36
For August: Chapters 37-67
For September: Chapters 68-94
For October: Chapters 95 to the end

And some other useful links:
- Roots on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- a radio interview on NPR with Bill Haley, son of Alex Haley on the occasion of the 30 year anniversary of the novel
- notes on Roots at Answers.com
- TV One is celebrating the 30-year anniversary with the miniseries Roots: The Next Generations

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the sixth: Twelfth Night

2007-06-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
playtheman
Ladybug768

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
July 6 - Act I - Thread 1
July 13 - Act II Thread 2
July 20 - Act III Thread 3,
July 27 - Acts IV & V Thread 4

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Wikisource!
- Twelfth Night on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the fifth: Much Ado About Nothing

2007-05-25T00:35:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
knitwit
istop4books
playtheman

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
June 1 & 8- Acts I & II- Thread 1
June 15- Act III Thread 2
June 22- Act IV Thread 3,
June 29- Act V Thread 4

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Much Ado About Nothing on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the fourth: Richard II

2007-04-21T22:26:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
bluecat07
knitwit
buffra

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, May 5th: Act I
- Thread 2, May 12th: Act II
- Thread 3, May 19th: Act III & IV
- Thread 4, May 26th: Act V

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Richard II on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

My Ántonia Readalong

2007-04-12T10:45:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:

And the schedule

Week of April 2: Introduction
Week of April 9: Book 1 The Shimerdas
Week of April 16: Book 2 The Hired Girls
Weed of April 23: Book 3 Lena Lingard
Week of April 30: Book 4 The Pioneer Woman's Story
Week of May 7: Book 5 Cuzak's Boys

The BookTalk Thread is here.

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg
- My Ántonia on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the third: Titus Andronicus

2007-03-24T12:40:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
playtheman
buffra
istop4books
TheLetterB
justin23
knitwit

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, April 7th: Act I & Act II scenes i-iii ***ACTIVE***
- Thread 2, April 14th: Act II scene iv, & Act III***ACTIVE***
- Thread 3, April 21st: Act IV***ACTIVE***
- Thread 4, April 28th: Act V***ACTIVE***

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Titus Andronicus on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the second: The Comedy of Errors

2007-02-17T18:26:00.000-05:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
playtheman
knitwit
Meirionwen
fsr44
buffra
istop4books
Bug2004

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, Mar. 3, Act I*ACTIVE*
- Thread 2, Mar. 10, Act II *ACTIVE*
- Thread 3, Mar. 17, Act III*ACTIVE*
- Thread 4, Mar. 24, Act IV*ACTIVE*
- Thread 5, Mar. 31, Act V*ACTIVE*

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- The Comedy of Errors on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

12 Months of Shakespeare Readalong, play the first: Richard III

2007-01-19T22:58:00.000-05:00

These are the participants:
LadyKnightNiko (hostess)
Ibis3
playtheman
Beachlover2003
istop4books
knitwit
Molyneux
Meirionwen
fsr44
buffra
mojosmom

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, Feb. 3, Act I, Act II scenes 1 & 2 *active*
- Thread 2, Feb. 10, Act II scenes 3 & 4, Act III scenes 1, 2, & 3 *active*
- Thread 3, Feb. 17, Act III scenes 4-7, Act IV scenes 1 & 2 *active*
- Thread 4, Feb. 21, Act IV scenes 3-5, Act V

Historical Background
When Edward III died, his son Edward the Black Prince had predeceased him. The Black Prince's son, Richard came to the throne as Richard II but he was just a boy of 10, so his uncles John of Gaunt and Thomas, Duke of Gloucester became regents. As Richard matured he became increasingly unpopular because he fostered his own group of friends and councillors and ignored the established nobility, because he sought to make peace with France, and because he was suspected of having a hand in the murder of his uncle Thomas. Eventually, the nobles had had enough and forced Richard to abdicate in favour of his cousin, John of Gaunt's son, Henry Bolingbroke (now Henry IV). However, the legitimate heir to the childless Richard II was in fact Roger Mortimer, the Earl of March who was the grandson of John of Gaunt's elder brother Lionel (Duke of Clarence).

By the time of Henry V's death, the grandson of Roger (son of his daughter Anne Mortimer and Richard, Earl of Cambridge [who was also a cousin of Richard II] ) , Richard Duke of York was ready to make a play for the throne. Henry VI was extremely unpopular for his military losses in France, had bouts of mental illness and had no power to curtail feuds among the nobility. During one of the periods of mental illness, Richard Duke of York was named regent and started to take over, but upon Henry's recovery was forced out of the court by Henry's queen, Margaret of Anjou. Given Henry's weakness, she soon became the de facto leader of the Lancastrian faction. Following a battle and another bout of mental illness for the king, Richard was again appointed Protector. Even after the king's recovery, Richard was kept on the council this time but Margaret eventually forced her husband to send him to a post in Ireland (presumably to protect the claim of her infant son Edward). After several years of intermittent fighting between the two factions, the Yorkists had a decisive win at the battle of Northampton and Henry was taken prisoner. However, the supporters of Richard were not prepared to make him king; instead Parliament declared him Henry's successor, and disinherited the 6 year old prince Edward. Margaret and Edward were exiled from London.

Richard gathered his forces and went north to confront Margaret's army, which outnumbered his two-to-one, at Wakefield. This time Margaret was victorious: Richard was killed, and his seventeen year-old son, Edmund the Earl of Rutland, was captured and beheaded. The eighteen year-old Edward, Earl of March, Richard's eldest son, was now Duke of York and heir to the throne. During another victorious battle for the Lancastrians, Henry VI was recovered. The people of London and the Parliament were afraid of Margaret's looting and ravishing army, and disapproved of the events at Wakefield, and decided to make Edward king, despite Henry's still being alive (the legitimacy of his claim to the throne helped to justify this action, though Edward said he wouldn't have a coronation until Henry and Margaret were executed or exiled). There was another major battle between the two forces at Towton and the Lancastrians were soundly defeated. Henry and Margaret with their son fled to Scotland and the court of James III. A few years later Henry was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Meanwhile all is not well among the Yorkists. Edward has a falling out with his supporter Warwick, primarily over his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville (former maid of Margaret of Anjou and widow of Sir John Grey who died fighting on the Lancastrian side; her two sons from this first marriage are Dorset and Lord Grey in the play). Warwick and Edward's brother George, Duke of Clarence form an alliance and imprison Edward and have Elizabeth's father executed. George's plan to have Edward declared illegitimate so the crown will pass to him is foiled by his other brother Richard, Duke of York and the majority of nobles. Warwick and Clarence flee to France where Warwick and Margaret of Anjou form an alliance. A marriage is arranged between Warwick's daughter, Anne Neville (14 yrs old) and Edward, the former Prince of Wales (now 17 yrs old). Seeing that there is little likelihood now of Warwick supporting his bid for the throne, Clarence reverts back to supporting his brother Edward. Warwick invades England from France and his brother John Neville who has a huge army switches sides to support his brother. King Edward and Richard Duke of York are forced to flee to Burgundy and Henry VI is restored to the throne. With the help of Burgundy, King Edward and Richard invade in their turn and defeat the Lancastrians at the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. Edward, the Lancastrian heir was killed in the battle but Tudor legend says he was murdered by Edward IV. Henry VI was imprisoned in the Tower of London and soon murdered in order to make the throne secure for the house of York. George, the Duke of Clarence (who had married Anne's sister Isabel Neville in 1469) was restored to royal favour for a time.

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Richard III on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- online text of the play with historical notes from the Richard III society
- the Plantagenet family tree from the Royal Family's website (PDF)
- the Wars of the Roses on Wikipedia

12 months of Shakespeare
February- Richard III
March- The Comedy of Errors
April- Titus Andronicus
May- Richard II
June- Much Ado About Nothing
July- Twelfth Night
August- The Merry Wives of Windsor
September- Othello
October- King Lear
November- Antony and Cleopatra
December- The Tempest
January- Henry VIII

The Yearling Readalong

2007-01-14T18:16:00.000-05:00

Welcome the The Yearling readalong! It's an American literature classic and a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Happy reading, and please feel free to join the readalong posts.

These are the participants:

cellomerl
lovestoreadinmo

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, Feb. 1
- Thread 2, Feb 4
- Thread 3, Feb 4
- Thread 4, Feb 5

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg Australia!
- The Yearling on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!

Ulysses Readalong

2007-01-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

I'll post the thread [on the Book Talk Forum] and everyone can comment it when he is over with the reading or ask questions through the reading. I think two weeks time should be suitable but everyone can take his own time. I'll post thread in two weeks' time and make them reachable on my bookshelf and in the blog. The threads will be always reacheable for people posting late or latejoiners.
--Eilan86

These are the participants:
gypsysmom
tom-m
mojosmom
GoryDetails
SirRoy
Rico-Verde
elhamisabel
Gizmopuddy
Lindlec
Cassiopaia
mirp

And the schedule:
(with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
Because this text is difficult, threads will be spaced at two week intervals. People can discuss, comment, or ask questions *while* they are reading each part as well as commenting afterwards.
- Thread 1, Jan. 9th, Telemachus - Stephen Dedalus, Buck Mulligan, and Haines at the Martello tower. [final sentence: "Usurper."] *active*
- Thread 2, Jan. 27th, Nestor - Stephen Dedalus teaching at a boys' school; meeting with the headmaster, Mr Deasy. [final sentence: "On his wise shoulders through the checkerwork of leaves the sun flung spangles, dancing coins."]*active*
- Thread 3, Feb. 10th, Proteus - Stephen Dedalus on the beach. [final sentence: "Moving through the air high spars of a threemaster, her sails brailed up on the crosstrees, homing, upstream, silently moving, a silent ship."]
- Thread 4, Feb. 24th, Calypso - Leopold Bloom gets up, has breakfast, and goes to the outhouse. [final sentence: "Poor Dignam!"]
- Thread 5, Mar. 10th, Lotus Eaters - Leopold Bloom goes to the post office, chemist's, and public bath. [final clause: "[...] and saw the dark tangled curls of his bush floating, floating hair of the stream around the limp father of thousands, a languid floating flower."]
- Thread 6, Mar. 24th, Hades - Leopold Bloom attends a funeral. [final sentence: "How grand we are this morning."]
- Thread 7, Apr. 7th, Aeolus - Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus (separately) at the newspaper office. [final sentence: "Tickled the old ones too, Myles Crawford said, if the God Almighty's truth was known."]
- Thread 8, Apr. 21st, Lestrygonians - Leopold Bloom has lunch at a pub. [final sentence: "Safe!"]
- Thread 9, May. 5th, Scylla & Charybdis - Stephen Dedalus at the National Library discusses Hamlet. Leopold Bloom goes to the Library also, but the two don't meet. [final clause: "[...] From our bless'd altars."]
- Thread 10, May. 19th, Wandering Rocks - The simultaneous wanderings of various characters through the streets of Dublin. [final clause: "[...] and the salute of Almidano Artifoni's sturdy trousers swallowed by a closing door."]
- Thread 11, Jun. 2nd, Sirens - Leopold Bloom has dinner at the Ormand Hotel & listens to Simon Dedalus sing. Meanwhile Molly Bloom entertains her lover. [final sentence: "Done."]
- Thread 12, Jun. 16th Bloomsday, Cyclops - Narrated by an unknown person, this episode takes place in a pub where Leopold Bloom goes to meet Martin Cunningham. He's chased out by the anti-semitic, ultra-nationalist "Citizen". [final sentence: "And they beheld Him even Him, ben Bloom Elijah, amid clouds of angels ascend to the glory of the brightness at an angle of fortyfive degrees over Donohoe's in Little Green Street like a shot off a shovel."]
- Thread 13, Jun. 30th, Nausicaa - Leopold Bloom watches Gerty McDowell on the beach and masturbates. [final clause: "[...] and she noticed at once that that foreign gentleman that was sitting on the rocks looking was Cuckoo Cuckoo Cuckoo"]
- Thread 14, Jul. 14th, The Oxen of the Sun - Leopold Bloom meets Stephen Dedalus who is drinking with Buck Mulligan and other medical students at a maternity hospital where Mina Purefoy is giving birth. [final sentence: "Just you try it on."]
- Thread 15, Jul. 28th, Circe - Leopold Bloom follows Stephen Dedalus to Bella Cohen's brothel. [final sentence: "A white lambkin peeps out of his waistcoat pocket.)"]
- Thread 16, Aug. 4th, Eumaeus - Leopold Bloom & Stephen Dedalus go to a cabmen's shelter. [final sentence: "As they walked, they at times stopped and walked again, continuing their tête-à-tête (which of course he was utterly out of), about sirens, enemies of man's reason, mingled with a number of other topics of the same category, usurpers, historical cases of the kind while the man in the sweeper car or you might as well call it in the sleeper car who in any case couldn't possibly hear because they were too far simply sat in his seat near the end of lower Gardiner street and looked after their lowbacked car."]
- Thread 17, Aug. 18th, Ithaca - Leopold Bloom takes Stephen Dedalus home, but Stephen refuses an invitation to spend the night. [final sentence: "Where?"]
- Thread 18, Sep. 1st, Penelope - Molly Bloom's soliloquy. [final word: "Yes."]

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- our book online and for free with notes at Bibliomania
- The Brazen Head, a wonderful Joyce site with advice for first-time readers of Ulysses
- Notes giving the schemata, correspondence to the Odyssey and commentary for each episode
- an easy-to-read table giving the Gilbert schemata
- Ulysses on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- Cliff's Notes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.

Bonfire of the Vanities Readalong

2006-12-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

These are the participants:

DrCris
Sujie
varykino
Pixette
LadyBookWyrm
kls0725

And the schedule:

3 chapters/week (approx 75 pages) -
Pace is subject to change if we all agree

Sign up here

Start Reading: Mon 15th Jan (add introductions to first thread)
22 Jan 2007 - Thread: Prologue, Ch 1-3
29 Jan 2007 - Thread: Ch 4-6
5 Feb 2007 - Thread: Ch 7-9
12 Feb 2007 - Thread: Ch 10-12
Ch 13-15: 19 Feb 2007
Ch 16-18: 26 Feb 2007
Ch 19-21: 5 Mar 2007
Ch 22-24: 12 Mar 2007
Ch 25-27: 19 Mar 2007
26 Mar 2007 - Thread: Ch 28-31, plus epilogue and final impressions of the book.

And some other useful links:
- The Bonfire of the Vanities on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- the historical event, the Bonfire of the Vanities on Wikipedia
- the film The Bonfire of the Vanities on Wikipedia
- study Notes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions (unfortunately not free).

Vanity Fair Readalong

2006-11-24T10:37:00.000-05:00

These are the participants:
janey-canuck
Ibis3
lovestoreadinmo
LadyKnightNiko
Sugaryfun
caffcaff
playtheman
MollyGrue
bybee
starbytes
Nu-Knees
LeishaCamden
Eilan86
kls0725

And the schedule (with links to the appropriate Book Talk Forum Threads):
- Thread 1, Jan. 14th, ch. 1 to 5 *active*
- Thread 2, Jan. 21st, ch. 6 to 10 *active*
- Thread 3, Jan. 28th, ch. 11 to 14 *active*
- Thread 4, Feb. 4th, ch. 15 to 19 *active*
- Thread 5, Feb. 11th, ch. 20 to 24 *active*
- Feb. 18th, Catch Up Week
- Thread 6, Feb. 25th, ch. 25 to 27 *active*
- Thread 7, Mar. 4th, ch. 28 to 31 *active*
- Thread 8, Mar. 11th, ch. 32 to 35
- Thread 9, Mar. 18th, ch. 36 to 39
- Thread 10, Mar. 25th, ch. 40 to 44
- Apr. 1st, Catch Up Week
- Thread 11, Apr. 8th, ch. 45 to 50
- Thread 12, Apr. 15th, ch. 51 to 54
- Thread 13, Apr. 22nd, ch. 55 to 58
- Thread 14, Apr. 29th, ch. 59 to 63
- Thread 15, May. 6th, ch. 64 to 67

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Vanity Fair on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- Cliff's Notes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.
- William Makepeace Thackeray at Victorian Web
- Thackeray's illustrations for Vanity Fair (there are 4 galleries but you have to change the URL manually)

Anna Karenina Readalong

2006-07-23T18:30:00.000-04:00

The idea for this readalong began when I realised I had cleared all my bookring debts - and, seizing on the book that seemed to be languishing most in need of being read, Anna Karenina came to hand.

It's always good to have encouragement and companionship when approaching such chunky classics. Welcome aboard the journey!
~ Miss Owl :)

These are the participants:
Sherria
bakelaroo
lovestoreadinmo
Annodyne
dicentragirl
janey-canuck
spaceystacey
LarkOnapost
CynthiaA
waternixie
aine-eireann
florafloraflora
watrnymph
Sugaryfun
sylfaen
yourotherleft
mellonhead
Shard02
allbookedup
gypsyrose02
jax987654321
iamagirldork
rooshill
makl96
MandaJo
laurarn
TNJeepGal
wandering
Sobergirl
Blonde-bookworm
becca-mo
knitwit
FancyHorse
ireland424
Miss-Owl

And the schedule: - all threads to be posted in Book Talk
Monday 21st August Introduce yourself!
Monday 28th August Part One (& Happy Posthumous Birthday to Mr Tolstoy) - there's also action happening here for non-winged members
Monday 4th September Part Two
Monday 11th September Part Three
Monday 18th September Part Four
Monday 25th September Part Five
Monday 2nd October Part Six
Monday 9th October Part Seven
Monday 16th October Part Eight - the end!

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Anna Karenina on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- SparkNotes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.

War and Peace Readalong

2006-05-30T09:37:00.000-04:00

These are the participants:

jax987654321
ReenMcA
parisreader
sarradee
jinglefish
muzette
moraelyn
merimag

And the schedule: (3 different versions to choose from!)

Wordsworth Classics/Penguin Classics/C.Garnet

Thread 1 - 19th June 06: Intro/Intro/Free Week!
Thread 2- 26th June 06: V1:B1/B1:P1/P1
Thread 3 - 3rd July 06: V1:B11/B1:P2/PII
Thread 4 - 10th July 06: V1:B111/B1:P3/PIII
Thread 5 - 18th July06: V1:BIV/B2:P1/PIV
Thread 6 - 24th July 06: V1:BV/B2:P2/PV

31st July 06 Catchup/Rest/Break Week
Thread 7 - 7th Aug 06: V2:BVI/B2:P3/PVI
Thread 8 - 14th Aug 06: V2:BVII/B2:P4/PVII
Thread 9 - 21st Aug 06: V2:BVIII/B2:P5/PVIII
Thread 10- 28th Aug 06 V2:BIX/B3:P1/PIX
Thread 11 - 4th Sept 06 V2:BX C. 1-18/B3:P2 C. 1-18/PX, C. 1-18
Thread 12 -11th Sept 06 V2:Bx C. 19-40/B3:P2 C. 19-40/PX C. 19-40
18th Sept 06 Catchup/Rest/Break week
Thread 13- 25th Sept 06 V3:BXI/B3:P3/PXI
Thread 14 - 2nd Oct 06 V3:BXII/B4:P1/PXII
Thread 15 - 9th Oct 06 V3:BXIII/B4:P2/PXIII
Thread 16 - 16th Oct 06 V3:BXIV/B4:P3/PXIV
Thread 17 - 23rd Oct 06 V3:BXV/B4:P4/PXV
Thread 18 - 30th Oct 06 1st Epi/Epi 1/Epi 1
Thread 19 - 6th Nov 06 2nd Epi/Epi 2/Epi 2
Sunday 12th October - PARTY - (anyone free to join jax987654321 for a glass of wine in the Red Lion and Pineapple Pub in Acton. Pm via the bookcrossing site if interested!

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- War and Peace on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- SparkNotes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.

Pronunciations of characters' names provided by shpriz1 (aka Vika):
Pyotor Kirilovich Bezukhov or Pierre
Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky
Nikolai Ilyich Rostov
Natalya Ilyinichna Rostova Or Natasha
Marya Nikolayevna Bolkonskaya
Vasily Sergeyevich Kuragin
Anatol Kuragin
Ippolit Kuragin
Elena Vasilyevna Kuragina
Nikolai Andreyevich Bolkonsky
Lisa Bolkonskaya
Ilya Andreyevich Rostov
Natalya Rostova

Middlemarch Readalong

2006-01-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

Our most recent Readalong on the BookCrossing Book Talk forum for Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House in the Fall 2005 was a great success, so we decided to do another one! There was a vote on the forum and Middlemarch by George Eliot won by a landslide.

So...Has Middlemarch by George Eliot been gathering dust on your bookshelf for a decade or two? Have you heard that it's one of the best books of nineteenth century literature and want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? Have you tried unsucessfully to read this book and need some motivation? Or maybe this is one of your favourite reads of all time and wouldn't mind having another go at it (and a chance to discuss it with someone who knows what you're talking about).

The book will be divided into weekly installments, each with a separate forum thread. So if you join late or fall behind that's ok--there's no problem with having several threads active at the same time. And for speed readers, just be careful not to post spoilers in earlier threads.

Following in the footsteps of lesezeichen, I have created a blog page for the readalong (I'll quote her too!)--"here is the 'central place' where we can put together all the information on participants, schedule, links etc. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any remarks or any additional information you would wish to add! I'm very much looking forward to our project!"

Well to begin with, here is the final Bleak House thread where it was determined that we would like to do another readalong.
And here is the preparatory thread where it was decided that we would read Middlemarch.

These are the participants: (you can click on the pseudo to go the member's bookshelf)
- CarolineMoon (London, UK)
- oldreadingfool (Georgia, USA)
- geishabird (Ontario, Canada)
- GoryDetails (New Hampshire, USA)
- Sheepseeker (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
- thebiblioholic (New York, USA)
- gypsysmom (Manitoba, Canada)
- Shard02 (British Columbia, Canada)
- barbieq233 (North Carolina, USA)
- sqdancer (Alberta, Canada)
- SCTechSorceress (South Carolina, USA)
- waitstill (USA)
- xoddam (New South Wales, Australia)
- AngelofMusic (Oregon, USA)
- beppie (Utrecht, Netherlands)
- parisreader (Ile-de-France, France)
- mspeel (West Sussex, United Kingdom)
- GirlFromIpanema (Thüringen, Germany)
- Canchita (Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
- jkpaquet (Ontario Canada)
- SaschaBWk (Hessen, Germany)
- E-J-V (Ile-de-France, France)
- Bluodzibluoda (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
- Arrrrgh (Illinois, USA)
- blue-orange (Ile-de-France, France)
- lovestoreadinmo (Missouri, USA)
- safrolistics (West Midlands, UK)
- ajsmom (British Columbia, Canada)
- DrPangloss (North Carolina, USA)
- Roobarb14 (North Yorkshire, UK)
- kelwood (Ohio, USA)
- laurarn (Oklahoma, USA)
- sylfaen (Barcelona, Spain)
- eicuthbertson (British Columbia, Canada)
- bacicoline (Ile-de-France, France)
- zz-neena (New York, USA)
- Sherria (Connecticut, USA)
- TheBowieFollies (New York, USA)
- OneMorePage (California, USA)
- nixpj (Midlothian, UK)
- KatieNoodle (Midlothian, UK)
- janey-canuck (Ontario, Canada)
- jax987654321 (London, UK)
- Schildkroet (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)
- florafloraflora (Washington DC, USA)
- Jinglefish (Surrey , UK)
- pashmack (Florida, USA)
- Bkworm9 (Michigan, USA)
- elhamisabel (Hessen, Germany)
- Dunzy (British Columbia, Canada)
- mrsgaskell (Manitoba, Canada)
- Navig8r (London, UK)
- Ibis3 (Ontario, Canada)
- J-Emily (New York, USA)
- KF-in-Georgia (Georgia, USA)
- TracyR (Wales, UK)
- Sternschnuppe28 (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)
- lesezeichen (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
- little411 (New York, USA)
- Suzy26 (Zuid-Holland, Netherlands)

And the schedule:
- Thread 1, Feb. 4th, prelude, ch. 1 to 6 - *active*
- Thread 2, Feb. 11th, ch. 7 to 12 - *active*
- Thread 3, Feb. 18th, ch. 13 to 17 - *active*
- Thread 4, Feb. 25th, ch. 18 to 23 - *active*
- Thread 5, Mar. 4th, ch. 24 to 31 - *active*
- Thread 6, Mar. 11th, ch. 32 to 37 - *active*
- Thread 7, Mar. 18th, ch. 38 to 42 - *active*
- Thread 8, Mar. 25th, ch. 43 to 49
- Thread 9, Apr. 1st, ch. 50 to 55
- Thread 10, Apr. 8th, ch. 56 to 60
- Thread 11, Apr. 15th, ch. 61 to 66
- Thread 12, Apr. 22nd, ch. 67 to 73
- Thread 13, Apr. 29th, ch. 74 to 86, finale
- D'ailleurs, il y a un thread ici, si vous voulez discuter de Middlemarch en français.

(quoting lesezeichen:)"At this place I will add links to the respective forum threads by and by!
We're going to start a thread every week on the Book Talk forum on the books/chapters "assigned" for the Saturday in question. Anybody can start the thread, please just make sure someone else hasn't and please mark it with something like "Middlemarch-Readalong, Thread X, Chapters X to Y". Of course, those behind in their reading can continue to use the "old" threads relevant to the chapters they have read after the next Saturday, so they will not come across spoilers."

janey-canuck was kind enough to send along some discussion questions from the reading guide in the back of her edition, so feel free to use them as a springboard to discussion in the forum:

Discuss the relationship between religious and secular, spiritual and wordly, in the novel. Is it conflicted or not? Why?

What is Eliot's view of ambition in its different forms - social, intellectual, political? How is this evident in the novel?

In her introduction, A. S. Byatt contends that Eliot was "the great English novelist of ideas." How do you interpret this? How do you think ideas - human thought - inform the plot of Middlemarch?

George Eliot is a pseudonym for Mary Ann Evans. How does Eliot's femaleness - and her concelaing of it - add resonance to the novel, if at all? Do you see Dorothea's character differently in this regard? Do you see Middlemarch as a woman's novel?

Middlemarch was originally published in serial form, a single book at a time. What kinds of concerns affected Eliot's narrative in this regard? How do these discrete segments differ from the whole?

Discuss the convention of marriage in the novel. Do you feel it ultimately restricts the characters? Or is it the novel's provincial setting that proves more oppressive?

Discuss the metaphor of Dorothea as St. Theresa. What is Eliot saying here?

And some other useful links:
- our book online and for free at Project Gutenberg!
- Middlemarch on Wikipedia--beware of spoilers!
- SparkNotes on the novel, including chapter synopses and study questions.
- a publication history and critical reception from 1871-91 (University of Virginia library)
- historical context, biography and other interesting stuff at Victorian Web
- info about Sir Robert Peel
- the Wikipedia article about the Catholic Relief Act
- a portrait of John Locke, whom Casaubon is supposed to resemble
- an article about the epigraphs in Middlemarch

How to Organise a Readalong

2006-01-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

I've decided to create this guideline because people who want to start Readalongs are often uncertain about how to go about it. These are just suggestions—you can certainly organise things however you like.

Make an initial post in the Book Talk forum asking if anyone would like to join you in a Readalong for your chosen book. Be sure to put both the title and the word "readalong" in the subject heading. If your subject heading is obscure it will be more difficult to get the attention of people who might want to participate.

Keep this post on the first page of the forum for a while. I'd say 2 weeks at least. I've seen people give up after a couple of days when they've only had a few people show interest, but I've observed that with the most successful Readalongs there was a lot of exposure before the actual start & there were still people signing up to participate 2 or 3 weeks after the initial announcement.

Contact me (Ibis3) to have me set up a blog post for your Readalong. Once I've set up the post, I'll invite you to join the blog so you can do the updates and add whatever you like. The blog is a great place to put the schedule and links to resources and extra background info for readers. Take a look at lesezeichen's original Bleak House blog post (there's a link in the sidebar) to have an idea of the extent to which one can go with the post.

The main decision that a blog host(ess) has to make is to do with the schedule. How many weeks, how many pages? Most Readalongs are broken up into weekly installments each of about 50 pages. This pace seems to work fairly well for most people and most books. If you go too slowly or too quickly there's more chance that the Readalong will fail. Get feedback from your participants to help you figure out how fast you want to go and when you're breaking up the text, use natural breaks to help you out. For example, many Victorian novels were published in installments, so that can help you decide where to end yours.

I suggest having a separate thread for each installment (make sure they're linked from the schedule on the blog post so stragglers can find them easily). That way spoilers aren't an issue and the discussion can continue even for people who fall behind. Don't post the thread early.

This might be the most difficult thing for a host(ess). Keep up with your own schedule. If you bail out half way though and rely on other participants to keep the Readalong going it will likely dwindle away. By making regular posts, you encourage the other participants to keep up with their reading too.

How do Readalongs Work?

2006-01-15T18:53:00.000-05:00

Is there a big, fat, classic that's been gathering dust on your bookshelf for a decade or two? Have you heard that it's one of the best books of nineteenth (or is that twentieth?) century literature and want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? Have you tried unsucessfully to read this book and need some motivation? Or maybe this is one of your favourite reads of all time and wouldn't mind having another go at it (and a chance to discuss it with someone who knows what you're talking about).

Every Readalong book will be divided into weekly installments, each with a separate forum thread. So if you join late or fall behind that's ok--there's no problem with having several threads active at the same time. And for speed readers, just be careful not to post spoilers in earlier threads. Anybody can start the thread, please just make sure someone else hasn't and please mark it with something like "Book Title-Readalong, Thread X, Chapters X to Y". Of course, those behind in their reading can continue to use the "old" threads relevant to the chapters they have read after the next Saturday, so they will not come across spoilers.

The blog is the 'central place' where we can put together all the information on participants, schedule, useful links etc. If you want to add something, PM Ibis3 or the host/ess of the Readalong in question.