Tucking the idea of "Read a book on your shelf" away for a future Victober...So fun to see all your beautiful old books! Selfishly, I would love to see a video where you and Ros discussed The Mill On the Floss. I hope it's a wonderful month of reading for you!
Or read a new book by a favourite Victorain author would also work. I'm meeting Ros during Victober already so a video of some sort is highly likely...
Glad to hear that you liked Bleak House. It also reminded me that I own a copy that I haven’t read yet. Perfect for Victober. “The Woodlanders” is very good and just doesn’t get cited for reviews as much as Hardy’s other novels. It has one of my favorite Hardy characters, Giles Winterbourne. In it also there are vivid descriptions of the forest and trees. It’s a refreshing departure from Hardy’s frequent description of miles of heath and downs. On those slim Hardy volumes it may be helpful to check the copyright and title pages to be sure they aren’t abridged versions. A few of them are second tier Hardy. If “The Well-Beloved” is among them I would give reserve it to read last. It’s Hardy’s worst book and would I recommend not reading it all unless you are determined to be a Hardy completist. I hope you enjoy whichever books you choose. Good to see a video from you, Tilly.
Thank you for the tips - I hadn't even considered that they might be abridged but I will definitely check that. The Well-Beloved is in there and it was one that I thought was better known, but maybe it's only known for being bad! The woodland description aspect of The Woodlanders does sound appealing. Can strongly recommend Bleak House. It's wonderfully complex and has all the best parts of Dickens.
The Way We Live Now takes care of several of the prompts. I'm reading it now because I want to read other Victorian novels in October. This is over seven hundred pages. I'm halfway through and think I'll never get it done. It is so good! Did you say you had The Laodicean by Thomas Hardy? That one may cover the new woman. The woman inherits a castle. Her father is not aristocracy. There is photo manipulation and trains and telegraphs in the book. Some have reviewed it badly, but I liked it. The Woodlanders is good. But if you have read Hardy, You know what he writes. But they just say that if you read Victorian Literature, you have participated in Victober.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Trollope so far. Yes I have The Laodicean but I think I will start with The Woodlanders or A Pair of Blue Eyes and see where I get to. Anything Victorian counts!
I love hearing about all of the charity shop finds, I too collect antique books from Oxfam 😂 Found a Milton from 1843 recently!! What a great video, I look forward to hearing how your Victober goes
Little Dorrit is wonderful. Long, but so worth it. Three Hardys to recommend (alas, NOT first person or New Woman): The Mayor of Casterbridge, A Pair of Blue Eyes and Under the Greenwood Tree. All 3 have outsiders. Two short first-person novellas by George Eliot: The Lifted Veil and Brother Jacob. Have you read the author Margaret Oliphant? Her novel "Hester" (1883) might be just before "The New Woman" wave, but it has 2 very strong women: a bank owner and her niece, and certainly foreshadows that movement.
I have heard a lot of good things about Margaret Oliphant, but I'm trying to read books I own first this year so will save that for the future! Thanks for the recommendation on the Hardys to try.
The Hardy novel that is a New Woman novel is Jude the Obscure. I don't know if you're read it, but if not I'd definitely recommend it - it's one of his most famous and best novels. I love The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Woodlanders is good too, but they probably don't fit so naturally into any of the challenges. As for why some of the Hardy novels are less well known, Hardy divided him novels into three classes - Novels of Character and Environment, Romances and Fantasies and Novels of Ingenuity. Novels of Characters and Environment were what Hardy regarded as his major novels that had not been unduly influenced by commercial imperatives and serialised publication, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Jude the Obscure, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Return of the Native, The Woodlanders and Under the Greenwood Tree. In the middle were the Romances and Fantasies - The Trumpet-Major, A Pair of Blue Eyes, Two on a Tower and The Well-Beloved. The Novels of Ingenuity were novels that were more plot-driven and sometimes implausible or unrealistic in the things that happened - Desperate Remedies (which is a sensation novel and Hardy's first published novel), A Laodicean and The Hand of Ethelberta. I think it's true that the Novels of Characters and Environment form the core of Hardy's achievement of a novelist, although I also really like A Pair of Blue Eyes, Two on a Tower and The Well-Beloved. In terms of other things you mentioned that I've read, I really like The Mill on the Floss but it is quite a polarising novel! I loved In Memoriam A.H.H. and I also have that anthology of Victorian poetry. I found the commentary and notes it has on the poems and poets really useful and interesting. Hope you have an enjoyable Victober!
Thank you Daniel. I read Jude the Obscure for Victober 2020, though I didn't know about the New Woman movement at that time. Most of the Hardys I have read are from his first category but perhaps this explains why I was quite disappointed in The Trumpet-Major! It night be interesting to explore more of his different branches of work. I think The Mill on the Floss is go for me this year (fingers crossed) and I do hope I like it after all this time. In Memoriam I might save for now. Yes the anthology notes are hugely helpful and I also appreciate the timeliness at the front as a reminder of the changing context.
I feel your pain. Wanting to read what you have, what’s new to you, but not sure if what you have fits the prompts… I have buddy reads for Agnes Grey and Nicholas Nickleby - both are rereads but haven’t been read in a very long time. I’m also planning on 3 men in a boat, & king Solomon’s mine. I think I’m going to have to shoehorn them into the prompts as I read them! I have “old wives tale” by Bennett who did have works published in Victorian era but Old Wives is just after… still, I may read it anyway ☺️
I knew it couldn't be only me. Your buddy read plans sound great. I love Agnes Grey. I do want to read Three Men in a Boat because I've heard it's so funny - I just can't buy it!
I am sure you'll find an author new to you in the lovely poetry book. If we read Mrs Warren's Profession you'll have a New Women thing. First person is the trickier one from your pile. David Copperfield and Great Expectations are the Dickens first person narratives, not Little Dorrit alas. But in better news, The Mill on the Floss narrator does use the first person voice I think, even though they are unnamed.
Alas I have read Great Expectations and I don't own David Copperfield! Yes I will get the prompt with the play but I wanted to use my existing books if I could. At least The Mill on the Floss works!
Hello! You have a very beautiful collection of Victorian literature! It has me a bit envious 😍... You have mentioned a Hardy book that is one of my favourites: A Pair of Blue Eyes. Maybe you could read it and post your opinion about it. Thank you!
Thank you, I'm lucky to have the space and a few good local charity shops - A Pair of Blue Eyes was £1.50 from Oxfam with the rest of that set. But it means that I buy more than I can read! If I do read that one, I will try to do a short review.
You inspire me to get out all the books by Dickens and Hardy that I have, but haven't read. The guilt! I'll be interested to know who you find for your new woman poet, and also if any of the small Hardy's end up to be something you'll recommend. Thanks to Ros, I'm listening to Gaskell's North & South on Audible (even though it's not October (gasp!)), and I'm loving it.
@@tillysshelf I don't have any of the Hardy you mentioned. I've got Tess and Jude (which I've read) and then Far from The Madding Crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge, and a book of poetry, none of which I'm ashamed to say I have even cracked. Oh, woe! I want to get Wessex Tales, but feel I should tackle what I've got first. Someday...
About your question: no, I don't think A Pair of Blue Eyes would qualify directly for one of the challenges. Not directly I would say from what I remember. The question of double standards in Victorian morality I would say is the main theme and love, of course... But it would be a good place to start if your ultimate goal is to tackle that backlog! ☺
I've found out from this that it may fit loosely for New Woman and Outsider so that's a bonus! But also having The Woodlanders strongly recommended - I will probably choose one or the other.
Regarding Hardy's lesser works: I don't think any of them are official new woman works, but A Pair of Blue Eyes, The Hand of Ethelberta, and A Laodicean have to do with women being independent (or trying to be) of men to a certain degree or working for a living. Jude, the Obscure's Sue is considered a new woman character, but not sure if that's one you got there.
I have read Jude the Obscure previously so I didn't show the copy that I have (another Folio Society from that set). Hardy definitely takes on the theme of female independence with many of his characters, but I need to read up on how he fits into the movement.
First time seeing your channel. You are utterly charming and well spoken. I love your interest in Victorian Literature. My only recommendation is to make sure you don't get an abridged volume. These authors you mention should only be read completely, you would miss too much otherwise. I do notice that your contributors are all women. I am not. Do you run a women only channel? I ask because many female book tubers aim their content to women only. If so, then I will delete my comment. Anyways...thank you for posting, I enjoyed watching. P.S. Mill on the Floss was a better than expected book by Eliot. What an incredible mind she had!
Thank you for stopping by. My channel is open to all friendly booklovers, but I suppose my book choices or video style probably mean there's a female bias in general. Yes I don't read abridged versions as a rule - I don't really see the point as a book should be good enough to carry its length - but I do need to check that those tiny Hardy copies are not abridged. I think Mill on the Floss is a hot contender for this year as it seems to meet a few challenges, thanks for the tip!
@@tillysshelf Thank you Tilly. I appreciate the welcome. Mill on the Floss is very meaty. Each chapter gives the reader much to think about. What I love about Eliot is that she can demand a lot of a reader's thought and attention yet do it in a digestible, easy to get along with, manner. She must have been delightful to drink tea with and have a conversation. I will read more of her works over time. As for Hardy, I fell in love with his pastoral writing and general pessimistic style. All that I read from him did not disappoint although his early works I think suffer in comparison to his "hits". You can tell he was still learning his craft. Try his poetry, especially his 1912-1913 poems about his deceased wife. Heartbreaking but you'll love them. There are about 21 poems. I agree with you on Dickens. Pacey....yup. Everyone loves Bleak House but I am not loving it because of all of the unnecessary digressions that fro me did not add to this story....anyway.....I'll pause this screed. A pleasure to engage with you. Be well so that you can do good. :)
@js.3490 I haven't delved enough into George Eliot yet - I must confess to failed attempts on both Middlemarch and Romola. I think this one will be more manageable and will help me to prepare for the longer works. Yes Hardy's generally pessimistic style works for me too! Though Jude carried it a little too far. I have read a few of his poems, not all of them. I had an English teacher who would set them as an essay prompt on occasion - plenty to discuss!
@@tillysshelf I heard that Daniel Deronda is a very accessible and enjoyable read, Romola not so. Yeah, you'll gravitate towards Eliot when you are in the right headspace. For Hardy, Tess and Return of the Native are my favs. I fell in love with Hardy's "poetry in prose". But he wrote so many to enjoy. Curious to know, have you ever read Trollope? If so, then what do you think about his works? Sadly, I cannot participate in Victober. My work is at its busiest the first half of the month. :(
Yes I have heard positive things about Daniel Deronda too. Romola I think was a bad choice to start with! I enjoyed The Warden last Victober and will be trying the group read this year, but he wasn't an instant new favourite author.
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Tucking the idea of "Read a book on your shelf" away for a future Victober...So fun to see all your beautiful old books! Selfishly, I would love to see a video where you and Ros discussed The Mill On the Floss. I hope it's a wonderful month of reading for you!
Or read a new book by a favourite Victorain author would also work. I'm meeting Ros during Victober already so a video of some sort is highly likely...
Yes! I’ve had to make this my own challenge for this VicTober. 👍🏻👍🏻
Those Dickens' look amazing! I love old books.
I can't believe I didn't get any Dickens on my TBR LOL!
There's just so much to choose from and Dickens books are so big. Maybe in 2024!
Glad to hear that you liked Bleak House. It also reminded me that I own a copy that I haven’t read yet. Perfect for Victober.
“The Woodlanders” is very good and just doesn’t get cited for reviews as much as Hardy’s other novels. It has one of my favorite Hardy characters, Giles Winterbourne. In it also there are vivid descriptions of the forest and trees. It’s a refreshing departure from Hardy’s frequent description of miles of heath and downs.
On those slim Hardy volumes it may be helpful to check the copyright and title pages to be sure they aren’t abridged versions. A few of them are second tier Hardy. If “The Well-Beloved” is among them I would give reserve it to read last. It’s Hardy’s worst book and would I recommend not reading it all unless you are determined to be a Hardy completist.
I hope you enjoy whichever books you choose.
Good to see a video from you, Tilly.
Thank you for the tips - I hadn't even considered that they might be abridged but I will definitely check that. The Well-Beloved is in there and it was one that I thought was better known, but maybe it's only known for being bad! The woodland description aspect of The Woodlanders does sound appealing.
Can strongly recommend Bleak House. It's wonderfully complex and has all the best parts of Dickens.
The Way We Live Now takes care of several of the prompts. I'm reading it now because I want to read other Victorian novels in October. This is over seven hundred pages. I'm halfway through and think I'll never get it done. It is so good! Did you say you had The Laodicean by Thomas Hardy? That one may cover the new woman. The woman inherits a castle. Her father is not aristocracy. There is photo manipulation and trains and telegraphs in the book. Some have reviewed it badly, but I liked it. The Woodlanders is good. But if you have read Hardy, You know what he writes. But they just say that if you read Victorian Literature, you have participated in Victober.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the Trollope so far. Yes I have The Laodicean but I think I will start with The Woodlanders or A Pair of Blue Eyes and see where I get to. Anything Victorian counts!
I love hearing about all of the charity shop finds, I too collect antique books from Oxfam 😂 Found a Milton from 1843 recently!! What a great video, I look forward to hearing how your Victober goes
Oh that's such a great find! I often have to be dragged out of charity bookshops by the elbow as there is so much to enjoy.
Little Dorrit is wonderful. Long, but so worth it. Three Hardys to recommend (alas, NOT first person or New Woman): The Mayor of Casterbridge, A Pair of Blue Eyes and Under the Greenwood Tree. All 3 have outsiders. Two short first-person novellas by George Eliot: The Lifted Veil and Brother Jacob. Have you read the author Margaret Oliphant? Her novel "Hester" (1883) might be just before "The New Woman" wave, but it has 2 very strong women: a bank owner and her niece, and certainly foreshadows that movement.
I have heard a lot of good things about Margaret Oliphant, but I'm trying to read books I own first this year so will save that for the future! Thanks for the recommendation on the Hardys to try.
I am planning to read Little Dorrit! I am reading half in October and half in November.
That's great! Do you want to do a little buddy read? Although I may try to finish it before Non-fiction November
I read somewhere that The Woodlanders was amongst Hardy's favourites!
Oh nice to know that it was one that he was proud of! I wonder if readers tend to agree with him.
The Hardy novel that is a New Woman novel is Jude the Obscure. I don't know if you're read it, but if not I'd definitely recommend it - it's one of his most famous and best novels.
I love The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Woodlanders is good too, but they probably don't fit so naturally into any of the challenges.
As for why some of the Hardy novels are less well known, Hardy divided him novels into three classes - Novels of Character and Environment, Romances and Fantasies and Novels of Ingenuity. Novels of Characters and Environment were what Hardy regarded as his major novels that had not been unduly influenced by commercial imperatives and serialised publication, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Jude the Obscure, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Return of the Native, The Woodlanders and Under the Greenwood Tree. In the middle were the Romances and Fantasies - The Trumpet-Major, A Pair of Blue Eyes, Two on a Tower and The Well-Beloved. The Novels of Ingenuity were novels that were more plot-driven and sometimes implausible or unrealistic in the things that happened - Desperate Remedies (which is a sensation novel and Hardy's first published novel), A Laodicean and The Hand of Ethelberta.
I think it's true that the Novels of Characters and Environment form the core of Hardy's achievement of a novelist, although I also really like A Pair of Blue Eyes, Two on a Tower and The Well-Beloved.
In terms of other things you mentioned that I've read, I really like The Mill on the Floss but it is quite a polarising novel! I loved In Memoriam A.H.H. and I also have that anthology of Victorian poetry. I found the commentary and notes it has on the poems and poets really useful and interesting.
Hope you have an enjoyable Victober!
Thank you Daniel. I read Jude the Obscure for Victober 2020, though I didn't know about the New Woman movement at that time. Most of the Hardys I have read are from his first category but perhaps this explains why I was quite disappointed in The Trumpet-Major! It night be interesting to explore more of his different branches of work.
I think The Mill on the Floss is go for me this year (fingers crossed) and I do hope I like it after all this time. In Memoriam I might save for now. Yes the anthology notes are hugely helpful and I also appreciate the timeliness at the front as a reminder of the changing context.
I feel your pain. Wanting to read what you have, what’s new to you, but not sure if what you have fits the prompts…
I have buddy reads for Agnes Grey and Nicholas Nickleby - both are rereads but haven’t been read in a very long time. I’m also planning on 3 men in a boat, & king Solomon’s mine. I think I’m going to have to shoehorn them into the prompts as I read them! I have “old wives tale” by Bennett who did have works published in Victorian era but Old Wives is just after… still, I may read it anyway ☺️
I knew it couldn't be only me. Your buddy read plans sound great. I love Agnes Grey. I do want to read Three Men in a Boat because I've heard it's so funny - I just can't buy it!
@@tillysshelf I recently found 3 Men for free! It’s a slightly mangled copy but it’ll do until I find out if it is one I want to own a nice copy of.
@@novelideea What a lucky find, perfectly timed for Victober!
Three Men In A Boat could work for class and first person.
I am sure you'll find an author new to you in the lovely poetry book. If we read Mrs Warren's Profession you'll have a New Women thing. First person is the trickier one from your pile. David Copperfield and Great Expectations are the Dickens first person narratives, not Little Dorrit alas. But in better news, The Mill on the Floss narrator does use the first person voice I think, even though they are unnamed.
Alas I have read Great Expectations and I don't own David Copperfield! Yes I will get the prompt with the play but I wanted to use my existing books if I could. At least The Mill on the Floss works!
@@tillysshelf I think The Woodlanders can also count for New Woman, outsider and class.
Hello! You have a very beautiful collection of Victorian literature! It has me a bit envious 😍... You have mentioned a Hardy book that is one of my favourites: A Pair of Blue Eyes. Maybe you could read it and post your opinion about it. Thank you!
Thank you, I'm lucky to have the space and a few good local charity shops - A Pair of Blue Eyes was £1.50 from Oxfam with the rest of that set. But it means that I buy more than I can read! If I do read that one, I will try to do a short review.
You inspire me to get out all the books by Dickens and Hardy that I have, but haven't read. The guilt! I'll be interested to know who you find for your new woman poet, and also if any of the small Hardy's end up to be something you'll recommend. Thanks to Ros, I'm listening to Gaskell's North & South on Audible (even though it's not October (gasp!)), and I'm loving it.
So much guilt! Oh North and South is such a good Victorian read and nice to have a head start. Do you have any of the same Hardys in your selection?
@@tillysshelf I don't have any of the Hardy you mentioned. I've got Tess and Jude (which I've read) and then Far from The Madding Crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge, and a book of poetry, none of which I'm ashamed to say I have even cracked. Oh, woe! I want to get Wessex Tales, but feel I should tackle what I've got first. Someday...
@@TootightLautrec I love Far From the Madding Crowd and it's quite short!
@@tillysshelf Just the push I need. Thanks!
I always start early or I could never keep up! 1/3 through the Way We Live Now.
About your question: no, I don't think A Pair of Blue Eyes would qualify directly for one of the challenges. Not directly I would say from what I remember. The question of double standards in Victorian morality I would say is the main theme and love, of course... But it would be a good place to start if your ultimate goal is to tackle that backlog! ☺
I've found out from this that it may fit loosely for New Woman and Outsider so that's a bonus! But also having The Woodlanders strongly recommended - I will probably choose one or the other.
Regarding Hardy's lesser works: I don't think any of them are official new woman works, but A Pair of Blue Eyes, The Hand of Ethelberta, and A Laodicean have to do with women being independent (or trying to be) of men to a certain degree or working for a living. Jude, the Obscure's Sue is considered a new woman character, but not sure if that's one you got there.
I have read Jude the Obscure previously so I didn't show the copy that I have (another Folio Society from that set). Hardy definitely takes on the theme of female independence with many of his characters, but I need to read up on how he fits into the movement.
First time seeing your channel. You are utterly charming and well spoken. I love your interest in Victorian Literature. My only recommendation is to make sure you don't get an abridged volume. These authors you mention should only be read completely, you would miss too much otherwise. I do notice that your contributors are all women. I am not. Do you run a women only channel? I ask because many female book tubers aim their content to women only. If so, then I will delete my comment. Anyways...thank you for posting, I enjoyed watching. P.S. Mill on the Floss was a better than expected book by Eliot. What an incredible mind she had!
Thank you for stopping by. My channel is open to all friendly booklovers, but I suppose my book choices or video style probably mean there's a female bias in general. Yes I don't read abridged versions as a rule - I don't really see the point as a book should be good enough to carry its length - but I do need to check that those tiny Hardy copies are not abridged. I think Mill on the Floss is a hot contender for this year as it seems to meet a few challenges, thanks for the tip!
@@tillysshelf Thank you Tilly. I appreciate the welcome. Mill on the Floss is very meaty. Each chapter gives the reader much to think about. What I love about Eliot is that she can demand a lot of a reader's thought and attention yet do it in a digestible, easy to get along with, manner. She must have been delightful to drink tea with and have a conversation. I will read more of her works over time. As for Hardy, I fell in love with his pastoral writing and general pessimistic style. All that I read from him did not disappoint although his early works I think suffer in comparison to his "hits". You can tell he was still learning his craft. Try his poetry, especially his 1912-1913 poems about his deceased wife. Heartbreaking but you'll love them. There are about 21 poems. I agree with you on Dickens. Pacey....yup. Everyone loves Bleak House but I am not loving it because of all of the unnecessary digressions that fro me did not add to this story....anyway.....I'll pause this screed. A pleasure to engage with you. Be well so that you can do good. :)
@js.3490 I haven't delved enough into George Eliot yet - I must confess to failed attempts on both Middlemarch and Romola. I think this one will be more manageable and will help me to prepare for the longer works.
Yes Hardy's generally pessimistic style works for me too! Though Jude carried it a little too far. I have read a few of his poems, not all of them. I had an English teacher who would set them as an essay prompt on occasion - plenty to discuss!
@@tillysshelf I heard that Daniel Deronda is a very accessible and enjoyable read, Romola not so. Yeah, you'll gravitate towards Eliot when you are in the right headspace. For Hardy, Tess and Return of the Native are my favs. I fell in love with Hardy's "poetry in prose". But he wrote so many to enjoy. Curious to know, have you ever read Trollope? If so, then what do you think about his works? Sadly, I cannot participate in Victober. My work is at its busiest the first half of the month. :(
Yes I have heard positive things about Daniel Deronda too. Romola I think was a bad choice to start with! I enjoyed The Warden last Victober and will be trying the group read this year, but he wasn't an instant new favourite author.
Please hold the books up higher and longer
Sorry, I will try tpo do that in future!
@@tillysshelf thank you my china!