Victorians! discussion

There seems to be some issues in the original chit-chat discussion, which prevent a few of us from viewing the thread. I'm opening up this second version to start fresh so that everyone can join in.

Thank you Paula!

Ok, all, I need some help! I found a 4-story used bookstore in Chicago that I'm going to visit in about 2 weeks. Any recommendations on what to look for while there? I haven't read any Trollope or Gaskell, so would like to pick up one of each, but am not sure which book by each author is the best with which to start. I really want to find more M.E. Braddon (Lady A's Secret got me hooked!). Anything else to recommend? Thanks! :)

Everyone who adores Trollope has a different idea as to where a Trollope virgin should start. Mine is to begin with The Warden and then go through the rest of the Barchester chronicles in order. (The second one is Barchester Towers. For Gaskell, you might want to see if you can find an old, nicely illustrated volume (there are quite a few of them available). Either Cranford or Wives and Daughters would be a good place to start. I wonder if you might stumble upon some beautiful volumes of Victorian poetry, say Idylls of the King.

Paula, with regards to Gaskell, definitely start with North and South. It's quite easy to get into, because it's written in a relatively modern style, and I'm sure you'll fall in love with Gaskell's writing. Whateer you do, don't begin with 'Ruth' - it would turn anybody off.

Paula wrote: "Ok, all, I need some help! I found a 4-story used bookstore in Chicago that I'm going to visit in about 2 weeks. Any recommendations on what to look for while there? I haven't read any Trollope or ..."

4 storey's of used books!?! Heaven! *drool*
lol! Have fun!

KipseeSox

Are you sure you won't need help getting dragged out of the building before you spend all your food money? I would.

Andrea wrote: "Are you sure you won't need help getting dragged out of the building before you spend all your food money? I would."

Hahaha - I always have to set a limit on the money I'll spend before I go in. I've been known to spend entire afternoons in these stores, and often have to have my boyfriend almost physically drag me out. This one is open until 1am! I confess freely that I can think of nothing better to do until Saturday at 1am sifting through old books : )

Laurele wrote: "Everyone who adores Trollope has a different idea as to where a Trollope virgin should start. Mine is to begin with The Warden and then go through the rest of the Barchester chronicles in order. (T..."

I'm also hoping to find some poetry by Christina Rossetti. I know there are a few people here who are ardent fans, and while I have some of her poetry on my Kindle, I often find with Victorian (or older) works that reading them on my K2 just doesn't cut it. I need to feel the book and physically flip pages.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Feel free to toss out more, as I won't be able to go until the weekend of Oct. 10 and find going in with a list often helps me cut back on the reckless spending.

Hi Paula,
If you feel like you should stop buying at anytime on your trip...just buy one final one in the spirit of the group!

DJ wrote: "Hi Paula,
If you feel like you should stop buying at anytime on your trip...just buy one final one in the spirit of the group!"

Hahaha - awesome idea!

Just a few housekeeping items:

The discussion thread for "The Woman in White" is now available under the Group Discussions folder; "Middlemarch" discussions have been moved to Previous Group Discussions; nominations are now being accepted for the Nov/Dec Neo-Victorian book.

As always, the discussions for the previous read will stay open so people can continue to comment.

Paula, you're a life-saver! Thanks for getting so involved and you're doing a fab job :o)

Boof wrote: "Paula, you're a life-saver! Thanks for getting so involved and you're doing a fab job :o)"

Aren't you sweet :) Just glad to be helping out. I've missed a few things, but the group has been kind enough to point these things out and steer me straight. Thanks, all!

So... bookstore in general was terrible, but had a treasure trove of Trollope. 2 hr drive there, 20 minutes spent in the store. Then hit two other bookstores on the way home, and now I have too many choices to pick from!! Really need to set limits and then stick with them.

Paula wrote: "So... bookstore in general was terrible, but had a treasure trove of Trollope. 2 hr drive there, 20 minutes spent in the store. Then hit two other bookstores on the way home, and now I have too man..."
So guess you won`t be going back?
But at least there was other bookstores to save the day!!

DJ wrote: "So guess you won`t be going back?
But at least there was other bookstores to save the day!! ..."

I did enjoy the adventure of trying to find my way into Chicago but it just wasn't worth the trip. Perhaps my expectations were too high, being a big city like Chicago and all.

But I did collect 20 books total on my way home. Really did not stick to my pre-set limit :)

I've just had the best weekend! It was my birthday on Friday and we went to Paris for 4 days and my present from my husband was unmlimitless time in Shakespeare & Co bookshop and to buy myself 10 books. It is the cutest place - floor to ceiling books, higgledipiggledy rooms, fairy lights, just bliss! I spent a wonderful 2 hours in there and David didn't complain once!

Also, my Mum and Dad bought me membership to the Bronte Society so I was so excited. I'm goimg up to the parsonage again this week as Tracy Chevalier (one of my favourite authors - she wrote The Girl with the Pearl Earring among others) is going to be there.

Lucky Boof! :D So this is an English bookshop in Paris? :o

Yes, it is Lauren. It's amazing, you'd love it! I'll post some pictures on my profile when I download them. It's on the River Seine by Notre Dame and is run by travellers (English, Australian, American etc). It was started after WWII by an American who named it after the famous one set up by Sylvia Beech where James Joyce wrote Ulysses and Hemingway, Pound etc used to hang out.

Oh, I think it read an article on this... maybe.

Do post some pics - I love noseying at other people's adventures (pretending I could lead such an interesting life, etc. xD)

Now that's what I call a present.And it just shows how well your
Husband knows you!
Also Happy Belated birthday.

Happy Birthday, Boof, you lucky girl! What great presents, all around. What books did you get? Care to share?

I got:


The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton (well, it is halloween soon!)


The New York Stories of Edith Wharton (in preparation for my trip to NYC in December)


Coco Chanel - Axel Maslen


Hunting and Gathering - Anna Gavalda


The Mandarins - Simone de Beauvoir

[image error]
Nana - Emile Zola


The Belly of Paris - Emile Zola


The Snow Tourist - Charlie English


Les Liaisons Dangereuse


The Gourmet - Muriel Barbery

All brand new - it was like Christmas! ☺

Boof wrote: "I got:


The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton (well, it is halloween soon!)


The New ..."

Boof, you'll love The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton! That is a wonderful collection of spooky stories. Her short stories are just the best! Cheers! Chris

Boof wrote: "I've just had the best weekend! It was my birthday on Friday and we went to Paris for 4 days and my present from my husband was unmlimitless time in Shakespeare & Co bookshop and to buy myself 10..."

That sounds so wonderful, Boof! Shakespeare & Co. is a lot of fun, isn't it? I did a summer course at the Sorbonne in the mid 90's and used to spend a lot of time there after classes. Do they still have the bunk/ cot for visiting writers? Did you go to the places Hemingway mentioned in A Movable Feast?

Oh, and happy (belated) birthday!

Paula wrote: "Ok, all, I need some help! I found a 4-story used bookstore in Chicago that I'm going to visit in about 2 weeks. Any recommendations on what to look for while there? I haven't read any Trollope or ..."

Paula, I totally second the recommendation to pick up a copy of the Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti. Her poetry is simply enchanting, and she was nearly as prolific as Dickinson.

Also, what is the name and address of this used book store? I get to Chicago periodically; and I'd love to put this on my list of bookstores to visit the next time I'm in town. Thanks! Cheers! Chris

It's called Myopic Books - 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Not bad if you happen to be in the neighborhood, but I was expecting more, to be honest. There are two used book stores in Milwaukee, WI that are twice as big as Myopic (and the books are cheaper!). Plus, Myopic upcharges a book $1 for each time they reshelve it. Normally I would accept something like this, but there were 4 employees giggling behind a computer screen and not helping customers, so clearly they have time to restock a few books.

The saving grace was the Trollope treasures and they did have a collection of Rossetti's poems. I have some of her poems on my Kindle, but just needed to have them in a real book, so I'm excited. The Goblin Market is oddly hypnotic...

Paula wrote: "It's called Myopic Books - 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Not bad if you happen to be in the neighborhood, but I was expecting more, to be honest. There are two used book stores in Milwaukee, W..."

Much thanks, my friend! Good info about the store too. The Goblin Market is one of those poems that you will read, and re-read, and find completely new ways to look at it, with vastly different interpretations at so many levels. Her poem, The Dead City (1847), is another extraordinarily compelling poem. Oh, there are just so many...

Cheers! Chris

Boof, what a lovely birthday! Glad you enjoyed the day.

And I have to say, I don't quite understand reshelving charges in a bookstore. I work in a bookstore when I'm not teaching (summer and Christmas) and we WANT people to take the books off the shelf and look at them. I'd rather reshelve them than have a customer shove them back in the wrong place.

Well said Andrea...
Have to say I have never heard of a reshelving charge before,is it only in America this happens?

I've never heard of a reshelving fee. Is that if you return the book? Or just if you take it off the shelf? Either way . . . seems pretty lame.

I've never seen it before. Perhaps a Chicago thing? I actually put back a few books where the price was clearly altered.

Next time I'll go to a place like where Andrea works! :) And I bet they don't charge for reshelving at Shakespeare & Co.!

I really need to hop across the pond and visit bookstores over there.

I have never in my life heard of a reshelving fee before.

It's like a yarn shop that doesn't want you petting the wool!

Darcy wrote: "I've never heard of a reshelving fee. Is that if you return the book? Or just if you take it off the shelf? Either way . . . seems pretty lame. "

To answer your question - it's if you take it off the shelf and someone has to physically put it back. If I ever go back, I'll take a pic of the sign and post it.

That is demented.

Paula wrote: "Darcy wrote: "I've never heard of a reshelving fee. Is that if you return the book? Or just if you take it off the shelf? Either way . . . seems pretty lame. "

To answer your question - it's if ..."

PLEASE DO!! Maybe you could turn it into bookmarks we could buy off you,that would be something I`d love!!!
Husband totally horrified at the idea of reshelving charge..he wonders if it is entirely legal?

DJ wrote: "PLEASE DO!! Maybe you could turn it into bookmarks we could buy off you,that would be something I`d love!!!
Husband totally horrified at the idea of reshelving charge..he wonders if it is entirely legal?
..."

No charge for bookmarks! :)

Yes, entirely legal, welcome to American capitalism :) It's a used bookstore, they can charge whatever someone is willing to spend. They can upcharge because of re-shelving, they can upcharge because they are in Chicago, they can upcharge because they are having a bad day.

Poor books, to be treated so unkindly when all they want is a loving home.

I'm putting this comment in two places, in hopes of getting more responses (also under the "Wanted! Volunteer Discussion Leaders" discussion):

Hurray! My books arrived much earlier than expected - love Amazon! This is particularly helpful as I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be leading the discussion :)

With that in mind, I'd like to ask everyone's opinion of how things are going so far with me as co-moderator. I'm open to suggestions on improvement, just please be gentle :)

I know WiW is the only discussion I've opened thus far, and we're not really that far into it, so perhaps it's too early to say? Is the structure too informal, too unstructured? Do you like having specific questions presented for discussions?

I think the group is fantastic, and there are a lot of members who participate so frequently that the book discussions tend to lead themselves. But, if there is something I can do to help, please let me know. Thanks all!

Paula, for what it is worth, I think you're doing a fantastic job! And I'm really looking forward to Drood.

Darcy wrote: "Paula, for what it is worth, I think you're doing a fantastic job! And I'm really looking forward to Drood. "

It's worth a lot :) Thanks, Darcy.

Darcy wrote: "Paula, for what it is worth, I think you're doing a fantastic job! And I'm really looking forward to Drood. "

Hear hear! Paula, you've been an absolute life-saver for me and I'm so pleased you are co-mod with me. You're doing a fab job! :o)

Boof wrote: "Hear hear! Paula, you've been an absolute life-saver for me and I'm so..."

Thank you, my friend!

Paula wrote: "I'm putting this comment in two places, in hopes of getting more responses (also under the "Wanted! Volunteer Discussion Leaders" discussion):

Hurray! My books arrived much earlier than expected..."

I like the 'unstructured' feel of the discussion where everyone could just come up with their own questions and react to others'. You've been doing a good job, Paula!

I'll have to pass on Drood, though. I feel that I haven't read that much Dickens/ know enough about his life to be able to properly appreciate it. I plan to read some more of his novels first, like Bleak House or Our Mutual Friend, which others here have recommended to me (hopefully one or two of them will be selected as group read). : )

Sandybanks, I'm with you on that. I need / want to read more Dickens first. I was hoping to sqeeze one in before Christmas so if I do it may be a shorter one like Oliver Twist or The Old Curiosity Shop .

Paula wrote: "DJ wrote: "PLEASE DO!! Maybe you could turn it into bookmarks we could buy off you,that would be something I`d love!!!
Husband totally horrified at the idea of reshelving charge..he wonders if it..."

POOR BOOKS,TO BE TREATED SO UNKINDLY,WHEN ALL THEY WANT IS A LIVING HOME...

Perfect Sentiment Paula!
I think you are doing really well as co-moderator as you make us all so comfortable about what we say...

So doyou Boof,don`t want to be accused of showing favouratism!!

should have been LOVING..
please forgive the typo...

Paula, both you and Boof are doing a great job. Can't wait to read Drood.

Paula, I think you are doing a fine job. I was thinking about the reshelving charge and wondering why they would want to punish the NEXT customer rather than the one who moved the book? There have been a few (very few) customers I've wanted to slap with a surcharge, but surely what's the logic of punishing the next person who reads the same book?