Middlemarch

MoJoV · ‎10-01-2010

Has anyone slogged through Middlemarch by George Eliot?( Mary Ann Evans). 794 pages. I've tried years ago and will try again soon. George Eliot was a woman bucking the norms of the middle 1800's in England. The main character resembles herself.

Sad that women had to hide their identities to become published authors. The Bronte sisters all had pen names.

Trees are the lungs of the Earth

blueroses47 · ‎03-09-2010

I did slog through Middlemarch. Maybe 6 or 7 years ago. I had had it on my bookshelf for a good 25 years and just never got around to it.

Every decade or so since I've retired, I tell myself I am going to read some of the famous classics that I never got to when I was younger. Around the time I read Middlemarch, I also read The Count of Monte Cristo, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Huckleberry Finn. Maybe one or two others I can't recall now. Oh, Winesburg, Ohio, because I read it's on lots of book lists of writers' favorites, and I remember a high school teacher praising it.

Well, the only one of the lot that I actually enjoyed was Middlemarch, but I didn't love it, and can't remember anything about it.

Maybe I'm too old now, and need to admit that I prefer fun things, contemporary mysteries and current best sellers. I'm reading the Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope series right now and I love them.

In my youth I was quite a serious reader, and enjoyed everything, but my old brain is too tired these days.

teganslaw · ‎03-11-2010

I started readng Middlemarch but gave up halfway through the book. It was too slow moving and the characters didn't interest me. "Slogging" is a good word for trying to read this.

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."

Mark Twain

Q-Checker · ‎05-09-2010

I enjoyed Middlemarch years ago in a Great Books discussion group. I highly prefer great literature to quickie junk reads. I have to "put more into it." but I get way, way more out of it. Quality writing to me is a fine art and a thing of beauty. We all read for different reasons. To each his own.

Ruby Laine · ‎05-25-2016

I have wanted to read this for years, I guess I need to do it now. However, I have slogged through 800 pages of Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. I believe she used her real name for most of her books.

It felt like 600 pages of description, 150 pages of story with all the mysteries, and there were many, and a page and a half of explanation and clearing up the mysteries! But I have to say, I really did like that book!

So I'm going to read Middlemarch this winter. Thanks for reminding me!

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

@Q-Checker wrote:
I enjoyed Middlemarch years ago in a Great Books discussion group. I highly prefer great literature to quickie junk reads. I have to "put more into it." but I get way, way more out of it. Quality writing to me is a fine art and a thing of beauty. We all read for different reasons. To each his own.

Agree. I have not read Middlemarch. I have read it is considered by many to be her best work.