Middlemarch: Book I

I know that its not time yet to start this book but I just thought that I would get the ball rolling with the first thread. From various comments on the 'Next Book After W&P' thread it seems that most copies of Middlemarch are broken up into 8 books plus a Finale....so that's probably the best way to break up the discussions. =)

When you are ready post your thoughts and comments about Book I: Miss Brooke here. I'm still slowly moving through War and Peace so not sure when I'll start this book....although it might make a great book to read on the plane to Aruba next month. =)

I found Middlemarch (in Norwegian) on my bookshelves and from the bookmark it looks like I've already read book 1 and 2. But now I'll have to start reading the novel from the beginning as I don't remember much of the plot and the characters. I guess it's about three or four years since I read the above-mentioned. I'm waiting for an English edition of Middlemarch, and I hope to get it in a week or two. Then I will compare the two editions, and use the Norwegian one to better understand 'Middlemarch' in its original language. I also like to know a little about the author of a novel, so I think I'll try to find something about George Eliot in my histories of literature and/or on the web. I really look forward to read this novel, and to see what the other group members think about it.

Please post any of your findings here about George Eliot for others might be interested as well.

I'm also looking forward to hearing about your comparisons between the Norwegian and English editions of Middlemarch. =)

I'd suggest starting a new thread - About George Eliot or something like that - and save this one for Book I discussion. Ditto for translation comparisons. The structure works so well with W&P - let's keep that going!

I'm also looking forward to hearing about the comparisons!

The start date for this book is on or around 22 April. Though feel free to start posting as soon as you have something to say. =)

I started the book today, and lets just say, I 'm glad I'm reading this as a group. I might be crazy, but I'm reading out loud to myself, just to make sure I hear it. Reading the first few pages silently, I realized I seemed to be reading words but not really having it sink in. Does that make any sense? I'm hoping once I get into the story I won't need to do this.
I'm also thinking a dictionary by my side might not be a bad idea either, lol.

#6 sydamy

I love what you wrote and I will take your advice. I'll pick up my copy tomorrow.

I started today and am on chapter 2. I think it's a good idea that I'm reading this with others too! I've read a lot of 19th century literature lately, so I think I'll be able to get into it pretty quickly.

I've just started chapter 4.

Is it possible to discuss a book or its parts without spoilers? People afraid of spoilers should not engage in discussion until they are ready (In part two before reading part one discussion, for instance. By the same token discussion should avoid spoilers unless they are necessary. Gratuitous spoilers just spoil all the fun and, in a group such as this, are malicious.

After all the Jane Austen and Dickens I've read, and remembering Silas Marner from many years ago, I am bowled over by how modern, both Dorothea and the narrator are. Dorothea is much more concerned with compatibility than security, a modern approach to marriage, although I see that Chettam is about to wear her down with his persistence.

This looks like a clash between the comfort of genteel country living with its horses and fox hunts against the growing awareness in the world that there are other, more important things than an hereditary life of leisure. If Dorothea allows herself to be captured by Chettam, I suspect the story will become one of potential struggling against custom. I don't know. Just a guess.

One of the things I enjoy about this era is the epigrams. I often learn as much from them as from the story.

IMO - The book discussion threads are open to discuss anything of interest to you while reading that particular section.

For my part I don't usually open up on of the specific threads for a book part until after I've finished reading it so I don't risk getting spoiled. I save my general chatter comments for the monthly message board or one of the more general topics that are open.

Oh yeah! Middlemarch! This is my desert-island book, and not just because it is long!

I started it last night, only read about three pages, and am finding it difficult already! Argh! I feel like Eliot is trying to teach me something and push a point, i.e. that women are hindered from doing anything big or important just because they are women. Valid point (for her time), but too overtly done, as if she's cramming it down my throat. As if the story is unimportant except as a vessel for her Big Lesson To Society.

I'm sorry for being negative, I hope that's allowed! I really really want to like this book, please help me! Convince me I'm wrong!

Of course its allowed CM. =)

I'm also only at the start of Chapter 3....so can't convince you of anything just yet. Right now I'm still just trying to find something about Dorothea to like. She's a very severe girl.

I'm also at the start of chapter 3 ... and so far I think Mr. Brooke is the most interesting character, but I don't like Casaubon, he seems to be too theoretical. I guess we will learn more about the persons later in the novel. Isn't Dorothea the main character? She must be in book 1, according to the title.

Middlemarch feels a bit like 'muddlemarch' to me at the moment ;) I've read five chapters and spent quite a bit of time looking up the notes at the back of my Penguin Classics edition (which I'd be even more lost without). I haven't tackled an Eliot novel for about 20 years, i.e. Silas Marner. Even tho' I've read a deal of 19th C literature by Dickens and Trollope in the last year I'm finding Eliot more heavy-going. But I'm hopeful I'll settle into the story soon enough.

I too am finding this a bit of a slog. The writing is very heavy handed and I find that I read it slower then I would like. I expected that with War and Peace, but with that one my eyes just fly across the page.

Once I get used to her style though I am sure that my reading pace will increase.

I believe that Dorothea is indeed the main character, although I'm only on chapter 5, so I'm not certain. So far I have to agree that she's not all that likable.

From what I hear of this book, it does get better. And we're all here to help each other get to that better point. Thank goodness, because I'm not sure how motivated I'd be to read this one on my own.

I read Middlemarch last year so I'm really not going to participate as you all go along -- but -- I have to speak in its defense . .

I gave up on it the first time I tried -- I thought it was dry and dense and boring and I couldn't get into it. I now consider it one of my faves. It definately gets better and you get used to Eliot's style. All the detail eventually contributes to a very rich, moving story with several main characters -- although Dorothea is the main star. (and honestly she does become likable)

Anyway -- I'd encourage you to stick with it -- it grows on you.

Thanks, Jhowell . . . I was hoping someone would speak up with info such as yours.

In chapter 6 Mrs. Cadwallader plays a main role, and she seems to be a very interesting character with her gossip and her private opinions. I still like Mr. Brooke. Perhaps his remarks and opinions are a little unstable, but I think it just makes him more human. And I look forward to read more about Celia. I think she is a down-to-earth and intelligent young woman, and not so ambitious and religious as Dorothea. I guess Dorothea suffer from a sort of hunger, i.e. an intellectual hunger. (She would surely have joined this Reading Group if she had lived today).

I like Eliot's style. Perhaps I've got a reliable translation (in Norwegian) of the original. (The English edition hasn't arrived yet, but sometimes I read a few passages from Project Gutenberg).

I think I'll get through book 1 this weekend.

My Norwegian edition is translated from English by Mona Lyche Ramberg.

I read to Chapter 5 last night, and started to almost enjoy it. I even laughed once, when Eliot said something about "the male mind - what there is of it".

I think jhowell is right - it will grow on us :)

ETA: I'm relieved to see I'm not alone too! This is one of the reasons we have these group reads :)

I've just come across this group on sombody's page and I LOVED Middlemarch, definitely one of my favorites. I know I have it somewhere, so if I don't find it right away I will get a copy right quick at the library or a local bookstore. I agree with some of the posters, give it a chance, when someone who reads constantly can recall one as being a favorite, there's something special about it! And as always, different strokes for different folks, so if it isn't your thing at least you gave it a shot, and it's great to have the support of the group for discussion. Mary Beth Meet you at Middlemarch!

A group member from "What Are you Reading Now" invited me over for Middlemarch discussion. Is there a reading time frame? I am at chp. 32. I find myself liking it in a restrained sort of way. One thing that helped me tremendously was A.S. Byatt's introduction in my edition (Oxford World's Classic). She points out that the relation of two seperate objects or ideas is the center of art and the nature of Middlemarch is to explore connections and divisions in "gleeful and explicit manner." She also reminds it was written and published in serial form and I think that often makes the reading seem an endless wading through myriad of detail and character (a la Dickens)as the author injects something novel and perhaps a detail that will bring you to buy the next edition. To me, that can make a distinct difference in the writing and presentation style. If all this is old news here at the group, please forgive. Byatt's intro is worthwhile, many points of thought which would have flown right past me.

Welcome Mary Beth and orangeeana!

>23 orangeena: Thanks, your info isn't old news to me :)

Many classics editions such as Penguin and Oxford do have excellent introductions. The only snag is that there are usually major spoilers, out of necessity, since its an analysis of the book after all. So I tend to read the intro after finishing the book, which sometimes means 'the penny doesn't drop' completely til after I've completed the book, but at least the plot hasn't been spoilt for me.

Middlemarch was the selection of my "real life" book discussion group for March. I still had the receipt in the book from when I bought it - in 1994. (I got on my LT catalog during the meeting and suggested the group choose one of my TBR books - I have over 200!) I read about 160 pages, then the e-audio from the library became available, so I picked up the story from there, and it was wonderful. I've actually done some price checking for the CD version, because I enjoyed Kate Reading's narration so much. I just returned the miniseries DVD to the library today. (Of course the book is better, but the miniseries was quite good and mostly well-cast, I thought.)

When I finished listening to the audiobook, even though I had my group's April selection to read, and another audiobook ready to go as well, I found it very hard to think about "moving on." It's been several weeks now, and still, the spell is with me. I'm listening now to Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, and while I'm enjoying it, I keep thinking back to George Eliot, narrated by Kate Reading, and how marvelous it is, and how I'd be a better person if I could be more like Dorothea.

I'm sorry I didn't restrict my comments to only Book One, but I just wanted to add my voice to those "speaking in its defense." As megwaiteclayton said in message # 11, it really is a "desert island book" - in a class with War and Peace - in that it is so RICH, and complete.

Thank you friends for all the wonderful comments and thoughts on this thread - just got back from a two week break and have just read through this thread. What a start. I am off to make a start and hoping that I have the A S Byatt introduction in my copy. My desert island book is already chosen War and Peace without a doubt!

Hi people - I've already read Middlemarch, so I'm sitting this one out, but just to second jhowell, I also took a little while to get into it, but once I did, I loved it so keep going!

And yes, Dorothea does become more likable - I found her a bit irritating to begin with, but you come to realise that it's just that she's young and idealistic. The majority of the characters incredibly convincing (and I agree, Mr Brooke is probably my favourite character too)

I have just finished book 1, and I realize there are several plots in this novel. I'm sure I'll learn more about all the characters as I continue reading. Perhaps it is like "War and Peace", you have to read attentively (and rather slowly) in the beginning to get to know all the persons and their relationships.

And what did George Eliot mean by her prelude about Saint Theresa? Don't you think she is a symbol of Dorothea Brooke in Middlemarch? Or perhaps another of the characters?

Well, I guess the further reading will show. I really look forward to it.

It was that prelude about Saint Theresa that annoyed me to start off with. It's like she was saying, 'Here is my lesson, the point of the book. Here is how you read the book, and here is a whole character summary of Dorothea."

I prefer to work these things out for myself. >:-(

On the other hand, I'm really starting to get into the book now, though I'm not nearly as far through as kjellika. I've just been introduced to the young curly-haired nephew who has disappeared off to Europe, doubtless to appear again later. I like how Eliot seems to know that by introducing this character the reader will have a pretty good idea of what will follow later, and somehow makes it like an unspoken knowledge shared between author and reader, rather than the clumsy foreshadowing it could have been.

I'm so excited - I'm relatively new to LT and have never joined in on a group read - oh, the excited part, I have Middlemarch! :)

Just one question though, being new to the group, is there a general rate at which you all read or just join in the threads for each chapter/book as you're done? I guess I'm just trying to get a feel for the pace of reading and discussion.

I started reading last evening and got through chapter 1. So far, so good, but like someone else mentioned, I had to read out loud to get the hang of the language. Having already read this thread, I was surprised that I didn't dislike Dorothea. I thought she was a little bit rigid, but I was like that myself at her age, so I didn't mind. I didn't care for Celia, who seems like a selfish brat to me. I liked Mr. Brooke - I am anticipating that he and Dorothea will develop warm familial relationship.

Ouch, I just got my copy yesterday and after reading this thread I'm not too hopeful. I may have to postpone reading that brick. Too much to do for school and if it is as demanding as people here say I think it would take me forever (esp. with English not being my native language). Ah, we'll see, I'll try to start it this weekend.

melissasyd, #30, Welcome to LT and this group! I think people pretty much read at their own pace, and post to the thread related to the part they're reading to avoid spoilers.

I started a new thread for discussion of Book 2 of Middlemarch for those of us who have finised Book 1. But don't let that stop anyone from still posting here about Book 1! :)

I'm now in the middle of chapter 6 and do not have read aloud any more :) I still find I must read very carefully and do sometimes read pages more than once.

I too am starting to get into the story and am looking forward to where this is all going. I have tried not to read any information (introductions or book analysis) that explains the story, I like to be surprised by events not waiting for them to happen.

29 - chocolate - the prelude put me off a bit too. I think that made those first chapters a little harder to get into then they might have been otherwise.

@30 melissa - things are very loose with our group reads. We post as we feel like it during the read. Some post as they go others wait until after they finish a particular section before chiming in. There is no time limits. Many here all feel that time limits put pressure on a read, make it seem more like work and takes away some of the fun. Time limits are all well and good for lighter reads but when tackling such works as War and Peace or Middlemarch its best to go at your own pace to savor and get into the story. Or at least thats how I feel.

@32 thalia - the story can be difficult to get into at first but those who've read it before weren't lying when they said that it does get easier. =)

I can now say though that with just having finished Book I that I am really starting to enjoy this book. I like how Eliot has incorporated some other characters from the area into the story. See you over in the Book 2 thread digifish. =)

I started reading last night.. I'm loving it so far; Eliot's writing is beautiful. I don't mind rereading some of the more complex sentences/thoughts; I'm enjoying every word. My favorite sentence so far is in chapter three, where she is charmed by Mr. Casaubon.
" ... the union which attached her was one that would deliver her from her girlish subjection to her own ignorance, and give her the freedom of voluntary submission to a guide who would take her along the grandest path.
This sentence is what the book is about; she is looking for a teacher ... and then what ... so the journey of life begins. Do we need to be understood by others? How much understanding do we need? What will Dorothea answer be on the subjects of understanding and freedom?
I can't wait to get back to reading tonight! Great book selection.

gasp! you all started without me! haha, i've been out of the country volunteering and forgot to bring my copy (stupid me) when I threw my million books into my duffel bag. I will start it tonight and hope to catch up :) I'm glad people are enjoying it, be back soon!

Okay.....confession.....I read the entire novel on vacation! Wow! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I will try to keep my comments within the correct Book thread. For starters, however, here are the vocabulary words I have had to look up:

hustings: platform from which political speeches are made
sciolism: superficial knowledgeability
antipodes: living opposite one another on the globe
leveret: a young hare

And, although I knew it's meaning, I thoroughly enjoyed the word..........bigwiggism!

Oops! I have now posted vocab where vocab is supposed to be....namely on the vocab thread!

I live in a small village and spent quite a bit of time chuckling about the ever so apt personality types to be found............the "Busybody", "Intellectuals are strange creatures", the 'ignorance is bliss" crowd (we actually had a school board member announce that he had gotten along just fine without computers, why do these kids need them), and of course, the "holier than thou" crowd. Love it!

I was struck by how well Eliot establishes the concepts of socially imposed limits in characters versus characterological limits.

I think my favorite character so far is Mrs. Cadwallader. I like the idea of a middle-aged lady who seems to go around telling people exactly what she thinks of them. I don't dislike Dorothea, but I can see how she would annoy others. Her desire to be totally subordinate to her husband kind of put me off, but I think culture and society plays a huge role in that.

I'm through chp 6, and am trying to get acquainted with the different characters. It's taking me an effort to get past the fact that Eliot doesn't introduce each new character with a full detailed description of physical appearance like modern authors are prone to do. I sometimes have to go back and re-read a passage to verify that we were, in fact, meeting someone new. I'm loving that, in this longer-than-I-usually-read novel, the characters appear to be more completely developed, more complex and lifelike that we sometimes see. People aren't always as they appear on the surface.

The book is going faster than I expected, and I am beginning to enjoy it more with each chapter. I think both Dorothea and Celia are young and immature, but at that awkward stage when it's time to be an adult and begin making adult decisions. Right now, it's the men who are annoying me (nothing new, I guess :-)). Mr Casaubon is old enough to know better, and Chettam is beginning to seem rather spineless.

And I am through chapter 14, but I still have to re-read sometimes. I was reading War and peace too, but I must postpone the rest of it a couple of months to participate in the discussions here.

For the time being I read the Norwegian and the English edition of Middlemarch simultaneously. Interesting!! So far it looks like the two editions follow each other quite well. And I learn a lot of the English language this way. :-))

Perhaps the above message should have been in 'book 2' or the 'MESSAGE BOARD', but I thought it better to be here as a comment to #43 sjmccreary.

#43 I think you're right about the male characters. The women seem to be stronger personalities, and the men, though having a stronger position in society, are weaker people.

I can't say I'm over-enthusiastic about the feminist aspect of this novel. At least it's subtle some of the time! :-/

This is my absolute favorite novel. It's, like someone said above, so rich and complete. Every time you read it, you pick up something new. You'll find no caricatures or stereotypes in this one.

Thalia- I'm the same way. I really recommend waiting for summer break to read this so you can do it justice. I never can read anything challenging during the semester. I'm jealous of those who have the brain power to do it.

I'm reading the Lemony Snicket books on my lunch hour these days. Hi, my name is Frogbelly and I'm an English major that reads kids' books. ha

...and I'm going to try and find that George Eliot thread. From what little I've read about her, she seems to have been a very cool, interesting lady.

edit for typo

I'm nearly finished with Book 1 - only one chapter left. I was really getting into the story and beginning to enjoy it as long as I read a chapter or two each day, but I went a couple of days without picking it up this week, and last night I really had trouble remembering where I was - nothing seemed familiar, almost like I'd picked up a different book. I'll have to make more effort to read at least a little every day. I'll finish Book 1 tonight, and post my impressions before going on to Book 2.

Well, I've finished Book I now.

I am having some trouble with Dorothea Brooke - she is a really strange duck. On the one hand, I admire her rather detached quest for pure knowledge whether its useful or not. On the other hand, she seems like such a naive, hypocritically pious young woman. I nearly died during Dorothea's visit to Causabon's property when she remarks that she had hoped to find the poor at little less well-cared for, so that she should have something to do there! I find her sister, Celia, to be a much more sensible and humane person, despite her foibles and her interest in superficial things. Despite the sort of contrasts between certain people as "practical" and others as "theoretical", I don't think Eliot is setting up simple archetypes with her characters, and I am impressed with how rich her characterizations are. I think that Eliot is going to show us very few, if any, wholly "good" or wholly "bad" characters in this book.

Dorothea's aspirations for marriage are really interesting to me. They seem so foreign and strange, from a contemporary perspective. Wanting a husband who can educate you out of your ignorance? While it is certainly not a marriage of equals, I wonder if most marriages at this time were, and it seems that marrying a man out of intellectual admiration might be just as revolutionary as marrying for love. And gender historians of the time lurking out there?

I love how Eliot has created a very deep and interesting world - Middlemarch seems alive after the first book, with a cast of fascinating people, none of whom really seem like they are just stereotypes providing window dressing. I like and dislike them all, for different reasons, but more importantly, they all seem to have their own stories that can be told.

Thankfully, I am, so far, enjoying this book much more than I did when I was forced to read it for a class. I do think that it has to be digested slowly and that is perhaps allowing me to appreciate it more now than when I had to read it in about two weeks!

This group read seems like a great idea :-) I've just finished the first book, and although I had some rough patches, I'm enjoying it well enough I think. I didn't except it to be so funny! Mr Casaubon's love letter cracked me up, as did Mr Brooks having to stop in the middle of his sentence when he realized he never actually did know Vergil. Maybe I'm just pleasantly surprised because I expected it to be extraordinarily dry, but I'm pleased.

I think I like Dorothea in that I find her interesting, but wouldn't want to know anyone like her in real life. I'm interested to see what will happen to her and her rigid idealism over time (my vote is for having an affair with the nephew, but I probably watch too much trashy TV). Like others, I also find her view towards marriage to be an interesting one.

I'm taking it with me on vacation, starting with a long plane ride, so I hope to make good progress, if not actually finish it by the time I return!

I am very close to finishing Book 1, I'm on the last chapter. I must agree with #48 sjmccreary - I find if you do not read a little everyday it takes a bit to re-adjust to the feel of the book, and remembering what was going on. Each chapter is about something totally different, and entirely new characters are introduced and developed. I know Dorthea is the main character but 100 pages in and she is mentioned almost as much as her sister. Any of the "minor" characters at this point could take over the story, as we know so much about them. I just finished the chapter on Miss Vincy, where Dorthea is not even really mentioned. This book could go in any direction at this point.

A totally off topic question, but, does anyone know if this book has ever been made into a movie?

> 52 sydamy - Yes, it has, and I for one really liked it! I checked out the DVD from the library several weeks ago. It's not recent (it was made in 80s or 90s), was probably BBC - can't recall the details at the moment - it was quite enjoyable. :-)

To corroborate with 53, my copy of the book has actors on the cover, and 'now a major BBC serial' written across the front. I'm going to have to watch it after I'm done reading.

ETA: I was talking about Middlemarch with my brother, and he asked where the name 'Casaubon' came from. I googled it to see if anything interesting came up, and sure enough, according to Wikipedia Isaac Casaubon (1559-1614) was a classical scholar and philologist, regarded by many of his time as the most learned man in Europe (and Middlemarch is mentioned in the 'literary appearences' section of his entry). I thought I would share in case anyone else was interested.

54> Very interesting! Thank you for that info.

I'm here to try and give a little encouragement to those of you who are struggling with Middlemarch. I had a tough time myself through much of book 1 & 2, but I'm now nearing the end of book 3, and I'm finding it gets easier. I don't think anything in the book itself changed, but I'm getting used to Eliot's style. I find the most interesting aspect of the book is her ability to describe character, so that's what I look for and enjoy when I find it. It's really a character-driven story above anything else, I think.

Also, I find it really only works for me to be able to read when I have a chunk of uninterrupted time, and some quiet. I tend to fit my reading in when I can, and my house can get pretty loud, but that doesn't work with Middlemarch. This book requires a setting that is conducive to concentration. I also like to read with soft music playing in the background, but with this book I need silence.

I admit that I still sigh when I turn a page to find the next two-page spread to be one long paragraph, but other than that it's clipping along a bit better. When I feel bogged down I go back and read Dorothea's words in chapter 21 where she says: "I am seeing so much all at once, and not understanding half of it. That always makes one feel stupid." Somehow it's comforting that she too feels a little lost.

Hope something I've said helps.

#56 Nickelini:
What a nice comment!! :-))

#57-Kjellika--

Just trying to help out if I can!

#56 Nickelini, I am very glad I am not the only one who needs total concentration and silence to read this. I am also very glad I am doing this as a group read. It is nice to hear that others are feeling the same way as I when trying to tackle this book. I'm sure if I was reading alone I would have wondered if I was alone in finding the book difficult.

I just want to echo this sentiment of all the Middlemarch fans here. I do think Eliot's style may take a little getting used to, but in the end the payoff is so high. I count it among my VERY FAVORITE books of all time, and if I had to pick one would be looking at Middlemarch, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Pride and Prejudice. The first time I heard of Middlemarch, it was described to me as "like Jane Austen, only better." I don't know about better, but definitely as good. I find Eliot's characters in the end more real than Austen's, and she goes deeper inside them. And since she deals with women who have aspirations beyond the happy marriage ending - Dorothea, for example, who aspires to exercise her intellect and do some good in this world at a time women weren't supposed to want that - I find her in the end even more satisfying that Austen.

I just started rereading last night, and look forward to the discussion.

I just finished the scene where Dorothea and Ladislaw first meet - the kind of scene that I just love in this book (Part I, Ch. 9). She delivers the insecure artist here so well: Mr. Brooke is praising the painting but when Dorothea says she's no judge of art, Ladislaw focuses on her words rather than her uncle's, and decides she's laughing at both of them when she is just humbly saying she isn't knowledgeable about art. Still, he is still enamored of her ("But what a voice!").

I add my encouragement to any readers whose commitment to Middlemarch is waning. I am well into Book V now and have found it better and better as the story progresses and you adjust to Eliot's style. She uses a lot to say a little and it is more enjoyable and makes more sense when a reader has time and solitude for it to flow together. Then I find myself stopping to revel in her characterizations or in some clever and accurate observation she has made of the human condition.
Some books you can pick up and read a bit almost anywhere and anytime and immediately be right into the middle of it all but I think Middlemarch asks more of us.

Woohoo!!! I'm finally moving to book 2. I am liking how Eliot makes every character important. I know it add to the girth of the book, all the detail of minor characters (or who I think are minor so far), but that what makes the town and story believable, we understand everyone.

I'm just about to start Middlemarch, being a Group Newbie - hopefully I can catch up with some of you guys before long! I have two well-worn copies (I think it must have been assigned at school sometime long ago) and still haven't managed to read it so this is a good boot up the bum! Look forward to reading some of the discussions that have gone before me!

OK, I whipped along to Chapter Four overnight and I have a sneaking suspicion that I might come to love this book. Dorothea, hmmm, not sure yet. I find her mildly annoying but feel that I'm also developing a sneaking fondness for her nonetheless.

Does anyone else find Eliot very funny in places? For example:

"A man's mind - what there is of it - has always the advantage of being masculine - as the smallest birch-tree is of a higher kind than the most soaring palm - and even his ignorance is of sounder quality"

I laughed out loud and then glanced at my husband who was looking at me quizzically!

65> I had several laugh out loud moments reading the book. The lovely thing about this book is that you have the opportunity to see characters mature...hint....hint.

>to revel in her characterizations or in some clever and accurate observation she has made of the human condition

Ditto what orangeena says.

And Klarusu, I do think she is so funny sometimes. I love the narrative tone she takes with Fred Vincy - whom she clearly has great affection for despite his shortcomings. e.g. beginning of ch. 24 (which I was going to copy here, but then realized this is the Part I discussion and don't want to plot spoil).

67 megwaiteclayton> I shall keep an eye out for that one when I get there ....

Moving on to Book 2 now and I'm really glad this group spurred me on to read Middlemarch - it's been sitting on my bookshelf for a long, long while and I didn't realise what I was missing!

For all the wordiness, I find I'm totally transported by some of the scenes of dialogue, especially the dinner party before Dorothea's marriage. It felt totally real and I could well imagine the characters gossiping away.

Looking forward to seeing where they all end up!

The prelude made me aware that there will be something about St. Theresa that connected with George Eliot or there was something new to wonder about her legacy.

Dorothea hit me as being young and having too much. Hopefully she will become more sophisticated as time passes. St. Theresa's story seems to say to me that no matter how short a life can be, it can still be an epic tale.

The jewelry made a mark. I pictured breath-taking pieces, all with history.
And that was just book 1, chapter 1

Just finished book 1. I agree that it's hard going in places, but I am enjoying it - it's often very funny (much more so than I was expecting). I was also surprised by how quickly we jumped into the story - I guess the only thing I knew about it beforehand was about Dorothea and her relationship with the completely unsuitable Casaubon, so I was expecting us to get to know Dorothea for a bit before Casaubon was introduced. Also, I find myself a bit surprised by how much Eliot explains people's feelings and reactions (eg how explicitly she explains why Dorothea is attracted to Casaubon) - sometimes this feels a little unsubtle to me.

No 49: fannyprice - the competition/contrast between the way Dorothea reacts to Sir James and to Casuabon reminded me of Isabel Archer's choice in Portrait of a Lady - rejecting the man who was kind and considerate, who respected her and would have given her plenty of space to be herself, and instead choosing someone who represented something which she admired, but who (definitely in P of a L, and I surmise also in M'march) will end up closing her down and limiting her.

I think many readers are put off by Dorothea at first. (My wife couldn't stand her, and never got past the first couple of chapters.) She does become more sympathetic as the story develops, but she never becomes other than a very real, and therefore flawed, young woman.
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>#49 Fanny Price: You hit a number of nails squarely on the head. Dorothea is a strange duck -- pulled this way and that by what she (thinks she) wants, what she (actually) wants, what she (really) needs. Eliot makes fun of her at some points (like the wonderful example you gave), but there is tragic tinge to Dorothea's search for meaning too.
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On Dorothea's willingness to submit to a teacher-husband: You have to remember that almost no young women of her time could go to university, and few even got what we would call a high school education. Dorothea feels she needs help with weighty, intellectual matters because she has received very little guidance in this area by the time we meet her.
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Your comment that no character in the novel seems wholly good or bad is very well taken. That is what, ultimately, makes so many of them so real.
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I had trouble getting into this novel initially, too, partly because I wanted to smack some sense into Dorothea. In the end, it has become one of the richest reading experience I ever had.