Trollope and James

I've read Middlemarch at least twice as well. Great book.

Anyone read 'Death comes to pemberley'? PD James follow on from Pride and prejudice? I was up in Yorkshire recently and they were filming this at 'Castle Howard'

Well, I'm NOT gonna try again! No way!!!

j; mine has probably been ongoing for a decade. Tell you what, I'll take it with me when I go on me hols and I'll read it for both of us !

Middlemarch was on my A level English text and I can remember at 16 thinking what an unsuitable book it was for 16 - 18 year olds. It is primarily a study of marriages from Dorothea and Casaubon, her sister's marriage, Lydgate and Rosamund Vincy, the elder Vincys, Bulstrodes and several others. At 16 I was aware that I did not have enough experience to understand the book other than in a most superficial way.

Twenty years later I came back to it and was pleased to discover my teenage judgement was correct. As an adult it is a riveting read, the subtle interplay of how a range of different marriages work, the balance of power within them and the way individuals in a couple will manipulate their partner to achieve their aims was spell binding.

Oh blimey; having yet another senior moment; it's The Mill on the Floss that I've been trying to read for years. Does that mean I have to read both now ....

Both great novels, Tegan though The Mill is less complex than Middlemarch which, I would agree, is too complex for A-level study. I liken it to a very complicated, inter-linked pattern which eventually makes sense at the end. I love it - there was a pretty good attempt to televise it some time ago - a challenging adaptation, I would think.

Love the Mill on the Floss.

Well, did when I read it years ago.

Don't think I'll ever bother with these old books again though.

I feel I haven't got any time now to reread as there is so much new stuff around. All right perhaps not as great as the greats but surely they must be given a chance. And i feel there are only so many years left too me. The only rereads I can enjoy are Jane Austen and oddly Cranford. Hardy makes me suicidal too.