So despite having experienced several Dickens' novels in the traditional way of reading a book as quickly as possible I've decided to experiment my method of exploring him by reading him serially, as might've by the original audiences. Given that the serial nature of his novels undoubtedly affects the structure and how the story develops I thought my reading him this way would offer a bit more richer experience. Currently I'm reading "Oliver Twist" in this fashion--limiting myself to two chapters a day. What I'm finding out is that I'm looking forward to coming home reading the book everyday than I was when reading his other books 75+ pages in a session. Thoughts?
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I love Oliver Twist. What a fine example of some of the best story-telling that's ever existed on this planet. Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
How often were the serials published? I would think that, if you want to reconstruct that experience, you would want to read two chapters(or one?) a month, or whatever.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
It would be interesting to do this similarly to how someone is blogging the diary of samuel pepys: http://www.pepysdiary.com/ Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
Elizabeth, some of his books were published over the course of years. I'm too impatient for that. I think a couple of chapters a day is the most I can limit myself to. =D
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
Hmm, David Copperfield at two chapters a month might take a couple years.
Unintentionally, due to limited free time, I took this same approach with Pride and Prejudice, though halfway I gave in and read the last half of the book as quickly as I could, which involved reading the last 30 pages while driving to work.
That's a good idea, though. I might have to try that for The Pickwick Papers as I've been having a hard time getting around to starting it.
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
Books are like food. The slower you eat, the more you taste. But it's really hard to go slow when it tastes good and you've developed a habit of, ah... hem... indulging.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I wonder if people "in those days" would reread the chapters before the new chapters came out? I don;t know why, but I would really love to know this.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by dh: Books are like food. The slower you eat, the more you taste. But it's really hard to go slow when it tastes good and you've developed a habit of, ah... hem... indulging.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)