'The business was felt to be so public and important that it required dinners to feed it, and many invitations were just then issued and accepted on the strength of this scandal...'—Review #216
I have started Middlemarch twice and left it for other tempting titles. I am now reading The Brothers Karamazov so it’ll take a while before I go back to Elliot’s masterpiece. I will though, something you wrote about seeing the relevance for today’s society is also true for Karamazov so I will get there. Thanks for the best newsletter I receive and religiously read! My daughter (Carla Zanoni) recommended you and it was a great referral 😉
Thanks, Sylvia! Carla is wonderful, and a great friend to and supporter of BoG! I hope you return to Middlemarch some day and that you enjoy it. I've never read Karamazov, but you've inspired me to add it to my list!
I realize after rereading that I have carried that idea with me ever since I read the book—it is a truism that brings great comfort, particularly as one gets older. Thanks again for mentioning.
This is in my humble opinion the best novel of all time! I probably read it every ten years and get something different every time and its concluding paragraph gave me the subtitle for my first book. Do read @monasimpson @Bookpost as I found the discussion fascinating. But this is a lovely summary, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Sarah! It definitely jumped into my top 5 and I am sure I’ll read it again at some point. It’s great that you get something new with every trip through. It’s too bad I couldn’t catch up to the Book Post readalong this summer, but I’m eager to read through it now.
Thanks! Definitely worth a reread, I’d say. And I would love your guidance on how best to approach romance. Was thinking ACOTAR, but I really am out of my depth when it comes to the genre.
I have been waiting for this review and it didn’t disappoint!! What a great book. I’m just in awe at how much it stands up today. Humans have always been humans I guess 🥲
Thanks, Steph! You’re so right. It’s as if she had a Time Machine or something, or maybe she tapped into the secret truths of the universe. It’s amazing (and also a bit sad) that it still can speak to current issues.
Curse you book ‘stackers who keep adding to my endless TBR list! (why is there no ‘shakes fist’ emoji?!). My hackles are raised today on both accounts.
Ha! Thanks, Amy! It’s frustrating that there are so many books to read and not enough time. Why must we waste time working, sleeping or eating?! Seriously, I hope you put it close to the top of your tbr. Truly a magnificent work that I hope you’ll enjoy!
Currently reading the very dense The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee. I have a real addiction to dense non-fiction, which takes me three times at long to read as it used to because of long COVID brain fog 😶🌫️. I’ll probably jump to something shorter and lighter right after, and then on to Eliot!
The cruel irony of being on disability for this is that you have loads of *time* to read, but not enough spoons.
I read and enjoyed his Emperor of all Maladies. Middlemarch is dense, but I don’t feel like it drags. Everything seemed to drive the story forward, and no detail was wasted or failed to reinforce the themes. If you are into density, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. I’m excited to hear what you think.
Thanks for another finely done review! I didn’t get around to reading Middlemarch until I retired. Love the way you do the GIFs—so funny. Also, like how you include the beginning of the book you review—I forgot how she started this book. I like the slow, thoughtful beginning—I bet it would never have survived an MFA teacher or a book editor today—unless the writer was already a best seller. I get a kick out of reading a classic like Middlemarch and discovering, ah yes indeed, this is a great book that I hope is always read.
Thanks, Brian! I’m glad you enjoyed the review. I think you hit it in the head about her writing, it’s very methodical and slow but not dragging. Everything is by design, creating a mood and driving themes forward. Nothing felt too misplaced. And I’d be hard pressed to think of what could be easily cut.
Possibly the only review that would make me want to read a tome like Middlemarch without making me feel like it's 'necessary reading' for my literature degree. You tapped into everything that would appeal to me — I'm ready to find out all the tea in this book.
Thanks, Nia! I also worried that this book would be capital L literature that would be relevant only to academics. But the characters were so well drawn and real feeling, and the author had a clear vision and message that it resonates beyond its place in the canon. It’s a great story well told. I hope you enjoy it!
So glad you loved it. I looked back at my GR review and saw that I read it in 2010. Was a little resentful of how long it was and felt like a lot of the beginning was a slog of exposition. Now that I am retired, maybe I’ll reread over the winter. I always thought I loved it, but only gave it 4 stars. Thanks for your always thoughtful reviews!!
Thanks, Kate! The book is definitely a slow read and very dense, but I didn’t think it dragged. I remember reading Anna Karenina and it went on and on about farming. That was tough to get through. Unlike that, I thought all the exposition mostly paid off. It really added to the stakes, and made the characters’ decisions more interesting because I had gotten to know them so well over the whole book.
1. Previously broken-in, abused, coffee-stained, dog-eared, crinkly-from-reading-in-the-tub books are my favorite books. Glad you also like well-loved copies.
2. Thank you for convincing me to finally read Middlemarch. I am very excited to dive into this world.
Thanks, Melissa! I’m glad we agree! Books that tell stories through their condition are far more interesting. I hope you read Middlemarch and enjoy it! Feel free to let us know your thoughts!
Brilliant exceptional bravo! You inspire me with your humor. “Failure and crushed dreams” also being a part of my adult life, plus lots of gossip, I think this is right up my alley.
Thanks, Natalie! And thanks for the kind word. I hope you end up reading and enjoying Middlemarch, and I look forward to reading your review in Subverse.
i loved this review and am adding Middlemarch to my list because of it. thank you for being a fan of gossip so openly and unapologetically, bc me too lol one last thing: the jurassic park/jeff goldblum gif was so well used 😂 i applaud you, sir.
cracked spines = lots of rereads = a well loved book 💕💕
We love to see it!
I have started Middlemarch twice and left it for other tempting titles. I am now reading The Brothers Karamazov so it’ll take a while before I go back to Elliot’s masterpiece. I will though, something you wrote about seeing the relevance for today’s society is also true for Karamazov so I will get there. Thanks for the best newsletter I receive and religiously read! My daughter (Carla Zanoni) recommended you and it was a great referral 😉
Thanks, Sylvia! Carla is wonderful, and a great friend to and supporter of BoG! I hope you return to Middlemarch some day and that you enjoy it. I've never read Karamazov, but you've inspired me to add it to my list!
The final lines of Middlemarch have glued themselves to my brain. Such a fantastic tome!
Thanks, Chelsey! The ending is so great! I'm glad you love it, too.
I am going right now to reread the final lines.
I realize after rereading that I have carried that idea with me ever since I read the book—it is a truism that brings great comfort, particularly as one gets older. Thanks again for mentioning.
Would you care for a taste of my book(s) 😍
This is in my humble opinion the best novel of all time! I probably read it every ten years and get something different every time and its concluding paragraph gave me the subtitle for my first book. Do read @monasimpson @Bookpost as I found the discussion fascinating. But this is a lovely summary, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Sarah! It definitely jumped into my top 5 and I am sure I’ll read it again at some point. It’s great that you get something new with every trip through. It’s too bad I couldn’t catch up to the Book Post readalong this summer, but I’m eager to read through it now.
I read Middlemarch in college and you’re making me think I should reread.
Thanks for the share! And if you want to wade into romance, let me know!
Thanks! Definitely worth a reread, I’d say. And I would love your guidance on how best to approach romance. Was thinking ACOTAR, but I really am out of my depth when it comes to the genre.
I have been waiting for this review and it didn’t disappoint!! What a great book. I’m just in awe at how much it stands up today. Humans have always been humans I guess 🥲
Thanks, Steph! You’re so right. It’s as if she had a Time Machine or something, or maybe she tapped into the secret truths of the universe. It’s amazing (and also a bit sad) that it still can speak to current issues.
Wahoooo!!! Glad you loved it! Great review.
Thank you, friend!!
Curse you book ‘stackers who keep adding to my endless TBR list! (why is there no ‘shakes fist’ emoji?!). My hackles are raised today on both accounts.
Ha! Thanks, Amy! It’s frustrating that there are so many books to read and not enough time. Why must we waste time working, sleeping or eating?! Seriously, I hope you put it close to the top of your tbr. Truly a magnificent work that I hope you’ll enjoy!
Currently reading the very dense The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee. I have a real addiction to dense non-fiction, which takes me three times at long to read as it used to because of long COVID brain fog 😶🌫️. I’ll probably jump to something shorter and lighter right after, and then on to Eliot!
The cruel irony of being on disability for this is that you have loads of *time* to read, but not enough spoons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory
I read and enjoyed his Emperor of all Maladies. Middlemarch is dense, but I don’t feel like it drags. Everything seemed to drive the story forward, and no detail was wasted or failed to reinforce the themes. If you are into density, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. I’m excited to hear what you think.
I haven’t read that one of his yet, but I’m enjoying Cell, so now I may have to...add yet another book to my TBR list 🤦🏼♀️. Curses!
Will definitely circle back (in probably a few months) on Middlemarch.
Thanks for another finely done review! I didn’t get around to reading Middlemarch until I retired. Love the way you do the GIFs—so funny. Also, like how you include the beginning of the book you review—I forgot how she started this book. I like the slow, thoughtful beginning—I bet it would never have survived an MFA teacher or a book editor today—unless the writer was already a best seller. I get a kick out of reading a classic like Middlemarch and discovering, ah yes indeed, this is a great book that I hope is always read.
Thanks, Brian! I’m glad you enjoyed the review. I think you hit it in the head about her writing, it’s very methodical and slow but not dragging. Everything is by design, creating a mood and driving themes forward. Nothing felt too misplaced. And I’d be hard pressed to think of what could be easily cut.
Possibly the only review that would make me want to read a tome like Middlemarch without making me feel like it's 'necessary reading' for my literature degree. You tapped into everything that would appeal to me — I'm ready to find out all the tea in this book.
Thanks, Nia! I also worried that this book would be capital L literature that would be relevant only to academics. But the characters were so well drawn and real feeling, and the author had a clear vision and message that it resonates beyond its place in the canon. It’s a great story well told. I hope you enjoy it!
So glad you loved it. I looked back at my GR review and saw that I read it in 2010. Was a little resentful of how long it was and felt like a lot of the beginning was a slog of exposition. Now that I am retired, maybe I’ll reread over the winter. I always thought I loved it, but only gave it 4 stars. Thanks for your always thoughtful reviews!!
Thanks, Kate! The book is definitely a slow read and very dense, but I didn’t think it dragged. I remember reading Anna Karenina and it went on and on about farming. That was tough to get through. Unlike that, I thought all the exposition mostly paid off. It really added to the stakes, and made the characters’ decisions more interesting because I had gotten to know them so well over the whole book.
1. Previously broken-in, abused, coffee-stained, dog-eared, crinkly-from-reading-in-the-tub books are my favorite books. Glad you also like well-loved copies.
2. Thank you for convincing me to finally read Middlemarch. I am very excited to dive into this world.
Carry on with your awesome self.
Thanks, Melissa! I’m glad we agree! Books that tell stories through their condition are far more interesting. I hope you read Middlemarch and enjoy it! Feel free to let us know your thoughts!
This is a great review. I so have to get to grips with this book!
Thanks, Will! I hope you read and enjoy it!
Brilliant exceptional bravo! You inspire me with your humor. “Failure and crushed dreams” also being a part of my adult life, plus lots of gossip, I think this is right up my alley.
Thanks, Natalie! And thanks for the kind word. I hope you end up reading and enjoying Middlemarch, and I look forward to reading your review in Subverse.
i loved this review and am adding Middlemarch to my list because of it. thank you for being a fan of gossip so openly and unapologetically, bc me too lol one last thing: the jurassic park/jeff goldblum gif was so well used 😂 i applaud you, sir.
Thanks, Manki! I'm glad you are on team gossip, too! I hope you enjoy the book!