Hi folks. I was able to pick up a copy of this book...my goodness is it long! It's possible that we may have to extend it into December a bit, any thoughts? My book is 900 pages long and is broken up into 57 chapters...should we develop a strategy on how to tackle it?

Anyhow...please 'check in' if you are planning to join our little reading club...thanks!

Hey, Jazz! I picked it up Saturday, and it's really very humorous. Did you notice that the chapters are very short--like divided into events that happen to, or heard by, the Pickwick Club, so it reads pretty fast.

I don't remember A Christmas Carol being this long, and I think many of us have read it the past, so we'll be re-reading it as a review, really.

900 pages long would be 225 pages a week. I know I can read alot more than that, probably most people can, even with hectic schedules. Just a suggestion.

Works out roughly as chapters 1 - 14, 15 - 29, 30 - 44 and 45 - 57 for the four weeks. As has already been said, most are separate short stories and not inter-related in any way, so there isn't a need to segment the book with any other logical purpose. They are quite easy to read and digest unless people feel it would be better to spread the chapters into December too.

I like the above suggestions...and had the same thing in mind. Any objections?

Can we make a list of characters- their characteristic, foibles and interactive ploys? Also, we might set aside a place for new words- and esoteric words that we come across in the reading...

I finished it on Sunday afternoon whilst sipping green tea, so I shall make funny and perturbed faces as everyone catches up .

Better yet, profchallenger, you can give me helpful hints and tips when I can't figure out what the heck one of those outdated words means.....

I'm lucky in that my version has a glossary of all the obscure terms no longer in common usage.

It seems to me that the narrative falls into natural segments, the first being the adventures of the members in Rochester. This part introduces the main characters superbly. We meet the members, we meet Weller and the rascal Jingle. The end of the account of this adventure would make a good place to stop and discuss characters, clear up any questions about vocabulary etc. What do you think? They seem to leave Rochester in chapter 4.
To be honest, I had forgotten how easily readable it is.

I found an excellent Dickens site on the web which includes an
online glossary of obscure terms and their meanings.

Thanks for the link, izzi! I just went to the library today and picked the book up.........this one only has 801 pages

I tracked down a copy yesterday but mine is only 300 pages! (1944 copy) It'll have to do as it was the only one in the whole town. The interesting thing, I thought, was that nowhere on the cover is the authors name which I thought strange or perhaps that is was just so obvious who wrote it.

So far, so good! I was concerned that I would have trouble getting into it, because I usually get lost the first read through of any Dickens book.

It is strange, Copago, that the author's name wasn't on the cover (well known as he is). I have never seen that done before.

Oh dear Copago, if yours is only 300 pages long you'll have to get a magnifying glass out to read it!!!

My copy of the Christmas Carol is one of five stories included in his "Christmas Books" which is in very small print too, but at least it's a very short volume to squint through.

I don't envy you the task of working your way through The Pickwick Papers!!

Interesting Copago...you may have an abridged version, but that's okay...the story will remain the same, we hope!

Shall we embark then on the reading of the first 14 chapters or so this week? I'm looking forward to cracking open my copy today...

Reading the first 14 chapters this week sounds good to me. I will be starting it later tonight.

I got the books today and I'll be starting on Pickwick Papers tomorrow. Hang on, I mean today - it's five minutes past midnight here.

By the way...if anyone can think of some clever questions to ask...and/or ideas for us to ponder, please feel free to toss them around!

Our book club so far consists of:

Ren33
Babymoo
Profchallenger1
Izzi
Leau78
Monkeycouzin
Copago
Diehard
Juniorthejaws
Bruyere
Dobrov
Lanni
Tabbytom
LindaC007
Thejazzkickazz

Everyone's invited...

Looks like a good club...

Yeah! I"m on the list and I can't find that book anywhere! Dombey and Son I can get, Pickwick Papers no way. However I will persist. I never read it before. I'm going to annoy everyone now and point out that I just finished Master and Margarita and it is just great. But I guess after Copago found the only Pickwick Papers in a 1000 km radius I'd better just keep looking... well, so I'll keep looking...!

Hey Dobrov, remember when you said you could get it? I still can't get it! It's the only one missing out of our collection!

Tomorrow is my last resort...going into TOWN!

Ok, ok, I stand corrected! I was overly optimistic, is all. I'll have to go to Prague, I guess. But I'm a fast reader and I can catch up. This doesn't help you though, because going to Prague is a little easier for me than for you. We may have to (gulp) order it!

Ah Dobrov, even though I did track down a copy I have the distinct advantage over you of living in an English speaking country!

It is an abridged version, Jazz, it says ... " the original text has been abridged, but not otherwise altered, for this edition". i get the impression, from the original owners name, that it may have been a school text. Either way, I'm only a little way in but am enjoying it so far.

I know this isn't exactly like holding the book in your hands, but I read the first few chapters (until I could find the book) from The Literature Network at:

http//www.online-literature.com/dickens/pickwick/

I actually find it easier to read than the tiny print in the book.

Still so far so good! For some reason this one is alot easier for me to concentrate on than any other Dickens that I have read.