On George Eliot #victober

All about my reading journey with George Eliot. I discuss the books by her that I've read and the couple I haven't gotten to yet.

Books Mentioned:
Middlemarch
Adam Bede
Daniel Deronda
Silas Marner
Romola
Felix Holt: The Radical
Scenes of Clerical Life
The Mill On the Floss

[katiejlumsden]

Ha Kate, you make me wish I loved George Eliot 😄

[darrylfriesen]

“Do NOT start with Romola!” 😂😂 And here I am, dipping my toes into George Eliot for the very first time with Romola!! And, oh my goodness, it is GRIPPING, even with all the philosophical content, historical references, and extended political conversations. Its impact and power has completely caught me off guard, and I find myself reading it in any spare moment I can carve out, even when I should be prepping for my next university class!! Kate, you convinced me to read both my first Gaskell (Mary Barton) and my first Eliot—and I couldn’t be more grateful!!

[noexit]

I only started reading Romola when I actually started to write a story set in the papal era. Actively doing research of the same historical period helps a lot!

[alexandrahinrichsen]

I started with Middlemarch and I loved it. Eliot is the greatest novelist of the English language - for me.

[autumnrose_noseinabook]

I am coming to this video after reading my first George Eliot which was Silas Marner.... and I loved it!! Haha! My next George Eliot will be Daniel Deronda. My copy is on it's way to me, but I may wait a little bit before I start it so I can read other classics.

[elizabethbrink]

I really enjoyed hearing about your journey with George Eliot, Kate. I have read Silas Marner and Middlemarch. I started with Middlemarch and really struggled with the first 200 pages, but I flew through the last 200 pages in just a day. I think Mary Garth was the character who kept me anchored to the novel on that first read, so I do look forward to re-reading it in the future and immersing myself in that even more. I hope to read all her novels, too.

[HannahsBooks]

Kate, you are the one who persuaded me to pick up George Eliot—with Adam Bede last Victober. I loved it—and am now a quarter of the way through Middlemarch and absolutely loving it! I saw some parallels between Scarlet Letter and Adam Bede, but I had no idea that Eliot intended them! Fascinating.

[danieljackson]

Felix Holt is the most plot-driven and dramatic of her novels, in my view. I found it one of the most fun and readable of her novels, though not her best in terms of literary quality.

[AliasTwiggy]

I really needed this today. Read Silas Marner in high school and liked it; reread it as an adult and still liked it. Adam Bede last year was wonderful. I'm doing Middlemarch this year and though I started strong I started feeling lost around chapter 13. However, thanks to you and SparkNotes I'm determined not to give up!

[lorriemerson]

Thank you for sharing your George Eliot journey and insights. Last fall, for a graduate British Lit class, I read Middlemarch. The class was given two weeks to read the entire novel, post a two-page response paper at the end of each week, and respond to classmates. This schedule was intense! However, I loved Middlemarch and intend to read more of her novels and reread Middlemarch in the future. But, this is my first Victober and my TBR is already heavy with Shirley, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Aurora Floyd, Dombey and Son, My Reminiscences vol. 1, and some short works.

[BookZealots]

Okay, you've convinced me. I don't think I've ever read Geoge Elliot and I was going to start with Middlemarch. But I'm going to buy Adam Bede and start with that book, because I like The Scarlet Letter. Thank you!

[BlatantlyBookish]

I loved hearing your personal journey with George Eliot! In many ways my own journey mirrors the very beginning of yours, as I have yet to fall in love with George Eliot's work. I read Middlemarch years ago in school and enjoyed it, but I barely remember it at this point. And then I read The Mill on the Floss and was so disappointed. I've toyed with the idea of rereading Middlemarch at some point, but it always seems long and daunting and there are so many long and daunting Dickens books that I feel like I'd enjoy more. Still, this video makes me want to give George Eliot another chance. Perhaps I should pick up Adam Bede or Daniel Deronda (not this Victober though because I'm already behind in everything somehow).

[scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

It was lovely to hear your journey with Eliot. I think I came to Middlemarch at the right time in my life and my reading. I am gradually reading all of her books. I am hoping to squeeze Felix Holt into Victober. I love Silas Marner for its humour and gentleness.

[thegrimmreader]

Fun to hear about your journey with Eliot! I agree that Middlemarch worked really well as an audiobook! I really want to reread it at some point. I want to read the one's I haven't too. (Romola and Felix Holt). I'm really enjoying Daniel Deronda so far.

[valdeane]

I love George Eliot! One of my favourite novels of all time is The Mill on the Floss!! I think I just love novels about strong, independent women who seem to be ahead of their time. I also love Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles!

[stephbas]

I loved Middlemarch so much!! I might reread it though because I feel I may have more to learn from it the second time around, her writing being so full of reflections on life and feelings. I have just read The mill on the floss and I adored that one too. I tried listening to the audio book for some parts, mainly while I was walking with my dog, but I found I missed out on her beautiful words a lot, because I couldn't go back on them to let them sink in. I am very uncertain as to which novel to read now: Adam Bede or Daniel Duronda....any tips? Thanks 😊 and thank you for your inspiring videos!

[borninabook]

Silas Marner was my first George Eliot read (earlier this year) and so far my only. I loved it and loved that I was reading my great aunt’s school copy, seeing all of her notes in it while I was reading added something special to the experience. I’m really interested in reading more from her and I’m thinking either Adam Bede or Daniel Deronda for my next GE pick. Thank you for your video, loved hearing your thoughts on these books.

[elecole]

Love Love Love George Eliot. My fave has always been Daniel Deronda. I've read all her novels and, though I am fond of them all, some more than others, Daniel Deronda always makes me feel like I'm visiting old friends. It's a very happy comforting feeling. 😊❤📚

[ashappyasiget]

Audiobooked Middlemarch last victober and loved it. I want to read it when I get a copy. Reading Mill on the Floss at the moment. So far loving it.

[amusicalbookworm]

Meaty is definitely the right word! I might be willing to try Middlemarch again, but yeah it was my first read of Eliot’s and it was TOUGH!! I need a little break from her right now but I will definitely try her books again. Great video, Kate! I think Daniel Deronda will be the next one I try.