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Hello Fellow Curiosities,

It is with great pleasure that we can announce the beginning of our next group read, which is - since we run through all the major Dickens novels in their order of publication - Nicholas Nickleby. Some of you might already have been on board when we read that book in the old club, but for others this may well be the first time to read it in a group. Maybe, for some it's even the first time they read the book at all because it is probably not one of the better-known ones by Charles Dickens. So, whether you read it for the first or for the umpteenth time, feel welcome to participate in our discussions, to post your ideas, questions, cross references and whatever else comes to your mind.

This time, we are not going to stick to the original instalments, which is done for a very special reason. The reason is that traditionally, we always do a Christmas story by Dickens in December. This time, it is going to be the Carol, because we have covered all the Christmas novels already and will start afresh. Now in order to be able to read the Christmas story, paying our homage to the season and to Dickens's special love for Christmas, which is obvious to everyone reading his Christmas stories, we will have to finish our next read by the end of November.

This makes it necessary to start with NN next week and to divide the book into 13 bits of 5 chapters each. We decided against sticking to the the original instalments because that would have meant to delay the final chapters of NN for our Christmas read and finish the novel in January. In a way, we feared that letting Nicholas and his adventures on the shelf for a whole month might put us out of tune with the story, and so we thought we might for once depart from our instalment-based procedure. We also thought that covering three months with shorter stories would not do, and that's why we decided to move on to NN after all.

After all these preliminary explanations, let's have a look at our reading schedule, which has the dates in the Old World fashion:

30/08 � 05/09: Chp. 01-05
06/09 � 12/09: Chp. 06-10
13/09 � 19/09: Chp. 11-15
20/09 � 26/09: Chp. 16-20
27/09 � 03/10: Chp. 21-25
04/10 � 10/10: Chp. 26-30
11/10 � 17/10: Chp. 31-35
18/10 � 24/10: Chp. 36-40
25/10 � 31/10: Chp. 41-45
01/11 � 07/10: Chp. 46-50
08/11 � 14/11: Chp. 51-55
15/11 � 21/11: Chp. 56-60
22/11 � 28/11: Chp. 61-65

Reading the book in our own fashion may well give us some additional insight in how Dickens handled his cliff-hangers.

If you have any questions as to our next read, please feel free to add them, so we can discuss them and deal with them here.

I’m excited and ready to go.

And I feel glad that I am back and no longer depend on my smartphone but can use a decent keyboard without auto-correction.

Thanks Tristram! And thanks for displaying it as a schedule I can understand ;)

Tristram wrote: "And I feel glad that I ... no longer depend on my smartphone but can use a decent keyboard without auto-correction."

Amen to that! I've decided that auto-correct is the invention of the devil. I'm an obsessive proof-reader, but it still manages to change things, apparently right as I click "send".

SO looking forward to reading NN with the group! This is the first time since joining the group that we'll be reading a novel that's new to me. I did refer to your past discussion when I read Dombey for the first time, which brought enjoyment and insight, but still wasn't quite the same as reading along with you at the same time. So this will be a special treat for me!

I'm so thankful to our moderators and the rest of you who are sticking with the group even after having gone through all the novels once. Aside from NN, I still eagerly anticipate my virgin outings with Little Nell and Barnaby Rudge, and I know my enjoyment of all three of these novels will be enhanced because I'll be reading them with friends. Having read several Dickens titles more than once, I know that subsequent readings can bring new revelations and responses, so I hope you are enjoying going through those books you've already read again, as I have.

I purchased the Barnes & Noble Classics edition of NN for $3.99.

I am generally pleased with it. It has an excellent introduction. It also has annotations, which I like -- although the annotations are brief and are at the end of the book. I prefer annotations by chapter.

Though all in all, a good edition.

Mary Lou wrote: "I'm so thankful to our moderators and the rest of you who are sticking with the group even after having gone through all the novels once. ..."

Hear, hear! I'm afraid I'm rather a lurker here, but I did make it all the way through Pickwick and Oliver just about on schedule. I know I wouldn't have managed that without all the contributions from the most dedicated Curiosities, so I do thank you.

It will be my first time with Nicholas, although I remember there being a big hoo-ha about the RSC stage version which was on in Newcastle in the 80s while I was at university nearby.

I'm an NN first-timer. Can't wait.

Mary Lou wrote: "I'm so thankful to our moderators and the rest of you who are sticking with the group even after having gone through all the novels once."

Me too! It's nice to hear from the experienced Dickens readers.

This is my first time reading NN.

This is the first book Tristram and I read together. It's where I found how truly grumpy he can be. I feel like saying "poor Nick", just thinking about it. :-)

Kim,

Strangely, you are not the only one who thinks me grumpy. In our neighbourhood, a lot of people entertain a similar misconception because they mistake my power of judgment, my keen critical spirit and my conviction that the proper name of a spade is a spade as signs of grumpiness. :-) You will see how gentle, and yet necessary, my criticism of Nicholas will be!

Alissa wrote: "Mary Lou wrote: "I'm so thankful to our moderators and the rest of you who are sticking with the group even after having gone through all the novels once."

Me too! It's nice to hear from the exper..."

Please feel free to comment and take part in our discussions then. First-reading impressions are always very helpful!

From "The Friendly Dickens" by Norrie Epstein, a brief description of NN:

NN is Dickens' most theatrical novel, both literally and figuratively. Just before he wrote it, Dickens had been editing the memoirs of Grimaldi, a famous pantomime clown. No doubt a theatrical aura lingered about him, providing fresh inspiration for his new novel.

It's one of the reason why I love this novel, John, all the parts about the theatre. After all, the theatre was Dickens's first love, and writing played second fiddle. It's hard for us to keep that in mind, as we never saw him performing etc., in the flesh.

Interesting about the timing of Grimaldi' memoirs! Thanks.

I hope it will not be considered as a spoiler when I say that this novel has one of my dearest Dickens characters - apart from Mrs. Gamp -, namely Mr. Crummles, the leader of the itinerant actors. I am already looking forward to meeting him again, as well as all the other actors of his troupe. Dickens at his best!

By the way, I'll bespeak a table for us Curiosities in the Saracen's Head in the course of the week, so we can leave the rather insalubrious Three Cripples ;-)

Good idea Tristram. My crutches are beginning to think it's rather a "lame" joke ;)

Tristram wrote: "By the way, I'll bespeak a table for us Curiosities in the Saracen's Head in the course of the week, so we can leave the rather insalubrious Three Cripples ;-)"

Sounds good. I am getting ready to have my afternoon tea: Decaf Tetley in a glass cup with only clover honey added. Ahhhh.

I'm a first-time Nicholas N reader as well. Looking forward to reading it with you all!

Tristram wrote: "I hope it will not be considered as a spoiler when I say that this novel has one of my dearest Dickens characters - apart from Mrs. Gamp -, namely Mr. Crummles, the leader of the itinerant actors. ..."

Hey, we agree for once!

Hi everyone! I'm still midway through Pickwick Papers and missed out on Oliver Twist, but I went ahead and purchased Nicholas Nickleby this weekend so I can get back on board with you all. I remember watching a TV series of NN years ago, not realizing at the time that it was a Dickens book (in my pre Dickens-awareness days). Anyway, I never got around to reading the book so this will be a first for me. And I've forgotten much of what happened in the TV series so the plot and characters will all be new as well.

And I feel like I've let Kim down with not posting the correct dates for the Oliver Twist read, but here you go, Kim - a schedule for NN. :)


Nicholas Nickleby, 2018

8/30 � 9/5: Chp. 01-05
9/6 � 9/12: Chp. 06-10
9/13 � 9/19: Chp. 11-15
9/20 � 9/26: Chp. 16-20
9/27 � 10/03: Chp. 21-25
10/4 � 10/10: Chp. 26-30
10/11 � 10/17: Chp. 31-35
10/18 � 10/24: Chp. 36-40
10/25 � 10/31: Chp. 41-45
11/1 � 11/7: Chp. 46-50
11/8 � 11/14: Chp. 51-55
11/15 � 11/21: Chp. 56-60
11/22 � 11/28: Chp. 61-65

Yay!!! I'm glad you are here. I was going to attempt to make sense of Tristram's schedule on my own, but haven't had the energy to put into such a project yet. :-)

Oh, and I'm not sure how I managed to get through Oliver Twist without you. It wasn't easy, especially since for some reason, my chapters were numbered differently.

Sorry Kim!! :(

I know, I think I spent *hours* making sense of Tristram's schedule and making it into one that we both could make sense of. ;) It was well worth it, though. Now we can read with peace of mind that we are reading the correct chapters on the correct days.

BTW, I have the Penguin copy of NN. Oh, and I picked up a Penguin copy of The Old Curiosity Shop while I was at it.

Linda wrote: "BTW, I have the Penguin copy of NN. Oh, and I picked up a Penguin copy of The Old Curiosity Shop while I was at it."

Hi Linda

Good to have you with us in reading NN regardless of how the dates should be written.

This is somewhat of an ancillary observation related to NN that perhaps Julie and others wish to comment on.

American college English programs never seem to touch upon these particular works by Dickens. Pickwick, OT, and NN were not part of the English program at my school, and I would submit that they were not part of other schools at that time, either. I seem to recall with American professors that everything Dickens began and ended with Bleak House.

John wrote: "This is somewhat of an ancillary observation related to NN that perhaps Julie and others wish to comment on.

American college English programs never seem to touch upon these particular works by Di..."

My sense is that professors tend to think mature Dickens is better Dickens, and there's only time in most courses for one novel per author, so you either pick a later one or you pick Hard Times because it's short.

I just checked and Norton Critical Editions currently has listings for Bleak House, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Hard Times, and Oliver Twist, which does tally pretty well with my anecdotal perception of what gets taught (Oliver Twist making the list for its continuing pop-culture clout).

Julie wrote: "John wrote: "This is somewhat of an ancillary observation related to NN that perhaps Julie and others wish to comment on.

American college English programs never seem to touch upon these particula..."

Very interesting. I had forgotten about Hard Times and now that I think about it, HT may have been a part of the class I had. I can see length being an issue with Bleak House, depending upon what else the professor wished to teach.

I'm looking forward to NN. A friend of mine who has taught Dickens at college level has said to me that it remains his favorite of all of his works.

Kim wrote: "Hey, we agree for once!"

On a minor point, mind! ;-)

Linda wrote: "Sorry Kim!! :(

I know, I think I spent *hours* making sense of Tristram's schedule and making it into one that we both could make sense of. ;) It was well worth it, though. Now we can read with p..."

Ts, ts, ts - it's soo easy, and soo straightforward. Day before Month before Year, because you start with the smalles unit. It would also be logical to go Year-Month-Day, but why it should be Month-Day-Year is purely above and beyond, and probably also behind me ;-)

John wrote: "I'm looking forward to NN. A friend of mine who has taught Dickens at college level has said to me that it remains his favorite of all of his works."

Yes, and Dickens was quite exhausted after writing it, which shows in the novel immediately following NN ... What's this novel's name again? :-)

Tristram wrote: "Ts, ts, ts - it's soo easy, and soo straightforward. Day before Month before Year, because you start with the smalles unit. It would also be logical to go Year-Month-Day, but why it should be Month-Day-Year is purely above and beyond, and probably also behind me ;-) ..."

I agree. Measurements like foot-pound make me wonder. How can a foot and a pound have anything to do with one another. Leave it to the physicists.

Here are a few odd measurements for you all to contemplate.

Smoot -- the Harvard bridge is 364..4 smoots and one ear in length

Horse -- used to measure distance -- a neck, a nose, and Seabiscuit

Barn -- One barn is 10�28 ( 10 to the power minus 28) square meters, about the cross-sectional area of a uranium nucleus. Unless Barn measured it first, someone has a sense of humor.

Cow's Grass -- In Ireland, before the 19th Century, a "cow's grass" was a measurement used by farmers to indicate the size of their fields. A cow's grass was equal to the amount of land that could produce enough grass to support a cow.

Morgen -- A morgen ("morning" in Dutch and German) was approximately the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in the morning hours of a day. Go figure.

Miner's Inch -- The volume of water which flows in one unit of time through an orifice one inch square or in diameter. The size of the unit varies from one place to another. Love it.

Jiffy -- In computing, the jiffy is the duration of one tick of the system timer interrupt.

How lucky that I joined while you're reading Nicholas Nickleby. I recently bought a used copy and have never read it before. I know I'm starting late, but hopefully I can catch up. Looking forward to reading the comments.

Welcome, Vicki. It's never too late.

Yes, indeed. Welcome Vicki. Join us as we read through Dickens.

Vicki wrote: "How lucky that I joined while you're reading Nicholas Nickleby. I recently bought a used copy and have never read it before. I know I'm starting late, but hopefully I can catch up. Looking forward ..."

This is my favorite Vicki, next to A Christmas Carol anyway.