The Brontë Sisters Shall Save Me from Winter
by Charlotte Reads Classics
Thank you, Anna Karenina. If I had not recently discovered the joy of reading my favourite books again instead of endlessly powering through an oppressive To Read list I wouldn’t have known how to combat a melancholy reading slump.
I’ve been reading Martin Chuzzlewit for what feels like forever (although in actuality is maybe two and a half weeks) but I am still only about half way through. Chapter Twenty-Nine of Fifty-Four if you’d like the statistics. I’m not enjoying it. Is it me? Is it the book? Is it the wrong time for me to be reading the book? I’m not sure, but I’m going to have a break from it! Stopping midway through Little Dorrit was what, eventually, made me come to appreciate it rather than hate it, so I’m hoping this will have a similar effect.
And now, the remedy: Firstly I picked up Stardust by Neil Gaiman on Friday evening, reading into the small hours and finishing it this morning. I’ve always loved that story so that worked a treat. Secondly I ordered a copy of Thank You, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse, which I haven’t read before but have listened to the audio book and it had me literally crying with laughter. So I’ll be reading that once it arrives.
My final reading remedy: The Brontës. It’s been ages since I read a Brontë novel – I think the last was Agnes Grey last November. That is far too long a gap! So, next weekend I am going back to Haworth. Hurrah! I love Haworth: visiting the Brontë’s house, all the old bookshops and the moors, of course. In preparation I am going to re-read Wuthering Heights. I have always loved this book but it has been a few years since I last read it. It was the first novel I read by any of the Brontë sisters so it’ll be interesting to read it now I have read books by Charlotte and Anne Brontë too. And after that: Villette or Shirley? Which do you think?
Look out for some Brontë posts next week. There’ll most likely be more than one!
Charlotte Reads Classics 
Villlette! 🙂
You were slightly outvoted but I’ll still read Villette soon!
I’ve yet to read Shirley, but I own it. I’m saving it a bit, because I love Charlotte and want some of her work to still be unread for me. Maybe once I’ve read it, I’ll outvote myself. 🙂 Tenant is one of my favorites, too. 🙂
😀 I like that you are saving them up, I really wish Anne had written more!
I recently added Stardust to my amazon wish list and have been debating whether or not to purchase it now, you have just persuaded me to do so! Hope you enjoy Jeeves and Wooster, they are great fun, Wodehouse’s way with words is amazing nd so light hearted.
Excellent! Its such a good book – a real victorian fairy tale but written today.
Shirley! Shirley Shirley Shirley SHIRLEY! (sorry, trying to out shout Mabel :p)
If it makes you feel any better, I’m only a quarter of the way through MC 🙂 I think I’m going to have a little break. I’m coming to the end (I hope) of my reading slump by reading Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald. I don’t love it or anything, doubt I’ll review it, but I’ve just been wading through my TBR pile for way way too long.
That does make me feel a bit better! I’ll definitely try to finish this year haha but I just don’t feel like it right now. I hate reading slumps!
I’m getting out of my slump, but it’s Parade’s End that is doing the trick, not Martin Chuzzlewit! I don’t want to curse my luck, so I’m putting MC down for a short while to focus on FMF. Loving it 🙂 And I reckon you’ll love Shirley 🙂
Oh, I’d read in your post that you were going for FMF, glad he is doing the trick!
Yay Haworth! It kiiind of sounds like you might live near enough to it to go often, therefore I am completely jealous of you right now! But I hope you enjoy yourself!
I’ve read Villette and Shirley once each and I can’t remember either of them, but I vaguely remember liking Shirley better? So… let’s say you should read Shirley!
Yes, a benefit of living in the north! Its a couple of hours drive – which makes me feel like I should go more often… I had a great time, spent many hours out on the moors! And I’m going to go with Shirley.
I’ve only read Villette out of the two, but I’d say go with Shirley because Villette can be quite preachy. Good to hear the brontes are getting you back into reading.
Yep, going with Shirley! I think they can be counted on for a good read 😉
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall! No, seriously, I don’t know much about either Villette or Shirley. Read them both?
Haha, Tenant is my favourite Brontë novel.
Nothing produces a reading slump like reading Dickens because you feel you ought to. Good call going back to your favs!
Thank you! When you are in the mood to reading Dickens is an excellent experience… but well said, he must be one of the worst authors to force yourself to read if you aren’t up for it!
Oh you can’t beat a bit of Bronte. Mind you I have to admit that Wuthering Heights – which I see you love – is my least favourite. However I will re-read it in time. In January I will be hosting A Month of re-reading on my blog, and I am planning to re-read Jane Eyre (which I have read 3 times) and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall, (which I’ve only read once) I can’t wait.
Agreed! There does seem to be a split between Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights… my vote is definitely for the second. Although I adored The Tenant of Wildfell Hall most of all. I’ll look out for your month of re-reading – sounds good, I’ve re-read a couple of favourites in the last few months and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.