Les Miserables group read-a-long

I saw a number of people have posted that they are interested in joining in on a group read-a-long of Les Miserable. To me reading a 'book' a month (or a week)- its split into 5 books, would be ideal that way we could have a thread for each book and anyone falling behind or reading at their own time would still be able to comment.
Histories is being read from January onwards and Three Muskateers in Feb/March.
I was thinking we could either start in October for those of us starting early or wait until May - but that would give us a strict finishing point. Personally I'm really flexible and would be happy to start today. Input would be great.

I think a book a month would be good. The thread per book is also a great idea.

I'm planning to read Histories (but not Three Musketeers). I'm not as intent on finishing by next October but I know others are so I'm flexible.

Starting this month would be fine. I read and enjoyed Book I earlier this year and would love to get back into it before I've forgotten everything I read.

I'm starting the challenge in October and I'm fine with starting Les Miserables in October too. I'm flexible, if the general consensus is to wait to May for those starting in January I'm fine with that too. I have plenty of books to keep me busy until then.

I know I won't be able to get to it this year, but since I'm not sure I'll manage to read it at all, you shouldn't let that hold you back. I can always join in the discussion after the fact.

October is pretty full for me right now (I'm doing a group read of The Count of Monte Cristo which is 1243 pages long - only 870 to go) but like Zoe in message 4 I can always join in the discussion later.

I'll leave it for a few days to see if other people respod then make a decision.

I'd like to join in, earlier would be better for me as I always get busy after Christmas. I don't have a copy yet, but am seeing if I can get it from the 1001-Library.

Its looking like October 10th as a starting point. So I'm saying November 10th is the time to start discussing section 1 of the book, looking forward to your thoughts.

Sounds like a plan. I'll pull it out from the bottom of my oversized stack.

I loved section 1 so I'm looking forward to reading it again.

Sounds good. I'm looking forward to starting.

Okay, I can't resist. I just requested a copy from my library!

Karen

p.s. I participated in the Don Quixote group read, the Remains of the Day GR, and the group is now reading Count of Monte Cristo, which I'd already just read. This will be great to be participating in another big book read.

How many pages are in Section 1? I'm so tempted to try to read along with the group (despite my claim that I'd just join in afterwards), but I'd have to read at least one other, easier book first to get back into the language, so it's looking like time may be an issue.

Section 1 is 300 pages, so just under 100 pages a week.

I believe I have this book and have wanted to read it. If I find my copy I will try to join in this group read. I have never done a group read before and would like to try it. :)

I would like to read Les Miserables as part of a group read, but like others am a bit pressed at present. I got a copy of the book - a Penguin classic last month. So will follow your progress but couldn't start till next year sometime.

Avatiakh other people are joining later on so you won't be the only one joining then. Look forward to seeing you when you do start reading

Well I do have the book in my library now I just need to find the book. I will try and look for it tonight after I finish my one book.

I just got this book and was planning to read it, so its great that everyone else is too!

Excellent. I'm going to start in a couple of weeks when it is halfterm here.

I'm starting today! I don't have much time to read, though, might take me a while.

I'll be starting it shortly. A member of my "live" bookgroup chose LM for our Dec 09 and Jan 10 meetings, so that means I'm supposed to read 600+ pages a month in this thing. Call me crazy, but I don't think I'll be able to do it. Maybe I could if I read nothing else but this, but that's not going to happen. I'll probably start this next weekend during Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon, and while I'm going to try and get it finished for my club meeting on Jan 1, will probably just stick with you guys here.

Looking forward to the support and discussions as we tackle this big doorstopper!

Volumes I and II were on my desk at work today when I arrived, woohoo!

I'm making progress with Volume I, but it's a slow starter. I'm less than 100 pages in, though, so I'm looking forward to the introduction of the central characters!

Karen

The first 100 pages of any Hugo are the hardest to get through. After that it's pure joy. :)

I finally finished my current read and will be starting this book shortly.

I'm doing Dewey's 24hr read-a-thon too. Though I'm reading a lot less tough books than Les Mis

I'm doing Dewey's 24hr read-a-thon too. Though I'm reading a lot less tough books than Les Mis

#24: That is such good news about the first-100-pages/rest-of-the-book situation. I assumed as much, but it's great to hear your affirmation!

Karen

I'd like to ask about the Dewey's 24hr read-a-thon--what is it, and where is it happening? Is it a LibraryThing thing? Sounds interesting!

Karen

I'll be doing Dewey's 24 Hour read-a-thon too, and plan on starting Les Miz then.

Here's the website for the read-a-thon:
http://24hourreadathon.com

It starts this Saturday, the 24th, at 7am in the Central time zone. I'll be missing about 90 minutes for work, but I'm going to try and read for the rest of the time! I expect to be sleeping in a heap with a book on my face at about 7:01am on Sunday.

I've got my copy and I hope to start it soon.

LauraBrook, how did Les Mis go yesterday? Hope the read-a-thon was fun!

Hi edierose,

Yesterday was fun, I got lots of reading done and I somehow managed to stay awake for the whole thing! Today is a different story... recovery time is a little different now that I'm in my 30's.

Sadly, I didn't get a chance to start Les Miz last night/this morning. I started off with a book that wasn't a smooth read, and after I finally finished it, I just wanted to read things that I knew would be easier for me. While I have a feeling I'm going to really like LM, I didn't want to start out reading this (I hear the first 100 pages are kind of bumpy) during this challenge and have to really really focus on what was happening in case I fell asleep and would have had to re-read. My goal was to read as much as I could - I'm pretty close to finishing the 999. It would be kind of fun to just have one big book picked out to read for 24 hours, though. Hm.

Thanks for checking! I did have a great time (over 300 readers from all over the world) and I'll do this again for sure. However, I'll make sure I have the whole following day to catch up and get back on track again.

Hope you had a nice weekend as well!

I'm starting reading this today, hoping that it is good as I'm looking forward o delving in

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the first section (which, I believe, we are supposed to be through by November 10). It is such good reading! I was concerned because the first 100 or so pages were a little slow, but was reassured that it would get better. And it did. It has been very enjoyable reading, and I look forward to reading through the book with the group.

Karen

Finished Book 1 this morning, so will be nice and fresh for the discussion.

Hey, I just finished Book 1 this morning, too! The last chapters just flew by.

So, I'm thinking that we should aim to finish Volume 2 (Cosette) by December 10. This volume appears to be another 300 pages or so; I plan to aim for 75 pages per week to keep me on track. I'm really loving this book!

Karen

I've created a new post for the discussion of Book 1, and also agree that the 10th of December would be a good place to aim for for Book 2

I haven't even started reading book 1. I don't know if I will be able to join in like I want to. I have so many books to read and very little time to read them in. :(

Looks like this is the discussion thread. It says book 2, but it has the correct book 1 name of Fantine.

Hi, everyone...

I've finished the second section (Cosette), and am just getting started with Section 3. How are you all doing with Les Miz?

I'm really loving this book. Much of it is sheer poetry. I've started thinking that I'll be so sad when I'm done reading it--I feel as if I know the characters personally.

Anyone else?

Karen

Here is the link to the next discussion thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/78739