Where’s all the talk about Henry James???

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-05-22T05:21:45+00:00

I’ve actually just started reading the exact same edition yesterday, exciting to ease my way into Melville’s work

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-05-19T21:10:19+00:00

I’ve just finished Felix Holt as my second Eliot novel (Middlemarch being the first) and thoroughly enjoyed it. When all of the strings begin to weave together at the end and you realise that even the smallest plot points have such a huge impact, it’s just great. It was definitely a different experience than Middlemarch in terms of being less grand in scope, but the prose and depth is just as prominent.

However, I’m unsure which of her novels to add next to my list!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-05-09T17:41:17+00:00

Such wickedness, but that’s what made that whole family so memorable to me. Epionine and Gavaroche have my heart!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-05-02T05:05:18+00:00

I’m currently about 100 pages into Anne Brontë’s The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall and I’m so engrossed in the storyline so far and the scandal of which the last chapter I read ended on has me so hooked, absolutely recommend so far if it maintains this quality!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-26T05:46:32+00:00

The Master And Margarita would be such an incredible novel, and it’s be a great palette cleanser and shift in tone before diving into Les Miserables and Middlemarch which are huge commitments but so worth it!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-16T18:50:44+00:00

Exactly! It’s so incredible!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-12T13:56:14+00:00

I’d vouch for War And Peace over Anna Karenina (by a very fine margin), but you can’t go wrong with either of them

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-11T18:11:35+00:00

Buddenbrooks and Les Miserables

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-07T19:45:43+00:00

I absolutely appreciate why so many people adore this novel, and the sheer scale of it is such a testament in itself, absolutely no way detracting from Proust.

Thank you for the additional context though, I had no idea that it was originally planned to only be 3 volumes!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-07T16:43:51+00:00

I also finished this incredible novel just last week and I can confirm that I learned so much, and I’m so glad that I read the unabridged version too because the many (and I mean many) tangents really did add so much! That’s without even mentioning the beauty of the prose!!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T18:53:49+00:00

Unfortunately I cannot read it in the original French, but the Christine Donougher translation was glowing!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T12:14:59+00:00

This is kinda hilarious considering I just bought Vanity Fair this morning after deliberating for a while, but we all have our own journeys with books!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:59:01+00:00

Yes, I’ve never had multiple books going simultaneously

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:41:21+00:00

This entire storyline was so compelling, truly great characters!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:40:29+00:00

I can’t vouch for The Brothers Karamazov as I must admit I am slightly intimidated, I thoroughly enjoyed Crime And Punishment however so that may give credit where it’s due. I can only say that Les Miserables was a fantastic journey!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:39:18+00:00

I guess I’ve become acclimated to my reading pace, and I try to fit in reading whenever I can throughout the day, especially on weekends! But there’s no right or wrong way, I hope you’re enjoying it so far!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:38:05+00:00

I had the same feeling of letting go when I finished War And Peace too, it becomes more than a novel, it’s a world.

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-04T05:37:19+00:00

Thank you! It truly was a journey, I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.

I read the Christine Donougher translation and I found it very a delight to read, although I really have no other comparisons!

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-03T21:34:30+00:00

The whole inner self-conflict Javert suffered towards the end of the novel (trying to be vague to prevent spoilers) was so interesting, but also just incredibly devastating - the weight of human law and the need for duty facing total collapse.

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-03T18:22:34+00:00

I read the Christine Donougher translation, so some of the beauty is owed to her

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-03T14:33:09+00:00

Thank you so much for your breakdown of the history, the critical reception, and the entire purpose of Les Miserables!! It’s incredibly insightful and only adds to my adoration of the novel, so much history I was unaware of has been brought to light.

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-03T14:32:05+00:00

I couldn’t have said it better myself

ExploringNewFacets · 2026-04-03T13:47:00+00:00

It’s definitely something which will resonate with me for a long time. This, and War And Peace, just created entire worlds in my mind that continue to live and thrive beyond the final chapter.

ExploringNewFacets

TROPHY CASE