Victober TBR

[@katehowereads]

So many intriguing books, Katie! I actually just bought The Many Adventures of Mrs. Seacole but am saving it for Nonfiction November. Nonfiction November will basically be Victober round two. 😂 I must get my hands on The Great Exhibition! I was wishing such a book like it existed. Muggy Junction sounds like such a fascinating collection. I’m feeling really hopeful about The Children of the New Forest. I hope you’re able to get to many of these books!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks, Kate! I'm so excited for Mugby Junction, and I'm hopefuly for The Children of the New Forest too. The Mary Seacole book I'm hoping will be very interesting!

[@knittingbooksetc.2810]

This will be my first Victober. I’ve been watching too many TBRs. I want to read everything. Just like knitting. I also want to knit everything. Decisions, decisions. So many books so little time.

[@katiejlumsden]

I hope you enjoy Victober :)

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I'm also reading the Mary Seacole book! Children of the New Forest sounds really interesting, I've seen that on a few TBRs this year. The Great Exhibition sourcebook sounds very intriguing too, like you I'm fascinated by the history of it. Have a great Victober, and thank you for hosting it once again!

[@katiejlumsden]

Yay, I'm curious to know your thoughts on the Mary Seacole book too, and the others. I'm really looking forward to the Great Exhibition sourcebook. Hope you have a great Victober too, I'm excited for your videos!

[@reader4532]

I always learn so much from your Victober TBRs! I've added Mrs. Seacole to my for later list. My Victober TBR: finishing David Copperfield (one part per week since July, how glorious it has been); The Picture of Dorian Grey; Dracula (hope I enjoy it more than you did); Lois the Witch; selected poems by Thomas Hardy; and, if I can, finish the Palliser series with The Dukes Children. Thanks again to you and Kate and Lucy for all your work in building this readathon. It is so so good.🤗

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! Sounds like you have some great choices for your TBR!

[@penelopegough6050]

Dickens is a great favourite of mine too. I’m currently listening to the Pickwick Papers. Looking forward to the Shirley read a long and happy Victober reading Katie.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! Dickens is great :)

[@tomreadsthings7145]

Now that is what I call a TBR. So many books I hadn’t heard of before. I am filming my TBR this weekend. Really looking forward to Victober this year...goodness knows we all need a bit of Victorian literature induced joy in 2020! 😃👍🏻📚

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks Tom XD Hope you enjoy Victober again - looking forward to your TBR :)

[@naomisbookshelf]

I am going to read my first Willkie Collins for Victober. My TBR is coming out on Sunday but it was fun to plan and film!

[@katiejlumsden]

Yay I hope you like Wilkie Collins - looking forward to your TBR!

[@bookwalk1]

I am going to join in with the group read of Shirley. I also will pick a book from my past Victober lists to read. Happy reading.

[@katiejlumsden]

Hope you enjoy Victober!

[@slashbash1347]

Mmm, that's a pretty interesting theme. Personally, I like to read macabre things in October and what's more macabre than the 19th century? We got Frankenstein, Dracula, Mr. Hyde, Martian invaders, and even Wagner the Wehr-Wolf! It's a good era for horror fans.

[@katiejlumsden]

Very good macabre choices!

[@jenniferbrooks]

So many fantastic picks as usual, Katie! The other day at work, I came across a vintage copy of the Whirlpool and thought of you. I wondered if you’d read it yet. I must have mind-melded with you 😂 can’t wait for all of your Victober content! It’s the best time of the year!

[@katiejlumsden]

Mind-melding indeed! I'm excited for The Whirpool.

[@ReadABookGem]

You have a brilliant TBR! I really enjoyed Armadale so I hope you do too. I always feel inspired to read classics after watching your videos so I am very ready for next month 😊 Have a great Victober!

[@janetsmith8566]

She inspires me too!! 🙂

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks, Gemma :) Hope you enjoy Victober too.

[@JulianaLiraLiteratura]

What a awesome TBR, Katie! I'm gonna read A Tale of Two Cities, Cranford and Miss Mackenzie. Hopefully, I'll re-read David Copperfield since it is one of my favourite books, but I'm sure I won't finish it in October. You talked so much about Trollope during your reading last year that it really made me curious and I read The Way We Live Now back in May and I loved it! Hope Miss Mackenzie is good as well.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! A Tale of Two Cities, Cranford and Miss Mackenzie are all great :)

[@books_and_ki]

That's an ambitious TBR!

[@katiejlumsden]

Just a little, yes :P I'm sure I won't get to them all!

[@soniapineda1379]

It’s my first time joining victober, soo excited :))

[@katiejlumsden]

Hoorah, hope you enjoy!

[@novellenovels]

My victober Tbr is up tomorrow and I’m sooooo excited.. Can’t believe you are reading my favourite book ever, wuthering heights, I didn’t know that it was historical fiction. If I get time I may re read it although I have sooo many books already planned. I’m super excited about Shirley and I will finally have read all the brontes main novels by the end of the month which is amazing. Yes I’m super excited 🎉🎉🎉

[@katiejlumsden]

Wuthering Heights is the best - I'm so excited for another reread.

[@takingteawithcatherine]

I really want to read Mrs. Seacole (mainly because I never knew of her existence until you mentioned her.)

[@katiejlumsden]

She's a very interesting figure; I'm looking forward to finding out more about her.

[@ChaoticBibliophile]

What an amazing TBR! Every time you mention The Half Sisters it makes me want to read it, haha. I also have an overtly-ambitious TBR, but I'm most excited for Agnes Grey, which I will get to without problems since it's on the shorter side!

[@katiejlumsden]

The Half Sisters is so great! Agnes Grey is a good one too :)

[@paulinelafford4773]

I am reading Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell for my first #victober. I had not heard of Elizabeth Gaskell before watching your videos. Thank you for the introduction, I am enjoying the read. It is quite lengthy, 60 chapters, 794 pages. Reading a couple of chapters per day will get me finished by months end.

[@katiejlumsden]

Wives and Daughters is a wonderful novel - hope you enjoy it!

[@lizlittle1641]

I'm hoping to read Little Dorrit for sure. Haven't decided on the others yet.

[@katiejlumsden]

It's a good one - enjoy!

[@AmandaQuotidianBooks]

I'm finally getting to The Half-Sisters this year, as well! I hope you have a book-filled, minimally stressful October-between-houses (but not between homes) :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Yay, hope you like The Half Sisters!

[@HannahsBooks]

As silly as it is, I am thrilled to see Jewsbury and Jefferies on your list. When I was reading through the ideas for the reader's choice question, I was amused by the thought to read something that started with the same last letter as one's own last name. Mine is J--and I was hitting a blank wall as I tried to come up with something. (I started thinking I would read Hardy's Jude since Hardy starts with my first initial and Jude with my last)--but you've listed two different options for me!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks, Hannah - both are good authors!

[@amandalavelle2638]

I’m also hoping to get to Lady Anna. I love Trollope- he’s so readable and has such great characters xx

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm excited for it - Anthony Trollope is so great.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I just bought a copy of Lady Anna from one of my local used bookstores.

[@blankgarden]

Fascinating TBR, Katie! I will also be reading The Half Sisters, so I am looking forward to your video about it! And I am currently reading The Romance of a Shop, and I think you will enjoy it :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :) I'm excited for The Romance of a Shop!

[@MargaretPinard]

Oooh! I have Lady Anna but I don't think I'll get to it with my TBR as it is in October...just putting up my first TBR video and don't want to fail out the gate 🤣

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm so excited for Lady Anna - I'll look forward to your TBR!

[@nicolaknight6953]

New Grub Street is another excellent Gissing. I'm sure it's on your extensive TBR :-) I enjoyed Armadale a lot.

[@katiejlumsden]

I've read New Grub Street already - definitely a great one :)

[@CharlieBrookReads]

You have a great TBR ❤️The Half Sisters sounds really interesting. I am not sure of my reading plans for Oct but I'm sure I can squeeze in some Victober reads xx ❤️

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks Charlie, I hope you manage to get to one or two :)

[@janetsmith8566]

I'm in! I like mysteries so I am reading Wilkie Collins the law and the lady and also some Sherlock Holmes which I have read all of but have not re-read for quite a long long time. Reading Shirley of course and reading Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell as one that has been on a previous TBR. Individually one I have tried to read for some time is Rachel Ray by trollope (you will be happy to hear!). And as an extra I am throwing in three men in a boat by JeromeKJerome as a treat because I just found a copy in an old bookshop that I really love. I sneaked A look at the first page of this and chuckled through the whole thing so it's looking good! Can't wait! Oh, I also have Armadale, so if I manage the other books I will start on Armadale. I have so many responsibilities that I don't actually get much time to read but I will do my best! 🤞

[@katiejlumsden]

Hope you like your Victober choices :) You've got some great ones.

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Good luck with your reading 📖 I have been watching your old videos and I am really enjoying watching them please stay safe love 💖 John from Australia xxx

[@karencamer7723]

Love your videos. I have just read Lady Audley’s Secret I think you mentioned it your last video. It was so enjoyable thanks for recommending

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! Lady Audley's Secret is a fun one.

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Books and Things I will give that a go to

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Books and Things I have found it on a site in Australia about classic books 📚 so I am going to start it this week and let you know what I think

[@slashbash1347]

I love classic literature but I never heard of Mugby Junction and I've read the 4 four Christmas novellas Dickens wrote!

[@katiejlumsden]

Mugby Junction is great - highly recommend!

[@adehmark]

I’m going to read Middlemarch (I’ve been meaning to read it for a while) and Sketches by Boz. I’m also going to listen to Our Mutual Friend on audiobook.

[@katiejlumsden]

Enjoy! :)

[@misssavvyliterature5977]

I haven't decided yet what I am going to read but definitely participating! ❤

[@katiejlumsden]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@tumblyhomecarolinep7121]

Oh I remember my mum reading Children of the New Forest to me when I was young. I loved it so much then. Interested to hear your opinion...I am nervous to reread it because I don’t want my fond memories shattered 😬

[@janetsmith8566]

I know how that feels! But you might love it in a different way.... go for it 🙂

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm curious and excited to try it!

[@launchedathousand]

Other than the group book I'm planning on reading Hard Times by Dickens, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne and Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell. I've heard you talk about Half Sister's several times and it makes me more curious about it, maybe next year.

[@katiejlumsden]

The Half Sisters is incredible, I promise!

[@actual-spinster]

i think ill join in with reading shirley !! and i actually would like to try to get to the half sisters too!! your tbr seems cool :) also rly want to get to the romance of the shop one day but i have yet to track down a copy! good luck

[@katiejlumsden]

Yay, hope you like Shirley and The Half Sisters, they're so great.

[@laracroft1829]

Very ambitious as always. I know you’ll read most of these. I want to read Lady Anne too. I was hoping it would be the one to win for the read along. I have read some Trollope books this year but not as many as I did in the past. I think I’ll try some of his shorter books. Have fun this victober. Are you planning to vlog?

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks - yes, not sure I'll manage to get to all of these but I'll try! I'm not going to be able to vlog this year (currently between houses and living with my parents, while working from home and not really leaving the house, and it doesn't feel fair to vlog in someone else's home, if you see what I mean) - I'm hoping to do weekly Victober catch ups instead.

[@CharlesHeathcote]

Mugby Junction sounds as though it's a similar style to A House to Let, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on that one. Your TBR is packed with books I haven't heard of before. I have, however, chosen not to re-listen to Wuthering Heights again this year simply because my TBR is already pretty full with Anne and Charlotte. I might take a look at some of Emily's poetry though, I'm undecided. I hope that this Victober brings you a few more favourites, in any case.

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes I'm curious about A House to Let Too. I hope you have a good Victober, full of the Brontes!

[@meghanthestorygirl4581]

I've never heard of Mary Seacole before. She sounds like a fascinating person!

[@katiejlumsden]

She really is! I'm excited to learn more about her.

[@MRDEREVKO]

1. Katie’s challenge: Read a Victorian book that equates to your favourite modern genre- Other than Dracula, Frankenstein and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, what other Victorian Horror novels are there?

[@garywatters11]

In Katie's Victober Announcement video and recs, she mentions Carmilla by Le Fanu which she says is better than Dracula so maybe see if you can find that book somewhere. The other book she mentions is Uncle Silas also by Le Fanu.

[@amandalavelle2638]

I read The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen last Victober. It’s a bit odd but has elements of horror and sci-fi in it (which I don’t normally read I have to say, so maybe I’m not much of a judge but thought I’d suggest anyway) xx

[@katiejlumsden]

Yep, highly recommend J. Sheridan Le Fanu as a Victorian horror and gothic author - he's great! I loved both Carmilla and Uncle Silas.

[@melrose718]

Is it getting harder to find Victorian books you haven't read? I know there are a lot of obscure one's no one talks about! I'm starting off with my Dickens ( The king of Vic) picks, Domby & Son and The old curiosity shop. Every time I start a Dickens I am reminded of why I love him so much... No One writes characters like he does...he is so clever! The Egoist, because of your review. As well as Shirley, Jane Eyre , Washington Square, Mary Barton, & The Moonstone if I can squeeze it in. I wish we could have a Victorian month twice a year :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Nah, not really - there was so much published in the Victorian period and so many of the authors were so prolific. There are tons of author I want to read in full who I'm not even half way through yet. Hope you enjoy The Egoist and all your other picks :)

[@bookhunterrr3973]

Great tbr! I’ve been eyeing New Grub Street for some time now and will have to wait after my book buying ban before i can order it 😅 will be buddy reading Middlemarch with a dear friend for my Victober. It’s my first time to participate in Victober and it will be my first George Eliot, too 😊

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! New Grub Street is great, so I hope you like it.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I'm actually going to read one letters from my country's second President for Non-fiction November, but unfortunately I won't be able to do Lucy's challenge of reading a diary or letters from the Victorian period. I'm reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde first since it's so short. I'm going back and forth between Victorian Literature and Spooky/Mysterious Literature since it's also the spooky season.

[@katiejlumsden]

Hope you enjoy Victober and your spooky reads too!

[@RaineyDayReads]

Wow you always pick so many fun books! How do you find these more “obscure” Victorian reads? I did, of course, do a TBR myself and have 7 books! I felt like that was a lot, but now I’m not so sure. Lol

[@katiejlumsden]

So, www.victorianweb.org is a good resource for finding out about obscure Victorian literature :) Glad you're taking part too!

[@RaineyDayReads]

Books and Things oh! Yes I just found a list of Victorian authors there! Thanks!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

👏👏👏 I was amazed to hear how many times you said something like, “I’ve read this 4 times before,” but really it shouldn’t be surprising if you read 12 books + every month 😂 The Great Exhibition sourcebook looks fascinating! Nice find. I hope your move goes well! How crazy that both you and Kate are moving at the same time 😂 My tbr will be out soon, but I’m planning to read at least Mary Barton and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (which is a bit of a stretch, I know. An American author writing about a Yankee time-traveling to the Middle Ages...but it was written in 1889 so 😄🤷‍♀️)

[@janetsmith8566]

I also drooled over the great exhibition book… A fascinating thing really. I am an American living in Britain these last 20 years and still haven't really studied up enough on that topic. I will search it out! Also I noticed a few people are reading Mary Barrton. Perhaps I should add that hopefully to my list! But I am beginning to feel my list is way too long. Oh well.... 😆

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

@@janetsmith8566 #relatable lol watching everyone's Victober tbrs after I've already made my own...is like visiting every treat shop in a city after I've gorged myself at the first stop 😂

[@janetsmith8566]

Christy Luis - Dostoevsky in Space exactly right!!!!!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks both! I'm very excited for the Great Exhibition book - I think it'll be super interesting. Mary Barton is great, a real favourite of mine, so enjoy!

[@lindaklinedinst9236]

Enjoy your Books that you will be Reading Happy Reading ❤️🔰❤️

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :)

[@MilenaReads]

Hmm, getting really curious for Little Dorrit! But I just CAN’T add anything else 😂 I’m going to post my tbr next week! 🤗

[@katiejlumsden]

Little Dorrit is great, but it is pretty chunky if your TBR is already long!

[@thetbrdiaries]

I am really looking forward to Victober this year, and should be filming my TBR today. Mine is going to be very small as I have just started a masters and I don’t know how much time I will have but I am excited nonetheless!

[@katiejlumsden]

Great, glad you're taking part - I hope you manage to get to a couple of book reads!

[@misselder1]

I loved Armadale.

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm excited for it!

[@SunriseFireberry]

Katie returns to Trollope. Wonder how many Trollope completists there are in all of the UK? Wonder how many words he ended up writing? Have u done a VicLit author tier list yet? I forget.

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm excited for more Trollope. I made a video on my favourite authors two years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3aloqOViZuefpo (I'd forgotten too!)

[@teanlit2949]

Yay! I've been looking forward to this video since the announcement.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :)

[@izabelbrekilien9658]

17 books ! Have fun and enjoy ;)

[@katiejlumsden]

Yeah, we'll see how it goes :D

[@thebooktraveller1901]

Hello Katie, in my Victober TBR I announced that I was going to read some short stories by Hardy, so as you are going to read A Group of Noble Dames I thought I might as well read along.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! A Group of Noble Games is one I'm excited for.

[@thebooktraveller1901]

@@katiejlumsden Katie, I am looking forward to playing some Noble Games! Should be fun!

[@ephrussi9765]

Perhaps I've missed it but did you make a READALONG reading schedule for SHIRLEY?

[@katiejlumsden]

There's one over here on the Goodreads group: www.goodreads.com/group/show/722891-victober-2020, just click 'more' and it's there. It's more or less 1 chapter a day.

[@tumblyhomecarolinep7121]

I have a question. My husband has just read Great Expectations for the first time. He normally reads non fiction sailing books. He loved Great Expectations and has now picked up David Copperfield. He is utterly in love with that. What do you think I should get him next ? I had thought Oliver Twist, but now I am wondering about Bleak House? Do you have any thoughts?

[@katiejlumsden]

Good to hear he's been enjoying Dickens! I think Bleak House is a good idea - it's a great one, and I do recommend it more than Oliver Twist. Also highly recommend Little Dorrit and Our Mutual Friend!

[@tumblyhomecarolinep7121]

Books and Things thank you!! He has been totally engrossed in Dickens!

[@MargaretPinard]

Helston? I forgot that was a name in Shirley--was it a joke between Bronte and Gaskell, as that is the town in North and South?? 🤔

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes, I have always wondered if this is like a little in-joke/homage!

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

I have a question for you as i have bleak house do i need to read one of his other books first

[@katiejlumsden]

Nah, I think it's a decent place to start, as long as you don't mind the length!

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Books and Things thank you 🙏

[@KevTheImpaler]

I read The Whirlpool by George Gissing, but I did not think it was as interesting as his other books.

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm curious. Planning to read everything by him one day!

[@Alpha-qz8wj]

❣

[@meggo329]

The only unproblematic part of booktube and book twitter are the Victorian or classics booktubers. We are normal, we love books and dont let politics take over. Politics and wokeness on booktube led to a 6 month reading slump which I got out of when I remembered all the booktubers who actuality love books. I got the victober announcement and I remembered why I love books. 🤗💜