My Middlemarch Collection

[@Shellyish]

That opening is my life every single day! I MUST read Eliot and this whole video is a good reminder to do so. Fantastic video, Kim!

[@jorgem71962]

Great video. I have a copy of the Restless books edition and it is beautiful. I am collecting their classic editions. Love them.

[@throckmortonsnephew6395]

The 'Harper' version is my favorite from your collection. I'm surprised you don't have my favorite - the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I don’t like the cover! Green is my least favorite color. But I have the regular Penguin classic. 🤪🤣🥰

[@larrymarshall9454]

A wonderful collection and presentation. One of my big complaints about booktube is that, supposed readers, almost never discuss/show font size. To me, it's the most important thing. Thanks for breaking the mold here.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I talk about font all the time. Old eyes. And I’ve inhaled books because of font size. 🤣

[@larrymarshall9454]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH yes, the eye problem :-) I can't help but draw a conclusion from booktubers who talk endlessly about covers, only occasionally about "floppiness" and never about font/size (grin). The Harper Perenniel version seems the one to get. I have the Oxford Classics version but I might "have to" buy the Harper edition.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@larrymarshall9454 the Harper Perennial is very clear and easy to read.

[@myreadinglife8816]

Gorgeous collection! Loved the interlude with your cat and the one with your daughter!

[@sherreads1081]

So many beautiful copies!

[@novelideea]

I collect different versions of my favorites too.💕 Love the Restless editions and the Macmillans are just so pretty 😍

[@sonjadevenney2524]

Your enthusiasm for the book makes me want to pick it up.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

It’s wonderful! 🥰🥰🥰

[@SailOnSG]

You didn’t mention the font in the MacMillian. Beautiful outside and I love how portable it is. Was wondering if the font is tiny due to small size or do the extra pages make up for small size? I have the Penguin Classic Deluxe, but not sure if I’ll keep. I have ordered the Penguin English Library, Wordsworth Classics, & Penguin Drop Caps editions. When I settle on one, I will return the others. It’s just that I’m going to spend a good deal of time with it. I want it to be comfortable, annotatable, and re-readable. From everything I’ve heard, I’m expecting to love it.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

The font is small but pretty readable. I found the Wordsworths are very difficult for font size. 🤓

[@MsReadsAlot]

Lovely versions! Clearly that was your cat’s favorite 🤣

[@Europa1749]

Lovely collection. I would love to have a copy of that Restless hardcover one.

[@lizh9497]

If it brings you joy then buy as many copies as you want!! Great collection 🥰

[@josmith5992]

Loved seeing your collection Kim and to see the Restless books edition physically not just online- it looks lovely. Also love how you notice not only the size of the font- which is of course imperative!- but also what type of font it is 😉

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Font is part of the reading experience! 🤣🤓🥰

[@LaurieInTexas]

Loved seeing the different versions. I read Middlemarch as a library book, but I decided recently that I need my own copy so I bought one that arrived last week. I have a Barnes and Noble Classic which has a good font size, a nice cover, and notes. I look forward to rereading it someday, but that will wait until I finish the Eliot oeuvre.

[@radiantchristina]

Nice collection. They are all beautiful but wow - that Restless book edition...amazing AND floppy ! I need to look for that one. I agree 100% on bypassing introductions on classics. I normally wait either until i finish the book to read the intro or I'll read the intro when I pick it up to re read. I read Middlemarch every 5 years or so. I only have the penguin black spine and the penguin english library editions of Middlemarch. I don't usually own multiple editions of books, but my 2 exceptions are Middlemarch and Anna Karenina

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I have picked up used versions of classics if they’re the right price. I have several copies of Pride and Prejudice as well. 🥰

[@bookishinclinations1172]

This was so helpful! I am just reading Middlemarch for the first time, almost finished, and it is by far my favorite classic now. I've been reading just the Barnes & Noble paperback, but have been wanting to purchase a nicer edition. I first ordered the Penguin English Library edition which is gorgeous but the center margins are to small and the text is very close to the binding (pet peeve!), so I offered it to my daughter. It's so hard when ordering online to know whether it's an edition that I'll love. I just ordered the Restless Books edition and never would have given it a second look had you not put it on my radar. Thank you!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

It’s such a beautiful book! 😍

[@CookieR1272]

Aaaaaa I've been waiting for this one. ❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰🤣🤣🤣

[@Carols_BooksandFibers]

This was great Kim! I really appreciated the showing and speaking about fonts. Ordering online especially can be an issue because you can't of course see the print. I so appreciate a comfortable font and rest spaces. I have not read Middlemarch yet but it is on my list when I can find the right copy. With that which do you find the most comfortable of a read, the one you read or the Restless or the Blackwell copy. As for collecting I have a shelf for all of my Mitford books by Jan Karon and everything related. I tend to collect authors that I am enjoyed their writing for one reason or another. Reading through all of Virginia Woolf, both her fiction and nonfiction, currently and I love the spines with the two stripes because of the font and the cover photographs which have this whole vintage, filmy look of the twenties. What makes collecting fun, aside from the actual reading, is the hunt. You never know when something is on you mental list will show up. Have a great day!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I really like the Harper Perennial version that I already read. It's easy to see and hold. The Restless paperback is gorgeous but fairly heavy and the Blackwell copy is huge and bricklike! Because of the length I will always recommend a paperback copy for ease of handling. The Barnes and Noble paperback is easy also!

[@Carols_BooksandFibers]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH Thanks Kim. I do prefer paperbacks but most important is the font for me.

I took your example and started collecting my equivalent of your Middlemarch (Age of Innocence). With the emphasis on 'started', I have two editions so far 😂

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Copycat!!! 🤣🥰🤣🥰

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH Yep. And not even ashamed of it. Always willing to steal a good idea! 😎

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

I haven’t forgotten about you! There is a public library sale coming up in June. i’m hoping to visit and find a copy in French for you. 😉 I still haven’t read it! 😬

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

You're lovely!!! THANK YOU!

[@loudfunstrawberry4127]

I am planning to read this book so I want to know which edition I should buy. I liked the 150th anniversary edition but I am afraid I won't be able to highlight anything because it's too pretty 😭

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

The penguin original is easiest to hold or the Barnes and Noble paperback edition. I read the Harper Perennial edition which had great font but was a little heavy. Any unabridged copy is good.

[@tealorturquoise]

You have some beautiful editions of Middlemarch, and I can see why you and other collectors would want multiple editions of the same book if it brings value to you or the individual. Middlemarch is on my tbr but I'm a little embarrassed to say mine is a Kindle edition. The main problem with it though is it might be an abridged version! 🤦‍♀

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Nothing wrong with Kindle editions! But yes the free or low priced versions of classics are often abridged. 🤔

[@tealorturquoise]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH When I try to look up that specific Kindle version I have I get conflicting information so I think I'll borrow a book out to compare while I'm reading and if it is abridged I'll just switch to the physical version. lol

[@CestKevvie]

So I've never read any George Eliot. I'm currently trying to choose my next audiobook, and Middlemarch is in the running. While it has been highly recommended, I don't know, the description just doesn't sound all that interesting, so I'm hesitant to start it...

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Well it’s a very long one. Excellent on audio narrated by Juliet Stevenson. But I’m not sure it’s the best place to start. Take a look at Mill on the Floss or Silas Marner. Or Adam Bede. Shorter and interesting plots. 🥰

[@CestKevvie]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH I'll do that, thank you!

[@cheryll3448]

Great video! Do any of the editions you have contain a character list?

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I don’t think so.

[@FloridaDumpling]

I think the edition with the most information might be the Norton. $24, though…

[@judybrown1624]

I love ribbon book marks. How's the font on that one. Pretty small I'm guessing.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

It’s not bad. But the paper is super thin. 🤓

[@michellemorrill888]

Oooh! I have never read George Elliot. Is this the book you’d suggest I start with? Maybe I could jump into your buddy read?

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

That would be awesome! However, I never suggest starting with Middlemarch. LOL! It's a dense one. Let me know if you want to do it anyway. Mill on the Floss is a great start or Silas Marner. :):):)

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

You being such a discriminating reader you would be fine with it. You may actually fall in love! 😍

[@jojodogface898]

Am I the only one who has trouble reading this book? It seems like all booktube has just breezed through and loved this book, while I sit and sometimes struggle to read a single page for an hour trying to figure out exactly what she's trying to say. I've read plenty of Victorian lit, I've read modernists, post modernists, Ulysses, Gravitys Rainbow, etc... even a lot of sense dense philosophy, but never have i had to take so much time trying to decipher someone's prose before. It actually made me stop reading for a while because it made me so miserable and frustrated. Glad everyone else can enjoy it, wish i could

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

No you’re not the only one. It’s not for everyone. Don’t feel bad! 🥰