Reading 'The Mill on the Floss' by George Eliot

[@katehowereads]

What a treat this video was! It's funny because despite not loving this book I really loved getting to hear your thoughts and hearing the interesting cultural context points that you included. So glad that you're enjoying this! I do love George Eliot even if I don't love this book.

[@adayofsmallthings]

Hi Kate, I really appreciate you watched it! Everyone has different tastes I don't mind at all :) thanks again!

[@JosephFrancisBurton]

Hello Nicole (sorry, Nicole is your name?) - I always appreciate when I find such a great video discussing George Eliot. I do have a bit of an obsession with George Eliot, I have fallen in love with her as a writer and as a person, but your videos are so much better produced than mine! I agree, Mill on the Floss is a great place to start with Geoge Eliot. I am currently reading Middlemarch for the first time (I am reading everything from George Eliot, in roughly chronological order, and Middlemarch is one of her later novels) and I must confess that I am not enjoying it nearly as much as her earlier novels, like Mill on the Floss. I really enjoyed your discussion of the chapter that introduces the characters, and indeed, George Eliot always built very strong characters. What I love is that there are really no good guys or bad guys in these novels. Even Lawyer Wakem, even though Mr Tulliver may hate him, is not really a villian because the reader can understand his motives too. That opening scene with little Maggie talking back to her mother and Mr Tulliver laughing at little Maggie insulting her sister-in-law Glegg is so fantastic - it makes me laugh, because that is something I would probably do! Family dynamics are a very strong theme in the novel - all of Mrs Tulliver’s sisters give her a hard time because they believe she ‘married down’ by marrying Mr Tulliver, an uneducated miller. And scatter brained Maggie must surely get her traits from the Dodson side of the family. I did not know what the meaning of ‘Bedlam Creature’ was when reading the novel. Thank you for the explanation! I know this novel gets some criticism because of the ending. I love the ending. I also love the little premonitions that are sprinkled throughout the novel, for instance the one you read: ‘She will tumble in some day’. If I remember correctly from your Newbie Tag video, you live very near to where this novel is set? Or am I mistaken? Greetings from New Mexico. Thank you again for this great discussion video.

[@adayofsmallthings]

yes it's Nicole :) thanks for watching it and for the kind words. I'm still very new, still learning - so thanks for the encouragement! Which is your favourite George Eliot novel so far? Good point about Mrs Tulliver's sisters - I haven't twigged that they give her a hard time because she 'married down' to a miller! That makes sense. I'm slightly more to the north than where the novel is set, but I guess England is not very big! Really enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks again :)

[@JosephFrancisBurton]

@@adayofsmallthings - Nicole, to answer your question, I have read all novels by George Eliot except for Middlemarch, which I am 1/2 through, and Daniel Deronda. Of the lot, Mill on the Floss remains my favorite.

[@adayofsmallthings]

@@JosephFrancisBurton Cool, good to know. I'll keep reading her :)

[@humanfirst11]

@@adayofsmallthings Nicole what? What's your last name I meant?

[@lorriemerson5274]

I couldn't remember if I left a comment the first time I watched this video, so I came back to make sure you know how much I appreciated your analysis. I read MF this April with a small group and we just finished our discussion. What a book and what an amazing author. I have previously read Middlemarch and Adam Bede and love them both. Since Eliot's work is so dense and takes time to unpack, I limit myself to one per year. So, next spring I plan to read Silas Marner. Love your channel, Nicole.

[@adayofsmallthings]

That’s so kind! Thanks for letting me know - it means a lot to me! It sounds like you had a good time reading it :) have you got a favourite Eliot so far?

[@lorriemerson5274]

@@adayofsmallthings Middlemarch is my favorite.

[@adayofsmallthings]

@@lorriemerson5274 yes it's a marvellous book!

[@KierTheScrivener]

Loved hearing your thoughts

[@adayofsmallthings]

Thanks so much for watching :)

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Hi I'm a new subscriber through Kate Howe. I've been wanting to read this book. I saw that Melissa from Libraries and Labradors loves this book.

[@adayofsmallthings]

Thank you for subscribing! There are some lovely scenes in there. Hope you like it too when you get around to read it :)

[@dianereynolds9309]

I have read Adam Bede and Silas Marner. After your video, I can't wait to read Mill On The Floss!

[@adayofsmallthings]

Hope you'll like it!

[@katehowereads]

Oh and Maggie definitely reminds me of Anne Shirley - she also has hair struggles. 😂

[@adayofsmallthings]

haha yes!

[@talhakucukbas3404]

Thank you very much!

[@adayofsmallthings]

You’re most welcome!