My thoughts - The Warden (1855) by Anthony Trollope is the first novel in his acclaimed Chronicles of Barsetshire series. There are six books in the series, all set in the fictional English cathedral town of Barchester. And having read Trollope's excellent stand alone novel The Way We Live Now, I came to The Warden with high expectations. The Warden is 113 pages and so I was sure I would have the book finished in three days tops.
But the Warden took me longer to complete than I anticipated. I struggled to finish it actually. I think it's partly because I am not a focused reader these days. Increasingly I read ten pages of a book then I'm scrolling the internet or turning on the news, picking up another novel and that's not a good way to read. I need to start committing to a book because otherwise I lose the rhythm.
That said, if The Warden had held my interest I would have been able to finish it in three days. It's one of Anthony Trollope's earliest novels and maybe his powers as a writer weren't yet at the heights they would reach in his later classics. The story itself didn't grab me nor did the characters but I understand that changes as one reads deeper into the Barchester series.
The Warden is the first book I have now read from my Victober list and I am hoping to get to Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and the Heir of Redclyffe by Charlotte Mary Young before the month is through but to do so I will resolve to read thirty pages a night and focus.
Sorry this one ended up being a slower read. I still haven't read any of Trollope's novels. Most seem too long to even begin, although this was a short one and still dragged. I liked The Moonstone. Hope that one goes better for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lark and I think I will like The Moonstone and I am going to give it a fair chance. 40 pages a night and no diversions.
DeleteI liked The Warden but enjoyed the second book, Barchester Towers, a lot more. I've still to read the next book, Dr. Thorne, but hope to next year perhaps. What I would like to do is read some of Trollope's standalones as I gather some are excellent - I have a few free ones on my Kindle. I haven't got an actual Victober list just a few sundry titles gleaned from people like Katie Lumsden and Roz from Scallydandling About the Books. I do really enjoy both their channels for what I learn from them. Cath from Read-warbler (Blogger not letting me sign in.)
ReplyDeleteHi Cath, If you haven't read a stand alone by Anthony Trollope I highly recommend The Way We Live Now and one of the things that so imressed me in that book is that Trollope can fill a novel with so many different characters and yet they don't blur into each other but they each have their own uniqueness. He's brilliant. I also really like Katie and Roz. And next to the Brontes and Trollope, George Gissing is a favorite of mine. I can vouch for his novels The Odd Women and New Grub Street. Both were excellent.
ReplyDeleteYes, The Way We Live Now is a definite possibility! I have George Gissing on my list, also Dinah Craik, Wilkie Collins, Margaret Oliphant, Elizabeth Gaskill. I'm also keen to read Our Mutual Friend which has been sitting on my tbr pile for yonks. I might set myself a personal challenge to read half a dozen Victorian novels next year.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the six Victorian novels next year. That is a really good challenge. I look forward to what you write about Gissing. He's wonderful but it's important that a person's first intro to Gissing involves reading one of his two classics The Odd Women or New Grubb Street. I loved both particularly New Grub Street.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate about not being able to concentrate these days. I need to bear down too. My reading has taken a hit recently. I think 30 pages per day might be a good goal. It sounds like The Warden book was partly to blame for you though. I'd like to read Jane Eyre for Victober but it might need to be by the end of the year! We will see. Could call it : Vict-ovember now!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThe Warden and how I felt about it was a factor. Trollope though is great and The Way We Live Now is excellent. I read Jane Eyre maybe 5 years ago and I must reread it because it's a great book and gives you so much to think about. One reading not enough
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This is such an interesting post. I am sorry the book disappointed you. I haven't heard a lot about this book specifically but so many readers love the Chronicles of Barsetshire series, so I had high hopes. My copy of The Warden has over 280 pages, which confuses me. I will read it anyway and see what I think.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you talked about The Way We Live Now, I will look into that one too. Very very much longer but I am getting better about length lately.
Also interesting that others are talking about having trouble getting into reading. I have wondered if my problem is that I generally read at night and maybe I am just too tired. But of course, it depends on what I am reading.
Hi Tracy, Many people do love The Chronicles of Barsetshire series and Cath who liked the Warden said that the second book in the series Barchester Towers is even better. I have heard that too. I just don't know if a person can go straight into Barchester Towers without reading The Warden but The Way We Live Now is an excellent standalone
ReplyDeleteI think reading too late at night might be my problem. I'm just too tired.