Victorians! discussion

We officially have a new team of moderators!

Check out this thread over the next few days for introductions to some new faces on the team. And some more familiar faces, as well. Exciting days ahead! :D

Hi everyone!

I'm Piyangie from Colombo, Sri Lanka. I'm a lawyer by profession and a heavy reader. I do write too, as time permits and dream to be a published author one fine day in the future!

I do love reading classics and my reading ranges from Jane Austen to Daphne Du Maurier , and yes, it does cover the Victorian era. :) My favorite Victorian authors are Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Bronte Sisters.

I'm happy to have joined you all as a moderator and hope we will have some exciting time ahead.

Hello Everyone,

I am Kerstin and live not too far from Kansas City. I am originally from Germany and a Cold-War-Bride. We have two grown sons and now enjoy our little slice of country heaven on 3 acres where we overlook from our screened-in porch a 100-acre wood teeming with all sorts of wildlife: birds, butterflies, deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, coyotes and the occasional bobcat. There are other creepy-crawlies, some with scales and nasty teeth, but we told them we’d prefer they keep to the other side of the fence. Out here, there is plenty of room for all. We did invite Winnie the Pooh and friends, but they said they are happy where they are.

I have always been a voracious reader, fiction and non-fiction alike …and if you must know, the occasional fluff will sneak in too – I don’t watch much TV. The view from my porch is much more interesting. Our house is stacked with books. There isn’t a single room without books. Since it looks like our moving days are over, movers across the country gave their employees a spontaneous day off in celebration.

As for Victorian literature, I am learning with all of you. I’ve read some, heard of more, and now that I am really digging in, I am looking forward to uncovering new treasures with all of you.

Hello! I'm Cindy and I hail from the outskirts of Houston, Texas. I'm married, with two grown children and one fur baby, a Papillion. I've been a high-school English teacher for the last nine years and love it (most of the time). Grading essays is not my favorite!

I've been an avid reader all of my life: that quintessential bookworm that you never see without a book in her hand. I didn't realize, when I began teaching, that teaching literature meant I had a lot less time for reading it. I can't really think of a literary period or style that I don't like, but the Victorian era has a special place in my heart. Dickens is one of my all-time favorite authors, along with Collins, Eliot, and, of course, the Brontes. I also love the American authors of the same period--Henry James (he plays both sides of the pond), Edith Wharton, Nathaniel Hawthorne. There are many others, like Gaskell, that I've been eyeing for quite some time and am excited about finally diving into. I'm really looking forward to experiencing a wide range of Victorian authors with this wonderful group!

From Judy Hewlett...


Hi ! I'm Judy

I live in the Midwest. I taught HS, MS and college English for 30 years and I just retired in that field a year ago. I'm currently working in the medical field. I've always been a fan of the Victorian writers, but in my teaching career; I never had enough time to spend going into great depth with my students. There are many Victorian books that I haven't read for a long time...but I'm so excited to reread many of them and to share ideas.

From Lady Clementina...


I'm Mallika/Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore (the latter name is from a book group I'm part of- and stayed when I migrated from Shelfari) from Gurgaon, India.

At the moment, I am a PhD student (about to finish) having left off other work since this January. I have always loved reading and was a great reader of Enid Blyton as a child (and still am) moving on to other books with time. I enjoy the classics, detective fiction, children's fiction, historical fiction, as well as some non-fiction like history of science, popular science and maths.

Victorian favourites include Dickens, Mrs Gaskell, Trollope, Wilkie Collins, Mrs Oliphant, among others.

Pleased to know you all.

From Lenora...


hi everyone

I am a quiet moderator due to the fact that I moved in with my parents to help them and my father has been sick for the last 10 months.

I live outside Toledo Oh wishing I was back in Eastern Ky.

My favorite authors are Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien. Terry Brooks, and Charles Dickens. But I read alot of different styles and just whatever strikes me at the time. I am trying to work my way through all the classics .

I welcome all the new moderators and will help out when I can.

From Natalie...

Hello, everyone,

I am the moderator "on hiatus" because I had a health emergency (heart) a few months ago. Some facts about me:

1) I was born in the first half of the 20th century (being coy about my actual age)

2) I have read a lot of Victorian works throughout my life; it is probably my favourite literary period

3) I am a stereotypical cat lady who lives in the Eastern time zone of the USA

4) I am a dedicated Anglophile

5) On Wednesday, July 5, I was given permission to proceed to a modest exercise program at a local Heart Health Center, so I also hope that I can spend some more time on Good Reads.

6) I am a full-time caregiver as well; my husband had a second stroke last September 12th.

7) As I get older I read slower. I once could easily read 400 pages a day with great retention; I now struggle to read 50 pages a day in the same number of hours.

8) I really love poetry but feel more comfortable discussing fiction--I think because people in general are more relaxed about the novel or short story than poetry.

9) Places I have lived: New Haven, CT; Ithaca, NY, Charlottesville, VA, Rochester, NY, Columbus, OH. I have spent about 15 months total in England in a series of 6 week visits--mostly London, but also a summer in Bath.

From Me! ...

Hello, Victorians! And Welcome to the new Moderator Team!

Most of you have already met me within the Group Reads. :) I'm Renee. I live in New Jersey and currently teach third graders. My original undergraduate studies were in literature and biology.... Which didn't exactly prepare me to spend my days hanging out with 8 year-olds, but we do get into some interesting discussions. :)

I credit GoodReads and audiobooks for bringing literature back into my life. For a long time I read only poetry and short stories during the school year, because I didn't have the time/brain-power left over at the end of the day for anything chunky. My commute is fairly long each day, but now I use audiobooks to fill it with the gorgeous words I was missing so much.

I'm quite delighted that this team comes from all over the United States and all over the world! I hope all the Victorians! members will join me in welcoming our new team of moderators. :D

Hello to all the new Mods.

I had the pleasure to be a Mod with the Victorians for a short time and know you will enjoy the experience. Renee deserves a huge shout-out for all the effort she has given to the group. Thank you Renee.

I hope to join in the discussions again soon.

Yes, thank you Renee for all your hard work. You are a star. Also, welcome to the new moderators. Like Lucia, I hope to participate in the group reads in September and October (perhaps August too).

All the best.

Awww. Thanks, Guys! Your kind words are much appreciated. :)

Thank you for the warm welcome, Peter, Lucia and Veronique. Hope to interact with you all in September and October discussions. And I would also join you in applauding Renee for her excellent work in the Victorian group.

Also from me thanks to Renee, and welcome to all the new Mods! Hope to join in in September and perhaps October.

Renee wrote: "From Lady Clementina...


I'm Mallika/Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore (the latter name is from a book group I'm part of- and stayed when I migrated from Shelfari) from Gurgaon, India.

At the mom..."

What are you doing your PhD in?

I loved Enid Blyton as a child, and fortunately my daughters inherited my love and we are now passing it on to my grandchildren. I was raised in the US but with a ton of English relatives who used to send books from England for birthdays and Christmas. Hence my love for Blyton, Arthur Ransome, and the many Annuals that were published during the 1940s and into the 50s.

Renee wrote: "From Natalie...

Hello, everyone,

I am the moderator "on hiatus" because I had a health emergency (heart) a few months ago. Some facts about me:

1) I was born in the first half of the 20th centur..."

Hi I am so very happy to see you are getting better. I've missed you.

Everyman wrote: "Renee wrote: "From Lady Clementina...


I'm Mallika/Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore (the latter name is from a book group I'm part of- and stayed when I migrated from Shelfari) from Gurgaon, Indi..."
Law- human rights and comparative constitutional law.

EB has been a favourite in my family as well- both me and my mother still read old favourites and are also discovering some new ones.

Welcome to all of you! I hope you enjoy! Wishing you all the best! ❤️

Thanks, Hilary!

Welcome to all the new moderators. Thanks to Renee for doing such a fantastic job for this long. I've been reading other stuff for a long time, and perhaps with "Tenant of Wildfell Hall", one of my favorite Victorian novels, I will get back to the discussions.

Would love to hear from you. You have been missed.

A heartfelt Thank You to Lenora, who will be stepping down as a moderator. She and Natalie were champs last year when Lynne's sudden death left us all reeling. Wishing her and her family healing, health, and happiness.

Renee wrote: "A heartfelt Thank You to Lenora, who will be stepping down as a moderator. She and Natalie were champs last year when Lynne's sudden death left us all reeling. Wishing her and her family healing, h..."

Thank you Lenora :)

Thank you Lenora, hope to continue hearing from you in discussions.

Thanks, Lenora, and wishing you, your father, and the rest of your family strength and peace.

Thank You all and I will still check in from time to time and try to keep up with the readings