1000 Books Project 2025 - Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter

Project Backstory:

I picked up a copy of James Mustich's amazing 1000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life Changing List and upon looking through it, I realized it really is a well-rounded reading recommendation book. I was pleased to discover I have read quite a few of the books he lists, and that many of them are on my personal reading lists (and they are books I own). So, to ever expand my reading horizons, and include others in the journey, I decided to create a read-along challenge, or project, if you will.

The theme for this year...and it's an important theme given the current situation in our country (U.S.) in regards to women (one example - your body, my choice)...Honoring women: A woman's life saga.

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset is the work that formed the basis of Undset receiving the 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature, which was awarded to her "principally for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages." (Wikipedia source)

A passage from the 1000 Books' coverage of the book (page 817): 

A summary does not do justice to Undset's achievement, nor to the singularity of her central character, who maintains a riveting identity in the midst of her struggles with family, community, and convention. Next to Kristin Lavransdatter, Emma Bovary is bloodless. In her book, 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel, Jane Smiley astutely describes Kristin's--and Undset's--originality:

Perhaps the biggest difference between Undset's protagonist and most other female protagonists is that she is never without work to do...Life is arduous in a way that is never true in novels about women of the middle and upper classes in France and England. Undset writes about work and weather and famine and accidents, illnesses, pregnancy, animals, and the natural world with immediacy and ease. Though Undset, too, explores the classic conflict between female virtue and female desire she sets it into the context of female usefulness.

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. I hope you will join me.

Since we are starting on January 1st, I'm posting the reading schedule now. 

My edition: Abacus (January 1, 1995) - Paperback, 1072 pages.

Discussions will be posted here on the blog on the dates indicated in the schedule. Feel free to stop by the discussions any time. Post your thoughts in the comments, or share a link to a blog post.

The schedule does not include the notes section at the back of the book. The ending page in my edition is 1,047. We are reading according to each book of the original trilogy.

• January/February: The Bridal Wreath, pp 1 - 272
  Discussion post: February 28
• March/April/May: The Mistress of Husaby, pp 273 - 643
  Discussion post: May 31
• June/July/August: The Cross, pp 645 - 1047 (end)
  Discussion post: August 31

If you would like to join us, sign up by leaving a comment below (and a link, if you post about it on your blog or social media).

2025 Book to Movie (and TV) Reading Challenge

Welcome to year nine of the Book to Movie (and TV) Challenge!

Let's see what books are coming to the screen in 2025. As usual, these releases are subject to change.

The info below comes from CinemaBlend and Screen Rant.

Legend: Movies = M, Streaming series = S, Streaming movie = SM (these will only be indicated if I know for sure which format the adaptation is.)

M: Paddington in Peru, based on the Michael Bond stories (Jan 17)
M: Dog Man, based on the David Pilkey graphic novels (Jan 31)

SM: The Witcher: Sirens Of The Deep (Book title: The Witcher: Sword of Destiny), Andrzej Sapkowski (Feb 11)
SM: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Helen Fielding (Feb 13)

M: Not Without Hope, Nick Schuyler and Jeré Longman (Feb 20)

M: The Unbreakable Boy: A Father’s Fear, A Son’s Courage, And A Story Of Unconditional Love,  Scott Michael LeRette (Feb 20)

SM: The Electric State, Simon Stalenhag (March 13)

M: The Amateur, Robert Littell (April 11)

M: Mickey 17 (Book title: Mickey7), Edward Ashton (April 18)
M: How to Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell (June 13)
M: Animal Farm, George Orwell (July 11)

M: Cold Storage, David Koepp (Sept 18)

M: The Running Man, Stephen King (Nov 21)

The following adaptations' release dates TBD
M: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley 
M: The Housemaid, Freida McFadden 
M: People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry 
M: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid 
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig 
M: Wildwood, Colin Meloy 
M: The Twits, Roald Dahl 

M: Book Lovers, Emily Henry
S:A Court Of Thorns And Roses TV show (by Sarah J. Mass)
S: Fairy Tale, Stephen King
S: Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros
M: Funny Story, Emily Henry
M: Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell
S: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling
S: The Institute. Stephen King
M: The Life Of Chuck, Stephen King
M: The Long Walk, Stephen King
S: Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe
M: The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
M & S: Recursion, Blake Crouch
M: Whalefall, Daniel Kraus
M: Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you find out about any I haven't mentioned, leave me a comment and I'll add to the list.

Main Levels

The Enthusiast: read 1-3 books
First One to the Theater: read 4+ books

Read only books being made into movies/series for release in 2025 (you are not required to only read from the list above. As I stated, if you find another movie or TV series/mini-series, based on a book, coming out in 2025, feel free to read it).

Additional Levels

Not Ready to Let Go: read at least one (1) book made into a movie or series in 2024

Here's a list of 2024 movies adapted from books. (Note: Some of the movies listed may have been moved to 2025).

Living in the Past: read at least one (1) book made into a movie in previous years

You can Google for previous years, or check Goodreads lists.

The Movie Was Better (What?!): watch the movie(s) for the book(s) you read.

*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

Additional Guidelines

• The books you read can count for other challenges. Ebooks, audiobooks, and traditional formats all count.
• The start date is January 1, 2025. End date is December 31, 2025.
• Remember, TV series/mini-series count too.
• Pick your level (and additional levels, if you like)
• Sign up below and grab the button (top of post). I hope you will join me!
• If you have any questions, click the contact me button in the sidebar, or leave a comment.

Sign up here:

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1000 Books Project - Nicholas Nickleby Final Discussion

Spoilers ahead...final thoughts...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.

I finished! I feel like throwing a party! 😄

While this one was tough to get through due to the sheer breadth of it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It helped that I was able to listen to some of it on Book Radio. That way I could listen while I was doing other things. 

What I love most about Dickens is his ability to tell a story with a large cross section of characters and somehow tying them together in the story. 

Nicholas is such an admirable character, despite his tendency to get extremely angry. I can't say I blame him though. So much outrage due to the poor treatment of Smike and his sister. Smike's death is so heartbreaking. What a hard life he had, and then he didn't even get to live a full life. At least his last years were spent in happiness with Nicholas and his family. 

As happens in many a Dickens novel, the "evil" characters get their comeuppance. What a shame that Ralph Nickleby was such a miserable person. He could have been happy if he could have seen past his greed. He needed visits from three spirits, but that's another story...

What are your final thoughts on the book? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

If you joined in on the read-along, thank you! Hope to see you for our next 1000 Books Project!

I'm working on our book selection for 2025. I'm thinking we will do one book over the entire year, or for eight months. Stay tuned for the announcement.

1000 Books Project - Nicholas Nickleby Discussion Two

Spoilers ahead...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.

I am seriously behind on this discussion post and I sincerely apologize. While I love reading Dickens, he can be long-winded at times...or perhaps not so much long-winded, as lofty in his introduction of characters. Honestly, I don't know how the man kept up with all of these characters. 

When he titled this The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, he was not kidding. Nicholas has had so many experiences for such a young man. I loved the parts when he (and Smike) acted in Mr. Crummles' theater troupe. I can imagine him as quite the dashing leading man. His popularity with the audiences caused some jealousy within the company. I thought that scene was quite entertaining. Nicholas has a

temper. They truly don't know who they're messing with...which Ralph is getting ready to find out. Evil man. What he has caused to happen to poor Kate is horrifying. Now I see why they were so fussy back then for young women to have a chaperone. She clearly needed one in her situation. Of course, she, and her mother, did not suspect that her Uncle would be so cruel. I think they are finding out now just how morally bankrupt he really is. Greed is at the root of his antics. He does seem to have a soft spot for Kate, even though it seems impossible. But just when you think he might be redeemable after all, he says to himself about wishing Nicholas and their mother dead so Kate could live with him. Wow.

I'm not going to say much more at the moment. I'll just say that I am enjoying it, though it's slow going. I am considering listening to some of it on audio. One of the newsletters I subscribe to mentioned this public domain audio book site and I found Nicholas Nickleby on there. If you want to check it out, it's called Book Radio.

What did you think of the this section of our reading? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

Here is the reading schedule if you need to reference it again. (Click link and scroll down)
I'll be back on August 31 (hopefully) with the next discussion post.

Important Updates!

I have a few important updates to share...

New URL

I had to let my domain for this site go, so it has reverted back to this URL: https://gathertogetherread.blogspot.com/

If you have any of the buttons from this site on your blog, you will need to update the link to the above URL. That also goes for RSS feeds, etc. I apologize for the inconvenience.

1000 Books Project...Nicholas Nickleby read-along

I am once again behind on the reading. Oof. I'm hoping to be caught up in the next couple of days and will post the discussion soon. Thanks for bearing with me.

Stephen King Challenge participants...

It's almost time for Castle Macabre's Something Wicked Fall and we are once again going to be doing a read-along of a Stephen King book. I have a poll live for people to vote for which SK book they would like to read for the read-along. Vote here: https://forms.gle/pg97xSoV6TpyXbbZ6

Check out the Save the Date post for Something Wicked Fall at Castle Macabre here.

Here is the event graphic!

That's it for now. If you have any questions, leave me a comment below.

1000 Books Project - Nicholas Nickleby Discussion One

Spoilers ahead...do not read if you haven't read the book and/or if spoilers bother you.

Dickens was so good at portraying the less fortunate of his time. Children who had no rights and were often mistreated. Women, whose husbands have died, and are left destitute, thrown at the mercy of often unkind relatives. And his villains! Probably some of the most detestable in the history of literature. Ralph Nickleby and the Squeers. We have so far only had glimpses of the truly horrible nature of their uncle, but we know fully well just how despicable are the Squeers. Their treatment of the boys, and especially poor Smike, makes me so angry!

I have to mention also the introduction of all these side characters who are so entertaining and interesting. How Dickens kept up with all these characters...I don't know! The Kenwigs and Mr. Gregsbury. Regarding the latter, when he was describing the duties of the secretary job, I thought to myself it sounds like he would be doing your job for you. Luckily, Nicholas was smart enough not to take the job.

Looking forward to moving on to the next reading section to see what's next for young Mr. Nickleby.

I watched the 2002 film again the other night. I have seen it many times. I really love it. I usually wait until I've finished the book to rewatch the film, but I was compelled to watch it at the beginning of the book instead. It is a very well-done film, with great performances. It seems to stay fairly close to the book, though I won't know for sure until I've read the whole book. Anyway, I recommend the film. You can watch it for free on Tubi. I noticed there are other adaptations so I may seek them out as well.

What did you think of the this section of our reading? Share any and all thoughts in the comments.

Here is the reading schedule if you need to reference it again. (Click link and scroll down)
I'll be back on July 31 with the next discussion post.

1000 Books - Nicholas Nickleby update

I'm running a bit behind this month on the reading. I'll have the first discussion posted by the end of the week. Thanks for bearing with me!