The AGE OF INNOCENCE Group Read: Main Thread

Hello, fellow readers. There has been some interest in doing a group read of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Some are reading it for the October TIOLI Challenge #1 and some just want to read this “elegant portrait of desire and betrayal in Old New York.”

Whatever the reason, we’d love to have you join us.

If you’re wondering what the book is all about, here are a few paragraphs of the Plot Overview taken from SparkNotes:

"Newland Archer couldn't be more pleased with his recent engagement to the beautiful debutante May Welland. However, his world is thrown upside down by the sensational arrival of May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Recently returned to America after separating from her husband, a philandering Polish count, Countess Olenska shocks the staid New York aristocracy with her revealing clothes, carefree manners, and rumors of adultery. Because the Countess's family, headed by the powerful Mrs. Manson Mingott, have chosen to reintroduce her into good society, Archer and May feel it necessary to befriend her.

As Archer comes to better know the Countess, he begins to appreciate her unconventional views on New York society. Meanwhile, Archer becomes increasingly disillusioned with his new fianceé, May. He begins to see her as the manufactured product of her class: polite, innocent, and utterly devoid of personal opinion and sense of self.”…

Here is the website if you like having lots of reference material at your fingertips. Or, you can just read the book!

The proposed schedule of reading:

October 10-16: Chapters 1-13 (120 pages in my edition)
October 17-23: Chapters 14-24 (125 pages)
October 24-31: Chapters 25-34 (117 pages)

This is just a suggestion. Please read and post at your own pace. Some of us will want to read the book in its entirety the first week. No problem - just post comments in the appropriate thread. Spoilers are welcome on the Chapter Threads. General comments can be made here.

If I don’t get any suggestions for different ways to break up the reading, I’ll post the Chapter Threads this week end.

This is my favorite Edith Wharton book… at least it was when I read it a few years ago. I hope it holds up and that everyone has a good reading experience.

Just ordered my copy from the library--should be here on Tuesday.

Thanks for putting this together. I can't wait!

>2 ronincats:: That's great timing, Roni.

.3: I'm glad you'll be reading this one with us, BJ.

Anyone else joining in???

Excellent! I've been looking for an excuse to re-read it!

I'm officially joining in! I'll probably do more lurking than posting -- but I'll be here! :-)

I'll be reading with you. I've planned to re-read this for months--now's the time!

I'll lurk on the thread even if I don't get round to rereading, think I probably reread this a few years ago after reading it and The House of Mirth for the first time at university.

I'm in, Donna; thanks for getting this together. I've needed a reason to get on this shelf-sitter.

Hello and welcome to Amanda, Nancy, Anne, Luci, and Gail.

I've posted the three threads for the group read. I look forward to reading everyone's comments on the appropriate threads.

Chapters 1-13
Chapters 14-24
Chapters 25-34

Got the email today that my book is in at the local branch. It's closed tomorrow, so I'll pick it up Tuesday!

I've also added the spoiler threads to the group wiki so they can be easily found.

I finished the book last week, my favorite Edith Wharton. I'll be joining in the discussion.

I've finished Book 1 (not sure if that's chapters 1-13) but I'm really enjoying the book. Off to check out the first thread.

>11 ronincats:: I look forward to your comments, Roni. I wasn't going to read ahead of my class but I'm missing Edith Wharton on my week-long break so I may dip into the first few chapters with the rest of the group.

>12 drneutron:: Thanks, Jim. I forgot about putting it on the wiki. You are on the ball!

>13 Citizenjoyce:: It's my favorite Wharton, too, Joyce. At least so far. I hope the reread holds up for me.

>14 brenzi:: Bonnie, I should have taken a closer look at the book when I divided it up for the group read. Book One goes through Chapter 18. We probably could have done it in two chunks, although I think some people want to take a slower pace. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

Just downloaded the book last night when I learned about the group read. I may also do more lurking and posting, but I'm here!

>16 lit_chick:: Lurking or posting, we're glad to have you, Nancy.

Joyce and I are feeling alone over here in the middle of the book. This is a quiet group. ;-)

I'm rather behind, but I should be able to catch up this weekend.

I'm probably still behind but have just realised that I'm at Chapter 14 (in fact, I think this is at least the third time I've read it, I read it as part of a university course and then I think I might have reread it as part of an online group read with a yahoogroup, though I can't swear to that, perhaps it was only The House of Mirth. So I'll go and look at the first thread.