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If you're open to input, may I suggest The Woodlanders, for the following reasons:

1) This Group, in its previous incarnation, was dormant through the period The Woodlanders was originally scheduled to be read. When the group had a resurgence, the new moderator Emilymom continued on the original schedule of finishing the novels and short-story collections before she eventually left and the group returned to the dormancy that you managed to resuscitate it from. Thus, The Woodlanders just got skipped.
But The Woodlanders is a good choice even when starting fresh and without considering the group's previous incarnation's history.

2) While usually considered 2nd tier Hardy after the Big 5 (Madding, Tess, Jude, Mayor & Native) many readers believe it should rank with or above most of the Big 5. Personally, I remember it as being my 3rd or 4th favorite Hardy on first reading last century and I would like a re-read to see how it ranks now that I've read all the Hardy novels and re-read the Big 5. Where The Woodlanders should rank in the Hardy canon would be a good discussion topic.

3) Unlike the Big 5 and even Pale Blue Eyes, The Woodlanders is rarely read in other Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ groups; it may be the best Hardy not read yet by some Hardy fans and not yet re-read by the Hardy devotees;

4) It was Hardy's own favorite. Wikipedia reports:
"The novel remained a personal favourite of Hardy's. Newman Flower recounted that Hardy named it to him as his "favourite novel", and 25 years after its publication, Hardy wrote that, "On taking up The Woodlanders and reading it after many years, I like it as a story best of all."

I respectfully suggest that, if not the first novel read after Tess, that The Woodlanders be considered for a group read shortly thereafter, say sometime in 2024. Thanks.

I support Brian's suggestion: the Woodlanders, go for it!
It is my preferred novel together with Tess and Far from the Madding Crowd on the very same rank of the podium!

Would you like to lead The Woodlanders, Brian? As I said, my plans for the group are fluid and I'm not in position to say right now that I'll lead a novel in the same way as before. Summarising, commenting and coordinating a chapter every day is a huge undertaking, and I'm doing this in another group right now straight after another one. (Three on the trot is exhausting!)

I love enthusiasm in new members, but to be honest I'm feeling rather pushed, Lee, Brian and Claudia. So I'd appreciate a little time to read other things before committing, and do have other ideas for the group which we can talk about later.

On the other hand, you are a longstanding member Brian, and are understandably keen to follow a plan which was set a while ago, so I'd happily go along with you leading The Woodlanders as we read Tess of the D'Urbervilles. 😊 Obviously I want to do what's best for the group.

And if any of you would like to lead a poem, please say! July is free.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Would you like to lead The Woodlanders, Brian?"

If I were to lead the discussion, it would be like in college where everyone signs up to take the class from a famous professor and then groan when they find out he's assigned his Teaching Assistant to really teach the class.
I'd feel like that TA would except that at least the TA gets a degree to assuage his feelings of unpopularity.

Interest has exploded since you signed on, Jean. That's due to your hard-earned reputation as a discussion moderator. When I was its most active participant, this group went dormant.
I've also never successfully navigated the daily reading goals that are your signature discussion format. While I tried check in on the discussion during Tess, I was a bit overwhelmed by the volume of posts and had trouble navigating to where to jump back in. I thought I'd use whatever novel you next chose, one that I hadn't reread recently, to get the hang of it.

While I appreciate the offer, I don't think it's a wise idea. So, no thank you.

Sorry for seeming to be pushing, Jean. I agree with Brian's reasons for wanting to read the Woodlanders. But this does not mean that we should to read it right now - you may take time and decide. (I have already experienced leading a group read and fully agree that it is a huge work) I have read 7 novels by TH as a private chain-read of Thomas Hardy and would welcome any group read in a suitable time - except The Native because I read it in deep winter when I had a flu and had nightmares of Egdon Heath with thirteen glowworms and little wild horses and Diggory Venn as a Mephistophelian visitant. Should you decide to read the Native, I would accept but not so eagerly contribute.

*we should read... it's late and my brain is disconnected

As someone who has lead a group read in one of Jean's groups, I highly recommend it. Sure, it's work to write up the summaries but the payoff is tenfold with everyone's enthusiasm and incredible posts.

As the leader, the summary is what one makes of it. It's used as a guide to keep the discussion within a context, so people know when to stop commenting, if they've read ahead, for example.

Other than that, a few pictures (if possible), some background info (if something in the story stands out) and a few reply comments each day to comments left by others is what is needed. It's a busy time, but a good time.

I recommend giving leading a group read a try. It's a nice experience.

Thanks all. Petra that's a great post! Feel free to add it to the King's Arms thread if you like. I'm archiving this thread, as it was an interim one for the relaunch and is now nearly a year old.

For the current plans please see LINK HERE