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As regular members know, for 2025 we have a new theme, which as you might have guessed from the image, is a pun on Charles Dickens’s own magazine "All the Year Round". The connecting theme for our 2025 group and side reads will be All Around Dickens.

Sometimes this will be Charles Dickens himself who is “all around�: the Inimitable as an explorer: travelling all around. Our first read will be about his first visit to the USA, which we will read to mirror the season of the year he was there, through late Winter to Spring. We have read the bits Dickens was advised to take out by his friend John Forster, but now we will read the Real Thing, which is entertaining, elucidating and � a little shocking! American Notes For General Circulation is expertly led as one of his personal favourites, by John.

Other goodies this season include another novel by someone all around and very close to him: Elizabeth Gaskell (called Mrs Gaskell on her books until the 21st century �) Claudia will again host this read of a favourite author, taking us through until early summer, and has chosen Sylvia's Lovers. Late summer will be our 18th century slot, this time of a favourite book hosted by our 18th century enthusiast Erich. This will be Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, a book Charles Dickens loved as a child. He was captivated by this book, reading it over and over again. We may have time for Bridget to present a few of his “Sketches of Young Gentlemen� (who were always all around Dickens as a young man) to end the summer. Then it will be time for our All Around Dickens Big Read - another of his novels (under wraps for now, but hosted by yours truly) before a Christmassy read to take us over the year end, hosted by Petra, who has made this quite a tradition!

Plans may change as real life intrudes, so please keep an eye on this thread, or our bookshelves for the dates, titles and hosts, especially if you like to be the first to know of any changes.

Once again, thank you to everyone for making our group such a happy one, where I always anticipate reading your enthusiastic and informative posts with great pleasure. I look forward to seeing everyone, both old and new friends, for some part of our All Around Dickens 2025, enjoying Charles Dickens “All the year Round� with “Dickensians!�

The timetable is posted in the next comment.

29th January - 28th March - American Notes For General Circulation by Charles Dickens hosted by John

5th April - 18th June - Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell hosted by Claudia

25th June - 25th August - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe hosted by Erich

1st Sept - 19th November - The Big Read Martin Chuzzlewit hosted by Plateresca and Jean

Possibly autumn selection from Sketches of Young Ladies, Young Gentlemen, and Young Couples hosted by Bridget

Our Christmas - New Year Read hosted by Petra

Our side read this year will be Dickens and Travel: The Start of Modern Travel Writing by Lucinda Hawksley

(Further details will be added as they are confirmed)

I look forward to Chuzzlewit. I plan to purchase the Penguin Classics edition that has an introduction by Patricia Ingham, who has written about the Brontes. I know the novel in a hazy sense because it seems to have been less well-regarded by critics. But I’d like to see for myself and am a clean slate on Chuzzlewit.

I think you'll love it John! It has some marvellous comic passages, mystery and some very dark moments in a great story. Typical Dickens in fact! Plus your familiarity with American Notes for General Circulation will make the reading experience even better, I think.

What an incredible year Jean has planned for us! I had dropped out after a concussion this spring, but will be joining in beginning with Robinson Crusoe, which is a great read!

Lee, I am so happy to see you strong enough to be back with us 🥰 Please take it steady, heal well, and enjoy the goodies ahead at your own pace.

Lee wrote: "What an incredible year Jean has planned for us! I had dropped out after a concussion this spring, but will be joining in beginning with Robinson Crusoe, which is a great read!"

Dear Lee, I missed you and your great insights during our current group reading!

I hope you are recovering well, and am looking forward to seeing you again in future reading adventures!

Lee wrote: "What an incredible year Jean has planned for us! I had dropped out after a concussion this spring, but will be joining in beginning with Robinson Crusoe, which is a great read!"

Sorry to hear and hope you are now recovered.