Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Has anyone else started reading this? I'm only about 40 pages in and loving it so far. The writing is fresh and light, looking forward to delving further in.

I read it a few years back. It is my favourite Gaskell.

*edited for typos - really ought to be wearing my specs!!*

I started reading it...it's a keeper!

I started reading last night - enjoying so far.

I probably won't be starting for a couple of weeks, but I'm encouraged by your posts! Has anyone set up threads yet?

I got it at the library two days ago. I have one quick read and then I plunge into this one!

Anyone done? I finished it a couple of weeks ago (had extra time on my hands!) and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's interesting that a novel like that can still resonate today despite its slow pace and defunct traditions - I think that's a testimony to Gaskell's terrific writing style and story-telling ability. Never during the book did I get bored: if anything, there was always a detail to peak my attention and curiosity.
I'm puzzled about the title, though. Why Wives and Daughters, and not Mothers and Daughters? I find it strange that the relationship that's highlighted is the one between man and woman rather than between women. Mr Gibson had an important role to play, but it was really all about Molly, Cynthia and Mrs Gibson's interfering presence that it all happens. Thoughts?

I'm still reading, though I'm over halfway through. I like Molly - she's not sappy good like Dickens' heroines but virtuous enough for a Victorian novel. Mrs. Gibson should face off against Mrs. Bennet. I'm not sure about the title either, but it sounds better than Mothers and Daughters.

I almost bought this yesterday at my Chapters, but I chose North and South instead. Has anyone read both? Which is better?

I've started this (15% read) and I am having a hard time getting into it. As I recall from past experience, this kind of classic has always been hard for me to push through in the beginning... but wind up being great reads. This book is very slow paced and somewhat boring at the moment. I won't give up but I find I'm picking up other books. Perhaps I need to bring this one to the beach on a nice day.

Mrs. Gibson was a very difficult character for me, and possibly a new addition to my list of my least favorite characters in fiction. When Gibson was thinking about marrying her, I actually said "no don't do it!" out loud. So fake and manipulative... and even though she ended up not being as bad as I expected, she almost made me give up on the book. And bahzah, don't feel bad. I took awhile to get into the book, too.

I have no idea why I had such a strong reaction to her as a character, but I just could not stand her. Poor Molly. Cynthia, on the other hand, I had no problems with. She was by no means as lovable as Molly, but at least with her you knew what you were dealing with.

As to cecilturtle's question: why "Wives and Daughters" and not "Mothers and Daughters"? Not sure. Mr. Gibson seemed almost unnecessary after the first couple chapters (mostly, he seemed like he realized he had made a big mistake marrying Mrs. Gibson, and he just wanted to be away from it all). Maybe because the whole thing is about getting married? Who will Cynthia marry, who will Molly marry, who will the squire's sons marry?

Pushed through the slow beginning and have been rewarded! Character development is interesting... story is getting better. I do admit (now that I am further into it) that the beginning was necessary to the story line. I tend to be impatient I guess. Luckily, I am also stubborn and keep on keeping on. I don't believe I have ever read a book by Eliz. Gaskell before. Nice style.

OK... now I've finished the book. Was a little disappointed overall. Characters were well developed but the story seemed quite shallow. For all the importance of Molly, the main character, the ending did not do her justice. Other characters were brought to resolution in one way or another, but Molly was quite left undone. Perhaps Gaskell planned to write a sequel.

The title seems to encompass the influencial effect wives and daughters have on the men and their community... even during the time when women had few legal rights.

I think that there is more to the title. "Wives and daughter" also points to the question of marriage for Osborne, Roger, Molly and Cynthia as jfetting mentioned, and how does Mr Gibson cope with having married Mrs Kirkpatrick, not only as a (step-)mother for Molly but also as a wife for himself. But "Mothers and daughters" would also imply that it's only about, well, mothers and their relationships to their daughter - as opposed to fathers and daughters. Think Molly and Mr Gibson, think Cynthia who is trying hard to win Mr Gibsons good will, think Mr Hamley who considers Molly to be like his daughter yet wouldn't actually want her to be his daugher(-in-law)...

I've seen the BBC series twice, and that may have influenced me strongly - I keep 'seeing' the actors while reading, and I actually love it. If you have troubles with the book, try to find the series. I don't find that having watched the series diminishes the joy of reading; I rather feel 'guided' by the series.