An EXTRA week

I am worried that lots of you have fallen behind and are struggling to keep up with my pace. For this reason, I will give you all an EXTRA WEEK to try to catch up, and so I will not post on the most recent chapters until NEXT weekend. I hope that suits you all. I am determined we don't lose the momentum, and so if there are any of you who are up to the same point as me, feel free EITHER to email me your thoughts about what you have read AND/OR read ahead anyway. We are SO close to the finish...

Also, only 3 of you have voiced any interest in the Bronte residential trip in the summer. It would obviously be impossible to run a trip with only THREE people, so can I ask the rest of you to give this some serious thought. There is no reason we HAVE to run that trip (just as there is no reason we HAVE to keep focusing on the Brontes this year - in fact, I have some other suggestions if you would prefer) - but I need to know what is down to a lack of interest, and what is down to a lack of TIME.

Basically, I would like to hear from ALL of you over the next week or so, BY EMAIL, in response to the following questions:

1. How have you found it trying to keep up with the speed at which I have expected you to read this novel?
2. How have you enjoyed the novel itself so far? Please give me detailed reasons why or why not.
3. Are you interested enough in the Bronte residential for me to start organising it?
4. Which of the following options would you prefer for the Book Group for the next two terms:
a) Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)? OR
b) Regeneration (Pat Barker) and Dracula (Bram Stoker)?
They are all FANTASTIC books (brilliantly written and VERY important for your growing appreciation of the best literature out there), but I need to know what is going to provide the most enjoyment to you all. I am happy to continue with the Brontes, but I am equally excited at the prospect of introducing you all to and exploring the other two.

I hope to hear from you all BY EMAIL (or as a signed comment on the BLOG) over the next few days.

Mr Savage