u/otherside_b

Thanks to all who participated in our nomination thread.

Here are your top six choices, which received the most upvotes. The poll will run for seven days and the winner will be our next read along.

Vote for your favorite and feel free to comment to say why we should read whatever book you prefer. Thanks!

View Poll

Discussion Prompts:

1. Who do you think this lurker on the stairs is?
2. What about the idea of shorts as a disguise? Ingenious?
3. Do you agree with Pip when he says you can always tell who is a former prisoner?
4. What did you think of Provis getting Herbert to kiss and swear on his bible?
5. If Part 1 is the introduction, Part 2 is Pip's elevation to gentleman then do you think that part three is his downfall?
6. Anything else to discuss?

Links:

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

So, Herbert, looking at me with a friendly uneasiness and amazement, complied, and Provis immediately shaking hands with him, said, “Now you’re on your oath, you know. And never believe me on mine, if Pip shan’t make a gentleman on you!”

Discussion Prompts:

1. Time got away from me today, pose your own questions below.

2. Anything else to discuss?

Links:

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

When I awoke without having parted in my sleep with the perception of my wretchedness, the clocks of the eastward churches were striking five, the candles were wasted out, the fire was dead, and the wind and rain intensified the thick black darkness.

This is the end of the second stage of Pip’s expectations.

Discussion Prompts:

1. Thoughts on Pip' continued simping on Estella?

2. What did you think of Miss Havisham freaking out at Estella?

3. Miss Havisham is now said to fear Estella. Why do you think that is?

4. What did you think of Pip's gentleman's disagreement with Drummle?

5. What do you think of Estella admitting to manipulating Drummle?

6. Anything else to discuss?

Links:

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

So, in my case; all the work, near and afar, that tended to the end, had been accomplished; and in an instant the blow was struck, and the roof of my stronghold dropped upon me.

Discussion Prompts:

1. What did you think of the details we get of Drummle and Startop?
2. What do you think of Wemmick's household fortifications?
3. What do you think of the dynamic between Wemmick and his aged father?
4. Are you of Wemmick's opinion that work and home should not mix?
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

At last, when we got to his place of business and he pulled out his key from his coat-collar, he looked as unconscious of his Walworth property as if the castle and the drawbridge and the arbor and the lake and the fountain and the Aged, had all been blown into space together by the last discharge of the stinger.

Discussion Prompts:

1. How are your haggling skills? Better or worse than Pips?
2. What did you think of Wemmick and his beloved casts?
3. Have you gotten hold of any portable property?
4. What did you think of the glimpse we got of Jaggers in Court?
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

Which side he was on I couldn’t make out, for he seemed to me to be grinding the whole place in a mill; I only know that when I stole out on tiptoe, he was not on the side of the bench; for, he was making the legs of the old gentleman who presided, quite convulsive under the table, by his denunciations of his conduct as the representative of British law and justice in that chair that day.