I love this topic Katie! There are so many non-nuclear families, surrogate parent figures, and characters searching for a family, a home, or a sense of belonging! The only book I've read on this list is Wuthering Heights though. I'll have to fix that at some point.
I also thought immediately of Bleak House! I just posted my review of Wuthering Heights and spent a large portion of the video talking about the theme of family in the book!
Interesting discussion. Bleak House is one of the few Dickens' novels I've yet to read. Daniel Peggoty in David Copperfield, as you know, takes in his orphaned nephew and niece as well as Mrs Gummidge.
I'm in the last 100 pages of Dombey and Son (which I started reading because you recommended it) and I absolutely loved the non-nuclear families. Edith and Florence are particularly interesting (I love Edith to bits) and I distinctly remember the moment when I suddenly realized that Walter was basically raised by an old gay couple 😂 very excited to attempt Bleak House over the coming months, and I'm intrigued by John Halifax, Gentleman, so thanks for the rec!
Wives and Daughters was the first book to come into my head about non nuclear family. I think Molly becomes like family with Hamleys as well as the arrival of her step-mother and sister. I saw another comment and have to agree that David Copperfield explores family and the varieties of them.
Our Mutual Friend comes to mind. Bella Wilfer and John Harmon are like adopted children of the Boffins. Jenny Wren and Lizzie Hexam are close like sisters.
Not related, but I was wondering if you could do a video about your favorite book settings. Not time period or country - just settings you seem to gravitate to.
Such an interesting video! I was recently thinking about found families and Victorian literature and then you mentioned Ruth 😁 I really need to get to it soon.
Thank you. I shall probably take you up on John Halifax Gentleman, since there's a copy to hand. This is the first time I've heard anything good about it, frankly!
iavid Cooperfield's had large share of such families and he traveled through all his life. His Dover family is the most prominent non-nuclear family which comprised him, his aunt, Mr. Dick and by end of the book joined by sweel Pegotty. He also had another tranistianl like the ones he formed in London with the Mecawbers, then in Canterbery with the Agnes and her father during his study years! and we should not forget the Pegottys in Yarmoth whom on thier own compositn and thier legendry home were the defeintion on non- nucler families.
Wonderful video Katie! I have only read Wuthering Heights and Bleak House from this list but the others are on my TBR list or my wishlist so I really appreciated your explanations while still being vague. Another Victorian novel that I think does non-nuclear family really well is Daniel Deronda since he is raised by his uncle and has so many found/chosen family members :D (hope that wasn't spoilery for others). I'm really enjoying your Victober videos as always and really enjoying my own Victober reading so far :D.
Namaste & Hello Katie😊 I loved the books you mentioned in this video👍, I did read Ruth during my covid recovery days way back in January this year but never completed it, so will be picking it up again this winter season. Happy Reading dear😊👍📚
When I was studying Chinese (the course involved language, literature and culture) there was a wonderful line in a text on the Chinese family and that was: "The Chinese family has been in crisis since it was first studied" I wrote an entire essay on why that was the case arguing that study only occurs when there is a perceived crisis and few families ever match the "ideal" laid out either by "bourgeois respectability" in Western Europe or the Confucian expectations in China. Bother are prescriptive not descriptive. Are not non-traditional families the more interesting ones thus attracting writers?
I’m reading Ruth this month so super excited now 🎉🎉 You know I love wuthering heights sooo much. I do have dombey and son and bleak house on my shelves so this makes me want to pick them up 😊
I mean, I like Hard Times a lot right from the start. I feel like the tone does shift and become more focused on the characters a few chapters in, though.
I love this topic Katie! There are so many non-nuclear families, surrogate parent figures, and characters searching for a family, a home, or a sense of belonging! The only book I've read on this list is Wuthering Heights though. I'll have to fix that at some point.
I always find this topic so interesting in Victorian literature.
I also thought immediately of Bleak House!
I just posted my review of Wuthering Heights and spent a large portion of the video talking about the theme of family in the book!
I love these "theme" videos! Great work!
Thanks :)
Interesting discussion. Bleak House is one of the few Dickens' novels I've yet to read. Daniel Peggoty in David Copperfield, as you know, takes in his orphaned nephew and niece as well as Mrs Gummidge.
Ok, I'm FINALLY going to drive into Dombey and Son! I've wanted to read it for so long now. It'll probably take me FOREVER.
I hope you like it!
@@katiejlumsden thanks,! I'm really enjoying the audio.
I'm in the last 100 pages of Dombey and Son (which I started reading because you recommended it) and I absolutely loved the non-nuclear families. Edith and Florence are particularly interesting (I love Edith to bits) and I distinctly remember the moment when I suddenly realized that Walter was basically raised by an old gay couple 😂 very excited to attempt Bleak House over the coming months, and I'm intrigued by John Halifax, Gentleman, so thanks for the rec!
I love how Dombey and Son explores non-nuclear families - and yep, I definitely think Captain Cuttle and Solomon Gills are a bit in love!
I’m reading Dombey & Son right now and I am loving it so far! I love the Walter storyline.
So glad you're enjoying it, Rainey!
That is so true about it being fascinating at the beginning of Wuthering Heights when Lockwood is trying to figure out how everyone is related.
What a great idea for a video.
Thanks!
I added Ruth to my TBR and recommended John Halifax, Gentleman to my library. Thanks for another great video!
I was so pleased you included the non-nuclear family in Bleak House!
Wives and Daughters was the first book to come into my head about non nuclear family. I think Molly becomes like family with Hamleys as well as the arrival of her step-mother and sister. I saw another comment and have to agree that David Copperfield explores family and the varieties of them.
Oh very true! I LOVE Wives and Daughters, definitely another that would have made sense in this list.
Our Mutual Friend comes to mind. Bella Wilfer and John Harmon are like adopted children of the Boffins. Jenny Wren and Lizzie Hexam are close like sisters.
Dickens really writes a lot about non-nuclear families.
Great video Katie. John Halifax, Gentlemen was a great read and also has a disabled character, something you and I are both interested in.
Great video. I suppose mortality patterns made non-nuclear families more common than one might expect in Victorian life and that turns up in fiction.
That’s what I thought too
Not related, but I was wondering if you could do a video about your favorite book settings. Not time period or country - just settings you seem to gravitate to.
Good idea, thank you!
Such an interesting video! I was recently thinking about found families and Victorian literature and then you mentioned Ruth 😁 I really need to get to it soon.
Silas Marner for sure!
I haven't read that for so long!
Interesting!
I love this about Victorian literature too! It was one of my favourite things about bleak house
Thank you. I shall probably take you up on John Halifax Gentleman, since there's a copy to hand. This is the first time I've heard anything good about it, frankly!
iavid Cooperfield's had large share of such families and he traveled through all his life. His Dover family is the most prominent non-nuclear family which comprised him, his aunt, Mr. Dick and by end of the book joined by sweel Pegotty. He also had another tranistianl like the ones he formed in London with the Mecawbers, then in Canterbery with the Agnes and her father during his study years! and we should not forget the Pegottys in Yarmoth whom on thier own compositn and thier legendry home were the defeintion on non- nucler families.
Very true. I think nearly every Dickens novel could probably have had a place on this list!
Wonderful video Katie! I have only read Wuthering Heights and Bleak House from this list but the others are on my TBR list or my wishlist so I really appreciated your explanations while still being vague. Another Victorian novel that I think does non-nuclear family really well is Daniel Deronda since he is raised by his uncle and has so many found/chosen family members :D (hope that wasn't spoilery for others). I'm really enjoying your Victober videos as always and really enjoying my own Victober reading so far :D.
Very true on Daniel Deronda!
Namaste & Hello Katie😊 I loved the books you mentioned in this video👍, I did read Ruth during my covid recovery days way back in January this year but never completed it, so will be picking it up again this winter season. Happy Reading dear😊👍📚
When I was studying Chinese
(the course involved language, literature and culture)
there was a wonderful line in a text
on the Chinese family
and that was:
"The Chinese family has been in crisis since it was first studied"
I wrote an entire essay on why that was the case
arguing that study only occurs when there is a perceived crisis
and few families ever match the "ideal" laid out
either by "bourgeois respectability" in Western Europe
or the Confucian expectations in China.
Bother are prescriptive not descriptive.
Are not non-traditional families the more interesting ones
thus attracting writers?
I’m reading Ruth this month so super excited now 🎉🎉 You know I love wuthering heights sooo much. I do have dombey and son and bleak house on my shelves so this makes me want to pick them up 😊
I'm reading Ruth, its a great book but kind of sad. Bleak house is my favorite Dickens!!
Can I just ask if hard times gets any better after the first few chapters?? I’m really struggling! I might switch… Give me some hope!!
I mean, I like Hard Times a lot right from the start. I feel like the tone does shift and become more focused on the characters a few chapters in, though.
@@katiejlumsden too late I’m afraid- I switched to David Copperfield and I am blissfully happy…. 😁
Very good. Thanks very much. Richard in Bleak House is such a bonehead. I guess boneheads are reality.
I just cant understand her she talk weird