PBS Masterpiece Classic Schedule - 2009 [ Edited ]

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Since some of you may want to plan your reading for our concurrent discussion of the PBS Masterpiece Classic series in early 2009, I thought it might be best to post the schedule now and in a convenient place on the board.  You can also find this information along with more details about the series, here. 

Here is the schedule typed out for our use, though, so that you don't have to follow the link to the PBS site, click on another link there, open the schedule in Adobe, etc. to get to it.  I've also included links to the B&N editions of these classic novels, though you certainly don't need to use those editions to take part in our discussion.  They are the editions I will use in referring to any page numbers, etc. throughout the season.  Little Dorrit and Old Curiosity Shop are not available in B&N Classics paperback editions, so I've included links to other paperback choices for those.

I hope you'll join us for one or more of these discussions!

Jan. 4  Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy (film, Part 1 = 120 minutes)

Jan. 11 Tess, Hardy (film, Part 2 = 120 minutes)

Jan. 18:  Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte (film, Part 1 = 60 minutes)

Jan. 25:  WH, Bronte (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Feb. 1:  Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Feb. 8:  S&S, Austen (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Feb. 15:  Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes)

Feb. 22:  OT, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Mar. 15:  David Copperfield, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Mar. 22:  DC, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 120 minutes; an encore presentation)

Mar. 29:  Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 120 minutes)

Apr. 5:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 12:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 3 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 19:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 4 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 26:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 5 = 90 minutes)

May 3:  The Old Curiosity Shop, Charles Dickens (film, 90 minutes)

May 10:  Persuasion, Jane Austen (film:  90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Message Edited by ConnieK on 04-13-2009 12:47 PM

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Wow.  Masterpiece has a great line-up again.

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ConnieK wrote:

Since some of you may want to plan your reading for our concurrent discussion of the PBS Masterpiece Classics series in early 2009, I thought it might be best to post the schedule now and in a convenient place on the board.  You can also find this information along with more details about the series, here. 

Here is the schedule typed out for our use, though, so that you don't have to follow the link to the PBS site, click on another link there, open the schedule in Adobe, etc. to get to it.  I've also included links to the B&N editions of these classic novels, though you certainly don't need to use those editions to take part in our discussion.  They are the editions I will use in referring to any page numbers, etc. throughout the season.  Little Dorrit and Old Curiosity Shop are not available in B&N Classics paperback editions, so I've included links to other paperback choices for those.

I hope you'll join us for one or more of these discussions!

Jan. 4  Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy (film, Part 1 = 120 minutes)

Jan. 11 Tess, Hardy (film, Part 2 = 120 minutes)

Jan. 18:  Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte (film, Part 1 = 60 minutes)

Jan. 25:  WH, Bronte (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Feb. 1:  Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Feb. 8:  S&S, Austen (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Feb. 15:  Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes)

Feb. 22:  OT, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Mar. 15:  David Copperfield, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 90 minutes; an encore presentation)

Mar. 22:  DC, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 120 minutes; an encore presentation)

Mar. 29:  Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens (film, Part 1 = 120 minutes)

Apr. 5:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 2 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 12:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 3 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 19:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 4 = 90 minutes)

Apr. 26:  LD, Dickens (film, Part 5 = 90 minutes)

May 3:  The Old Curiosity Shop, Charles Dickens (film, 90 minutes)

May 10:  Persuasion, Jane Austen (film:  90 minutes; an encore presentation)

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[ConnieAnnKirk]

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pedsphleb wrote:

Wow.  Masterpiece has a great line-up again.

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An ambitious schedule for our members to keep up with, but we'll have an alternative track for most of the months for those who'd rather dip in and out of the Masterpiece titles.

[subjective]

Dear Moderator. I had a look at the schedule for the Classics for 2009 January. Are you not reviewing the books. Seems like the schedule is for the movies.

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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subjective wrote:
Dear Moderator. I had a look at the schedule for the Classics for 2009 January. Are you not reviewing the books. Seems like the schedule is for the movies.

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Hi, subjective--

Our book schedule, just for this series, will follow the same schedule as the PBS airing of its movie adaptations.  Usually we only do one book/month, so this is a special case.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Bookworm36]

ConnieK,

Great selection of books. I am looking forward to participating in the discussions.

Happy New Year!

Bookworm36

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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Bookworm36 wrote:

ConnieK,

Great selection of books. I am looking forward to participating in the discussions.

Happy New Year!

Bookworm36

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Terrific, Bookworm36!  We look forward to having you with us!

[basson_mommy12]

Wow, sounds great!  I've been looking for motivation to read Tess, so this is perfect. 

Everyman, I agree about the artwork chosen for the cover of the B&N Classics edition... it was kind of confusing. 

[BookLvr-EngTchr]

As a new memebr I just want to make sure I understand correctly. Does this schedule mean that by Jan. 18 we should be finishing Wuthering Heights? Or would this be the time to begin?

[lilacbouquet]

I don't know about anybody else, but that's definitely when I'll be starting it! I can read fast... but not that fast.

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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BookLvr-EngTchr wrote:
As a new memebr I just want to make sure I understand correctly. Does this schedule mean that by Jan. 18 we should be finishing Wuthering Heights? Or would this be the time to begin?

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If you'd like to have read it all by the time you view the PBS adaptation, then you'd have to have it read by then.  If you want to read along, then you could start it then.  It's totally up to you!  Our threads will assume people have read it, though, if that helps!

[dulcinea3]

I see that the February discussion schedule has been posted, and that we will be having special guests for Sense and Sensibility and Oliver Twist!

The Classics book club partners with Masterpiece Classic on PBS to read Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen and Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
Dr. Joan Klingel Ray, a Professor of English and President’s Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and a former President of the Jane Austen Society of North America, will join the discussion for Sense & Sensibility from February 2 to 13. And John O. Jordan, the Director of The Dickens Project and Professor of Literature at University of CA, Santa Cruz, will take questions about Oliver Twist from February 16 to 27.

Cool!

I think they're getting the hang of the timing a bit better, too, as that takes each of them to the Friday following the conclusion on PBS, rather than ending the next day, like with Tess (although David was gracious enough to stick around for a few more days).

Message Edited by dulcinea3 on 01-14-2009 10:54 AM

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

I see that the February discussion schedule has been posted, and that we will be having special guests for Sense and Sensibility and Oliver Twist!

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Indeed, we will! 

[Bad_Witch]

Hello,

This is the first time that I have taken part in an online book club.  It sounds like fun!  Read a book, watch a PBS movie and discuss the book.  I cannot wait. 

As well I do like the line up of reading matieral!

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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Bad_Witch wrote:

Hello,

This is the first time that I have taken part in an online book club.  It sounds like fun!  Read a book, watch a PBS movie and discuss the book.  I cannot wait. 

As well I do like the line up of reading matieral!

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Welcome, Bad_Witch!  It IS fun, and what's more, we often have guests from the films or scholars of the books with us, too!  Jump right in!

[ClassicalArtist]

Yeah, I hope this is fun.  I agree about the line-up... 

[ConnieAnnKirk]

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ClassicalArtist wrote:
Yeah, I hope this is fun.  I agree about the line-up... 

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Welcome, ClassicalArtist!

[Pumpernickel20…]

Hi, Connie

First of all, congratulations on both YOUR books and the list of PBS masterpiece classics for 2009.

My question is a bit unusual , I'd say, but ... According to your experience as a moderator, can we read the books only, I mean and NOT watch the fantastic PBS series, and STILL have a good participation in the discussion ? I'm asking this cuz I'm writing to you from São Paulo, Brazil, and we do NOT have the PBS series on TV here, UNFORTUNATELY...

At any rate, what you see as an opportunity ( yes, I have been to your website...) , I also see as a lot of your time dedicated to these discussions, so congratulations again !

Message Edited by Pumpernickel2008 on 01-28-2009 10:56 PM

[Everyman]

I'm sure Connie will say yes -- for all the books so far we have had separate discussion threads for the films and for the books themselves. 

But you can still watch the films over the Internet, if you have a reasonably fast connection.   Just go to this site , click on the current show, and on the left click on Watch Online.  So far they've given access to each week's episode for the week after that episode was shown -- for example, you can still watch the second segment of Wuthering Heights, but the earlier ones are no longer available.  So next Monday, you can go to this site and presumably start watching, at your convenience, the first episode of Sense and Sensibility.  They are usually broken up into scenes of about ten minutes, so you can watch any amount you want to any day.  

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Pumpernickel2008 wrote:

Hi, Connie

First of all, congratulations on both YOUR books and the list of PBS masterpiece classics for 2009.

My question is a bit unusual , I'd say, but ... According to your experience as a moderator, can we read the books only, I mean and NOT watch the fantastic PBS series, and STILL have a good participation in the discussion ? I'm asking this cuz I'm writing to you from São Paulo, Brazil, and we do NOT have the PBS series on TV here, UNFORTUNATELY...

At any rate, what you see as an opportunity ( yes, I have been to your website...) , I also see as a lot of your time dedicated to these discussions, so congratulations again !

Message Edited by Pumpernickel2008 on 01-28-2009 10:56 PM

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[Pumpernickel20…]

Thank you VERY much for your answer AND good will, Everyman, but as I click on the site you so gently refer me to, I receive the following message :

Sorry, we only have rights to stream Wuthering Heights to viewers in the US.

I think that , in the Century 21st, when the world is already & entirely globalised, and the whole idea is to INCLUDE, rather than EXCLUDE ,  this is utterly RIDICULOUS... Most of all if you think that these have become world classics . Of course it is a subtle way of restricting information of some sort. PBS is , as we say here in Brazil, going against the flow of history... Grade F- to them...