The main thing I remember about reading North and South is wishing they'd shut up about God for five minutes at a time and get back to the plot. One afternoon I was reading it in a (quite full) lift on the way down to lunch, and another lady noticed me reading.
HER: Oh, North and South?
ME: Um, yes?
HER: What do you think?
ME: The story's good.
HER: Have you seen the TV series, by any chance?
ME: Yes!
HER: THORNTON, OH MY GOD.
ME: OH, I KNOW!
We suddenly seemed to have a lot more space around us. I can't think why.