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Reading Schedule for The Magic Mountain and Threads
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Kris
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Jul 09, 2013 09:15PM
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I know I can read this book! I've read it before!//is pathetic
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Kris wrote: "Yes, you can read it! We'll keep reminding you. :)"I totally need to be reminded! //cries more
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I have designed a schedule that will take just over 11 weeks, with the idea of finishing at the end of October (officially in early November since last week’s reading is shorter). Apart from this last week, the pace is between 63 and 84 pages per week. I thought of doing a slow read since many of us are reading other things at the same time and also because the objective of a group read is to get deeper into the book since we are also reading in parallel everybody’s comments. The pacing is somewhat irregular because I aimed at breaking the read in subunits within chapters. The chapters in this novel are very irregular in length, but luckily it has these titled subunits.
Since most of us will be reading the Everyman edition with J.E. Woods translation, apart from the titles of the subunits I have indicated the pages in that edition. I have also included the original subtitles for those who shall be reading it in German. Some Members will be tackling it in other languages (for example in Romanian). I offer my apologies for those but hope that the subtitles In English/German will help them identify their corresponding section.
Here is the general Schedule and during next week I shall be opening up a different Thread to each weeks discussion.
So, start date is Monday August 12th, around a month from today.
I am proposing the following:
Week 1: August 12 - 18. Read from Chapter 1, “Arrival” (Ankunft) p. 3, until the beginning of Chapter 3 “One Word too Many” (Ein Wort zu viel) p. 81.
Week 2: August 19 - 25. Read from “One Word too Many” p. 81, until the beginning of Chapter 4 “Table Talk” (Tischgespräche) p. 158.
Week 3: August 26 – September 1. Read from “Table Talk” p. 158, until the beginning of Chapter 5 “My God, I see it!” (Mein Gott, ich sehe!) p 242.
Week 4: September 2 - 8. Read from “My God, I see it!” p. 242, until the beginning of Chapter 5 “Research” (Forschungen) p. 318
Week 5: September 9 - 15. Read from “Research” p. 318, until the beginning of Chapter 5 “Walpurgis Night” (Walpurgisnacht) p. 382.
Week 6: September 16 - 22. Read from “Walpurgis Night” p. 382 until the beginning of Chapter 6 “The City of God an Evil Deliverance” (Von Gottesstaat und von übler Erlösung) p. 458.
Week 7: September 23 – 29. Read from “The City of God an Evil Deliverance” p. 458, until Chapter 6 “Operationes Spirituales” p. 521.
Week 8: September 30 – October 6. Read from “Operationes Spirituales” (Latin title) p. 521, until the beginning of Chapter 6 “A Good Soldier” p. 590.
Week 9: October 7 – 13. Read from “A Good Soldier” (Als Soldat und brav) p. 590, until the beginning of Chapter 7 “Vingt et un” p. 659.
Week 10: October 14 – 20. Read from “Vingt et un”(French title) p. 659, until the beginning of “Mynheer Peeperkorn – Conclusion” (Mynheer Peeperkorn – Schluss) p. 729.
Week 11: October 21 – 27. Read from “Mynheer Peeperkorn – Conclusion” p. 729, until the beginning of “The Great Petulance” (Die grosse Gereiztheit) p. 813
Week 12: October 28 – November 3. Read from “The Great Petulance” p. 813, until the end of the novel in p. 854.
Thanks, Kal. This looks very manageable.
When I looked at this schedule, Kall, I wondered if I could really manage 80/90 pages a week alongside Proust but if you and Karen think we can do it, then I'll give it my best shot! Less time on gr, more time spent reading is one way of ensuring that I keep up but instead I'll spend more time on gr since I'll now be involved in two impassioned discussions....
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I forgot that you too are reading both, Kris!
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If we can, you certainly can...!! Also the number of pages range from 63 to 84 per week (average 73 without counting the shorter last week). In the end I decided to make it a somewhat slower reading. I think it is also simpler reading than Proust.
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I think Kris is reading about 7 others as well...
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I think Kris is reading about 7 others as well..."
I'm a little bit out of control. :)
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Or rather, that you are perfectly in control...!!!
Kalliope wrote: "In the end I decided to make it a somewhat slower reading. I think it is also simpler reading than Proust."Thanks for planning it so carefully, Kall - I see now that it will be more feasible, especially since I will be reading in English.
Thank you for the wonderful schedule, Kall. I think I can manage about 80 pages per week even if I remain terribly busy. This is immensely easy to adjust to.
Seconding Foinnuala's thought, more time reading, less time on GR...And thanks for that perfect schedule Kalliope! 80 pages per week seems manageable even if I lose the first couple of weeks as I'll be away on holidays. I'll try to catch up with the discussion when I come back.
you guys are killing me. i've been avoiding this, in part because of some ongoing internet burnout, but i fear it will be irresistible...
Marieke wrote: "you guys are killing me. i've been avoiding this, in part because of some ongoing internet burnout, but i fear it will be irresistible..."Yay!
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Double-yay! :)
....pressure!....haha, just kidding! thanks, guys.i need to rectify a major failing on my part (German Lit major who never read Thomas Mann?! WHAT! i mean...i read Death in Venice on my own and that's it), what better place to do it?
i'll try to keep pace, but i'm already a book behind in Proust.
oops, i take that back. i did read an excerpt from Buddenbrooks in one of my classes. someday i'll read the whole thing. And i'll be glad this group is here.
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Thanks, Kalliope! the schedule looks great.
Hi. The schedule looks great. I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to reading Mann.
I'll be reading A Suitable Boy from September through December as well as other things so this is going to be quite a reading time. I'd hoped for Proust this year but it didn't work out. Perhaps I can look into your discussions when I get to it.
Sue! You will love a Suitable Boy...it didn't feel like a mammoth book to me. And when you get to Proust, I think you'll love that too. It's been far more enjoyable than I ever imagined it would be. I fell behind so it might take me two years, but I'm fine with that. And im totally looking forward to Magic Mountain.
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It's praise like this that keeps me moving from book to book and trying all these new books and authors this year. What fun it is. As for TMM, I loved reading the first page at Amazon so I'm looking forward to the book's arrival. A year ago I had only a small notion of who Thomas Mann even was!
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Marieke, I still remember your status updates on bearing the weight of the novel. Good memories.... :)
A Suitable Boy is almost like Buddenbrooks x 2 in length!A book that size is more enjoyable and manageable as a group read.
Who knows.... Maybe a possible future group read?
Kris wrote: "I need to read A Suitable Boy. I have the behemoth of a paperback, and I just know the binding is going to crack when I read it. I keep hoping for an ebook...."My paperback survived very well I see, but I do think it's one of those books that can cause arm cramps when you read in bed. As long as the novel is, I didn't want it to end.
I didn't want it to end, either! I thought A Suitable Girl was supposed to be published this year...hmmm
Marieke wrote: "I didn't want it to end, either! I thought A Suitable Girl was supposed to be published this year...hmmm"Must have been pushed back. It's now listed for April 2015.
Kris wrote: "I need to read A Suitable Boy. I have the behemoth of a paperback, and I just know the binding is going to crack when I read it. I keep hoping for an ebook....Marieke, I still remember your statu..."
I sent a request in through Amazon for an ebook version when I found I would be reading it this year. I understand there is one in Britain! I guess I'll get the softcover. It's 2.5 lbs as opposed to over 4 lbs for the hardcover. This will be read while lying on a pillow I think, (the book--not me) otherwise my wrists and hands won't survive.
Kris, if you want to try to squeeze it in this year, maybe you could join the small group I'm reading with. I can show you our schedule if you are interested.
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Definitely: a pillow!I had hardcovers from the library. They were very well bound and opened nicely. But yes, heavy!
Kris wrote: "Thanks Sue -- I would love to join you!"Just sent you the info, Kris.
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The schedule looks great. My Woods translation is on the way. Now I just have to figure out how to juggle moderating my group on Southern literature. Keep up with Literary Exploration, and submit to the guilty pleasures of Pulp Fiction. Goodreads may be my undoing. But what a lovely way to go.
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LOL... you will not be the only one to go... many of us will follow you...!!!
It's a constant struggle...just go out laughing and having fun. ;)
Oh yes, but will it be laughter of happiness or lunacy? speaking only for myself of course.GR has been salvation at times for me so I guess it's time to test the hold with all the great reading coming up! "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" --- does that apply to reading too?
Yes, slower is better... I miiiiggght just manage with the new schedule, so much else going... thanks!
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Trav, the group will be left open so that if you fall a bit behind, you can still follow the threads and contribute. That is the case in the Proust group and was also the one in the Buddenbrooks read.
The schedule was designed so that people can do other readings or other things.. the average was just under 70 pages per week. The fact that you have just read Death in Venice will be welcome for your insights, since Mann wrote that one before.
Looks like a good plan, Kalliope!I don't suppose we can start posting in the first thread yet... do we have to wait until the designated day? ...well, I was reading the introduction to MM and something struck me which I'm musing about and wondering if it is the same in all the translations.
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I don't suppose we can start posting in the first thread yet... do we have to wait until the designated day? ...well, I was reading the introduction to MM and s..."
Trav,
Yes, you can start posting already if you want.
Are you reading the A.S. Byatt intro?
Marieke wrote: "you guys are killing me. i've been avoiding this, in part because of some ongoing internet burnout, but i fear it will be irresistible..."ONE OF US
ONE OF US
Kalliope wrote: "Dear all,I have designed a schedule that will take just over 11 weeks, with the idea of finishing at the end of October (officially in early November since last week’s reading is shorter). Apart..."
Oh, what a fantastic schedule. Great work! Thank you Kalliope!
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