Pam’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2018)

Pam’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

Kelly - You can click on the 1 star reviews and read some of the reviews. Some words I’ve seen used to describe the novel include boring, misogynistic, heavy-handed, moralistic and unrealistic dialogue. I’d like to reread it to see if I agree.

I read this book sometime before 2012, when I started tracking in GR, and loved it! I’ve seen other GR members criticize it which makes me want to re-read it to see what they’re talking about. I also remember watching the mini series, which was excellent, with Jane Seymour as Cathy, 40 years ago! I don’t plan to re-read it now but hope everyone enjoys it. It’s my favorite Steinbeck novel.

Before Christmas, I bought a collection of short stories by Kafka. I’ve never read any of them but will try to read one this month. Any suggestions which one to start with?

I found the 2nd book, Blackhearts on Battersea, on Overdrive and the 3rd, Nightbirds on Nantucket, on Hoopla. I just started Blackhearts. I didn’t realize there were 11 books in the series! I only knew of three. I’m looking forward to some more adventure!

I have the paperback and audiobook, both from the library. I’m hoping to start it today. I’m struggling to stick with anything the past 2 weeks. I downloaded the music too, from Hoopla, which was very nice!

I read this one in December. I read the first 3 books in the series when I was a kid (early 70s) but I don’t remember anything about them! I enjoyed the book but was surprised how dark it was, for a kid’s book, especially the wolves part! I’m hoping I can find the 2nd book, Blackhearts in Battersea.

Should the title of this thread say 2021?

I just barely started it but like the writing so far. This is my first book by Stegner. I have been meaning to read this one for a few years but just needed a push!

My hold just came in so I will be starting it this week!

I set a 2021 goal to read 10-20 different Russian authors so I’m starting off with brothers Boris and Arkady Strugatsky and reading The Dead Mountaineer’s Inn, published in 1970. They are not featured authors on the Russian Lit project but I’ve been interested in reading them for awhile. They are sci-fi writers and this book is both a mystery and sci-fi so I’m intrigued! My next classic will be Pnin by Nabokov. I’m also still working on Anna Karenina.

I just finished Steinbeck’s The Red Pony. The scenery descriptions were really nice but I didn’t care for the story that much. I’d say it’s my least favorite of his books. I’m just starting tRhe Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan.

I was finally able to switch over from the Serial Reader App to the ebook version (Pevear/Volokhonsky translation). The Serial Reader is a different translation! I like Pevear better so I’m glad I’ll be reading it from now on! I am on Part II Ch. 18 and enjoying it.

Warning for anyone just starting the book- Don’t read the Introduction first! Huge spoiler if you don’t know the story. My husband is still mad, several years later, because he DID read it.

Thanks Jazzy for the poetry recommendation! I’m going to try to get through my Russian lit collection and then I will look for that one!

The names don’t bother me since I’ve studied the Russian language plus, with my genealogy research, I have LOTS of Russian names (some I have to translate from their Cyrillic spelling). If you are not familiar with Russian naming conventions, it’s helpful to understand the use of patronymics and nicknames (eg. Sergey can be called Seryozha). From Wiki: “It is customary in Russia to use patronymics as middle names. Patronymics are derived from the father's given name and end with -ovich or -evich. The female patronymics end in -ovna or -evna.” What is confusing to me is WHY the author uses one name in one sentence and a variation in the next sentence. I know who he is talking about but why the difference?

I don’t normally read poetry but I’m glad that December is poetry - members choice. I have the entire collection of poetry by Anna Ahkmatova, in English and Russian, waiting to be read! I’d like to at least read some of it! I bought it at a secondhand shop when I was studying Russian. I didn’t get too far with my studies, though.

I’m excited to see the 2021 list! I’ve only read Voltaire and Camus so it’s mostly new authors to me. I’m very interested in the Russian author project! I’m planning to focus on reading Russian authors (classic & contemporary) next year. I’d like to suggest Sci-Fi authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Some of their works are in the classics time frame.

VeeInNY - I’m glad you got pulled in to the story! I’m still plugging away with the Serial Reader app. I’m on chapter 20. It works for me because I’m trying to finish some library books with deadlines. I look forward to my 6 minute fix every day! I want to finish it by the end of November so I will have to switch over to the regular book soon.

I’m curious if anyone’s reading it for the first time. I read it decades ago but don’t remember the details except for the ending. The names are coming back to me. This was probably the first Russian novel I ever read.

VeeInNY- I’m so glad that the Serial Reader app is working for you! It’s a good way to get started on a long classic but not good if you want to read it for hours! I’m always reading other books so it works for me to squeeze in 1 or 2 chapters every day. I’m just starting chapter 8. So far, so good!

I will suggest Hans Fallada. I have one of his books and my library has 2 different ebooks.

I will 3rd Goodbye to All That.

Here are the ones I’ve read that I can think of:
Vanity Fair
Atlas Shrugged (twice)
The Fountainhead
An American Tragedy
East of Eden
Buddenbrooks
Of Human Bondage (twice)
Anna Karenina