Reading the Chunksters discussion
This topic is about
The Brothers Karamazov
Archived 2012 Group Reads
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Brothers Karamazov (A) - Reading Schedule
Please post your comments on the schedule. We start in a week.
I'm excited! I've been wanting to read this since we finished Crime and Punishment last year.
I am going to try to read both chunksters. I picked up my copy from the library today and read the first chapter. I am already hooked!!
Yeah, I'm planning on reading ahead a little this week so that there's no chance I fall behind!
Woot! I'll be starting both Chunksters late, but I am looking forward to jumping in. I really enjoy reading books with this group.
Woo. This'll be my first Chunkster, and I'm excited it's Dostoyevsky. :D
I've started BK several times over the years, but always got diverted away from it. But with this schedule and this group for support and discussion, I'm going to get through it and love it!
Good attitude Everyman! I agree, its definitly easier here with this group. People seem to think I'm a little crazy when I mention virtual bookclubs, but I've never been in a real life bookclub with such good discussion and with such a great bookshelf!So excited to read this, it will be my first Dostoevsky.
This will be my first discussion with this group - unfortunately I have already read this one, but not this particular translation, which is supposed to be much improved.It is certainly still possible to follow along without it, but I recommend everyone pick up the Pevear/Volokhonsky version if possible.
Adam wrote: "This will be my first discussion with this group - unfortunately I have already read this one, but not this particular translation, which is supposed to be much improved.It is certainly still pos..."
Is there an official translation, or are we all reading different ones? I remember that we all ended up reading different translations of The Three Musketeers, and I have to say that I found the discussions that arose out of the translation differences fascinating.
I'll be listening to the free audiobook from Librivoxhttp://librivox.org/the-brothers-kara...
They used the Gutenberg version which was translated by Constance Garnett. i dont know the exact publication info on that, but given that its on Gutenberg it probably means pre 1920.
Amanda wrote: "Adam wrote: "This will be my first discussion with this group - unfortunately I have already read this one, but not this particular translation, which is supposed to be much improved.It is certai..."
No officially sanctioned transaltion. I'll be using the P&V, which I suspect many people will, due to their excellent reputation. But all translations welcome.
I will also be reading the Constance Garnett translation since I already own a Wordsworth classics edition. I might not be able to start before next week though, busy schedule right now.
I apologize, I thought the image was representative of the translation we were reading, didn't mean to cause a disturbance...obviously I'm new here. :)The one I originally read was translated by Ignat Avsey, who did a commendable job, but left some words (honorifics and such) in Russian.
Here is a page I feel will be helpful to anyone who's reading this for the first time, it discusses the diminutive forms of Russian names: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~karamazov/r...
That was the most confusing aspect for me. There is a large cast of characters and their names are long and unfamiliar, and on top of that they continually use shortened nicknames to refer to each other.
You can also read Constance Garnett's version for free on that site (link is on the right hand side).
No disturbance was made. As Amanda says, we had some interesting discussions regarding the translations of The Three Musketeers, mostly due to some translations removing sexual content (despite statements that they were completely unabridged/unexpurgated). I don't know that we'd have similar issues with TBK, but it should lead to some interesting discussions re: flow, readability, etc.
As a group, when we read C&P last year, I think most of us went with the Pevear/Volokhonsy translation, but it was a pretty small group reading that.
As for the picture I use when I'm posting the schedule--I always use a picture of the version I'm using. LOL. Just a personal preference. I'm pretty sure when Kristi moderates, she just uses the picture of the prettiest one.
I am reading the Garnett transalation, which I also found free on the web.I'll also be starting this one late. I need to finish a few books and then I can't wait to jump into Jonathan Strange and TBK - wahoo!
Adam wrote: "I apologize, I thought the image was representative of the translation we were reading, didn't mean to cause a disturbance...obviously I'm new here. :)"No apology needed. Better to ask than not to be sure!
Personally, I'm reading the Garnett revised by Matlaw; he says he started his own translation but realized the magnitude of the task, so has corrected what he sees as some deficiencies in the Garnett text. I haven't compared his with her original, so don't know how great his revisions are.
I'm looking forward to reading with you all again. It's been awhile since I jumped on a Chunkster with the group, these seems like a good opportunity!
Everyman wrote: "Adam wrote: "I apologize, I thought the image was representative of the translation we were reading, didn't mean to cause a disturbance...obviously I'm new here. :)"No apology needed. Better to ..."
That's the one that I have, Everyman.
Everyman wrote: "Adam wrote: "I apologize, I thought the image was representative of the translation we were reading, didn't mean to cause a disturbance...obviously I'm new here. :)"No apology needed. Better to ..."
That's the one that I have Everyman.
I'm using the Penguin Classics edition, translated by David McDuff; I might be the only one using this edition. :P
The schedule says we start on the 27th, and it's the evening of the 27th here, but I don't see the first section discussion posted. I hope nothing's happened to Loretta!
Yes, it is indeed the evening of the 27th, and no, nothing happened. However, I am traveling currently, and, as such, did not have an opportunity to post the thread until now.
Loretta wrote: "Yes, it is indeed the evening of the 27th, and no, nothing happened. However, I am traveling currently, and, as such, did not have an opportunity to post the thread until now."Sorry if my post seemed snippy. I was worried about you.
@Everyman: No, I should apologize. Sorry I took that the wrong way. Please blame being sunburned and tired for my less-than-ideal mood the other night.Also, going forward, I will likely be posting the threads in the evening on Sundays, Eastern time, rather than in the morning. Not very late, but probably around 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening.
Loretta wrote: "Please blame being sunburned and tired"Ouch. Hope the sunburn wasn't too bad and that the getting of it was enjoyable. I still remember an occasion many, many, and even many more years ago when I went on a canoe picnic with a young woman and didn't think about suntan lotion (we didn't think about such things back then). The day itself was wonderful, but I paid dearly for that day on the water. I still cringe thinking about it.
Did someone mention a website that helps keeps the characters (and their multiple ways of being referred to) straight? I thought someone had said that so many of the Russian names look similar and the same person is referred to in multiple ways then posted a site to help?Or am I confusing books?
I actually haven't started, but I thought it might be good to know.
Sorry, Adam posted it earlier. I looked twice but didn't see it until after I posted.It's
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~karamazov/r...
In case your eyes trick you like mine does.
Thank you Adam.
Given the holiday in the United States (and the fact that the threads have been quiet), any interest in taking this week (theoretical Week 6) as a break week? I'm already a couple days late posting the thread, so I'm guessing there won't be any objections.
Probably a good idea...people are either falling behind or have stopped reading entirely I think. :(
I haven't started but will at some point. It's moving up in the queue.
Yeah, this one hasn't seemed to catch on for some reason. (Including for myself.)
I got over-committed, but I do want to read this one. I hope I'll have a chance to catch up.
I know I'm late in joining in but I got this book and was planning on giving it a try then got sidetracked with work responsibilities. I may try to use the break this week to jump in!
I'm with Anne, I over-commited. However I just finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, and another book that I'm reading in a different GR group, so I should be on track soon.
I feel so far behind in this book and not even sure that I will ever catch up! It's in my pile next to my bed and it is a book I need to read on a list for another GR group. I just have to make the time to get it done. So frustrated ...
Don't feel bad, Ginny. I haven't even started yet and probably won't be able to until August.
Adam wrote: "Probably a good idea...people are either falling behind or have stopped reading entirely I think. :("I've been reading slowly, will try to get to posting soon, but am still planning on finishing the book -- thank goodness we have through the end of August! (And maybe beyond if we took a week off.)
I over commmitted as well/ I'm continuing with Strange and Norrell but this book was not conducive to my schedule. Sorry.
I'm still on the first section, but I so far I think I'm going to like it!
I guess I can stop feeling guilty and start feeling virtuous instead. I'm on Book 4 (I think).
Would it be worthwhile, I wonder, to update the schedule to reflect reality, so that potential newcomers would not be unnecessarily discouraged from starting the book and joining the discussion? Just a thought.
I'm not sure Bob, I'm staying clear of the threads until I get to the section that you guys are discussing. Are there a lot of people talking about the book that are up to date or are there more people that are just joining in. If that there are more recent readers we could build a break in to catch up, but if it's the minority and people are going along then we should stick to that because it's only fair for the people who are already reading and staying on track. I'm trying to catch up, I promise!!!
I think there is only one person who has made a substantive post beyond Week 3.
Do we want to re-schedule this?? Or maybe vote on another book as the classic??
Seems like it might not be the worst idea. We've fallen off schedule (and more importantly, very few people seem to have noticed as no one is really commenting or reading...).
ok, let me post a poll...see what everyone says.
Kristi wrote: "ok, let me post a poll...see what everyone says."The poll looks like people want to move on, which makes sense, but I intend to keep reading and if I get to the point where I have something to discuss, I'll post about it and see whether other people want to keep the discussion going. After all, these threads never close, so we can informally convert this to an unscheduled Buddy Read, can't we?
May 27 - Book 1, Ch. 1 - Book 2, Ch. 2
June 3 - Book 2, Ch. 3 - Book 3, Ch. 1
June 10 - Book 3, Ch. 2 - Ch. 9
June 17 - Book 3, Ch. 10 - Book 4, Ch. 5
June 24 - Book 4, Ch. 6 - Book 5, Ch. 4
July 1 - Book 5, Ch. 5 - Book 6, Ch. 1
July 8 - Book 6, Ch. 2 - Book 7, Ch. 1
July 15 - Book 7, Ch. 2 - Book 8, Ch. 3
July 22 - Book 8, Ch. 4 - Ch. 8
July 29 - Book 9, Ch. 1 - Ch. 6
August 5 - Book 9, Ch. 7 - Book 10, Ch. 4
August 12 - Book 10, Ch. 5 - Book 11, Ch. 4
August 19 - Book 11, Ch. 5 - Ch. 9
August 26 - Book 12, Ch. 1 - Ch. 6
September 2 - Book 12, Ch. 7 - End