Christmas 2007 Reading Poll

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12-08-2007, 01:39 AM
LadyWentworth

I was thinking about participating in the LitNet book club and decided to do so this month.

I chose Fathers and Sons for a couple of reasons.

1) It was a story that I was already interested in reading.

2) I happen to own the book. So, I now have an excuse to finally read it.

3) The book club that I belong to won't be meeting in December. So, the lack of that book leaves it open for me to read this one. :)
12-08-2007, 01:50 AM
Janine

Hi Lady Wentworth, I think you will find the book very enjoyable and interesting. Oddly enough, one day years ago, I was in my basement and happened to notice several old books of my father's on a shelf. I dusted this one off and brought it upstairs and read it and loved it; admittedly I had never heard of the author before, but knew the books to be classics. Then I recall reading a few short novellas or short stories by the same author. I like the way he writes and I think you will find this book very touching, thoughful and even amusing at times. It is a very human story.

Glad you can participate. You are a real asset to this thread!
12-08-2007, 01:15 PM
Virgil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Oh, you guys... :(

Better go and order F & S.

Scher, this is not quite like other Russian novels, so you may like it. But it is not a very Christmas-y book. I won't be joining unfortunately. I'm still trying to finish Don Quixote. And then I promised quasimodo I would pull together a group to read The Aeneid.
12-08-2007, 01:31 PM
Scheherazade

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

Scher, this is not quite like other Russian novels, so you may like it. But it is not a very Christmas-y book. I won't be joining unfortunately. I'm still trying to finish Don Quixote. And then I promised quasimodo I would pull together a group to read The Aeneid.

Hey, that sounds like a great idea! If I weren't still ploughing through the Big Read list, I would join you.

Which reminds me... This year we should give the Shakespeare Reading Group another try and see if we can get anyone interested.
12-08-2007, 04:25 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

And then I promised quasimodo I would pull together a group to read The Aeneid.

I'd be interested. I have it in audiobook format, though.
12-08-2007, 05:30 PM
bazarov

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

Scher, this is not quite like other Russian novels, so you may like it.

Agree, even my friend, who is a soccer player; read that book twice which is really fascinating!
12-08-2007, 09:02 PM
Virgil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scheherazade

Hey, that sounds like a great idea! If I weren't still ploughing through the Big Read list, I would join you.

Which reminds me... This year we should give the Shakespeare Reading Group another try and see if we can get anyone interested.

I really feel guilty about the Shakespeare Reading group not taking off. I would love to go back to it. It's just we have so many things going on here that I can't participate in them all.

As to Tugenev, the author of Fathers and Sons, he writes more like a Continental European than a Russian novelist.
12-08-2007, 11:26 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

I really feel guilty about the Shakespeare Reading group not taking off. I would love to go back to it. It's just we have so many things going on here that I can't participate in them all.

Yes, I felt bad too, but the first plays were not at all to my liking. I hated "Titus A" - too bloody for me and that was when I bailed out. But then there were so many other threads and books and short stories and poems I was interested in disgussing. I kept waiting for "Titus" to get over with, so the next play would be picked, but I never saw another one listed or announced, so I just gave up on it. By then I was into the other things I mentioned.

Quote:

As to Tugenev, the author of Fathers and Sons, he writes more like a Continental European than a Russian novelist.

Virgil, I never thought of it but it is true, I think. He seemed to be much different than other Russian authors I had read. He seemed way less severe. I read his "First Love" - think that was the name of the long short story or novella; I liked it very much. Somewhere around here, I have a book of his short fiction, which I liked very much.

Revision note: Wow, I just found out "First Love" is on this site - the whole text. It is apparently a novel. I loved this book! I must read it again someday.
12-09-2007, 06:58 AM
manolia

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

Agree, even my friend, who is a soccer player; read that book twice which is really fascinating!

Baz, what do you mean by that? :lol: ..stereotypes :p
12-09-2007, 09:49 AM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

Agree, even my friend, who is a soccer player; read that book twice which is really fascinating!

I'm a soccer player. :p And a hockey player.

Yes, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are much deeper than Turgenev, at least in my experience. However, he's still a great novelist in my eyes. I look forward to reading his Fathers and Sons again.
12-09-2007, 12:44 PM
Virgil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

I'm a soccer player. :p And a hockey player.

Yes, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are much deeper than Turgenev, at least in my experience. However, he's still a great novelist in my eyes. I look forward to reading his Fathers and Sons again.

I don't what you mean by deeper, Fathers and Sons is pretty deep for me. What I meant was that Turgenev does not feel he has to put detail on top of endless detail like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Turgenev crystalizes the scenes so that one scene suggests everything. From that point of view Turgenev is actually the better craftsman and artist.
12-09-2007, 01:52 PM
Scheherazade

Going once...
12-09-2007, 06:21 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

I don't what you man by deeper, Fathers and Sons is pretty deep for me. What I meant was that Turgenev does not feel he has to put detail on top of endless detail like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Turgenev crystalizes the scenes so that one scene suggests everything. From that point of view Turgenev is actually the better craftsman and artist.

What I meant was that when I read Dostoevsky and, to a lesser extent Tolstoy, it makes me think a lot more than when I read Turgenev's Fathers and Sons. Maybe I should read a bit more closely this time around.
12-09-2007, 06:36 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

What I meant was that when I read Dostoevsky and, to a lesser extent Tolstoy, it makes me think a lot more than when I read Turgenev's Fathers and Sons. Maybe I should read a bit more closely this time around.

Dori, I think the other two Russian novelists, you mention, might be a bit more layered, but I think that Tyrgenev comes directly to the point and wastes less time with the details, that is charactersistic of D's and T's works. This does not make one more thought-provoking than the other, in my opinion, but the styles are quite different. I think Virgil has been trying to point out to everyone, that they book is not as long and drawn out as some of the Russian authors we are used to reading. That is not a drawback or an advantage, just an observation of the difference in the authors. Therefore, those who might 'moan' at the mere thought of reading another Russian novelist, might consider that this novelist is something quite different, in his approach. Personally, I found his book and the ending quite thought-provoking and I pondered it long after I finished the book. Second readings always reveal so much more, than we apprehended on the first reading. I am anxious too, to re-read this novel, since I read it so many years back, and I am sure I will relate to it, in a much different way, in my present life.
12-10-2007, 01:10 AM
Janine

12:08Am - I better dig my old 'F&S's' book out of my bookshelf and dust it off and start reading tonight.
12-10-2007, 05:30 AM
bazarov

Quote:

Originally Posted by manolia

Baz, what do you mean by that? :lol: ..stereotypes :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

I'm a soccer player. :p And a hockey player.

What?:lol: An average soccer player is very dumb; it's maybe a stereotype to you but it's true to me. At least from players I know and things I hear.

Dori, congratulations! Mens sana in corpore sano! :D
12-10-2007, 05:56 AM
Scheherazade

Going twice...
12-10-2007, 02:53 PM
Dori

I suppose I'll break out the ol' paperback. In just over five hours I'll be reading three pieces of Russian literature: Fathers and Sons, Hadji Murad, and The House of the Dead (Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, respectively). :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

What?:lol: An average soccer player is very dumb; it's maybe a stereotype to you but it's true to me. At least from players I know and things I hear.

I might agree with you there. Most of the players on my team are dumb (or stupid).

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

Dori, congratulations! Mens sana in corpore sano! :D

What?
12-10-2007, 03:53 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

I suppose I'll break out the ol' paperback. In just over five hours I'll be reading three pieces of Russian literature: Fathers and Sons, Hadji Murad, and The House of the Dead (Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, respectively). :)

Wow, quite an achievement - well, at least you will be in somewhat the same mind-set being in the same country and atmosphere.

Quote:

I might agree with you there. Most of the players on my team are dumb (or stupid).

Maybe because they get hit in the head so often with the ball (?)

Quote:

What?

Dori - a better statement to bazarov might have been "What? duh....

Yeah....Baz....what does "Mens sans in corpore sano mean".... anyway?

I don't play soccer, but I never took latin...duh
12-10-2007, 04:15 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Wow, quite an achievement - well, at least you will be in somewhat the same mind-set being in the same country and atmosphere.

I've been in this mindset for a while. It's not that big of a deal; all three of them are short in length. I'll probably finish reading Hadji Murad as I start Fathers and Sons. I've read the beginning of The House of the Dead, but I paused to allow the members of my other book club to catch up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Maybe because they get hit in the head so often with the ball (?)

If that was the case, I would be as dumb as a box of rocks. :lol:

I posted a picture of me playing soccer (in case anyone has any doubts): here it is.
12-10-2007, 04:36 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

I've been in this mindset for a while. It's not that big of a deal; all three of them are short in length. I'll probably finish reading Hadji Murad as I start Fathers and Sons. I've read the beginning of The House of the Dead, but I paused to allow the members of my other book club to catch up.

Dori, those are all good books, no doubt; you seem to have fine taste in literature. Do you read fast? Glad they are all short - that is a bonus. I found my "F&S's" book last night and it is only about 350 pages and the type is large with a lot of dialogue so it should go quickly - good for a Christmas read.

Quote:

If that was the case, I would be as dumb as a box of rocks. :lol:

:lol:

Quote:

I posted a picture of me playing soccer (in case anyone has any doubts): here it is.

Great photo, Dori! - real action shot! You do look like you are a bonified player - I don't think you could fake a shot like that. Keep your head clear of those 'heavy' killer balls! ;) My brother-in-law was a soccer player and he was very smart. Also a good friend of mine from HS played soccer and was even on an impressive college team; she was a brain; so maybe it is just some soccer players that are dumb.
12-10-2007, 04:57 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Dori, those are all good books, no doubt; you seem to have fine taste in literature. Do you read fast? Glad they are all short - that is a bonus. I found my "F&S's" book last night and it is only about 350 pages and the type is large with a lot of dialogue so it should go quickly - good for a Christmas read.

Thanks for the compliment. :) I probably read at an average speed. Today, school was closed due to the ice storm we had last night. Extra time for reading! My F&S book is only 200 pages long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Great photo, Dori! - real action shot! You do look like you are a bonified player - I don't think you could fake a shot like that. Keep your head clear of those 'heavy' killer balls! ;) My brother-in-law was a soccer player and he was very smart. Also a good friend of mine from HS played soccer and was even on an impressive college team; she was a brain; so maybe it is just some soccer players that are dumb.

Thanks. I don't know how my grandma (of all people!) snapped that shot of me. Of course, it's framed and hung on the wall at her house. :blush:
12-10-2007, 06:21 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

Thanks for the compliment. :) I probably read at an average speed. Today, school was closed due to the ice storm we had last night. Extra time for reading! My F&S book is only 200 pages long.

Dori, gee, I think I like your translation better - it is shorter. Maybe mine has bigger type. It did not seem like a very long book to me when I first read it. I know it goes along quickly and if I remember correctly at the end of each chapter this novelist keeps you hanging and spurs you onto the next chapter to see what will happen next. You get kind of 'hooked' and then can't put the book down.

Quote:

Thanks. I don't know how my grandma (of all people!) snapped that shot of me. Of course, it's framed and hung on the wall at her house. :blush:

Yes, sounds exactly like a grandma, doesn't it? I am expecting my first grandchild in the spring. I know I will hang many photos of him/her everywhere. If I have a grandson, hope he is as cute as you (surely you are blushing :blush: now). Grannie's have that effect - they like to dote. ;) My grandchild will probably be a runner like my son.
12-10-2007, 07:09 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Dori, gee, I think I like your translation better - it is shorter. Maybe mine has bigger type. It did not seem like a very long book to me when I first read it. I know it goes along quickly and if I remember correctly at the end of each chapter this novelist keeps you hanging and spurs you onto the next chapter to see what will happen next. You get kind of 'hooked' and then can't put the book down.

I own the Barnes and Nobles classics edition. The type looks average, perhaps smaller. The book measures 8" x 5.25". The translation is done by Constance Garnett who seems to have a bad reputation, at least from what I've seen. I like her as a translator though. However, I can't justifiy this because I haven't put the time into comparing translations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Yes, sounds exactly like a grandma, doesn't it? I am expecting my first grandchild in the spring. I know I will hang many photos of him/her everywhere. If I have a grandson, hope he is as cute as you (surely you are blushing :blush: now). Grannie's have that effect - they like to dote. ;) My grandchild will probably be a runner like my son.

:blush:

One hour remaining...
12-10-2007, 07:14 PM
Scheherazade

I wonder which book will win.
12-10-2007, 07:19 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

One hour remaining...

Yep, one 'short' hour, or 'long', depending on your point of view.
I have the hardback book - it is old, was my father's; printed in 1942 and guess what, Dori? It also was translated by Constance Garnett...that is strange, but fortunate for me. Here, I was thinking I might have a totally outdated translation, but guess she holds to this day, although you say she is rated not that great. I found no fault in it first time around. I think the type is a little larger in a hardbound edition. Is the searchable text available here on this site? Although I don't like reading books online.

;) I see I made you blush :blush: - :lol:
12-10-2007, 07:21 PM
papayahed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scheherazade

I wonder which book will win.

I'm sure the masses of "holiday on ice" supporters will start voting any second now.....
12-10-2007, 07:31 PM
Janine

Ring that bell, Santa Snoopy, and maybe they will come!
12-10-2007, 07:35 PM
papayahed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Ring that bell, Santa Snoopy, and maybe they will come!

I think I need a bigger bell!!!!:lol: :lol:
12-10-2007, 08:06 PM
Janine

:lol: It is a little puny, but it might let out a big blast, coming from SS! :lol:
12-10-2007, 08:07 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Yep, one 'short' hour, or 'long', depending on your point of view.
I have the hardback book - it is old, was my father's; printed in 1942 and guess what, Dori? It also was translated by Constance Garnett...that is strange, but fortunate for me. Here, I was thinking I might have a totally outdated translation, but guess she holds to this day, although you say she is rated not that great. I found no fault in it first time around. I think the type is a little larger in a hardbound edition. Is the searchable text available here on this site? Although I don't like reading books online.

I figured you might also have Garnett. She is fairly common in Russian literature (I own Fathers and Sons, The House of the Dead, Poor Folk, The Idiot, The Brothers Karamazov, War and Peace, and several other stories by Dostoevsky all translated by Garnett). Here's some more information concerning her: Constance Garnett.

And yes, there is a text of Fathers and Sons available on this site. It can be found here. It has a different translator, Richard Hare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Yep,;) I see I made you blush :blush: - :lol:

:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by papayahed

I'm sure the masses of "holiday on ice" supporters will start voting any second now.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Ring that bell, Santa Snoopy, and maybe they will come!

Quote:

Originally Posted by papayahed

I think I need a bigger bell!!!!:lol: :lol:

:lol:

It's almost time!
12-11-2007, 06:09 AM
Nightshade

Ok already read first 4 chapters on the train.... after raiding the uni library and discoviring their woefully small world literature section (891. if anyone is interested)
12-11-2007, 08:00 AM
bazarov

Dori and Janine, am I surprised! Even my soccer friend knows the meaning!:lol: :lol:
Diru, I thought you're female:p
12-11-2007, 05:34 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

Diru, I thought you're female:p

Diru? Do you mean Dori?

I'm a guy, for the hundredth time! :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazarov

Dori and Janine, am I surprised! Even my soccer friend knows the meaning!:lol: :lol:

What is the meaning? :confused:
12-11-2007, 05:38 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

Diru? Do you mean Dori?

I'm a guy, for the hundredth time! :p

What is the meaning? :confused:

Yeah, poor Dori he is a guy; Dori can be a guy name afterall! I defend you, Dori....it is a very interesting name.:thumbs_up

and Baz, yeah I don't play soccer so what is the meaning??? I have enough trouble with English and English is my native tongue. :D
12-11-2007, 06:59 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

Yeah, poor Dori he is a guy; Dori can be a guy name afterall! I defend you, Dori....it is a very interesting name.:thumbs_up

Thanks, Janine. Dori was the name of one of the dwarves in Tolkien's The Hobbit. I've never had so much trouble with this username (with all the forums which I am a member).
12-11-2007, 07:39 PM
Janine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dori

Thanks, Janine. Dori was the name of one of the dwarves in Tolkien's The Hobbit. I've never had so much trouble with this username (with all the forums which I am a member).

How funny! and you probably have a super masculine real name...Sorry everyone on here thinks you are a girl and you do play soccer. Maybe you could alter your profile to suggest a another really guy thing you do. ;)
12-11-2007, 07:49 PM
Dori

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janine

How funny! and you probably have a super masculine real name...Sorry everyone on here thinks you are a girl and you do play soccer. Maybe you could alter your profile to suggest a another really guy thing you do. ;)

Is the name Patrick super masculine? I will try altering my profile.

EDIT: I edited my profile. The title under my username now says "A [Male] Hugoist" and in the biography section of my profile, I wrote "I'm a guy, despite what seems to be a somewhat feminine username." :p

Hopefully that's enough.
12-11-2007, 10:32 PM
grace86

Haha Dori and Janine you two make me laugh!

I will pick up Fathers and Sons from the library this week when I take back all the Islam and Shakespeare stuff I borrowed for class! Looks like the reads for break will be interesting. Glad this is a somewhat shorter novel...however...it is Russian ;)
12-11-2007, 10:58 PM
Quark

When we start talking about the story are we going to do it on this thread, or should we start another?

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