Christmas 2007 Reading Poll

[Janine]

Of course, English is my second language and I often make mistakes but I have always thought that "let us", used in this sense, expresses a suggestion and a wish rather than a command. Eg, "Let us have a cup of tea." or "Let us watch a movie tonight." When I said (quoting myself directly) "Please, please, please, let us try something new and different this time!", I was simply expressing my desire not to read another classic, another Russian book (since we are reading Bulgakov in December as well).It depends in which part of the world you are but we have another 9 days to vote.

Ok, I will buy that. Perfectly stated. It does sound more like a 'suggestion' or 'wish', you are right. I can't really explain why I was thinking of 'command', so I will just drop it...hardly seems important now...probably was not important then, either. Let 'peace' reign.
Sorry, you are reading another Russian author presently. Thanks for the voting time update.

Scheherazade, I never knew English was your second language - you write so fluidly. That is wonderful. I always admire the people who learn several languages and really master them. I have enough trouble with proper English!

PS: What does "degratory" mean? I cannot seem to be able to find it in Cambridge online.

That is because I spelled it wrong ...I am a terrible speller! I would rather we just drop that, too, if it is ok with you. I don't think I was feeling well the other day, so maybe I was being too tiresome or irritable. I seriously now think your original 'moldy sandwich' statement is funny and clever. You just stated your opinion, as it came to you, spontaneously.

[grace86]

I voted Fathers and Sons. I have always wanted to read this novel!! School will be out and I will yet again be on a plane for the holiday so I am hopeful I will be able to participate.

[Scheherazade]

Oh, you guys...

Better go and order F & S.

[papayahed]

Oh, you guys...

Better go and order F & S.

We still have 5 days....I'm holding out that everybody is going to rush the polls for "Holiday on Ice" in the last hours .

[Scheherazade]

I have ordered F & S but since I am finishing the book I have been reading, I will read Behind the Scenes at the Museum meanwhile and that's that! :-/

[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.

[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!

[Virgil]

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.

[Scheherazade]

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.

[Dori]

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.

[bazarov]

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!

[Virgil]

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.

[Janine]

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.

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.

[manolia]

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

Baz, what do you mean by that? ..stereotypes

[Dori]

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

I'm a soccer player. 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.