Christmas 2007 Reading Poll

[Virgil]

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.

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.

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Dori]

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.

[Janine]

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.

[Janine]

12:08Am - I better dig my old 'F&S's' book out of my bookshelf and dust it off and start reading tonight.

[bazarov]

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

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

What? 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!

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

[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).

What? 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).

Dori, congratulations! Mens sana in corpore sano!

What?

[Janine]

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.

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 (?)

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

[Dori]

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.

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.


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

[Janine]

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.

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

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.

[Dori]

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.

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.

[Janine]

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.

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.

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 now). Grannie's have that effect - they like to dote. My grandchild will probably be a runner like my son.

[Dori]

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.

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 now). Grannie's have that effect - they like to dote. My grandchild will probably be a runner like my son.

One hour remaining...

[Scheherazade]

I wonder which book will win.