Summer Reading '10: Brothers Karamazov

[Scheherazade]

This summer we will be reading Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky.

Please post your comments and questions in this thread.

[Dark Muse]

Just what I need another fat book to read. Haha, though I do really want to read this one, right now I am already reading two books that are around 800 pages, though luckily I am almost finished with the other two.

[ktm5124]

Haha, I have already been reading this book for the past month - how fortunate that it turns out to be the LitNet summer reading. Right now I'm on Part III, if I remember correctly.

Looking forward to the discussion here :-)

[_Shannon_]

I gotta read Mountains Beyond Mountains first...and then I'll start. I made this my FB book club book for July to help me to stay motivated until the end.

Oh --What translations are we all reading and how'd you pick?

[Janine]

Cool it won. Thanks for letting me know, Scher. I bought the book awhile ago and have wanted to read it. I haven't read anything in ages; so here is my chance to immerse myself in some reading. I enjoyed "The Idiot", so I am sure I will find this book special too, even if it is a really thick book.

[papayahed]

I guess I can give it a go since the last time it was chosen I didn't finish it.

[Michael T]

I've got my copy and I'm ready to go. Let's hope we have a long summer!

[Janine]

For anyone who likes audiobooks, you can get the whole book at Librivox free. I just downloaded the first several chapters in MP3 file. You can also subscribe to the audiobook directly in itunes. I did that, too...saw it after I did the first download. I can wear my headphones around and listen while I do housework or chores.

Will this be a three month read? I was pleased to know the reading is of the Constance Garnet translation - since my book is also. Wowy, it's a long novel but it sounds exciting enough to hold my interest.

[Virgil]

Oh great! For such a long book, would it be possible if we had the discipline to discuss parts of the novel at a time? The novel is divided into four Parts. Why don't we do a Part at a time and then at the end have discussion for the entire novel? It will make our discussions go smoother I think.

By the way, I have the new Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. I don't think there is that much of a difference between translations. The Garnett was translated almost a hundred years ago now, so I suspect the P&V (which has gotten great reviews) is a bit more accurate. I don't think that will make a difference to us.

[_Shannon_]

By the way, I have the new Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. I don't think there is that much of a difference between translations. The Garnett was translated almost a hundred years ago now, so I suspect the P&V (which has gotten great reviews) is a bit more accurate. I don't think that will make a difference to us.

That's the one I've got, too. I am hoping it facilitates easier reading the way the newest translation of Count of Monte Cristo did for me. I plowed through that book because the modern language made it much easier to read. It's been an interesting thing to me, to watch my ideas about translations grow and change.

I don't know about the discussing in parts--it seems like that might be difficult in this format, unless there are four different threads. I like the idea of discussing it that way, but I am unsure about the practicality of it <wishes there was a scratching head smilie>

[TurquoiseSunset]

Ah man, I still have to finish The Shadow of the Wind...I'll do it this weekend.

I have the Andrew McAndrew translation, which I've heard is quite easy to read. Obviously the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation is the one you really want, as it's most faithful to the original.

I'm quite excited about starting!

[Virgil]

That's the one I've got, too. I am hoping it facilitates easier reading the way the newest translation of Count of Monte Cristo did for me. I plowed through that book because the modern language made it much easier to read. It's been an interesting thing to me, to watch my ideas about translations grow and change.

I don't know about the discussing in parts--it seems like that might be difficult in this format, unless there are four different threads. I like the idea of discussing it that way, but I am unsure about the practicality of it <wishes there was a scratching head smilie>

We discussed DH Lawrence's Women In Love chapter by chapter. It worked out well. There are too many chapters to do it with TBK, and four parts is acutally quite managable, and if someone goes beyond the part of discussion, no one is going to get their knuckles rapped.

[motherhubbard]

I picked mine up two days ago. I was afraid everyone else would be finished.

[ktm5124]

I picked mine up two days ago. I was afraid everyone else would be finished.

With this book?! I suspect it will take me two months to read. But I'm already halfway into it, on Book VIII, having started it a month ago, so I should be able to keep up with all the fast readers here :-)

Oh, and did I say that I love it so far? It starts out great, and it stays that way. I especially love the beginning scene with Fyodor Pavlovich at the elder's. Haha, I laughed so hard :-) I love that man - he's quite a character.

[dfloyd]

I have read Brothers three times, and have enjoyed it more each time. The only novel which comes close to Brothers is Don Quixote. After reading the novel, try to find a VHS recording of the 1950s movie. For some reason it has never been put on dvd. In the movie, Yul Brynner is Dimitri, Richard Basehart is Ivan, and a very young Captain Kirk is Alyosha. I don't remember the actor's name, but the bastard brother was nominated for an academy award. Fyodor Karamazov is superbly played by Lee J. Cobb. Claire Bloomi is Dimitri's intended, with Maria Schell as Grushenka. It's too bad this classic movie seems to have been lost.