If you’ve read ahead, please don’t discuss events after Parts 1 & 2.
If you are behind, don’t worry. You post or comment whenever you are ready. This is a guilt-free reading group. Reading should be about enjoyment, not guilt.
I finished the reading this morning, and will probably post tonight.
Let’s use this post as a place to have a general discussion in the comments. Everyone is welcome to post their own posts. If you have trouble signing in as an administrator, let me know. My e-mail: raehan at agogandaghast dot com.
Initial themes that come to mind: Petersburg vs. Moscow culture; Old Russia vs. new; Tolstoy’s portrayal of the nobility; pretence vs. reality; Does Tolstoy believe it’s possible to be good?; religion; nihilism; pietism; marriage. Then there are the characters. Is anybody likeable in this book? Does Tolstoy like anybody in this book?
We have different translations, I wonder how that will affect our reading. I have a modern translation that is very rich and alive. The translators are Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. They’ve won a few awards for the translations. I hope all of you also have enjoyable translations.
We can start with general impressions and then take the reading on theme by theme.
If I remember correctly, these are the folks that have expressed interest in participating in addition to Catherine and me: Stephanie, Kyla, Jen, Kismet, Babette, Tamara….and Moreena, right? Forgive me if I’ve left you off. Please let me know and I’ll add you. Also, latecomers are always welcome. Join in, all.
Tonight I’ll check my comments to make sure I haven’t left anyone out, and then I’ll send out a group e-mail, inviting you to register as administrators. I also want to put all participants on the blogroll and also put the reading schedule on the sidebar.
Reading the Classics 