Classics Without All the Class discussion

Travis of NNY wrote: "I've read this and my opinion was it was like the age of innocence only 3 times as long. I read it in 3 days to get it over with. Good luck to all"

This made me laugh!

I don't know anything about the book other than a) it's a long read and b) it was written by Leo Tolstoy. My edition (http://amzn.com/B008476UXW) is around 630 pages. I started yesterday and am about 30 pages in. It's been pretty good so far.

I read it for another group a few months back and we actually tackled it as a two month read, so starting early is probably a good idea. I finished it in just a couple of weeks, but I was in the middle of deep house cleaning and listened to it on audio for at least a couple hours every day. I'm pretty certain I had the Nadia May version, and she did an excellent job. There are large sections that would have been rather dreary if I hadn't had her voice adding just the right been of irony to all the right places where sarcasm would have been understood by the original audience. I highly recommend audio as it IS lengthy and a bit wordy in places. It keeps you trudging on.

Tolstoy uses different names for some characters I noticed. Speaking of strategy, it made it easier for me to make a small list of the characters. for example, Stepan Arkadyevitch Oblonsky is also referred to as "Stiva". A small list of their names with a brief description of who's who helped me, especially when I started the book.

Karena wrote: "To be honest, I am not sure how I'm tackling this. Maybe swapping off between audio and ebook. Definitely only a bit at a time as my Tator/podcast/mom responsibilities tend to eat into my reading t..."

That's a great idea. I was just thinking the other day that I needed a new audiobook for my 45 minute commute to and from work.

Laura -- I noticed that as well. And then I remembered when I was in college and one of my professors recommended The Brothers Karamazov. (I promptly picked up a used copy at Green Apple books.) he also said that the secret to reading Russian lit was knowing that everyone has several names/nicknames and trying to keep them straight. That's definitely the case with AK!

Laura and HeatherIlene - Keeping track of the characters is definitely a challenge. I began looking online to see if there was a ready made guide of the characters. I hate to admit that one of the best ones was from Oprah's Book Club. The below link provides a downloadable bookmark with a pretty good breakdown of the top characters in the book and their relationships to each other

http://static.oprah.com/images/obc_cl...

Kathy -- that's a great resource! Thank you for posting. I usually go to SparkNotes for study guides but I've found that spoilers abound in the character summaries and I really hate that.

I will start using that link as well. I read through some of it when I read Jane eyre. I like to read the cliff notes to get an understanding of the symbolism and themes. I do it only because it helps me understand the writer and story's purpose better.

I am making pretty good progress so far. Started part III yesterday! Enjoying the book! I had always been intimidated by the length but not anymore. I actually want to tackle atlas shrugged now. Hooray for confidence!

Jessica wrote: "I like to read the cliff notes to get an understanding of the symbolism and themes. I do it only because it helps me understand the writer and story's purpose better. "

I'm the exact same way!

HeatherIlene wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I like to read the cliff notes to get an understanding of the symbolism and themes. I do it only because it helps me understand the writer and story's purpose better. "

I'm the exa..."

Awesome! Glad I am not the only one. :D

I finished Brave New World early and started on Anna in early April. I'm only 384 pages in. Like Tom said, it is a lot like Age of Innocence; however, I am enjoying this read a lot more.

And my edition is 1170 pages. AND there is a character synopsis in the front that I read when I was 100 pages in that completely revealed the ending of the book, which I have never read before. Grrrr.

I keep making the mistake of reading it when I'm in bed -- then I get sleepy and pass out, book in hand! I'll never make it through at this rate.

HeatherIlene wrote: "I keep making the mistake of reading it when I'm in bed -- then I get sleepy and pass out, book in hand! I'll never make it through at this rate."

At least you would have a cure for insomnia! bahahaaa

Jessica wrote: "HeatherIlene wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I like to read the cliff notes to get an understanding of the symbolism and themes. I do it only because it helps me understand the writer and story's purpose b..."

I'm the same way. It's not like I'm reading the Sparknotes instead of the book itself. There is nothing wrong with getting a more in depth analysis of the books we read. It's kind of like what we do here, except more of a formal structure.

Nothing at all wrong with that (although you do have to be careful, because some of the sparknotes authors don't have a concept of a "spoiler alert")

Heather wrote: "I finished Brave New World early and started on Anna in early April. I'm only 384 pages in. Like Tom said, it is a lot like Age of Innocence; however, I am enjoying this read a lot more.

And my e..."

I did the same thing. I, usually, stay away from sparknotes until the very end or reading about a specific chapter. But leave it to the good ole introduction to screw me over. Oh well, at least we don't have all of the ending. i feel like there will still be some surprises for us...hoping, at least. :)

I never touch the introduction until I'm done with the book. It ALWAYS gives away all the major plot points!

Didn't think about that. But lesson learned. I had a feeling something would be like that in the end based on the small amount of knowledge I had of the book.

Has anyone ever watched The Last Station? Christopher Plumber plays Leo Tolstoy and Helen Mirrin plays the role of Tolstoy's wife. Great movie you can't go wrong with those two casted in lead roles. Curious what some other people's thoughts were on that movie, if they have seen it.

I've never come acrossed such a massive spoiler alert! I definitely won't be making that mistake again.

Jessica-I've never seen that movie. Is it recent?

Not really. It came out in 2009. It was nominated for a bunch if Oscars but I can't recall if it won any. The movie is about Tolstoy's later life to his death. He discusses whether or not to sale his writing pieces in America. Also deals with the relationship between he and his wife. It had quite a large cast in it. I think John McAvoy is in it as well.

Alana wrote: "I never touch the introduction until I'm done with the book. It ALWAYS gives away all the major plot points!"

Seriously, why is it that they act like everyone in the world has already read these classics? I've learned my lesson the hard way that introductions are not your friend. They really ought to move them to the end.

Lol, then it would be more like an "extroduction."

@Alana, good name :) I couldn't come up with one the other day. my mind blanked on me, lol

it's still early in the game. how is everyone's progress?

I'm excited to report I've passed the 1/2 way point in my translation! (I'm reading the Richard Pevear + Larissa Volokhonsky translation which has 817 pages of Tolstoy, along with a short intro and ~20 pages of notes).

I'm enjoying it. I've spent a lot of time in recent years reading books that weren't particularly challenging, so it is good to stretch and get back to my reading roots! Which is why I joined this group!!

Valerie wrote: "I'm excited to report I've passed the 1/2 way point in my translation! (I'm reading the Richard Pevear + Larissa Volokhonsky translation which has 817 pages of Tolstoy, along with a short intro an..."

Hi, Valerie! That is so nice to hear how you joined this group and are being challenged by the reading. Enjoy and fantastic job on your progress!

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "We all have a formidable challenge ahead of us for our May book, Anna Karenina. The purpose of this thread is to all brainstorm on how you each intend to tackle this Monster Mash of a Classic. For ..."

I'm glad I found this group. I read Anna Karenina years ago but just downloaded into my reader. I'm a bit late in starting but will probably take my IPad to bed with me tonight.

Anne wrote: "LaLaLa Laura wrote: "We all have a formidable challenge ahead of us for our May book, Anna Karenina. The purpose of this thread is to all brainstorm on how you each intend to tackle this Monster M..."

Anne,
That's so nice to hear! Don't feel any pressure or don't feel rushed. Just enjoy your reading and sharing with us!

Woohoo, just finished Anna K.!! Just in time to go off to a conference.

It took me approximately 4 weeks to read, I did a little at a time. I was very tempted to start another book at about the 3/4 mark, which has caused me not to finish big books int he past, but I resisted! Thought the book was great, and so glad to have finally read it.

Valerie wrote: "Woohoo, just finished Anna K.!! Just in time to go off to a conference.

It took me approximately 4 weeks to read, I did a little at a time. I was very tempted to start another book at about the..."

Congrats! I am almost done. I think/hope I will be done by the end of the week. You have much more strength than I do. I had the urge, at the same point, to start another book. I did...but luckily it was fast-paced and finished it in 3 days. It was nice to have a short break from AK for a bit though. Have fun at your conference. Do you have another book you will be starting?

Yes, although I doubt I will have much time, I'm packing Cloud Atlas.

One of my friends couldn't recommend it highly enough, another didn't like it at all!! Should be interesting.

we are just past mid month! how is everyone's progress?

I finished on Friday! Woohoo!

nice job, Jessica!!

I'm waaay behind. :) oh well, I'll finish late but I'll still finish. I'm going to make seeing the movie my reward for finishing. I'm always curious how they adapt books to movies.

oh nice Cassie! Angie and I are going to do a book/movie comparison on the CWAtC blog next month!

don't give up!! :)

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "oh nice Cassie! Angie and I are going to do a book/movie comparison on the CWAtC blog next month!

don't give up!! :)"

I will be listening/looking for that. I have fallen behind on myCWAtC podcasts thanks to AK. Going to check that out now lol.

I have not watched the movie yet. I am hoping to find a girlfriend to watch it with. Too bad I don't live close to some you girls! @Cassie, please, let us know what you think about the two.

I know, Jessica! I agree that its too bad we don't all live closer. a lot of us have made a nice connection through CWAtC. but it's nice we at least got to meet each other in this way. maybe one day!

You can always set up a google Hangout and watch together! :)

hey that is true!