Reading the Classics discussion

This thread is for sharing your expectations before starting the read. Crime and Punishment won with a record 30 votes, so i'm hoping for a great discussion this month.

Plot Spoilers and discussions among people who have completed the book already should instead go into the "complete discussion" thread:

Reading Schedule
This is an optional schedule to keep all of us roughly at the same page. Of course you can read at your own pace, and all discussion threads will be open immediately.
We're dividing the book into 4 parts and threads over 4 weeks, see below:
Week 1 - until April 10th - Part 1 (p.88)
Week 2 - until April 17th - Part 2 (p. 196)
Week 3 - until April 24th - Part 3+4 (p. 360)
Week 4 - until April 30th - Part 5 (p. 551, End)

Translations
A translation can make or break a book, make it dull or alive. Discuss translations here: (personally i recommend the Vintage classic edition's translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky, but it's not free)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I wasnt sure I was going to take part this month, as I was rooting for treasure island, but Crime and Punishment is one of those books I have been meaning to read "at some point" and so this seems as good a time as any (I might have got a bit cocky having just completed another one of those bucket list books (gone with the wind) and really enjoyed it)

I will try my best to stick to the reading schedule, I have holidays coming up so that should help, I guess it depends on the flow of the book and how easy I find reading it.

I dont really know much about the story, so have no expectations to the book, which is probably a good thing, looking forward to reading it!

I also was not sure if I was going to stick with this, but I gave chapter 1 a try today, and surprised myself with the ease of the text. A couple of flights to Europe this week will allow me to stay with the schedule - at least for the first part.

thx!

To clarify, we're reading parts 3 and 4 in week three, yes? I assume you mean we're reading THROUGH part 4, I just wasn't sure from the post.

To read C&P in one month is pretty ambitious given the other reading commitments most of us have, but I'm next in line for the P&V translation from my library, so we'll see.

I probably won't be completely on time, as I just started another long novel for a different group, but I'll try to catch up when I can. I've been looking forward to this one for a long time!

Yes, parts 3+4 in week three.
Yes, this schedule for C&P in one month is ambitious. But i hope that everyone will be gripped after part one and quicken their pace.

We can extend the reading period, if most people feel they won't finish in time. We could even read all through May and push back the next read. Let me know what you think, and we can have a poll for this, too.

I tried reading C&P years ago and couldn't get into it. I'm hoping this time I'll be able to stick with it. I've downloaded the Pevear translation as well.

the Crime & Punishment book that I have is translated by Jessie Coulson. Do any of you have an opinion on this? Would I enjoy a different translation more? I have read reviews but I am still undecided.

Sorry, i don't know about the Coulson translation.
There's a thread in our group specifically for discussing Crime and Punishment translations:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm really excited about this one, actually: I read The Brothers Karamazov a couple of years ago and liked it, despite some of the drier sections, but I've heard that C&P is supposed to be much better.

Well, i'm gonna try this book. i have finals in April....so i have a lot of studying and such...so not sure if i can keep up. Ill try though. I have 3 translations. I guess ill start with the Oliver Ready one. Might spend some time comparing them. :)

I have several reading commitments but i think i will try to squeeze this in too. Love the schedule! Thanks!

Alana wrote: "I'm really excited about this one, actually: I read The Brothers Karamazov a couple of years ago and liked it, despite some of the drier sections, but I've heard that C&P is supposed to..."

I also enjoyed C&P better than The Brothers Karamazov. Next on my list will be The Idiot.

I have always had an approach to reading books. I would make a list of the books I want to read right at the beginning of the year and I try to stick to my reading commitments as much as possible. It happened that my reading goal this year involves Russian classics so when I checked the final winner of the month I immediately decided to take part in. I'm starting tomorrow and I'll try to commit myself to the suggested schedule.

Juliana Marie Morales
Is the David McDuff translation the best translation for this book? Or are you reading the Pevear & Volokhonsky translation?

Please discuss translations in this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll leave the Crime and Punishment read and threads open for a bit, because i think we're not all finished yet (including me).