Reading "War and Peace" feels like trying to climb out of a pool of quicksand. You are struggling to find ANYTHING you can grasp to help pull you out to safety.
In my case, I'm trying to find a plot or a storyline I can mentally grab on to. I will not give up on this book! Perhaps it's just the wrong time. The kids are on break from school, I have a Christmas dinner to plan (for 9 people...not a big deal for some, but it is for me), an accent chair to find so we can burn the pink piece of garbage that now sits in our sunroom....I could go on and on.
I'm only on page 85 and it seems the pages are multiplying as I read. Perhaps I shouldn't try to read while lying in bed with cozy warm blankets. How about a tub of ice? That might work! Anything to keep my eyelids from feeling as though they are weighed down by fishing line sinkers.
Right now, my only goal is to read at least 10 pages per day. I can do that, right? More to follow...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
"Nineteen Eighty-Four" Complete...Moving on to "War and Peace"
I must be out of my mind. My husband is certain that I am out of my mind. He is concerned that reading "War and Peace" so soon will cause major burn-out so early in the project. There is that potential, but I can't let it happen.
Ok...before I get into "W & P"....I finished "1984" and loved it! What a roller coaster ending! I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It's relevancy to today is kind of scary, but other than that, it's brilliant.
Moving on....to "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. This particular version is translated by: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (in case anyone cares). They were also the translators of "Anna Karenina" and "The Brothers Karamazov", both also written by Tolstoy. I chose this version over the 5 or 6 others on the Barnes and Noble bookshelf for no other reason than that it was the most recent (Copyright 2007).
Let me say that the very first few pages intimidated the heck out of me. The entire first paragraph (with the exception of the very last sentence) is written in French and there are sentences sprinkled throughout the entire book. The translations are in the footnotes, thank goodness. Also, there are many numbered notes of which you have to go to the index and find explanations for.
Those two things, in addition to a million characters, all with Russian names...well, let me just give you parts of the leading paragraph on the "Principal Characters" page:
"Russian names are composed of first name, patronymic (from the father's first name), and family name. Formal address requires use of first name and patronymic; diminutives...used by family and friends, but in blunt form can be rude or dismissive. The family name alone can be used....and on occasion only the patronymic is used, usually among the lower classes..."
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Here's an example of one of the characters and the many names he can be called:
Count Nikolai Ilyich (Nikolushka, Nikolenka, Nikolashka, Kolya, Nicolas, Coco)
That's ONE person!
Ok. So I am on page 45 and have been introduced to many of the characters by way of a "soiree" hosted by Anna Pavlovna and a "name day" open house (of sorts) at the Rostovs'. Nobility entertained a lot in the early 1800's.
In a whole-hearted attempt at keeping everyone straight, I have been taking copious notes.
This one is going to take some time to get through. My youngest is home on winter break starting on Thursday, and not returning until January 4th. It's going to be difficult to find the quiet time I'll need, but I'll figure it out.
Until next time...
Ok...before I get into "W & P"....I finished "1984" and loved it! What a roller coaster ending! I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It's relevancy to today is kind of scary, but other than that, it's brilliant.
Moving on....to "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. This particular version is translated by: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (in case anyone cares). They were also the translators of "Anna Karenina" and "The Brothers Karamazov", both also written by Tolstoy. I chose this version over the 5 or 6 others on the Barnes and Noble bookshelf for no other reason than that it was the most recent (Copyright 2007).
Let me say that the very first few pages intimidated the heck out of me. The entire first paragraph (with the exception of the very last sentence) is written in French and there are sentences sprinkled throughout the entire book. The translations are in the footnotes, thank goodness. Also, there are many numbered notes of which you have to go to the index and find explanations for.
Those two things, in addition to a million characters, all with Russian names...well, let me just give you parts of the leading paragraph on the "Principal Characters" page:
"Russian names are composed of first name, patronymic (from the father's first name), and family name. Formal address requires use of first name and patronymic; diminutives...used by family and friends, but in blunt form can be rude or dismissive. The family name alone can be used....and on occasion only the patronymic is used, usually among the lower classes..."
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Here's an example of one of the characters and the many names he can be called:
Count Nikolai Ilyich (Nikolushka, Nikolenka, Nikolashka, Kolya, Nicolas, Coco)
That's ONE person!
Ok. So I am on page 45 and have been introduced to many of the characters by way of a "soiree" hosted by Anna Pavlovna and a "name day" open house (of sorts) at the Rostovs'. Nobility entertained a lot in the early 1800's.
In a whole-hearted attempt at keeping everyone straight, I have been taking copious notes.
This one is going to take some time to get through. My youngest is home on winter break starting on Thursday, and not returning until January 4th. It's going to be difficult to find the quiet time I'll need, but I'll figure it out.
Until next time...
Monday, December 7, 2009
George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four": Part Two
Let me just start off by saying that this blog is not intended to be a book review or a book report of any kind. I have struggled over the past few days with what the content would be and I’ve decided that I will treat it as if I were writing in a personal journal, leaving out a lot of the personal stuff. So, if anything I write piques your interest, then go out and borrow/buy the book.
Well, Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four" is almost in the can. I am about three quarters of the way through and have enjoyed every single page. I have forgotten how difficult it can be to block everything out around me and actually FOCUS on what I’m reading. My son had friends over both Saturday and Sunday and I couldn’t hear myself think (let alone concentrate on anything).
Disclaimer: To those two wonderful moms whose sons were here. No offense to you. I was extremely happy to help out while you were Christmas shopping. I just need to learn how to close my ears. Oh! I know what I can request for Christmas; Bose noise cancelling headphones. Yep…that’s it!
Thankfully, my husband allowed me a good solid hour or so without interruption yesterday afternoon. I got through most of Chapter Two. Yeah, that’s right….chapter two.
You see, the book isn’t laid out in the traditional way (i.e. Chapter one; 15 – 18 pages….chapter two; the same….and so on). The first chapter is 106 pages long and the entire book only has three! Instead, there are sections within the chapters; headed by roman numerals. This is all fine of course, but the sense of accomplishment is somewhat diminished when you tell someone you are only on the second chapter.
I have been amazed at the details Orwell gives to describe life under an oppressive and socialist society. Some of his words and phrases have actually become popular and are still used today. One example is the adjective “Orwellian”, which is used to describe something that is destructive to the welfare of a free society (propaganda, misinformation, denial of truth, surveillance or manipulation of the past).
As I said, I’ve enjoyed the story immensely and up until last night, I have been able to follow without too much rereading and looking words up in the dictionary. Winston, the main character, finally begins to read “the book” – italics and lack of title intended. The book was written by Emmanuel Goldstein, who was once a high-ranking member of the Party in Oceania, but has since gone into hiding. He is the founding member of an underground organization called “The Brotherhood” that was formed to overthrow the State.
The book goes into amazing detail about how the world split into three "superstates", why they constantly claim to be at war and how the citizens are manipulated and used to further the agenda. I began reading this part of the book last night, while my husband watched Sunday night football. I thought I could focus enough to get through it, but it turns out I couldn’t.
I will be re-reading that section and hopefully complete the book by tomorrow. I made a trip to Barnes and Noble today to pick up “Animal Farm”, also by Orwell. It is a very thin book that I should be able to complete fairly quickly. I also decided to buy a few of the others on the list. If I wasn’t intimidated when I started this project; I am now.
On my bookshelf sits “Anna Karenina”, “East of Eden”, “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Les Miserables”, “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”, “Vanity Fair”, and “War and Peace” (yikes!). Any suggestions on what to read next?????
Well, Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four" is almost in the can. I am about three quarters of the way through and have enjoyed every single page. I have forgotten how difficult it can be to block everything out around me and actually FOCUS on what I’m reading. My son had friends over both Saturday and Sunday and I couldn’t hear myself think (let alone concentrate on anything).
Disclaimer: To those two wonderful moms whose sons were here. No offense to you. I was extremely happy to help out while you were Christmas shopping. I just need to learn how to close my ears. Oh! I know what I can request for Christmas; Bose noise cancelling headphones. Yep…that’s it!
Thankfully, my husband allowed me a good solid hour or so without interruption yesterday afternoon. I got through most of Chapter Two. Yeah, that’s right….chapter two.
You see, the book isn’t laid out in the traditional way (i.e. Chapter one; 15 – 18 pages….chapter two; the same….and so on). The first chapter is 106 pages long and the entire book only has three! Instead, there are sections within the chapters; headed by roman numerals. This is all fine of course, but the sense of accomplishment is somewhat diminished when you tell someone you are only on the second chapter.
I have been amazed at the details Orwell gives to describe life under an oppressive and socialist society. Some of his words and phrases have actually become popular and are still used today. One example is the adjective “Orwellian”, which is used to describe something that is destructive to the welfare of a free society (propaganda, misinformation, denial of truth, surveillance or manipulation of the past).
As I said, I’ve enjoyed the story immensely and up until last night, I have been able to follow without too much rereading and looking words up in the dictionary. Winston, the main character, finally begins to read “the book” – italics and lack of title intended. The book was written by Emmanuel Goldstein, who was once a high-ranking member of the Party in Oceania, but has since gone into hiding. He is the founding member of an underground organization called “The Brotherhood” that was formed to overthrow the State.
The book goes into amazing detail about how the world split into three "superstates", why they constantly claim to be at war and how the citizens are manipulated and used to further the agenda. I began reading this part of the book last night, while my husband watched Sunday night football. I thought I could focus enough to get through it, but it turns out I couldn’t.
I will be re-reading that section and hopefully complete the book by tomorrow. I made a trip to Barnes and Noble today to pick up “Animal Farm”, also by Orwell. It is a very thin book that I should be able to complete fairly quickly. I also decided to buy a few of the others on the list. If I wasn’t intimidated when I started this project; I am now.
On my bookshelf sits “Anna Karenina”, “East of Eden”, “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Les Miserables”, “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”, “Vanity Fair”, and “War and Peace” (yikes!). Any suggestions on what to read next?????
Friday, December 4, 2009
George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four": Part One
So, I chose to start off the project with George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”.(1984 (Signet Classics)![]()
I have heard several references to this book while listening to talk radio over the past few months (I don’t think I want to get into where I heard it, or in what context), and the book really sounds intriguing.
Just to get my feet wet, I read some reviews, and this is what Amazon’s Editorial review had to say:
“Among the seminal texts of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell's nightmare vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff's attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell's prescience of modern life--the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language--and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell. Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written.”
Well, ok.
I can sink my teeth into that.
Let’s get started…..
Just to get my feet wet, I read some reviews, and this is what Amazon’s Editorial review had to say:
“Among the seminal texts of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell's nightmare vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff's attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell's prescience of modern life--the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language--and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell. Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written.”
Well, ok.
I can sink my teeth into that.
Let’s get started…..
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Here Goes Nothing
Let's start off by saying that I have never blogged a day in my life. Sooo...the title is fitting, eh?
First, let me define what this project entails. I will read, cover-to-cover, all the literary classics that I can determine ARE indeed "classic".
See, up to this point, I have yet to find a definitive list, nor can I find a clear definition of "classic". I think I have come pretty darn close though and will list all of the titles at the end of this post. I would love your feedback, if you think I've missed anything or feel one should be omitted. I will continue to research as well. Let's just call this list "living and breathing". In other words...subject to change.
So as I read one work after another, I will post my comments, frustrations, joys, etc. As my profile states, I am not a writer or some literary genius. I will have to consult the dictionary A LOT! But that's ok. I love to read and I love to learn.
The true test for me will be stamina. If something doesn't hold my attention I tend to move on. Guiltily. So, in the interest of integrity, I will purchase my own copy of each book and make notations in the margins on reading start and stop times, as well as things I want to remember to blog about.
There is no timeline and I'm fairly young, so I believe (and hope) that I have plenty of time to finish, if an end even exists.
Here's the Adult Classic list:
First, let me define what this project entails. I will read, cover-to-cover, all the literary classics that I can determine ARE indeed "classic".
See, up to this point, I have yet to find a definitive list, nor can I find a clear definition of "classic". I think I have come pretty darn close though and will list all of the titles at the end of this post. I would love your feedback, if you think I've missed anything or feel one should be omitted. I will continue to research as well. Let's just call this list "living and breathing". In other words...subject to change.
So as I read one work after another, I will post my comments, frustrations, joys, etc. As my profile states, I am not a writer or some literary genius. I will have to consult the dictionary A LOT! But that's ok. I love to read and I love to learn.
The true test for me will be stamina. If something doesn't hold my attention I tend to move on. Guiltily. So, in the interest of integrity, I will purchase my own copy of each book and make notations in the margins on reading start and stop times, as well as things I want to remember to blog about.
There is no timeline and I'm fairly young, so I believe (and hope) that I have plenty of time to finish, if an end even exists.
Here's the Adult Classic list:
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