MobileRead May 2011 Mobile Read Book Club Vote

[siraks]

if Anna Karenina wins i'll pass on the hefty read but i'll skim through the cliff notes and try to enter the discussion

[kennyc]

Go Anna!

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by siraks

if Anna Karenina wins i'll pass on the hefty read but i'll skim through the cliff notes and try to enter the discussion

So - just like school all over again?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by caleb72

So - just like school all over again?

[beppe]

It looks like we are going to discuss either one of the more gray, somber and depressing books ever written, very nicely though,
Or get lost in the cold endless swamps between St. Petersburg and Moscow. If you get stuck there, just jump to the first chapters of the third part, where you might touch Heaven with one of your fingers, if you still have some strength left in them after turning all those pages ...
1st part 17 chapters
2nd 17
3rd 16
4th 11
5th 17
6th 16
7th 16
8th 9 (only, he got fed up )

[siraks]

Originally Posted by caleb72

So - just like school all over again?

hahaha indeed. it's a giant book and for me it's not a must read but i'll take a look at what i can online but doubt i'd ever get through it.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Hmm... if that wins i'm not sure if I will read it. Isn't this a romance? Although I surprisingly liked Pride & Prejudice.

BOb

Yes it is around a love story, two actually. Among the higher layers of the Russian high society. But it is also about the soul of men, their passions, their weaknesses and strengths. Vanity and nobility of spirit. How they become stone hard and how they become tender and giving and how they manage through their life. And, if you read it, you will be forced to take side.

One should read this as a teenager, and later, once in a while, go back to a page, to an episode, maybe, let himself be sucked into a whole chapter or two.

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by beppe

Yes it is around a love story, two actually. Among the higher layers of the Russian high society. But it is also about the soul of men, their passions, their weaknesses and strengths. Vanity and nobility of spirit. How they become stone hard and how they become tender and giving and how they manage through their life. And, if you read it, you will be forced to take side.

One should read this as a teenager, and later, once in a while, go back to a page, to an episode, maybe, let himself be sucked into a whole chapter or two.

I plan to start reading tonight. Is it true that this one book will make me understand Russian literature and culture? I heard that once long ago, and always had it in the back of my mind to read.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I plan to start reading tonight. Is it true that this one book will make me understand Russian literature and culture? I heard that once long ago, and always had it in the back of my mind to read.

And Roswell too!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I have read many H. G. Wells books War of the Worlds was the most boring, it just could not hold my interest

That's treason. Off with his head.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I plan to start reading tonight. Is it true that this one book will make me understand Russian literature and culture? I heard that once long ago, and always had it in the back of my mind to read.

Nope. It's too old. It has nothing to do with how Russia is today.

[GA Russell]

Purple Sage has risen to fourth place. It's not too late!

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by kennyc

And Roswell too!

And now we completed the circle mobiously.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Nope. It's too old. It has nothing to do with how Russia is today.

But in seriousness, I've just never gotten Russian lit. That is why I am anxious to read this one and overcome my apprehension with a group.

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Purple Sage has risen to fourth place. It's not too late!

We will read this one also.

So it looks like in the end it will come down to a race between Anna Karenina and 1984. I must say that I really was hoping for The Age of Innocence as I have never read that and will soon anyway. I really have no strong opinion as to a choice limited to Anna Karenina or 1984, both excellent books. It has been a much longer since I last read 1984, but Anna Karenina is more timeless. How can a a story of Spring – Fall love of such passion that it is worth giving up everything be dated? War of the Worlds on the other hand, invaders from Mars? Hah! So not caring which of these two wins I voted for The Age of Innocence on the forlorn hope for a come from behind victory.

[zespectre]

Sorry, noob here. So when a book is selected where does it get discussed?