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Post by Pilleriin on May 1, 2009 3:53:26 GMT -5
Is it too late to join you guys? I've already started reading it, but I think I just can't finish it by myself (I'm reading it in English, so it's a lot harder fot me to understand).
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 1, 2009 6:45:50 GMT -5
Of course not. Please join us. I have the Modern Library version, too. Ok, I better get started so we can be ready to discuss the first section by May 10.
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thenephilim
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 627
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Post by thenephilim on May 1, 2009 15:12:39 GMT -5
Is it too late to join you guys? I've already started reading it, but I think I just can't finish it by myself (I'm reading it in English, so it's a lot harder fot me to understand). The more, the merrier!
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Post by Pilleriin on May 2, 2009 2:34:34 GMT -5
I know Danielle is ready. Are you ready to start, Lucky? Like I said above, I planned on reading a "book" a week. Are your copies divided into 14 books and an epilogue? Can we read the first section by Sunday, May 10? It's chapters 1-24 and it's 117 pages in my edition. My book is divided into 15 books and two epilogues And my first book is 87 pages and chapters 1-28. I have the Wordworth Classics edition.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 3, 2009 8:49:41 GMT -5
It looks like chapters are going to have to be the common demoninator so I'll post the number of chapters in each section along with the first sentence of the first chapter in that section (in a light color so you don't have to read it in case it spoils something). Hopefully this will help: May 10 Part 1 - 24 chapters May 17 Part 2 - 21 chapters In the October 1805 the Russian troops were occupying the towns and villages of the Austrian archduchy, and fresh regiments kept arriving from Russia... May 24 Part 3 - 19 chapters Prince Vassily used not to thing over his plans.May 31 Part 4 - 16 chapters At the beginning of the year 1806, Nikolay Rostov was coming home on leave.June 7 Part 5 - 21 chapters After his interview with his wife, Pierre had set off for Petersburg.June 14 Part 6 - 26 chapters In the year 1808 the Emperor Alexander visited Erfurt for another interview with the Emperor Napoleon...June 21 Part 7 - 13 chapters The biblical tradition tells us that the absence of work - idleness - was a condition of the first man's blessedness before the Fall.June 28 Part 8 - 22 chapters After Prince Andrey's Engagement to Natasha, Pierre suddenly, for no apparent reason, felt it impossible to go on living in the same way as before.July 5 Part 9 - 23 chapters Towards the end of the year 1811, there began to be greater activity in levying troops and in concentrating the forces of Western Europe...July 12 Part 10 - 39 chapters Napoleon began the war with Russia because he could not help going to Dresden, being dazzled by the homage paid him there...July 19 Part 11 - 34 chapters For the human mind the absolute certainty of motion is inconceivable.July 26 Part 12 - 16 chapters In the higher circles in Petersburg the intricate conflict between the parties of Rumyantsev, of the French, of Marya Fyodorovna, of the Tsarevitch, and the rest was going on all this time with more heat than ever...Aug 2 Part 13 - 19 chapters The combination of causes of phenomena is beyond the grasp of the human intellect.Aug 9 Part 14 - 19 chapters The Battle of Borodino with the occupation of Moscow and the flight of the French, that followed without any more battles, is one of the most instructive phenomena in history.Aug 16 Part 15 - 20 chapters When a man sees and animal dying, a horror comes over him.Aug 23 Epilogue (Parts 1 and 2) Seven years had passed by.Wow, that's a long time to read a book. Some of the sections are much shorter so it should allow us to play catch up if need be. I hope my chapter numbers are correct (I'm not so great with roman numerals). I started it today and I'm remembering how much I like Russian novels - especially Tostoy.
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Post by Pilleriin on May 3, 2009 11:57:55 GMT -5
It seems that all the books are still the same in my edition. All of the books start with the same sentece. And by the way, it was a really good idea to write the first sentences in a lighter color.
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Post by bookaddict on May 6, 2009 12:04:50 GMT -5
I'm going to try and join you guys. It'll encourage me to read it.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 6, 2009 14:17:44 GMT -5
I'm going to try and join you guys. It'll encourage me to read it. Yay!
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Post by Lucky on May 10, 2009 4:39:28 GMT -5
I have a problem, guys. My school is pretty stressful lately, so I can't join you now. But I will join you in June (7 or 14) for sure. I'm really sorry, but I haven't read all the books that I should for school and I have to do some papers about these books till the end of May. Plus I have to do a herbal. I'm really sorry, I thought I would manage it.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 10, 2009 8:02:17 GMT -5
No worries. Catch up when you can. I'm still finishing the section, but I thought I'd post a few starter questions to get the discussion rolling. 1) How is the book living up to your expectations? 2) What do you think of the importance of French (both language and culture) in Russian society? 3) What are your initial thoughts on the gender roles in early 1800s Russia? Does it compare to books of the time from other societies (English, American, French, etc.)?
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sagedautumn
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
You Might Need This!
Posts: 1,509
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Post by sagedautumn on May 10, 2009 11:40:22 GMT -5
I read this last summer and I really enjoyed it!! Except that the military stuff got a little tedious! But it was still really good!
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Post by bookaddict on May 12, 2009 15:47:31 GMT -5
I'm catching up...i'll post soon. The book is starting to get more interesting.
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yara
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 139
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Post by yara on May 12, 2009 16:40:31 GMT -5
i started it so many times.......but i need more time to read it
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thenephilim
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 627
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Post by thenephilim on May 12, 2009 18:26:18 GMT -5
I'm trying to play catch up too. I've been super busy lately, unfortunately. I'll post too, as soon as I am able to catch up.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on May 13, 2009 18:59:36 GMT -5
Haha. I'm playing catch up as well. Work interfered with my weekend reading plans.
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