Q3W Book Club - The Brothers Karamazov

Post by **-Replicant-** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:34 pm

This thread will be used to discuss The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. I'm going to begin reading it tonight, so I'll get back to you with my first impressions in a few days. The Brothers K is one of the greatest novels of all time, in the opinion of some. Enjoy!

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:42 am

I'm going to try starting it here soon.

Post by **-Replicant-** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:40 pm

I read through the entire 45 page translator's introduction last night. It did an excellent job of prepping me for the book; gave me a very good background story to work from. Tonight I'll begin the novel itself in earnest.

Post by **Canidae** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:45 pm

I'm going to fire up emule and download the movie starring William Shatner

Post by **^misantropia^** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:50 pm

Been years since I last read it. You might be interested in the Wikipedia entry on "The Brothers Karamazov", it puts parts of the story in a different perspective.

On second thought, you might want to skip it until you've progressed farther into the book (contains a few spoilers).

Post by **R00k** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:57 pm

I'd like to read it and share some feedback with you guys, but I'm not sure I have the willpower to stay away from Don Quixote and the SAS Survival Guide before I finish it.

Post by **-Replicant-** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:38 am

I'm reading 3 books simultaniously too

Come on, even if you can't read the whole thing you can at least get an idea and contribute to the discussion

Post by **R00k** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:36 am

I won't feel too bad if I'm not the only one juggling.

I'll crack it open tomorrow night.

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:43 am

*heads off to buy Cliff's Notes*

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:00 am

my copy of the book is extensively dog-eared and has tons of notes in the margins that I wrote way back when...those will come handy now..

Post by **-Replicant-** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:58 pm

bah, I always hate it in my textbooks when people have done all the note-taking and highlighting for a different class. Totally throws me off when they are highlighting random paragraphs and writing random notes that have nothing to do with the paper I have to write

But regardless, I figure in a week we'll be able to have something resembling a substantive discussion about it, especially considering recent events etc (and the fact that the weather might actually be decent this weekend *gasp*)

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:59 pm

-Replicant- wrote:bah, I always hate it in my textbooks when people have done all the note-taking and highlighting for a different class. Totally throws me off when they are highlighting random paragraphs and writing random notes that have nothing to do with the paper I have to write

But regardless, I figure in a week we'll be able to have something resembling a substantive discussion about it, especially considering recent events etc (and the fact that the weather might actually be decent this weekend *gasp*)

Jot notes down in the margin when you come across good stuff, or use yellow sticky notes on pages with memorable quotes (there are many of them...)

Post by **-Replicant-** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:04 pm

I tend to highlight and dogear as well, I just don't like it when other people highlight and dogear stuff that I don't find relevant

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:20 pm

I used to highlight irrelevant stuff in the books I would use in college (those that I was going to sell back) so that the people using it in the future would see the highlighting and try and figure out if there is some sort of deeper meaning to the highlighted piece.

Post by **Dave** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:37 pm

rooflés

Post by **tnf** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:41 pm

Unrelated, but something else that gets people thinking WTF? is to put random Biblical references every time you sign your name to something (thank you card, term paper, whatever). I just think up a random book and then throw out some numbers....
People will look it up and see something like
"And a woman shall be deemed unclean during menstruation"....
My last thank you card to my in-laws ended with "Leviticus 2:12-16" I have absolutely no idea what that passage says.

Post by **Dave** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:43 pm

2:12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.

2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

2:14 And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, [even] corn beaten out of full ears.

2:15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it [is] a meat offering.

2:16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, [part] of the beaten corn thereof, and [part] of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: [it is] an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Appropriate for gift giving :icon25:

Post by **R00k** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:21 am

Just started reading a little while ago. The introduction was interesting - although a little heavy. But the writing style of the story is great; a little verbose in places, but not superfluously so. He certainly doesn't have any problem capturing a character's life story and personality both in about 5 paragraphs.

Post by **Dave** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:23 am

One thing that works well with Zola is that you can skip 99% of the verbosity, only read the dialog, and still get the whole story. Maybe you can do that

Post by **mjrpes** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:30 am

tnf wrote:I used to highlight irrelevant stuff in the books I would use in college (those that I was going to sell back) so that the people using it in the future would see the highlighting and try and figure out if there is some sort of deeper meaning to the highlighted piece.

That's a wonderful practical joke. Too bad I save all the books I buy. BTW, does anyone know what's so practical about a practical joke?

Post by **R00k** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:33 am

Maybe it's practical in the sense of a joke 'in practice.'

Post by **mjrpes** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:36 am

I didn't realize practical had so many meanings....

1. Of, relating to, governed by, or acquired through practice or action, rather than theory, speculation, or ideals: gained practical experience of sailing as a deck hand.
2. Manifested in or involving practice: practical applications of calculus.
3. Actually engaged in a specified occupation or a certain kind of work; practicing.
4. Capable of being used or put into effect; useful: practical knowledge of Japanese. See Usage Note at practicable.
5. Intended to serve a purpose without elaboration: practical low-heeled shoes.
6. Concerned with the production or operation of something useful: Woodworking is a practical art.
7. Level-headed, efficient, and unspeculative.
8. Being actually so in almost every respect; virtual: a practical disaster.

I vote for 8. Or 4.

Post by **Dave** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:46 am

Post by **R00k** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:47 am

I would personally lean towards 1 or 2.

Post by **tnf** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:02 am

mjrpes wrote:
tnf wrote:I used to highlight irrelevant stuff in the books I would use in college (those that I was going to sell back) so that the people using it in the future would see the highlighting and try and figure out if there is some sort of deeper meaning to the highlighted piece.
That's a wonderful practical joke. Too bad I save all the books I buy. BTW, does anyone know what's so practical about a practical joke?

I save most of them...I have a large library of textbooks - science, philosophy, etc..but I sold some back (like my book on communications, a couple anatomy books that I had no need for since I had other more detailed ones...etc.)

I still re-read old college textbooks.