Jillian, over at A Room of One’s Own, is hosting a War and Peace readalong. And yes, I’m joining the fun (New Year’s resolution: be optimistic about those wordy Russians).
I know, after the horror of The Brothers Karamazov (and the tedium of Doctor Zhivago, and the unfinishedness of Anna Karenina) you all think I’m crazy. But I actually have the book, and I’ve been telling myself I’m going to read it. And since the readalong is for the entire year, it’s the perfect plan! We’ll be reading a chapter a day (or, at least we will if we don’t procrastinate). Yes, that’s right…this bad boy has 365 chapters. Excuse me while I go faint…
Side note: Cass pretty much double-dog dared me to read Solzhenitsyn, to prove to me that not all Russians are wordy and boring. So I read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. And it was good (of course, I was in Hawaii…my happiness at being warm may have affected my reading mood). So Cass is right. I really should just take her advice when it comes to the Russians. But no, I’m going to torture myself (and probably you all right along with me) by reading 365 freakin’ chapters. How do you say oy vey (or even holy shit) in Russian?
What a fun way to read the tome — 365 days of trying to keep everyone’s name straight. LOL. Can’t wait to following along from the sidelines.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Facing the Final Challenge
WOOOOO! I like the sound of that but a chapter a day – for a year? E-gads! I will cheer from the sidelines.
Sheila (Book Journey)´s last [type] ..Morning Meanderings… Basking In The Glow… Of What
Reading War and Peace has been on my “life list” since I was in college. Still haven’t done it and I must admit I probably never will. I wish you good luck and strength! I actually look forward to your posts about it
Helen´s last [type] ..In My Mailbox
Solzhenitsyn is the only Russian author (besides Nabokov, who hardly counts) that I’ve really liked, and I think that’s because he was writing 50 years ago instead of 150 years ago. Good luck with War & Peace. After hating Anna Karenina, I swore off Tolstoy. I later buckled and read his novella, which wasn’t bad, but I have no interest in this book! I can’t imagine reading a book for a whole year. That sounds like torture (you masochist!).
Yes, you’re crazy, but in a good way! Good luck with this one. I doubt it will be as awful as The Brothers K, but you never know.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Book Review- Cutting for Stone
My bookish dates with Russian authors have also been lacking something so I wish you the very best. But cannot even think of a War and Peace possibility without a slight headache.
Ooookkaaayy. I’m biting my nails at this read along. I *really* want to read it but don’t know if I will seriously do it. Part of me is all like, ‘hey a chapter a day, how hard can that be, right?’ The other part of me is much more in Amanda’s camp: ‘A chapter a day? That’s pure biblio-hell.’
Maybe I’ll live vicariously through y’all, get inspired, and do it next year.
I am excited about this read along and may try to join in. Will you be posting a weekly warp-up post to let us all know how it’s going? I have been wanting to read this one for ages, and one chapter a day sounds like a perfect plan! Thanks for letting me know about this!
zibilee´s last [type] ..Amandine by Marlena de Blasi — 336 pgs
You. Are. My. Hero.
I can’t wait to see how you like reading Tolstoy and Joyce simultaneously. Sounds painful.
Trisha´s last [type] ..2010 Challenge Wrap Up 3
I may have to try this too. It’s been on my TBR stack for far too long, and one of my goals for next year is to tackle some of the longer books in the unread pile. There’s nothing longer than War and Peace!
Amy´s last [type] ..Merry Christmas
I wish you the best of luck!
Amused´s last [type] ..Happy Holidays!
I’m reading War & Peace right now — my Classics book group will be discussing it in mid-January so I’m working with a deadline, but after about six weeks I’m 3/4 of the way through and enjoying it.
Good luck with your pursuit!
Suzanne´s last [type] ..Ten Favorite Books of 2010
Wow – my January reading project is also a readalong! … I figured I’d have plenty of reading time on planes in the next few weeks (work travel) but the book is so heavy I don’t think I’ll be hauling it along!
I think the phrase you’re looking for is “holy shitski”
I bought this tome for a library-led book group … I failed
Dawn – She Is Too Fond of Books´s last [type] ..Teaser Tuesday- Is motherhood akin to rocket science
I think you are the most daring person I have known, reading wise
Veens´s last [type] ..Challenge update post…
I second that.
Care´s last [type] ..I Hereby Commit Myself… part 1
Yup..I’m joining the Books on the Nightstand read-along for War and Peace. Maybe I’ll pop over for this one as well! I will get this book read this year…
gavin´s last [type] ..The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is also 1/72097301927917237 the size of those other Russians. Good luck on your date ;p
She´s last [type] ..The Secret History – Donna Tartt
Wow. All I can say is “God bless you”. That and “good luck”.
Vasilly´s last [type] ..Favorite Books of 2010- Part 1
yowza. I think I’m feeling faint.
Care´s last [type] ..I Hereby Commit Myself… part 1
You enticed me! I just downloaded an edition on the cheap and I’m ready to roll. Might try to get a couple of chapters ahead before the 1st.
Andi´s last [type] ..The Birth of Love
You might enjoy this more than you think. It took me about 2 months to read but I did like it. Good luck with the challenge and have fun with it.
HA! You liked a book by a Russian author, nee ner nee ner nee ner!
As for War and Peace…I kind of want to do it. Kind of. But how could I hulk that book around all year??? …Still kind of want to do it.
Cass´s last [type] ..A Holiday Update
I’m doing this too, but I’ve stopped short of publicly announcing it until I see how the first few weeks and chapters go. On the first day, I was surprised how much I liked it!
nomadreader (Carrie)´s last [type] ..January 2011 Reading Goals
Thanks for joining – and have fun!
Jillian´s last [type] ..Book 24- Jane Austen – A Life by Claire Tomalin
I’m really excited about this one! Only three chapters in, but I actually like it so far. A chapter a day sounds so much less intimidating, doesn’t it?
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oh, I so want to do this, but I know that I truly would be insane. With Ulysses coming up I’d like to be able to at least read SOMETHING this year besides beasts. Though, I do work with a couple of Russian guys and they say this is the one to read. Much more exciting than Brothers Karamzov they promised. I’ll have to ask them how to say Holy Shit in Russian. Though it’s funny enough just to hear them swear in English with those accents of theirs.
Good luck Ms. Jill.
Trish´s last [type] ..Recipe Scrapbook- New 2011 Project
Good luck! I read this one last year and it took a few months. Don’t know if I’d want to drag it out for a whole year.
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