Read-along | Fizzy Thoughts

K Bros, part 2

24 August 2010

I’m a bit late reporting in for my own read-along. And I could offer up all sorts of excuses, but what it really comes down to is this…I didn’t finish the reading on time. But! I persevered (because I’m reading this book so you don’t have to (I know, I’m too kind)). So, finally, here is the second installment of the…

Today, I’ll be discussing Part 2, consisting of Books IV, V, and VI (aka 4, 5, and 6).

What’s Happening:

Book 4 starts off with Father Zosima espousing peace, love and understanding. Alyosha then makes the rounds. He visits his father (same old story), the Khokhlakov’s (where Katerina insists she does not love Ivan and that she plans to marry Dmitri), and the home of a poor captain who Dmitri once beat, where Alyosha offers money and is rebuffed.

Moving on to Book 5, Alyosha makes the rounds again. This time he starts at the Khokhlakov’s, where he and Lise profess their true love and agree to marry (did I mention Alyosha will be leaving the monastery?). He then goes in search of Dmitri. First, he runs into Smerdyakov, who he singing to the housekeeper’s daughter. Then, he runs into Ivan, and they bare their souls (kind of) over fish soup, tea and jam. Ivan states he is leaving in the morning, but gee, it sure has been swell getting to know his little bro. There is also much (pages!) of Ivan blathering on about the existence of God and human suffering (that would be Ivan talking about suffering, although you would also be correct in thinking that I was also suffering by this point). He also recites his prose poem, about which all I remember is that it was exceedingly (and excessively) long. Alyosha never did find Dmitri.

Book 6 returns us to Zosima, who is (finally) dying. Alyosha recounts his last words (of which (no surprise), there are many). Let’s just say it’s some of his life story, be thankful we didn’t have to listen to the whole damn thing, and leave it at that.

What I’m Thinking:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Oh sure, I could talk about how Alyosha represents hope and Ivan fatalism, and how the women all seem to embody worry and hysteria (I am SO not impressed with you over this, Dostoevsky), and how all the religious blathering (excuse me, religious discourses) are representative of the age.

But really.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

What Others are Thinking:

I know that Jenners and Trish (and this is all her fault, in case you were wondering) are still reading. Is anyone else??

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K Bros

31 July 2010

Mitya may claim that Karamazovs love depravity (“I loved depravity, I also loved the shame of depravity. I loved cruelty: am I not a bedbug, an evil insect? In short – a Karamazov!” p. 109), but I’d argue that they love nothing more than to talk. Good lord, it’s as bad as Melville regaling us with whale tales!

Okay, so I’m reading The Brothers Karamazov and it’s rough going. It’s also time for our first check in, as I’m doing this read-along style. Today, I’ll be discussing Part 1, consisting of Books I, II and III.

What’s Happening:

In Book 1 we meet the Karamazovs:

Fyodor: aka Papa. A mean, cheap bastard who has largely ignored his sons as they grew up.

Dmitri: aka Mitya. The eldest, son of Fyodor’s first wife, who ran away and then died (the wife, not the son). Dmitri is a bit of a playboy, and feels his Karamazov nature is going to get the best of him. He also believes his father is withholding an inheritance from dear mama. This creates a bit of family tension.

Ivan: The middle son and an atheist scholar who writes articles defending the church. Ivan is a bit conflicted. Ivan and his little bro are sons of the second wife, a hysterical woman not so affectionately called “the shrieker.”

Alexei: aka Alyosha. The baby, and evidently everyone’s favorite. Alyosha is an all-around good egg.

Aren’t they a lovely family?

In Book 2 we move on to the monastery, where Alyosha has been hanging out with the esteemed elder Zosima. Zosima is going to mediate the family dispute over Dmitri’s inheritance. Thing is, Dmitri’s late, so we get to listen to Fyodor act the buffoon and much (much!) religious debate. Zosima takes a time out to go and give spiritual advice to a group of women. One young women, Lise, makes eyes at Alyosha.

Moving on to Book 3, Dmitri finally arrives (his father told him the wrong time) and we hear more about Fyodor and Dmitri’s squabbles. Seems that Dmitri is engaged to Katerina but he may have left his fiancée for the more common Grushenka. However, Fyodor also has the hots for Grushenka. Zosima effectively ends the argument by bowing at Dmitri’s feet (yeah, I was confused, too).

There is more buffoonery from Fyodor, and then we move on to a meeting between Alyosha and his beloved older brother Dmitri. Dmitri goes on (and on and on) about his debauchery and his two-timing of Katerina and begs Alyosha to help him repay 3000 rubles he filched from Katerina to finance a good time he had with Grushenka. The plan is to ask dear daddy for the money. Ummm, yeah, good luck with that.

Alyosha trots of to dinner with the rest of his family, where we meet the sullen Smerdyakov (whose name translates to something like “son of the stinking one,” who is likely the bastard son of Fyodor, but who works as a servant in the household). There is more religious debate (shoot me now) and then Dmitri shows up claiming that Grushenka is hiding in the house. Dmitri and Fyodor get into it, and Dmitri threatens to off dear old dad before he exits stage right.

Alyosha goes to visit Katerina, where he finds her with her new BFF, Grushenka. However, Grushenka soon shows her true colors and the friendship falls apart. The maid slips Alyosha a love letter from Lise, and he goes home to read it.

What I’m Thinking:

If you were to judge the author by his writing, you’d think Dostoevsky was a church-loving, woman-hating, moralistic dude with a love for long-ass soliloqueys (as evidenced by Dmitri’s ramblings on depravity, which went on for pages). Woman are largely considered objects, and the Karamazovs have a distressing tendency to sit around and bash on women and philosophize about religion. I confess that the only way I was able to make sense of Part 1 was to read the Spark Notes. I’ll also confess that the only thing keeping me going is that I heard a rumor that someone dies a nasty death. I can’t wait.

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Who wants to read The Brothers Karamazov?

30 June 2010

Now that we’ve gotten Wuthering Heights out of the way, Trish and I have cooked up another read-along. Drum roll please….

It’s the Brothers Karamazov Ceilidh! Huh? Well, ceilidh is Gaelic for a party with music and dancing and sometimes storytelling. And we’re going to read The Brothers Karamazov. Yes, really. While I can’t promise any music or dancing, with this long of a book, there’s bound to be lots of storytelling. Besides which, it’s alliterative (say kay-lee) and difficult to spell, just like Karamazov and Dostoevsky!

K Bros

So…do you wanna party with the K Bros? Get down with Dostoevsky? Oh come on, it’s bound to be The Event of the summer!

Here’s the plan:

My copy of the K Bros (you’ve got to be kidding if you think I’m typing Karamazov every time) is 776 pages of small print. However, the book is conveniently broken up into 4 parts. And each part has 3 books. That makes 12 books total (plus a short epilogue). It sounds much more manageable like that, doesn’t it?

We’re going to suggest reading a book a week (although if you’re a glutton for punishment and/or a procrastinator, feel free to do all of your reading the night before). But we’re only going to post our summaries/thoughts/pleas for help at the end of each part. Which means we’ll write our posts at the end of weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12.

The official start date for this adventure is July 10th. And here’s the official reading and posting schedule:

Book 1: 7/10-7/16
Book 2: 7/17-7/23
Book 3: 7/24-7/30
Post #1: around July 30/31
Book 4: 7/31-8/6
Book 5: 8/7-8/13
Book 6: 8/14-8/20
Post #2: around August 20/21
Book 7: 8/21-8/27
Book 8: 8/28-9/3
Book 9: 9/4-9/10
Post #3: around September 10/11
Book 10: 9/11-9/17
Book 11: 9/18-9/24
Book 12 plus the short Epilogue: 9/24-10/1
Post #4: around October 1/2
The End (you might want to consider a shot or two or three of vodka to celebrate)

So whaddya say? Are you in? If so, sign Mr Linky so Trish and I know who our fellow vodka drinkers, err, readers, are!

**A note on the button…when searching for an image, I discovered that there is a Brothers Karamazov movie, starring Yul Brenner. I may have appropriated the movie poster for use as a button. Doesn’t it look like they’re having a party? The movie also features William Shatner. I can’t begin to tell you how bummed I am that it’s not available on iTunes.

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 11

16 June 2010

Before we get into the final Wuthering Heights Wednesday, I’d like to mention that today I’m featured over at Kittling: Books for Scene of the Blog.

Stop by and check out how boring I really am!

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Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re now at the end! Many thanks to everyone who joined me in this adventure:

Volume II, Chapters 17 through 20

My synopsis:

Hareton and Catherine II fall in love and live happily ever after. The end.

My thoughts:

That’s how it all ends?!? Did anyone else feel like it just ran out of steam at the end? This could partially be explained by the fact that half the cast got killed off in the course of the story, but still. I was expecting more angst. More craziness. More anything. After the over-the-top drama that was Volume I, I feel like Emily wimped out on us in Volume II. Plus, Hareton and Catherine had as much spark as, well, Catherine and Linton.

I’m totally baffled as to why this is called a great love story. I can honestly say I didn’t like any of the characters. They were manipulative, whiny, obsessive, immature, self-centered, mad and incoherent (that would be Joseph). Edgar had his moments, but it’s hard to like anyone who loved Catherine I. It shows a decided lack of good judgement.

Still, I enjoyed the experience of reading this, only because we did it as a read-along. I never would’ve toughed it out, otherwise. It’s been fun spending the past 11 weeks mocking all of the characters with you all. Let’s do it again. Only with a different book.*

*And whaddya know, Trish and I have already come up with another read-along. We’ll be reading The Brothers Karamazov (yes, really) starting July 10th. Details to post on July 1st, so stay tuned.

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 10

9 June 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Volume II, Chapters 14 through 16

My synopsis:

This will be short.

Catherine II and Linton are married. Edgar dies. Linton dies.

My thoughts:

The book is dying, too.

**Note: We’re almost done gang. We have four chapters left, so next week let’s just read all four and be done with this bad boy!

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 9

2 June 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Volume II, Chapters 9 through 13

My synopsis:

Edgar starts us off by musing about his approaching death (man, these people are obsessed with death!). He also finally relents and consents to Catherine and Linton meeting. They haven’t seen each other in months, and Cathy is less than charmed by Linton’s sickly appearance and attitude. While Edgar has been languishing at the Grange, Linton languished at the Heights:

The pettishness that might be caressed into fondness, had yielded to a listless apathy; there was less of the peevish temper of a child which frets and teases on purpose to be soothed, and more of the self-absorbed moroseness of a confirmed invalid, repelling consolation, and ready to regard the good-humoured mirth of others, as an insult. -p. 265

In other words, he looks like crap. Cathy isn’t so sure he’s quite the catch after all. Unfortunately, when they meet for a second time, Heathcliff shows up and cons Cathy (and Nelly) into returning to Wuthering Heights. Once he has them at the Heights he locks them up. His plan is to force Cathy to marry Linton. You know, so he can get his hands on Cathy’s inheritance. And since Linton obviously has one foot in the grave, Heathcliff has no time to waste in forcing this marriage!

My thoughts:

Despite the drama of a forced marriage, the book is lagging. Maybe it’s because everyone is so sickly and has no energy. Or maybe it’s because Catherine I was vastly more entertaining than Catherine II. Whatever it is, I’m kinda ready for it all to be over. How about you?

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 8

26 May 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Volume II, Chapters 8 through 10

My synopsis:

We start off with Cathy musing about death:

“And what shall I do when papa and you leave me, and I am by myself? I can’t forget your words Ellen, they are always in my ear. How life will be changed, how dreary the world will be, when papa and you are dead.” p. 235

Her father has a cold and she’s ready to kill him off! I offer this up as further proof:

“I pray every night that I may live after him; because I would rather be miserable than that he should be – that proves I love him better than myself.” p. 236

If you say so, Cathy.

Edgar, who is sick with a cold (that does seem to last for months), isn’t very present in these chapters. Once again, Cathy goes gallivanting across the moors, where she, once again, runs into Heathcliff. Heathcliff guilts her into a visit, as she has evidently broken poor Linton’s heart and he is sick and despondent.

What Linton is is a big pansy-ass. For god’s sake, the man (okay, boy…I think he’s 16 at this point) throws temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. He’s manipulative and whiny and I can’t stand the little twerp. Oh, sorry, my thoughts seem to be taking over the synopsis.

So Cathy sneaks around visiting Linton while her dad and Nelly are holed up with a cold. She’s eventually found out, again. You’d think she’d've learnt her lesson after the fiasco with the letters.

Nelly goes tattling to Edgar (NEVER tell that woman any secrets!) and Edgar lays down the law…no more visits to Wuthering Heights for Cathy.

My thoughts:

I’m ready for some more death.

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 7

19 May 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Chapters 5-7 (of Volume II)

My synopsis:

The first two chapters in this trio were very short. To summarize, Isabella dies and Edgar brings Linton home to Thrushcross Grange. This is short-lived, however, as Heathcliff exercises his parental rights and demands Linton come to live at Wuthering Heights. Linton sniffles and whines, and everyone tells him to buck up…his father’s a good chap and loves him very much. Basically, they all lied to his face. I’d feel sorry for the poor guy if he wasn’t such a whiny little brat.

In Chapter 8, Catherine II goes for a walk on the moors and runs into Heathcliff, who convinces her to stop by for a neighborly visit, much to Nelly’s disgust. At Wuthering Heights she meets Linton (again) who has grown up to be not so peevish looking (although he is still whiny). Here’s a hilarious description of both Linton and Catherine II:

“Catherine had reached her full height; her figure was both plump and slender (??), elastic as steel (????), and her whole aspect sparkling with health and spirits (she sounds like champagne). Linton’s looks and movements were very languid, and his form extremely slight; but there was grace in his manner that mitigated these defects, and rendered him not unpleasing.” p. 220

Evidently, it was love at first sight and the two start sending love letters to each other. Even Nelly, when she discovered their hijinks, was doubtful that they could fall in love over a few meetings.

My thoughts:

Things are starting to heat up again! Heathcliff, that conniver, has hopes for a marriage between his son and Catherine II. Edgar would be appalled if he knew. I’m surprised no one is concerned about the possible effects of inbreeding…after all, they are cousins.

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 6

12 May 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Volume 2, Chapters 2 through 4

My synopsis:

Yes! Catherine the First is dead!

Oh, sorry, that wasn’t very nice of me.

But that’s how we start these three chapters…little Catherine is born and big Catherine dies. There is much grief (except from me) and Heathcliff implores Catherine to haunt him, in between bashing his head against a tree (yes, Isabella, I do believe you were right when you called him mad).

Isabella, meanwhile, makes a break for it and manages to escape her bleak captivity at Wuthering Heights. She hies herself off to safety near London, where she gives birth to a son, whom she affectionately deems an “ailing, peevish creature.” Lovely. After about 12 years, Isabella dies, likely of a fever. Nelly implies that the Linton’s have weak constitutions.

Edgar, sensitive soul that he is, quietly mourns for Catherine (why?!?) and becomes besotted by their daughter, little Cathy.

Hindley Earnshaw dies in a drunken stupor, leaving little Hareton to be raised by Heathcliff. The poor child.

By the end of Chapter 4, Hareton (age 18) and Cathy (age 13) meet for the first time while Edgar is off picking up the newly orphaned Linton. Cathy manages to insult Hareton, who does not make a great first impression. It’s looking like the stage is being set for act 2 of this tragedy.

My thoughts:

There’s a lot of death in this book. I’m a little surprised we have any characters left to continue on with the story. And I’m also surprised that there’s still 1/2 of the book left, especially since we just covered about 13 years in 3 chapters. I’m guessing things aren’t going to suddenly get all happy, happy, joy, joy, and another 150 pages of woe and death seems a bit excessive. But I’m definitely curious to see where we’re going to go from here!

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Wuthering Heights Wednesday, week 5

5 May 2010

Welcome to Wuthering Heights Wednesday! I’m hosting a read-along of this classic novel, and we’re reading (and posting about) 3 chapters a week. Joining me in this adventure are:

Each week I’ll be posting a synopsis (which could contain spoilers, so fair warning) and my thoughts. Here we go…

Chapters 13 and 14, and Chapter 1 of Volume 2, which explains now why I couldn’t figure out how many chapters this book has!

My synopsis:

The little hint that was thrown out in an earlier chapter is verified, and we find out that Catherine is indeed pregnant. And also that Isabella is already regretting her marriage. In an exceedingly long letter home to Ellen she wonders:

“Is Mr Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil?”

Poor Isabella…I’m sure she wasn’t expecting me to snicker, but that was my unfortunate response to her questions.

Heathcliff, meanwhile, is obsessed with Catherine:

“‘You suppose she has nearly forgotten me?’ he said. ‘Oh Nelly! you know she has not! You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton, she spends a thousand on me! At a most miserable period of my life, I had a notion of the kind, it haunted me on my return to the neighborhood, last summer, but only her own assurance could make me admit the horrible idea again. And then, Linton would be nothing, nor Hindley, nor all the dreams that ever I dreamt. Two words would comprehend my future – death and hell – existence, after losing her, would be hell.’”

Heathcliff spends most of these chapters skulking around Thrushcross Grange waiting for Edgar to leave so he can sneak in and see his one true love . Who is convinced she’s about to kick the bucket.

Nothing much else to report.

My thoughts:

Everyone is incredibly self-centered, and they all think quite highly of themselves. That line of Heathcliff’s about how Catherine thinks mostly of him is a fine illustration of this. These three chapters didn’t do much for me…I’m a bit fed up with everyone involved, although still highly entertained.