***Group Read: Anna Karenina (Spoiler Free)

After a successful group read of War and Peace in 2009, several of us have decided to give Anna Karenina a try. Everyone is welcome to join. We begin January 15th and will be reading the book in 100 page increments.

Please note that for the group reads this year we are setting up both Spoiler Free and Spoiler threads in the hopes that discussion will be stimulated, so please post to the appropriate thread.

The link to the spoiler thread: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=79002

I'm in! Hopefully I'll manage to survive all my group reads :)

I'm not sure I can get through all the group reads I want to do in January, plus the books that are calling to me from the shelf . . . ("read me! read me!") . . . that I planned to read to begin the year.

But this book has been sitting on my shelf for SOOOO long . . . and I'd really like to read it, and this is as good a time as any! It will be nice to have company.

#3: The nice thing about taking the books in 100 page increments, Terri, is that it still allows plenty of time for other reading!

I'm definitely in on this group read. Thanks for setting it up, Stasia.

No problem, Caroline. Glad to have you with us!

I've had Anna Karenina on my list for awhile now, so this may be just the ticket to pushing through.

I'm very excited to get started on this one...

What a way to get 2010 off to a good start!

I'd like to participate in this one. I've had my copy for 8 years now, untried.

Is it safe to assume the translation doesn't matter?

#10: What I do when I give out the assignments is use chapter and page numbers, so if you are using the same translation as I am you can use the page numbers, but if you are using a different translation, the chapter numbers can be used.

I hope you don't mind if a "50 Books Challenger" joins the party? Anna Karenina has been sitting on my shelf for at least 10 years and I think a group read may be just the motivation I need to remove this book from the TBR pile.

Yea! I started reading this last year but still have about 150 pages to go. I am really enjoying it actually. I am using the Oprah bookclub translation and it is very good. There are apparently some translations that are not as good. Changing the Russian names to British ones and such. I like the idea of a spoiler free thread too. Thanks.

#12: Anyone is welcome to join! Glad to see you with us.

The more the merrier! :)

I'd like to give it a try, too. I had to miss out on War and Peace, but Anna Karenina is on my "to read" list for the year and by January 15 I should be finished with Les Miserables, so I'd love to tag along.

Les Miserables was a fantastic book.

Rebecca Ann just made me aware of this group, and I was planning to read this book early in the New Year. Talk about perfect timing. I am in.

Just bear with me as I might be a bit out of my zone with this book. It will be my first Tolstoy!

It was fate. You were predestined to read this book with us. Don't try to fight it ;-)

#17 - Me too: my first Tolstoy, my first Russian in fact (except for a shamefully failed attempt at Doctor Zhivago) - and my first doorstop tome in quite a while!

So is this 100 pages a month? And is there a particular translation folks are aiming for? If it's the 100 pages a month, I could see myself doing this...

:)

My copy is a "modern" translation (c1960, Bantam Classics) which supposedly simplifies the Russian names to lessen confusion. Is that going to create confusion here with those who have more traditional translations when we discuss characters?

#20: Yes, we do it in 100 page increments to allow as many people to participate as we possibly can. It also allows everyone time to read other books along the way.

Since I loved the P-V translation of War and Peace so much last year, I am using their translation for Anna Karenina as well.

#21: I have no idea if it is going to cause confusion or not. I guess maybe it will depend on how close the names are to the original names in discussing characters.

>22 alcottacre: Thank you for the clarification - if I'm following, P-V is Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky? Which is the Oprah Club version - well, you know what I mean...the version that got the sticker. Well, and the Penguin one as well.

Those I can find!

>21 tymfos:, 22 - I wonder if there's a name-to-name guide somewhere on the net?

#23: Yes, P-V is Pevear and Volokhonsky, although I did not know about the Oprah Club thing (I generally stay away from anything that has an 'Oprah Club' endorsement!)

While it was an Oprah Club selection, the P-V translation is supposed to be a wonder, hailed by the reading and critical community alike for its combined readability and fidelity to the original. It's 'modern' in the sense that it translates to current English usage, rather than 19th century style and vocabulary. BTW, the team of translators, who live in France, didn't know who Oprah was, and when their publisher called with the news of her recommendation, they actually said 'Who is that?'. Then, of course, the royalties began rolling in, and the fame, and they were rather stunned. All their other Russian-to-English translations began selling too. Turned their world upside-down.

My Bantam Classics edition translation is by someone named Joel Carmichael.

I have added the P-V to my wishlist, but just in case I don't get a physical copy in time for the group read I downloaded a free version on my Kindle. I've had good luck with free classics on the device so far, and it may be interesting to see how it compares with other translations.

I forget where I originally found this equation, but a blogger found an equation to estimate pages on the kindle:

Location/16.69 = pages

So far it's worked out to be within a page or two of actual physical copies, so if I end up reading it on the Kindle that's what I'll use. Just thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone else is considering using a Kindle copy.

Thanks, Luxx! I was wondering how to figure out pages on my Kindle - that will be very handy.

love to give this one a try. Now to find my copy.

I am very pleased to see so much interest in reading Anna Karenina in 2010. Welcome to the group everyone!

i'm definitely doing this. Hopefully I won't fall behind
since I can't buy books I'll be using this online version here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=176484&pageno=2

I'm in. I've got the Pevear / Volokhonsky translation. I read their Crime and Punishment and was moved to tears.

I found an Oxford World's Classic version on my wife's bookshelf today. It is translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. I'll be reading this one. She also has a leatherbound edition, but that thing looks too heavy to read in bed or lug around.

I'm in to. I got this at christmas and am looking forward to starting it.

I have this one on my list for the year. Wasn't positive when I would be starting but I guess January 15th would be as good a time as any.

I'm in! I think...:) At least I'll give it a go!

I'm in. First time doing a good read and looking forward to it.

I fell off the wagon last year during the group read... maybe I'll jump back on this time around :) I'll keep an eye on where you're at and hopefully catch back up where I left off! It really was getting quite good, too... I'm not sure what happened...!

Giving out chapter numbers will be a good reference. I went down to the basement where I keep my old classics and dusted off my Signet Classic publication of the book. Gee... I don't remember the print being THAT small when I first read this 20 years ago.

#39: Look at it with your good eye, Caroline :)

Although I have read AK and I'm not a fan of re-reads I'll be lurking on the side bar because LT comments always bring to light things I've missed.

It's Day 1 of the AK group read ... let's get cracking people .... said she with a magnifying glass ...and a much improved eye. whhooppeee!

I splurged and bought a copy of the P-V version yesterday, so I'm set. I think the starting date is January 15, though (see message 1). I might start looking around in the book, to get a sense of it.

Happy New Year!

Karen

I will actually read it in norwegian, got the copy from my grandparents "library" about a year ago. I hope I can keep up and hopefully the translations will not differ too much. Looking forward to start reading it!

see? This is why I need that magnifying glass ... I didn't even see that our group read starts on January 15. I just saw the 1 ....ignored the 2nd digit and was about to get to it today.

You go right ahead, Caroline! The rest of us will catch up to you.

Are we supposed to read the first 100 pages by Jan. 15, or start reading them then?

We start reading January 15th. Of course, if you want to go ahead and start you may do so now. I just set the 15th to start in order for people to gear down from the holidays.

100 pages a month - based on how many in the book?

#49: Since so many different editions are being used the number of pages in the book will vary. The assignments are very unlikely to be strictly 100 pages anyway because I do try to stop at a logical point - the nearest chapter break.

The P-V edition I am using has 864 pages.

Hope no one mines if I join the group read - it's perfect for me right now. My friend lent me her copy of Anna Karenina way back in June, and I've only gotten through the first 50 pages or so far... I keep getting distracted! Hopefully a group read will push me to get through it so I can finally return it to her. Can't wait to get started!

No one minds - the group is open to all. Glad to have you with us!

Hi there, I'm new to Library Thing. I randomly stumbled on this group, I think I will join. How does it work, do I look back here to the message board to see the discussion questions etc. for the 100 page section? Should I just look back at the message board on Feb. 15th? Just trying to get an idea of how you do things. I'm usually the type of person who reads a whole book through from start to finish, but I think this will be good as it will allow me to continue to supplement my reading with other works and not get bored. Thanks for leading this! Looking forward to getting started.

#53: Alicia, what you can do is start your own thread if you want to post the books you read to the group. If all you want to do is join in the discussion of Anna Karenina, feel free to jump right in. We will begin reading the book January 15th.

This is my first venture with a reading group. Great book choice - one I have always intended reading but shied away from due to it's size and reputation.

An added incentive for me is that I 'inherited' 2 boxes of Folio Society books and this one is included a 1975 edition - yiphee!!!

This is my first participation in anything on LT. I'm super excited! Anna Karenina has been on my shelf for 6 months and I'm tackling as many 1001 books as possible. Anyways, good luck to everyone and I'm glad to have yall for the support and discussions!

OK, so is everyone ready for Anna Karenina? I hope so, because here we go: For January, the assignment is Part 1 (chapters 1-34), which in my edition is pages 1-115. Please remember that you have from January 15th-February 15th to get the reading done - I do not want anyone feeling overwhelmed!

If you have any questions, please ask.

Chapter numbers are good ... I have a different edition. Got a new stash of potato chips, washed my Snugglie and fleece socks, and restocked my tea. I'm ready to go!

So do we post our thoughts only after Feb 15 since this is the spoiler-free thread?

Caroline,

There is also a spoiler thread for Moby Dick. It is located here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/78999

I would suggest posting your thoughts as you like, up to the point at which we are ending the current month's reading.

Stasia : Alas, I read MD twice and didn't like it both times. So safe to say, I will not be spoiling anything by not joining in on the MD group read. ;-)

OK, though I am a little confused by message 58 . . .

huh? which part confused you? my fleece socks? but i'm cold!

That's OK, I managed to confuse myself. I thought you were talking about Moby Dick when you were in fact posting on the Anna Karenina thread.

Maybe I should just go back to bed . . .

Ahh.... *heaves a sigh of relief that Stasia has managed to untangle herself* .... :-)

Ah - good deal! Do we want to edit the first post with the schedule? Just a thought...

And I didn't realize that there were so many chapters to a section...or that my roman numeralling skills would be put to the test!

I'm ready to start...just need to wait about 9,5 hours to finnish up my job and work out before the weekend:) Looking forward to it. Nice to start during a weekend, you can get a head start without having your job interferring;)

True!

It's on the shelf; it's on the list; and a group read is always more fun. So tonight I start both Moby Dick and Anna Karenina. Should be an interesting combination for the month ahead-LOL!

My book is called Anna Karenin not Karenina is there a difference?

#69: Is your book by Leo Tolstoy? If so, then it is the same book I believe.

Yes it's Leo Tolstoy so must just be a different translation name maybe. Thank you

I will read Moby Dick first, maybe I will join this read after that.
I am not very good in reading multiple books at a time ;-)
Anita

You are always welcome, whenever you join, Anita!

If anyone would like a character list, you can find one here:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/anna/characters.html

Just be aware that there may be some spoilers in the descriptions of the characters. Don't know why they do that! When we read War and Peace last year there were spoilers in the character list as well.

OK, I'm definitely in this year. I have my Penguin Classics edition (Pevear & Volokhonsky, newly in from the Book Depository!) and although I'm already reading 3 other books (NOT NORMAL for me, my poor brain overheats and the books bleed into each other in strange and not necessarily good ways), I need to read this book. A month is a reasonable time too - thanks Stasia!

PS did anyone else see the next "monster mashup classic" from Quirk is going to be entitled Android Karenina (external link, no touchstone)?

#75: I am glad you are joining us, Rachael. I hope you enjoy reading along with the rest of us.

I wish I could only read 3 books at a time. Currently, I am reading 19. Yikes!

I really couldn't manage that, Stasia! It's not so much that I would get the plots mixed up, but that I would lose a sense of continuity in the plot, and also finish a book with a different impression in my mind than if I'd read it on its own - kind of like a very strong curry making it difficult to really taste the other food on the plate in its own right. I'd need some palate-cleansing!

#78: I have been doing it so long now that I am not sure I could go back to any other way.

Interesting discussion...another thing to be considered is the "joy of juxtaposition" you encounter when you find a common theme, or element, or whatever, in more than one book. I, myself, really like that jolt I feel when something I'm reading in one book is confirmed in another book.

I like to read several books at once, myself. I like being able to dip in and out; if I'm bored with one book, I can read in another one. I'm doing the group read of Les Miserables right now--a great book, but I can't imagine reading only that book (it's HUGE, and is taking us months to get through). But everyone is different. I think it's so cool that we all have our own styles and preferences but we all agree on one thing--we love to read.

I'm being much too philosophical for this early in the a.m.!
Sorry!

Karen

I have no problem being philosophical in the morning, especially since I only slept for 2 hours, lol.

I agree with you - it is terrific that although we all read in our own manner, we are reading!

There is no way I can stick to one book at a time. My brain is just too higgledy-piggledy for that.

>80 klobrien2:: That excites me, too, when something in one book I'm reading comes up in another book I'm reading at the same time or shortly after. Seeing the same theme, idea, etc. in different ways helps me to think about it in a deeper way. Plus, I'm usually reading at least one nonfiction book and one fiction book at the same time, because sometimes I'm in the mood for a story and sometimes for something historical, scientific, etc.

Does the chapter numbering start over for each part in everyone's edition? I flipped through mine to find where chapter 34 was, and I saw it about 200+ pages in. Then I realized that was chapter 34 of part two! I have an old QPB edition, though, and it doesn't even have a table of contents to tell me how many parts there are.

>80 klobrien2: I like books 'speaking' to each other too - but I just generally prefer to read them in sequence than in parallel. I like to get really stuck into something and totally absorb myself in it. Reading a non-fic and novel at the same time is OK, but too many novels and my brain goes a bit funny.

I haven't done a group read before how does it work? I have started the book but do we go to another thread and discuss it? Thank you

> 82 The chapters begin at "1" again with each "part" in my P&V edition. There are 8 parts to the novel. I think that should be consistent no matter what version/translation.

#84: After we have finished the first portion of reading, we will discuss it on the 'Spoiler' thread. It is here: http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=79002

There's a nice piece on the Grauniad books blog about discovering Anna Karenina.

I'm rather behind schedule now...

#87: Thanks for sharing the link, Rachael!

You do have a month to do this month's 'assignment', you know. It is far too early to start stressing over it.

Well although I`m a bit late I`d like to join in with this,as a re read from my teens, when I loved it but was probably too young to fully understand much of it! Looking forward to reading all your thoughts.........isn`t it thought to be the most perfect novel ever written? ( How you judge that I don`t know!)

#89: Late or not, you are certainly welcome to join in the fun!

As far as Anna Karenina being the most perfect novel ever written, I had not heard that. I have no idea how anyone could judge that unless they had read every novel ever written and somehow I doubt that.

I am in as well, Stasia. Just coming on board a little late.
I have read, as well, that this is the best novel ever written. IDK; how would a person ever really know?
Thank you for setting this up.
belva

I read somewhere that Don Quixote by Cervantes is the best novel ever written. But then again, who's to decide? I prefer making up my own mind, and that's good enough for me:)

Right now I'm working on Anna Karenina, and hopefully I will like it. At least I found the beginning amusing.

I hesitate to throw my hat into this ring, as I have so much else to read right now, but I've read the book before, and will keep up with the posts until I catch up or everyone finishes!

#93: Chime in any time, Judy!

ooh ive wanted to read Anna Karenina for a while now!! Im just starting so hopefully i can catch up!!

#95: The first 'assignment' does not end until February 15, so you have plenty of time!

I can't seem to find the spoiler thread. I thought of posting some of my observations while I'm doing our first assignment.

#97: Caroline, the spoiler thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79002

Yea! I am in!

#99: Glad to have you with us!

This is my first attempt at a group read/group participation in LibraryThing - I'm excited! I'm a little stalled out at the beginning of Part Five.

ffortsa: I've heard that story! It's a favourite. I got the P-V translation especially for this project (first time I've ever read Anna K), but in a lot of places it doesn't seem that different from the Garnett. They do seem to have left in a lot of the repetitions, which they talk about in the introduction.

101: I think that is just about where I am. I think it was Part III or IV, where I thought it was going down in momentum but it picked up nicely.

#102 - well, if the author left in the repetitions, he must have had a reason, so I'm glad they did too.

I haven't had a chance to get a copy and get started yet - too many other books. But I will catch up over the next month - I hope.

Hi there - I'm reading Anna Karenina to join this group.
What happens first then - do we all start talking on February 15 about the first 100 pages?
Sal

#105: Actually, several of us have already started talking about Anna Karenina over on the spoiler thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79002. The only thing we ask is that the discussion cover only material up to the end of the first 'assignment.'

I hope everyone has read and enjoyed the first month's assignment. I know I did! So, for February 15-March 15, the assignment is Part 2, Section I to Part 3. In my book, the P-V translation, that is pages 117-237.

Anyone wanting to share thoughts and impressions on the first month's reading, please head over to the spoiler thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79002. Hope to see you there!

Just received my Bookmooched copy in the mail today! :) A little late, but I'm looking forward to reading this and hope to be caught up soon so I can join the spoiler thread.

#108: Shauna, the book actually reads pretty quickly (I was pleasantly surprised), so hopefully you can catch up soon.

I have had this book for a while and have not read it. This is just what I need. I am a little late, but I will try to catch up quickly.

#110: Glad to have you with us!

I hope everyone is still with us and keeping up the pace. This month's assignment is Part 3, which in my edition is pages 237-353 (just a little over 100 pages). The parts are each close to 100 pages and they act as natural divisions, so I think I am going to continue using them throughout the read.

I got a little behind schedule, but I'm caught up now and ready for part 3 with you...

I'm a little behind, too, but I got distracted...I'm in there with you, and with the moderate pace of this group, I'll catch up quickly.

Karen O.

#114: No worries, Karen.

Yup, i'm still here and reading with the pack. The pace is nice enough that I still have time to read other books.

I do think though that we need an easy link to the spoiler thread at the top under the Group Reads, like we do for the spoiler-free thread - it's getting harder and harder to find the spoiler thread amongst all the other challenge threads in this 75er group.

#117: Caroline, I have added the spoiler thread link on the first message of this thread.

What chapter and in which part are you reading now please?

I'm very late to the party. However I read up to the first part last night and am determined to catch up this weekend.

#119: The 'assignment' for March 15-April 15 is part 3 of the book.

Glad to have you with us!

I am giving myself permission to get a little behind in this group read and the Moby Dick group read. There's just been too much going on the past couple of weeks, and I need to read People of the Book for a local, face-to-face discussion next week.

Once our cantata is done on Sunday, my life may be a little more back to normal. This week is chaos.

#121: No problem, Terri. The year is long, so there will be plenty of time for you to catch back up again with both books, I am sure!

This book's parts work very well for our reading 'assignments,' so for April 15-May 15, read part 4 (in my edition that is pages 353-435). It is a little less than 100 pages, but I see no point in starting part 5 for the sake of a few pages.

Please remember to comment on the spoiler thread! http://www.librarything.com/topic/79002

On to part 5!! I still am liking the secondary characters more than the primary ones, I do not know about everyone else. Anyway, this month's reading 'assignment' is part 5 (in my edition that is pages 437-549.)

Happy reading!

I am way behind. Maybe after I wrap up Moby Dick this month, I'll catch up with Anna. (And our local discussion group is taking a summer break, too!)

I'm a bit discouraged because this is the first time I've ever fallen behind my chosen group reads! I try to choose only a very few group reads to prevent this, but...oh well.
I'm busy organizing our library book sale this week - so maybe after that I can catch up! Just as long as I don't get too discouraged and give up, I'll be happy.

Hooray - I'm caught up again! I seem to do better with this book when I don't wait too long to get back to it.

Once I make myself pick it up, I get pulled into the story and the reading goes well.

I always take forever to get back to it too. Every month I'll read the assigned pages in the last week, and then once I start I really want to keep reading into the next section. I only stop myself because I don't want to lose track of what happened in which section and write about something too early in the spoiler thread. (I know, I know. It's a spoiler thread. Still. :)

We are up to Part Six for this month. After that, only 2 more parts to go!

So, read part six, (in my edition pages 551-669) for the June 15-July 15 'assignment.'

OK, everyone (anyone still there?), part seven is up next! In my edition, that is pages 671-768. We are in the home stretch now (and I must admit, I have to catch up!)

(and I must admit, I have to catch up!)

That would be an understatement for me, Stasia. I "officially, temporarily" abandoned the book a while back, but still plan to finish eventually. . . (I think.)

#131: Yeah, I have not even finished Part 5 yet, but I will catch up - eventually :)

Glad to know I am not the only one! lol

You are further ahead than this reader is!

#133: I am sure you will catch up too, Terri!

Ooh, and I am still "in the read" although I'm behind. I think I'll try the read-fifty-pages-every-day-no-matter-what thing.

Thanks for the reminder, Stasia!

Karen O.

#135: I am going to have to try that approach too, Karen.

Oops! I got behind and haven't read part 6 yet. That might be a good thing though. I'm looking forward to getting to read that much of it at once. :)

Well, I haven't started, but I got the book, and plan on catching up next month. Then I'll check the spoiler thread--LOL!

OK, ready to finish this one out? We are on Part 8, the final part of the book. I hope to see you on the spoiler thread with your comments!