In February, we'll be reading Book Two of The Brothers Karamazov. This pivotal section launches the main narrative, following several intense hours at the monastery.
The map, bookmark & picture are great additions to Book 2. I also appreciate your description of the bigger picture on what life was like before heading into chapter 5. Thank goodness you will be there guiding us through it.
Thank you, Melissa. It's really great that Dostoevsky wrote much of his work based on real places (monastery) and events. Thanks to this, it's easier to understand the atmosphere and find context. Although, I admit, in school I couldn't stand realistic novels, preferring fantasy instead. I thought that creating everything from scratch was much more professional and talented than writing about real life.
Dear Eduardo. I'm very glad that the materials are helping you read Dostoevsky. His books are often overly "demonized" by making them too complex. But I hope you're enjoying the reading.
“It should be noted that it's written with a great deal of humor.” This has been a very pleasant surprise to me. I didn’t anticipate such jocularity from an acclaimed Russian author. I love it!
Oh, dark humor is quite familiar to some Russian authors. Dostoevsky drew heavily from Gogol's writing style—his satire, mockery of social structures, self-irony. It's humor that teeters on the edge of tragedy.
Serbian translation of the book 2 title is "Неуместан скуп". So the first word is literally the same as in Russian.
I finished book 2 and am halfway through the book 3. I'll try to listen to your advice and slow down a little, which is not easy because this is the first time I'm reading the book and I want to know what happens next.
I agree with your remark about the "challenging" chapter five. If I can be completely honest it was a little bit boring to me. I don't see how it's relevant to the main narrative. Maybe it will become clearer when we start discussing that chapter.
Yes, finding equivalent synonyms is easier in Slavic languages. I fully understand why reading slowly can be challenging, especially when you're eager to discover what happens next. Feel free to read ahead and return to our discussions of any chapters that interest you. I've set a year-long schedule because I need that time to write the articles.
Some chapters, like Chapter 5, aren't essential to the plot. Instead, this chapter explores the crucial relationship between religion and state—a topic that everyone debated in those times. You'll encounter other chapters that focus more on philosophical discussions than plot advancement.
Pevear and Volkonsky’ translation I have & read few years back but now I got the Constance Garnett’s translation that I am reading now,both are very well elaborated but the situations and explanation by you are amazing and interesting,thanks for sharing your thoughts, I am now proceeding to chapter 5 ,looking forward to your analysis.
Pevear and Volokhonsky: An Inappropriate Gathering. Thanks so much for the map and bookmark. In regards to the slow pace and non-plot sections: I am researching The Third Section, the 19th century precursor to Russia's FSB. It was an expectation among the litterati and the public that novels, poems and letters should concern themselves with the morals of society. That is why they were monitored so heavily. Interestingly, novels had only appeared on the Russian scene a bare 50 years previously, notably with Gogol. The monarchist Nicholas I was always on the lookout for socialist, anti-Orthodox thought. He might've appreciated Dostoevsky in the end.
I don't know if Nicholas I appreciated Dostoevsky as a writer—after all, it was under his rule that Dostoevsky was sent to a Siberian labor camp for political persecution. Though Nicholas did abolish the death penalty, Dostoevsky wasn't released until after Nicholas's death, when Alexander II came to power. It was during Alexander's reign that Dostoevsky wrote his greatest novels. Alexander initially took a more liberal approach than his father, relaxing censorship and reversing many of Nicholas I's policies, though he too eventually became a tyrant.
I'm sorry, I just saw your comment now. Yes, during his lifetime, Nicholas I had a deep fear of any member of what he felt was a secret society, which was really Doestoevsky's 'crime'. Ironically, Dostoevsky's years of imprisonment informed his later work in a way that might have quieted the former emperor's suspicious mind.
I *love* the map. I’ve often fantasized retracing Mrs. Dalloway, Leopold Bloom, or Raskolonov’s steps on a walk, but never thought of this with respect to TBK. It adds another dimension to our experience of our novel, and makes it, more real.
Thank you, Hissan. Sure, routes are more common in certain literary works, particularly in Dostoevsky's novels, where events unfold in locations based on real places. This approach was likely convenient for Dostoevsky since it eliminated the need to create settings from imagination. It also benefits modern readers, allowing us to learn more about these locations—even when Dostoevsky's descriptions were sparse.
This is a complex question—it's really about "how to develop the skill of thoughtful reading." Slow reading is a skill that develops over time. I find it helpful to read with a physical notebook and pen, writing down questions, quotes, and names, rather than marking them digitally in an app or e-reader.
I recommend reading @haleyalarsen's articles. She has written a wonderful series about becoming a more mindful reader and discovering what you personally want to get out of reading.
The map, bookmark & picture are great additions to Book 2. I also appreciate your description of the bigger picture on what life was like before heading into chapter 5. Thank goodness you will be there guiding us through it.
Thank you, Melissa. It's really great that Dostoevsky wrote much of his work based on real places (monastery) and events. Thanks to this, it's easier to understand the atmosphere and find context. Although, I admit, in school I couldn't stand realistic novels, preferring fantasy instead. I thought that creating everything from scratch was much more professional and talented than writing about real life.
I'm so happy, Dear Dana. Thank you for your guide, otherwise it would be very difficult for me to approach Dosto. Hugs from Mexico City
Dear Eduardo. I'm very glad that the materials are helping you read Dostoevsky. His books are often overly "demonized" by making them too complex. But I hope you're enjoying the reading.
Indeed! It's the best book I've read in my life! Thank you so much
“It should be noted that it's written with a great deal of humor.” This has been a very pleasant surprise to me. I didn’t anticipate such jocularity from an acclaimed Russian author. I love it!
Oh, dark humor is quite familiar to some Russian authors. Dostoevsky drew heavily from Gogol's writing style—his satire, mockery of social structures, self-irony. It's humor that teeters on the edge of tragedy.
Serbian translation of the book 2 title is "Неуместан скуп". So the first word is literally the same as in Russian.
I finished book 2 and am halfway through the book 3. I'll try to listen to your advice and slow down a little, which is not easy because this is the first time I'm reading the book and I want to know what happens next.
I agree with your remark about the "challenging" chapter five. If I can be completely honest it was a little bit boring to me. I don't see how it's relevant to the main narrative. Maybe it will become clearer when we start discussing that chapter.
Yes, finding equivalent synonyms is easier in Slavic languages. I fully understand why reading slowly can be challenging, especially when you're eager to discover what happens next. Feel free to read ahead and return to our discussions of any chapters that interest you. I've set a year-long schedule because I need that time to write the articles.
Some chapters, like Chapter 5, aren't essential to the plot. Instead, this chapter explores the crucial relationship between religion and state—a topic that everyone debated in those times. You'll encounter other chapters that focus more on philosophical discussions than plot advancement.
Pevear and Volkonsky’ translation I have & read few years back but now I got the Constance Garnett’s translation that I am reading now,both are very well elaborated but the situations and explanation by you are amazing and interesting,thanks for sharing your thoughts, I am now proceeding to chapter 5 ,looking forward to your analysis.
Pevear and Volokhonsky: An Inappropriate Gathering. Thanks so much for the map and bookmark. In regards to the slow pace and non-plot sections: I am researching The Third Section, the 19th century precursor to Russia's FSB. It was an expectation among the litterati and the public that novels, poems and letters should concern themselves with the morals of society. That is why they were monitored so heavily. Interestingly, novels had only appeared on the Russian scene a bare 50 years previously, notably with Gogol. The monarchist Nicholas I was always on the lookout for socialist, anti-Orthodox thought. He might've appreciated Dostoevsky in the end.
I don't know if Nicholas I appreciated Dostoevsky as a writer—after all, it was under his rule that Dostoevsky was sent to a Siberian labor camp for political persecution. Though Nicholas did abolish the death penalty, Dostoevsky wasn't released until after Nicholas's death, when Alexander II came to power. It was during Alexander's reign that Dostoevsky wrote his greatest novels. Alexander initially took a more liberal approach than his father, relaxing censorship and reversing many of Nicholas I's policies, though he too eventually became a tyrant.
I'm sorry, I just saw your comment now. Yes, during his lifetime, Nicholas I had a deep fear of any member of what he felt was a secret society, which was really Doestoevsky's 'crime'. Ironically, Dostoevsky's years of imprisonment informed his later work in a way that might have quieted the former emperor's suspicious mind.
I *love* the map. I’ve often fantasized retracing Mrs. Dalloway, Leopold Bloom, or Raskolonov’s steps on a walk, but never thought of this with respect to TBK. It adds another dimension to our experience of our novel, and makes it, more real.
Greatly appreciate your work, Dana 🙂
Thank you, Hissan. Sure, routes are more common in certain literary works, particularly in Dostoevsky's novels, where events unfold in locations based on real places. This approach was likely convenient for Dostoevsky since it eliminated the need to create settings from imagination. It also benefits modern readers, allowing us to learn more about these locations—even when Dostoevsky's descriptions were sparse.
Mine is “an inopportune meeting”.
That's also a good synonym.
The Katz translation is “An Unseemly Gathering.” More appropriate after reading the chapter than before.
That's a good synonym as well.
I fear I lack thoughtfulness as I blow through the novel. 😢 are there tricks to pause & reflect?
This is a complex question—it's really about "how to develop the skill of thoughtful reading." Slow reading is a skill that develops over time. I find it helpful to read with a physical notebook and pen, writing down questions, quotes, and names, rather than marking them digitally in an app or e-reader.
I recommend reading @haleyalarsen's articles. She has written a wonderful series about becoming a more mindful reader and discovering what you personally want to get out of reading.
https://haleyalarsen.substack.com/p/series-becoming-a-closer-reader
I appreciate that answer very much. TY. I will investigate the link now.