Yvonne’s Comments (group member since Jan 24, 2020)

Yvonne’s comments from the The Obscure Reading Group group.

Sue wrote: "Ken, where is the poll? I seem to have forgotten how to find it or missed a link."

Sue, I tried to find it and couldn't for some reason in my GoodReads iphone app. Had to access the group via a browser screen on my laptop. Once you get to the group, look for "polls" and it will be top of the screen.

Of course, technology varies. That's how it worked for me. Hope you can find it; it's an interesting list. ~yvonne

Welcome, Pamela! Lucky you to have a neighborhood bookstore. Mostly I rely on Kindled books checked out of my county library system. Often our obscure books aren't available that way though; would be nice to have a nearby indie bookseller. In any case, happy reading. ~Yvonne

Hi all,
I have quite a load at home these days — caregiving for an 89 year old husband who was recently in the hospital for nearly a week, via the ER. Little time for reading other than at bedtime, and then I’m so exhausted that it’s only a few pages before I’m asleep. But am nearly done with our book and am enjoying lurking in your comments.

One thing I wanted to name that I don’t think anyone has touched on is the dramatic touches dropped here and there in the narrative. Mannerisms and facial expressions described in delightful detail, easy to envision, eg pursed lips, winking, Gedeonovsky’s rubbing his fingertips together…. Almost makes me wonder if anyone has ever tried writing it as a play for staging.

I also love the pastoral scenes. Might be fun to envision and paint one.

Of the characters, so far the one I really wish were drawn more fully is Lemm, the piano teacher. I too like Marfa and felt sorry for Glafira’s lot in life.

I’m only about half way but will do my best to get through it for discussion Wednesday.

Wow, AJ and everyone in ORG, just now watching that YouTube video about Dostoevsky linked above. Extraordinary. Fascinating. Making a mental note now to rewatch it once I've made my way through our book.

Kathleen, that's an interesting timeline. My copy says that at the point he was arrested for subversion in early adulthood (1849), he was actually led out for execution, which was stayed at the last moment. Can you imagine? Had he been executed none of his masterpieces would have been written. Which leads me to wonder of all the people who have been executed, which had masterpieces to write that never saw the light of day.

Also coincidences: his birthday is the same as mine, Oct. 30. And his death date is the same as my father's, Jan. 28. Strange coincidence.

Scout wrote: "Amazon doesn't have the Avsey translation. Do you guys have a suggestion of where I can purchase a new paperback copy? Thanks in advance :-)"

Scout, I got mine via Amazon. It's this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0...

Note, trade paperback, not Kindled.

Oh wow. Thanks for that names/nicknames list. Thinking I should format it as a bookmark!

Look what I found. The Brothers Karamazov t-shirt: https://www.litographs.com/collection...

If you don't like the embedded image, there's one down below that's text only.

Bunch of other authors on that website, too; book lovers are likely to find it fun. None particularly obscure, though. (I have no financial interest in showing you this online business, in case anyone wonders. Just thought it amusing.)

Here’s another potentially illuminating compare-translations website.

https://web.archive.org/web/201311092...

Ken, that New Yorker article doesn't particularly favor Avsey's Oxford translation; just is quite amusing and interesting about the intricacies of accomplishing translations, in particular of Dostoevsky. I was able to save a PDF of the article so if you want it, message me your email address. There's a lengthy, fascinating description of the methodology used by Pevear and Volokhonsky. Mostly the article compares theirs with Garnett's.

This article, on the other hand, does compare head-to-head, five different translations of Karamazov, and it's on that basis that I'm favoring (in this moment) the Avsey/Oxford translation.
http://www.patrikbergman.com/2017/07/...

Think I'm going to order a copy of that one online; couldn't find it in my local library or via the Link interlibrary loan system here.

I also read somewhere that the most recent revision of the Norton edition is a pretty good translation, so just did an interlibrary loan request for that one, too.

PS to everyone: the covid test came back negative yesterday. Yay. Guess my sore throat, weariness, etc. are from some other virus.

For those of you thinking about which translation, you might find this article both fascinating and funny. I myself am thinking about using the Oxford/Ignat Avsey translation.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...

Welcome, Rachel! Looking forward to the verdict of the current poll for our next shared read. I'm hoping it'll be the one I voted for and already acquired a (free/kindled) copy of it. Decided I'd likely read it whether it's the group's pick or not. Happy New Year!

Thanks, Sue and Jean.

Thanks, Ken. Mild symptoms but enough of a match that I thought it wise to request testing, and the advice nurse agreed. Results in two to five days. Meanwhile, curled up with a cozy afghan and cuddly canine, reading. Me not him reading…

Ken, I think you are great to be willing to honcho this process at all. Thank you! Your plan for this time is just fine by me. Looking at the list of nominations right now -- great nominations, folks. Looking forward!
~Yvonne, feeling crummy and just back from getting a covid nasal swab test at my local hospital's mobile test site, oy

Here's to beloved canine companions. My Sammy is a reliable cuddler and appreciated especially for his ability to get my nose out of my book and my butt up out of my chair to go for walks regularly. Yay, Sammy. Keepin' me grounded in these very strange times.

Looking forward to studying the list of nominees; still not certain if I'll throw a title into the mix myself. ~Yvonne

Hi all, just arrived at chapter six and I decided that’s far enough along to indulge in reading your observations. Everything I’ve thought about it so far has been named, and I agree, except that my poor overloaded bandwidth was having such a hard time, initially, keeping track of all the characters and who they are to each other that I resorted to making an annotated list. Which helped.

Based on “The Lottery,” I guess I expected this one to be similarly ominous & horrifying, but so far all I get is silly. So I decided to settle in and enjoy the humor — at least that’s something. Oh and loved the brief passage exploring the question of beliefs. (P33 in my paperback edition)

Picked up my interlibrary loan copy yesterday, so am ready to start reading after finishing one other first. Looking forward!

But as I said, the formatting of the 99 cent kindle version makes the lines run off the right side of the page when you enlarge the font. Unacceptable in my book. Thinking about asking for a refund. Seriously.