Classics for Beginners discussion

This includes books 4-6.

Book 4 was much more interesting than the first three books... at least, I thought so. All that drama at Katerina's house!

That's great, Sunny! One of my favorite parts is book 5. There's one chapter I read and reread because there are many insightful points of view to analyze.
Hope you're all having a nice read.

Reading this the 4th time. I always get something new out of it!

Hmmm... I'm really bummed so far. I don't think I really enjoyed either of the last couple of chapters. Chapter 5 was difficult for me to enjoy. I'm sure that it had a lot of deep analyses, but it was just way deeper than I was prepared to go. I found myself completely tuning out in some points. Chapter six was slightly more interesting, but I have absolutely no idea what it could possibly do with the story. But, I'm crazy curious about the cliffhanger...

@Joy: I had a hard time with Ivan's story in Chapter 5. It's where I wished I was listening to an audio book!

Barbara wrote: "Reading this the 4th time. I always get something new out of it!"

Oh, PLEASE post the "new" things you come across! I love read-alongs with folks who already know the plot and can pick out little details the rest of us miss! :)

What new thing did you get out of this Part's books?

My god, Sunny, you read at the speed of light. That's awesome! You'll be explaining book 11 in no time.
And I totally understand your point. I hope you can enjoy reading this novel a bit more.

In Book 4, when the monk from Obdorsk arrives, it was mentioned that Father Ferapont wore irons weighing thirty pounds under his robes.

Huh? Why is he wearing irons under his clothes?

Finally up to to Part Two. Can't say I'm enjoying the book but I'll keep slogging on.

RitaSkeeter wrote: "Finally up to to Part Two. Can't say I'm enjoying the book but I'll keep slogging on."

:)

From my reading, and I may be wrong, Alexei is his name and Alyosha is a diminutive or 'nick-name'. @florencia may be able to clarify as our local Russophile :)

Joy wrote: "I'm wondering if the irons under the clothes were not a sort of self-imposed "suffering for Christ". I remember reading that monks used to wear "hair shirts" that were uncomfortable and even painfu..."

OOOOOOh! So, something like punishing themselves? I think you are probably right. That would actually make a lot of sense, since Ferapont is described as a sort of religious zealot.

RitaSkeeter wrote: "From my reading, and I may be wrong, Alexei is his name and Alyosha is a diminutive or 'nick-name'. @florencia may be able to clarify as our local Russophile :)"

That's right! I'm sorry, I wasn't with TBK at the moment. Alexei, Alyosha; Dmitri, Mitya, real names and nicknames.

Joy wrote: "@Sunny Chapter 5 wasn't any better in audio. It's not so much a story as an hour long treatise on everything that is wrong with the Christian faith and its application in society. I loved that he q..."

Is it bad to admit I start skim reading when he starts pontificating like that...? Makes for much more pleasant reading but I'm probably then missing the point of the book. Oh well.

He's no Tolstoy IMO.

RitaSkeeter wrote: "He's no Tolstoy IMO."

:)

Definitely, the second part is a lot more story and not much lecturing at all. The two halves feel like completely different books. I quite liked the second half and I had moaned and whinged all the way through the first half, lol.

I'm still struggling to catch up, but so far it's interesting. I agree with you- the drama at Katerina's house was hilarious! I will continue reading, even though I will probably be far behind... I'll try to comment as often as I can!