Book Group: Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky
With all my talk about books, I thought it would be nice if we all read the same book at the same time, followed by an online discussion. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as I read the following books over the next several months, at the rate of one book every one to two months (depending on the size of the book), and according to the loose schedule indicated below:
1. Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky
2. Absurdistan: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart
3. Brigham Young: American Moses by Leonard Arrington
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
5. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
6. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
6. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
7. READER'S CHOICE (December)
For those that decide to join me in reading the above-listed books, please recommend a favorite book, or something on your reading list, for the month of December. It would be fun to read something that I didn't pick.
Now, rather than burden you with administrative details or with a pathetic plea to read along and participate in what is sure to be a delightful discussion of each book, let me introduce our first book--Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
From the forward
Demons is a novel of ideas run amok.
"Here, in what many consider the darkest of his novels, Dostoevsky inscribes the fundamental freedom of Judeo-Christian revelation--the freedom to turn from evil, the freedom to repent."
"The demons, then, are ideas, that legion of isms that came to Russia from the West; idealism, rationalism, empiricism, materialism, utilitarianism, positivism, socialism, anarchism, nihilism, and, underlying them all, atheism."
"The world reflected in the novel is already in a state of parody. . . . The issues, the passions, the oppositions, the polemics, the conspiracies are serious, all too serious. It may be said that this world is in a very serious state of parody (demons always want to be taken seriously)."
Translation
Several individuals have translated this book into English. Some call it "The Possessed"; others call it "Devils"; and still others call it "Demons." After reading various translations of Dostoevsky's other novels, I recommend reading the new translation by Richard Pevear and larissa Volokhonsky. Here are links to buy a copy from Amazon.com: paperback
/ hardcover.Reading schedule
Demons is a large book, consisting of three parts. I will be reading each part according to the following schedule:
Part I - April 20
Part II - May 11
Part III - June 1
I will initiate discussion for each part on or after the date listed above.
Dostoevsky
Here are two links with more information on Dostoevsky, the man and his writing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoevsky
http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/qfm/qfm%20files/Foltz%20-%20Dostoevsky%20Study%20Guide.pdf
39 comments:
Wow-
I'm impressed with your 6 month plan. Have you forgoten that the world will end 7-21-2007. You may not have time to read Harry Potter Y7 in August. If we are still around by then, I will join with you on that book.
Demons sounds pretty cool as well. I've had a hard time reading Russian Lit. I don't know if I cant keep track of everyone becasue of their unfamiliar names, or if I've read bad translations, or if its just that I'm dumb? Perhaps a combo of the three, but for some reason, I just cant get into them. Any suggestions?
Spencer:
I forgot about the world ending. As Homer would say, "Doh!" If we're still alive at least we will have something to read, right?.
On Russian literature, you have accurately identified several difficulties. But don't lose heart. Certain difficulties, like keeping the names straight, will disappear with time. Also, the preface to the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of Demons includes a guide to the character's names.
Others difficulties can be attributed to bad translations. I don't speak Russian, so who am I to judge, but I have compared some translations side-by-side and but for the title, I wouldn't have known they were the same book. Be sure to read a good translation.
Other difficulties I relate to food. Russian literature is an acquired taste, filled with complex and foreign textures and flavors. Take a few bites. I think you will like it. One reason it "tastes" peculiar is because it is filled with western and eastern ideas, structures, concepts, characters, and understanding, not to mention slavophilia (I just wanted to use that word in a sentence).
So, here are my tips to reading Russian literature generall and Dostoevsky in particular:
1. Buy a good translation
2. Rely on the translator's footnotes to explain foreign concepts and references
3. Understand that it is an acquired taste.
4. Understand that it will take some effort. My dad phrased it best when he likened Dostoevsky to math. He introduces concepts gradually, but if you don't learn the basic concepts then the rest of the novel will lose you.
Sounds great! I'm in for Demons for sure. Did you know they have released the cover art for the new HP?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6500000/newsid_6503200/6503251.stm
i'm in!! sounds like a lot of fun. let me get back to you on a book.
xoxo
c
i am in too. for the record, i am pretty good at keeping the Russian names straight ;). This is a great idea Jayme.
jayme, can i get your email address for the baseball league? email it to me if you get a chance... chris.blakesley@gmail.com
When we were first married, Jayme would read 12 books at once, never finishing (as far as I could tell) any of them. He said he preferred to "savor" them. I told him it was just because he wasn't reading good enough books. He has changed, now! He is reading a million books, but one (or two) at a time. I can't keep up.
Spencer--I had to laugh when I read your comment and Jayme's that followed about Russian literature being an acquired taste. My first thought was, "so are collard greens." I'm not sure either are a taste I really want to acquire.
Quick funny story--Jayme rides a bus to work with quite a few guys in our ward. I was at a friend's house on Sunday, and one of them mentioned that Jayme's literature selection elevates the reading material of the entire bus. Another friend said he had thought about putting a Dickens book jacket over his bus reading material, just so he could fit in.
P.S. I'm in, if Jayme will share the book.
my book of choice is "beloved" by toni morrison. i read this book a few years back, but have been wanting to re-read it and believe it would be good for discussion. for editorial and custormer review see: http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Toni-Morrison/dp/0452280621/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1069895-9737654?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175294539&sr=1-2.
Thanks for the advise. I'll see what I can do.
I second Beloved! It has to be one of my favorite books of all time.
I'd like to join, too. I'll probably start around May/June, though, after the semester. There's too much reading that I'm not finishing already!
Cool book choices. I'll think about suggestions as well.
I'd like to join, too. I'll probably start around May/June, though, after the semester. Too much reading that I'm not finishing already!
Cool book choices. I'll think about suggestions as well.
You don't know how happy I am to see that so many of you will be reading with me!! What fun!!
It looks like Beloved is the frontrunner for December. It definitely isn't a book I would have selected, which makes me doubly happy for the suggestion. Thanks, Chantalle.
Chris: I can't imagine how busy you must be with school and two small children. Feel free to join us when you can.
cblakes-
I didn't realize that it takes so long to read the instructions manuals for the new PS2 games that you have to play for school. I guess you don't have time for family.
I'm in, too. I'm excited to start reading Demons.
Also, Jayme, does your choice of grief-related novels in September have anything to do with Spencer's prediction related to Augusts' Harry Potter selection.
Cblakes, maybe you can just play a Nintendo Wii game where you slay demons and call it good for the first book.
This is a little late, but here are my suggestions for the reader's choice book(s) (in no particular order):
1. Just like September is grief month, December could be play/drama month. We could read plays by a few different playwrites: Oscar Wilde, Tom Stoppard, Tennessee Williams, George Bernard Shaw, Arthur Miller, etc. It might be fun to compare the different styles.
2. Grapes of Wrath. This is a classic that I've always been meaning to read. It also has a little bit of a connection to Grandpa, as it is set in depression-era California (the time and place Grandpa grew up in).
3. Possession: A Romance by A.S. Byatt. This is book is a modern classic that I know I should read, but I probably need some motivation to pick it up because is it a little hyper-intillectual and erudite.
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