Anna Karenina – 2010 Read Along
>> January 19, 2010
A few members of the Omaha Bookworm’s mentioned the desire to read Anna Karenina several times over the past year or two, after a few emails going back and forth recently we decided we are going to read this in 2010 and would love for you to read along with us.
The Omaha Bookworm's meet this evening, I will post more about reading Anna later this week.
To Participate:
- Anna is told in 8 parts. We will read one part a month
- Discuss the book using the Penguin discussion guide and questions
- I will post a recap online, so those reading with us can participate in the discussion
About Tolstoy: As we prepare for this adventure in reading, let’s learn a little about Leo Tolstoy (from Penguin’s website).
Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 on his aristocratic family's estate south of Moscow. A young life of what he called "vulgar licentiousness" included studying for a degree he did not complete, traveling in Europe, and serving in the military. While fighting in the Crimean War in the 1850s, he wrote short stories that established his literary reputation. Tolstoy inherited his family's estate, Yasnaya Polyana, along with 700 serfs, and settled there. In addition to his writing, Tolstoy immersed himself in the work of social reform, establishing a school for his serfs and trying to bring about the emancipation of all serfs.
Tolstoy married Sofya Andreyevna Behrs in 1862, beginning a long period of contentment; they had thirteen children. While managing his estate and educational projects, Tolstoy wrote his two greatest novels, War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). In the late 1870s, he suffered a deep spiritual crisis and renounced his former beliefs and literary works. He embraced a rational Christianity that stressed humility, universal brotherhood, and the abandonment of private property. He tried to commit himself to chastity and vegetarianism.
A Confession (1882) described this change in Tolstoy's life and writing. Increasingly troubled by the disparities between the life with his family and the beliefs he espoused, Tolstoy secretly left home in 1910, hoping to find a peaceful refuge. He died several days later at a remote railway station.
Bloggers: If you happen to have a blog and would like to participate, I will add Mr Linky so I can visit your site and include you in the conversation!
11 comments:
Loved Anna Karenina! May just read it again along with you. It would be the first time that I read something for a second time. Sign me up!
This is great? I will get the book a/s/a/p, as I don't have it in my collection.
Marion
"Sounds like a great idea! I need to go and buy yhe book now!! :)
Heather
Great timing! I received a copy of Anna K. in my stocking and finished it! I'd love to talk about it (I'd also like to see the Tolstoy movie).
Ellen
Yes. I've started it several rimes. Then we could tie in the new H. Miren flick abt Tolstoy.
Cheryl
Sounds like a great idea to me, Mari.
Robyn
I would be interested in reading Anna K. See you next month!
~Barb
I didn't get the book yet, but will by day's end. I read War and Peace back in high school and I am familiar with this writer's work. I look forward to participating and reading the comments. I'm going to read some world history right how to put myself into the period of time that he was writing in, so I can understand his perspective and point of view. Thank you for the bio. This is very helpful, and I didn't know this before.
Marion
I do love Tolstoy! I am very tempted to join this discussion. Please keep us posted. :-)
I finished the first two chapters, and I think it's important to look at the craftsmanship of the writing and the translation, not just the story. The words are aligned in such a way so as to create the feeling of riding on a train, riding in a coach and riding a horse. Readers can look at the sentences, the way they are written or read them aloud to see what I mean. The translation is fabulous.
I am going to join in but I'm late in starting so I will have to catch up.
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