Kalliope’s Comments (group member since Apr 07, 2013)

Kalliope’s comments from the The Thomas Mann Group group.

Elena wrote: "I've just started reading Genesis with Robert Alter, insightful footnotes, very attune to the majestic language, solves lots of linguistic puzzles, but doesn't tie himself into pretzels over the we..."

Thank you for this, Elena... I just came back from a lecture on the various representations of Moses (mostly sculpture) and how whether he shows 'horns' (as in Michael Angelo's version) or rays of light coming out of his head depends on the Septuagint (light) or the Vulgate (horns) translations...

I really look forward to tackling Alter's edition of the various books... but will not be able to get to them for a while.

Elena wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Elena wrote: "For backgrond on the Joseph novels I am thinking of reading Robert Alter's translation of the Bible....I haven't looked at it yet, but it comes highly recommended...."..."

I am not thinking of a religious approach.. Elena. You could have a taste of the kind of interesting fiction written with the Bible as point of reference.. Lately I read Caín and years ago The Gospel According to Jesus Christ

Elena wrote: "For backgrond on the Joseph novels I am thinking of reading Robert Alter's translation of the Bible....I haven't looked at it yet, but it comes highly recommended...."

Yes, that is the one I was thinking of.. This year I am attending a long cycle of lectures (19 in total) on the Bible (Old Testament) and art.. I am enjoying it thoroughly.

OK.. let's keep them in mind.. I certainly want to read them... I was planning to concentrate on the Bible next year - the text itself and a choice of other related texts like this one by Mann.

Gundula wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "Gundula wrote: "The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Mann is not too long, but a good general intro. Will be using it for reference before starting on my Thomas Mann pro..."

I think those are perfect books for a group read.. but this year I am engaged already in one long group read..

Gundula wrote: "The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Mann is not too long, but a good general intro. Will be using it for reference before starting on my Thomas Mann projects (reading the Joseph Trilogy..."

I have it and have read a few chapters. I would like to read the Joseph saga but may not be able to do it this year.

Riku wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "It seems Mann was very keen on presenting Castorp from the very beginning as a man like any other... he wanted the dramatisation of ideas and theories that was to develop through ..."

At least a man-of-his-times.. it is for us to say whether he is also a man-of-all-times..

I actually had the Lowe-Porter purchased on a 2nd hand store a while ago, but bought the Woods and discarded the older copy and translation. I also got the original but in the end did not read it in parallel.. may be next time..

Riku wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "It seems Mann was very keen on presenting Castorp from the very beginning as a man like any other... he wanted the dramatisation of ideas and theories that was to develop through ..."

Thank you, Riku.. Glad to see we were not far off...

It seems Mann was very keen on presenting Castorp from the very beginning as a man like any other... he wanted the dramatisation of ideas and theories that was to develop through the novel to be valid for anyone...

Riku wrote: "

Lowe-Porter translates "einen einfachen" — as “simple-minded”
John Woods — as “ordinary”.

That changes the w..."

I agree.. not simple-minded.. I like your version too...

Some of us read Doctor Faustus in another group... We took 8 weeks.

You are welcome to join that group and follow that calendar and Weekly Threads.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

In Madrid, in the March Foundation, we have a cycle on Thomas Mann and Music...

http://www.march.es/musica/detalle.as...

Elena wrote: "The New York Times Book Review section on Sunday August 10, 2014 carried a short but insightful piece about Thomas Mann on the last page...on the essential importance of writers standing up for pri..."

Is it signed by Ian Buruma?

Here is my review...

I can now proceed and read the others...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Elena wrote: "I viewed the 5 hour 2 DVD set from Netflix (Der Zauberberg, German with English subtitles, 1982). Very true to the book,& the actors are quite wonderful. Hans Castorp in particular is portrayed wit..."

I got this DVD series, but I have not finished watching it... My Venice trip interrupted my rhythm... I want to reread the end and finish watching the series.

I also liked the setting and the characterizations.

Fionnuala wrote: "Is there anyone still reading this section?
I'm enjoying it very much and admiring the writing and the translation.
Today, out of curiosity, I bought a copy in the German original and am trying to..."

Wonderful that you got an edition in German. I also had it, with the idea of reading it in parallel, but too many commitments and even finished the English edition too late.

Sorry, I am back. I had to interrupt my reading and moderating (sorry for this) for a string of reasons (some good such a wonderful trip and some cumbersome on the work front)...

I have enjoyed reading about the ecological concerns on the overuse of paper.... So forward looking.

The calculations that the recycled paper of one particular newspaper would in 25 years time accumulate to a given amount of capital that could be used to make the new subscriptions cheaper and to subsidize tuberculosis sanatoriums...

Saving paper, conserving paper, meant saving and conserving cellulose, the forests themselves, and the human labor needed to produce cellulose and paper -- both labor and capital. p. 752.

Lisa wrote: "I've finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

congratulations.... Lisa...

I have to ask for apologies.. Something came up, a trip, and I had to change my reading priorities, but I am only two weeks behind.

It seeems there are other people also trailing somewhat behind.

Naphta to Settembrini:

I'm glad to see you have feelings not just for freedom and progress, but for serious matters as well.

Changing a couple of words it could be said to Thomas Mann as well...