Book Talk discussion

Seems like we are committing to reading this, so I thought it should get a new and less confusing, but more prominent place to live.

Brass tacks:
Do we care what translation we read?
Here are links, if of interest:
http://broadwayworld.com/board/readme...
http://www.worldliteratureforum.com/f...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...

I've signed up for 3 different versions at Seattle Public Library, with waiting lists of 12, 45, 52 people...I don't know if that indicates which translations are more popular, or some other random relationship.
If no one really cares about versions, then let's just move on to time frame.

I downloaded a free Kindle edition this evening. The first two books are less than 100 pages in this edition. What kind of timeline do we want to give ourselves? What's realistic? Tasha let us know when you get your book from the library and we'll begin!

Do you think we should loosely plan on setting a start date of March 1? And maybe an end date of May 1?

It looks like the book is divided into 5 sections - each titled with a character name. These sections are divided into roughly 10 smaller sections...and I think these are numbered, without word titles. Not sure, as I don't want to "spoil" myself with too much foreknowledge. So maybe we break up the discussion thread into 5 separate threads? Corresponding to each of the character-titled sections? This seems easy to understand and follow, so no one will get accidentally spoiled, but people can read/comment when they finish each section - thus eliminating the need to do everything in sync with others...seems more forgiving and inclusive. That way Barbara could start reading now if she wanted, and I can start when I get my copy.
We can try to keep our "currently reading" selection updated, so we can monitor the group's general progression.
Agreed? Other suggestions?

I think I understand, but not quite sure. I'm more of a hands on person and will be better able to understand once I get a chance to see the site, etc......Tasha, will you set up the treads? No rush, I've barely begun -- page 33 of some 950!

I have started reading a translation by Hapgood. As I read the Wikipedia article re tranlsations,(the same listing as given in www.worldliteratureforum referenced below in Tasha's comment) this is one of the better translations as it doesn't omit parts of the text, considered by the translator to be extraneous!!

Alas, SPL (Seattle Public Library) does not have the Hapgood translation. So I will read whichever one comes in first.

I will try to get everything set up so anyone can comment on the book when they are ready. Wish me luck.

Wow, this book looks density dense. I don't have a copy in hand, but the internets are telling me that it's a bear. So...the format goes:
Volume, Book, Chapter
I would suggest starting your posts with the volume/book/chapter that you are discussing up to. That way if you want to talk about stuff that takes place in volume 1, first book, and up to the 3rd chapter of the second book - you would start your post with:
Fantine -- Bk 2 The Fall -- Ch 3 Heroism of Passive Obedience

The advantage to this is we can discuss as we go, and not get bogged down in one big "end of book" discussion that will just be vague generalizations because we've forgotten most of what happened two thousand pages ago!!
And - with the chapter warning, no one will get spoiled.

Well, think of it as a Grand Experiment. If it sucks, we can change the format.

note: I originally posted this in the "Fantine" section of our discussion thread. I think I'll also leave it there for now - just in case someone doesn't think to read this area before looking at the discussion.

I just noticed a post where Linda suggested we aim for 5 chapter increments. That seems like a reasonable goal. And if we do the comment headings as suggested above, it should work out fine -- even if we go off the 5 chapter format a bit.
Sense?

FYI, I am starting with the Hapgood translation (illustrated!) But I will get the other editions as the library coughs them up - that way I can compare a bit of the text. Cuz I'm a book nerd.

This is on the order of a general comment. I'm wondering how much everyone has read. I've just finished Book III of Volume 1 (Fantine) and am finding it very slow going. Very hard for me to feel interested enough to want to keep going. I've been trying to make notes to myself and do find some of the language and description good, but not enough for me to want to keep going. Anyone else?

I'm doing okay. I think I am about to start Book 3 of Fantine. I was also going to comment in the discussion section today.

I have three copies of Les Miserables here -- three separate translations (libraries are awesome!) -- I'm going to decide on one and then return the other two. The translators are: Hapgood; Norman Denny; and Julie Rose. Any advice about which one is the best?

I am reading the Hapgood translation - I like it so far.
My library didn't have the Julie Rose edition. I think it received a lot of praise, but some people complained the modern language threw them off.
I am under the impression that the Denny version is very popular as it seemed to get recommended a lot when I was reading about the different translations.

I've been reading the Hapgood translation which I think is the original, and maybe considered the "official" if there is such a thing. I had read that a lot of the other translations leave out sections that may not be pertinent to the story. The Hapgood has all these wonderful illustrations which are great fun.
Deedee!! Glad to meet you.

Not sure this rightly belongs in this thread. this is a rant about mechanics of the site. I just spent a 1/2 hour writing a post, went to preview and highlighted a few words, wondering if I could edit in preview mode. And then everything was deleted. I am beside myself.
I will try to recreate thoughts later today. I am not happy!!!!!!!

Wow, not only am I behind in the reading (a difficult proposition given that I have now realized, and confessed, that I have an abridged version) but also I had no idea that all these posts were here! How did I miss them? I guess there is no longer an alert when something is posted. Feeling half way between a slug and a moron.