Chicks On Lit discussion

Anyone up for reading a classic that they've never read? Maybe something more challenging or dry, so we can help each other get through it. I've had trouble getting through some of the Russian authors. But any author would work.

Can't say that I have anything in mind that I want to tackle this year, but this group regularly picks classics to read together.

I'd be up for this starting in January.

Anna Karenina? Notes from Underground? Any other suggestions? Just not War and Peace--I've tried it three times and just can not make it all the way through.

Tina wrote: "I'd be up for this starting in January.

Anna Karenina? Notes from Underground? Any other suggestions? Just not War and Peace--I've tried it three times and just can n..."

lol War and Peace was on my list for 2013 but I opened up to the first page & that's as far as I got. Just wasnt up to the challenge!

I got Anna Karenina on Audible so I would be keen to join if you picked that.

Tina wrote: "Just not War and Peace--I've tried it three times and just can not make it all the way through. ..."

War & Peace seems to be 2 books rolled into one. The "peace" part is the novel part; the "war" part is Tolstoy's diatribe, comments, thoughts about the Napoleonic war. If you read every second chapter, and only the first epilogue, you'll get the "peace" side of the story and not miss a thing. :D
This part of the story is very well told and interesting.
War & Peace is the only book I tell people (who are having a hard time of it) to read only half. It's a story worth reading but that war talk puts a lot of people off.
This doesn't mean that I don't recommend the entire book; I do. I found the book fascinating...although Tolstoy did repeat himself a lot in the war parts (my only "issue" with the book). But rather than having people not read the book because of the war parts, this is an option.

Petra wrote: "Tina wrote: "Just not War and Peace--I've tried it three times and just can not make it all the way through. ..."

War & Peace seems to be 2 books rolled into one. The "peace" part is the novel par..."

Ha! I think I may have been too young when I tried it, so between keeping the names straight and not having any sense of historical context at the time, it was a hard slog. But I did always give up in the middle of a war part, so you may definitely be on to something there.

I'd be up for Anna Karenina as well! I tried it once and couldn't get through it, so read Android Karenina instead :P Felt like I got the gist of the story but would still like to be able to say I've read the original! Start in January?

Keen for a January read

Cool. I'm in too. Now to decide whether I want to do Audible or not...

Hi all, so is everyone ok with an informal discussion? Can discuss as you go *with spoiler alerts* and/or a big discussion at the end. What are you guys comfortable with? Its a bit of a long book also...I'm hoping to start a few days after New Years. Cheers :)

I've been trying to read this one forever, perhaps an informal discussion will be the way for me to do it. May I join in? :)

Tonya wrote: "I've been trying to read this one forever, perhaps an informal discussion will be the way for me to do it. May I join in? :)"

Of course Tonya! Look forward to chatting with you soon :)

I'm going to start reading this weekend or the beginning of next week. Either discussion as we go or at the end is fine.

Cool Tina! I'll be starting mid-next week as well.

How's the reading going ladies? Anyone having trouble or not liking it so far?

Dee wrote: "How's the reading going ladies? Anyone having trouble or not liking it so far?"

I had trouble getting into at first, but now it's going pretty smoothly. I'm about a third of the way through.

How's it going for you?

Tina wrote: "Dee wrote: "How's the reading going ladies? Anyone having trouble or not liking it so far?"

I had trouble getting into at first, but now it's going pretty smoothly. I'm about a third of the way th..."

The same, about a third of the way in. Loving Levin! Not such a fan of Vronsky. Liking it so far!

Dee wrote: "Tina wrote: "Dee wrote: "How's the reading going ladies? Anyone having trouble or not liking it so far?"

I had trouble getting into at first, but now it's going pretty smoothly. I'm about a third ..."

How's it going, Dee? I've stalled out a little over halfway through. Kitty and Levin are married, Vronsky and Anna are together, and I don't have any burning story questions to keep me going. Tell me something interesting happens soon!

Oh man, I had to really power through that section! It was quite dry, I admit. A lot of commentary on Russian life. Alright, well complications are soon going to arise between Vronsky and Anna. All is not well in paradise. I won't lie to you, the next quarter is quite slow, then a lot of stuff happens at the end. I really enjoyed reading Levin and Kitty's side of things, it was nice reading about their country life. Dolly and her kids also become a little more involved, break up the monotony a bit. I just finished so it can be done! What part are you on?

Also...if you're really having a hard time, try looking up the BBC Series "Anna Karenina". I found it to be not too bad, it was a change from reading. Maybe try watching an episode or two and it'll motivate you to read the rest? Good luck!

How is everyone else doing?