Reader's Paradise discussion

A few folks here are starting the evergreen journey of reading Shakespeare. Creating this thread in the interest of all who want a buddy to read any of his works,

Starting with Hamlet. (Arpit, Rebecca, Pranjali, Gorab)

I got my copy, contains introduction, scene by scene analysis and explanatory notes. ready to start tomorrow

Good Pran. Me too very much excited.
By the way, Pran, I'll suggest you to skip introduction. They contain spoilers sometimes.

Ooh okay thanks for the heads up! :)

anyone started?

I'm starting just now.

Me too started
Have anyone seen 'Hairder', sahid kapoor's movie. It's hugely inspired by Hamlet

Pranjali wrote: "I got my copy, contains introduction, scene by scene analysis and explanatory notes. ready to start tomorrow"

which copy is this? I will just check out to see if I can get it too.

@Indrani- it's an epub version, if you want I can mail you the copy :)

Me too please. Just started with Gold Deer Classic Kindle version yesterday, and didn't like it. Explanatory notes would help.

Welcome Indrani :)
Haider - didn't like it much overall. Loved the acting.

Gorab wrote: "Welcome Indrani :)
Haider - didn't like it much overall. Loved the acting."

Thanks Gorab. Knowing how fickle I can be, you may want to hold the welcome for a bit. :) Just joking. :) I think I am in the mood for something tough once more. Plus the bragging rights seem pretty attractive too. :) :)

Ha ha ha :D
Have read any Shakespeare before?

Gorab wrote: "Ha ha ha :D
Have read any Shakespeare before?"

Nopes. I have read translated children's versions in school. but never in original. had tried once before and failed within a page or two. with explanations and buddies, I may just fare better this time.

I'm also counting in on the buddies factor :)

welcome Indrani, please join us
and I am very optimistic, we can do this *-*

Started with it. I'm reading the Penguin Classics version.
Act 1 Scene 1.
(view spoiler)[Coudn't understand a darn thing... Except a ghost appearing/disappearing and people rambling about it. (hide spoiler)]

Gorab, sent you the book, Check it out

I read just a couple of pages.. liking it so far.. the footnotes are enormously helping

Thanks :)
Should restart from Sc1.

Read till Act 1 Scene 2. I broadly know the story of course. But enjoying the dialogues very much. All thanks to the technology of footnotes.

me too finished till act 1 scene 2.

Done with act 1 scene 1.
Welcome Indrani, great you are joining us ^_^

Gorab wrote: "Started with it. I'm reading the Penguin Classics version.
Act 1 Scene 1.
[spoilers removed]"

Gorab, read it aloud. It will help. And the fun will be double.

Pranjali wrote: "Me too started
Have anyone seen 'Hairder', sahid kapoor's movie. It's hugely inspired by Hamlet"

You just described one of the reason for which I did not watch the movie. Book first always.

yes reading aloud helps it to understand better

@Arpit- that's a great rule to live by, but sometimes you can't help it ;p
also the movie is inspired not copied, its very dark realistic kind of movie. I don't know if you will like it or not but the acting in the movie is really top notch!

Pranjali wrote: "@Arpit- that's a great rule to live by, but sometimes you can't help it ;p
also the movie is inspired not copied, its very dark realistic kind of movie. I don't know if you will like it or not but ..."

I know. Sometimes it's not easy to do. But still I try. Bollywood helps a great deal, since there are only a few movies based upon/inspired by books.

I'll watch it after completing the book.

I also haven't watched Haider yet. But I have watched Maqbool and Omkara by Vishal Bharadwaj. I loved both of them.

You guys are joking about reading aloud, right? I had the habit of reading aloud in school days. I had so much trouble to stop doing it.

Arpit wrote: "Done with act 1 scene 1.
Welcome Indrani, great you are joining us ^_^"

Thaaaaank you. :)

don't know about Arpit, but I am not joking. I find poetry and types are easy and more enjoyable while reading aloud, seriously ^-^

Indrani wrote: "I also haven't watched Haider yet. But I have watched Maqbool and Omkara by Vishal Bharadwaj. I loved both of them."

they too are inspired by Shakespeare's play, right?
haven't watched them but have heard great reviews, maybe I'll watch them after reading the books :)

Pranjali wrote: "don't know about Arpit, but I am not joking. I find poetry and types are easy and more enjoyable while reading aloud, seriously ^-^"

Same with me. Besides, plays are meant to be acted. What's the fun in reading 'em silently.

Pranjali wrote: "Indrani wrote: "I also haven't watched Haider yet. But I have watched Maqbool and Omkara by Vishal Bharadwaj. I loved both of them."

they too are inspired by Shakespeare's play, right?
haven't wat..."

Yes, Maqbool is macbeth and Omkara is Othello. I think they are pretty decent adaptations. I of course watched them as wasn't really expecting to read the originals. :)

This year a Bengali film is coming - Zulfiqar. A very renowned director is adapting Julius Ceaser and Antony and Cleopatra. Waiting for it eagerly.

well, I agree now. You guys have a point. It would be fun to read aloud. It's beyond me to act out Shakespeare. Let me even read one in it's entirety. :)

With footnotes, managed to read scene 2.... and enjoyed it this time.
was guessing the word meaning/context before hitting footnotes, and as expected all guesses were wrong :P

Omkara n Maqbool, loved them both. among favorites.

Reading out loud is not gonna work... lest I disturb kid's sleep which in turn will have me sleep at dawn! can't risk it!

will look out for Zulfikar

Gorab wrote: "With footnotes, managed to read scene 2.... and enjoyed it this time.
was guessing the word meaning/context before hitting footnotes, and as expected all guesses were wrong :P"

Me too done with scene 2. Liked Hamlet's monologue too much.
So he's kinda feeling disgusted bcoz his mother and uncle did not wait enough. Hmm.

Gorab wrote: "Reading out loud is not gonna work... lest I disturb kid's sleep which in turn will have me sleep at dawn! can't risk it!"

Ohh I forgot you are a "responsible" father now :-P:-P

A thing you'd like to read- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-se...

Warning- a long, but informative answer. Haven't read it completely yet.

Completed till Act 1 Scene 3. Loving it much. Ophelia's brother and father warning her sounds so timeless. The difference is that they are not much impressed that the price is her suitor. Also how the warnings are different between brother and father due to their age difference, is pretty interesting too.

I'm surprised to be hooked to something I abandoned a couple of days back. Loving it now.
And can't imagine reading any of Shakespeare in prose! If it ain't verses 't ain't Shakespeare!

Have read all of Act 1.
Every scene has a long monologue which are all very interesting.
Best so far was Polonius' advice to his son....

"The friends thou hast and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel,
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
.
.
.
"

Like you mentioned Indrani, timeless!

Have also read the analysis of all scenes of Act1. Aids in reading between lines, and explains the obscure symbolism.

Arpit wrote: "A thing you'd like to read- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-se...

Warning- a long, but i..."

In short, to me it means always read a version which has footnotes and analysis. Can't afford to break my head on it without any aid.