Reading the Chunksters discussion

Reading Schedule

Feb 12 -18 - Book One, Part I
Feb 19-25 - Book, One, Part II (4-7)
Feb 26-March 4 - Book One, Part II (8), Book Two, Part III (9-11)
March 5-11 - Book Two, Part III (12-13), Part IV (14-16)
March 12-18 - Book Two, Part IV (17-22)
March 19-25 - Book Three, Part V (23-27)
March 26-31 - Book Three, Part V (28), Part VI (29-33), Epilogue

I am excited to begin reading this book! It has absolutely outstanding reviews. I'll probably start this weekend. One thing I want to note is that since this is a history book and not plot driven I think that group members should be able to join the discussion for any week without a fear of 'spoilers' if they aren't caught up. In a way, this type of book gives more flexibility for discussion because you can 'skip' a week and then read the assigned week and discuss it without being 'behind' or alternatively join in the discussion even if you aren't caught up. I know ALL of you read plan to read every word so this will not apply, but I just wanted to mention this in case any of you are daunted by the prospect of reading a 1000 page history book ;)

I starting this today on audiobook - my first one! We will see how it goes - I have a hard copy as backup ;)

I started reading the hard copy last night - so far it is quite readable but the page size and the length of the book make it rather intimidating. I may have to break my usual one book at a time rule just because as an object it is so heavy and unwieldy - definitely too large to carry in a pocket. I hope nobody is expecting me to remember all of the people introduced in chapter two, as many of them were unfamiliar...

Too heavy to carry in a backpack . . . It is almost too big to carry up to bed.

It is both a long book and a big book. Which is why we've started early :-)

I may remember some of the people in Chapter 2 if and when they appear later in the book. I think this (almost) excess of upfront characters stands in for, or has to do with the huge number of people who are involved in this.

I wasn’t planning to make a character list since it seems many disappear - do you think we need one?

Dianne wrote: "I wasn’t planning to make a character list since it seems many disappear - do you think we need one?"
Probably not, but I haven't got far enough to judge...

... and the book does have an index, and a list of significant characters with one-paragraph summaries as an appendix

Oh perfect I should have checked my hard copy!

Agreed that no character list is needed.

Chapter 1 places us in the geography, with nice little maps and pictures of buildings.

Chapter 2 lets us know the people (and types of people) in the neighborhood.

I am now halfway through Chapter 3, which is fascinating. At first it seems irrelevant, going through thousands of years of religious history in quite a lot of detail, but Slezkine's view of Bolshevism as an apocalyptic sect seems very convincing.

They are both just a matter of faith.

Read another 100 pages yesterday and I am now midway through chapter 7, so I am getting quite a long way ahead of schedule, and will have to decide whether to continue or wait and read something else. I am tempted to continue, as the book is full of fascinating detail and I may lose motivation if I stop for too long.

Hugh though I normally don’t like to do this for novels, I can post all the threads now if you’d like so you can post your thoughts as you go along? We will catch up?

Don't do anything just for me - I should be able to remember enough to contribute later...

Ok

This is going to be a great group read! What do all of you think of those first pages? The details are just so finely tuned, it's what sold me on the book through and through.

"Slezkine's view of Bolshevism as an apocalyptic sect" interesting description of it, Hugh. I feel like I should watch a documentary on Bolshevism for a deeper understanding of it? Slezkine has the luxury of hindsight. At the time, they thought they were creating something new and lasting. I watched a talk by Chomsky the other day, he called the Revolution a coup rather than a revolution.

I have to clear the rest of my TBR and focus on only this book!! Lots to muse over ^.^

Dianne

I don't see any problem with opening up at least some of the upcoming threads. It is easier to contribute when things are fresh, and it's history, so we kind of know how this one ends.

Maybe instead of titling threads by date, just title them as your reading sections above.

Book One Part I
Book One Part II

Good point Dan, I’ll catch up if you guys are ahead of me!!

Biblio wrote: "This is going to be a great group read! What do all of you think of those first pages? The details are just so finely tuned, it's what sold me on the book through and through.

"Slezkine's view of ..."

Apparently, both religion and Communism are the opium of the people.

Now that's a single point where discussions can sprout from!

I have fewer than 100 pages to go now (after page 980 it is all footnotes and other appendices). I am still very impressed, but the section on the Great Terror is relentless, and overshadows everything that came before.

I have finished the book - and posted my review, but I am sure I can find plenty more to say once the discussions reach the later stages.