It's finally here, folks. Today the day we finally start reading.
I actually started reading last night, just so I can keep ahead enough to be able to write some prompts and questions for you all. I have news: it's really not that bad. In fact, I'm already half-way through the allocated reading for this week.
It's actually quite accessible and the chapters are blessedly short. They're actually only two or three pages each so it's really easy to 'just read one more chapter,' or to fit in another section while the kettle is boiling.
I never thought I'd say it, but I'm enjoying War & Peace. There are a lot of characters but so far it's easy to keep them straight in my head.
A few of you have asked which edition/translation I'm using, and it's the Penguin Classics version, translated by Anthony Briggs. It's not the edition I told you it was last week - whoops. If you haven't bought/borrowed a copy yet, I do recommend this one. It's really accessible and the characters don't lapse into French every so often, which I've heard some copies contain.
I was toying with just reading it on my Kindle (and therefore avoiding looking ridiculously pretentious on the train and actually having to lug this thing around), but I like seeing how far ahead the next chapter is and how much progress I've made.
There's a linky below if you want to write an introductory post. Otherwise, just start reading and we'll see you back here on the 8th to talk about Book One!
Last thing, we'll be Tweeting using #ReadingTolstoyTogether throughout the read-a-thon.
It's not that bad, everyone! :)
I'm excited about the short little chapters. It makes reading big classics so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to start reading yet, but everyone seems to be positive about it so far which is good! Plus my mum said it was good (although she didn't actually finish it - apparently she lent it to a friend who didn't give it back, but I'm not sure if I believe that or not), so hopefully that means it will be good! YAY :D
ReplyDeleteIs it too late to sign up for the read-along? I want to post the information about this on the Chunkster Challenge blog for anyone who doesn't know about it.
ReplyDeleteNo no, it's absolutely not too late to sign-up. We only started reading yesterday!
DeleteI'd like to join in as well, but I haven't been able to find a schedule anywhere. Are you planning on having all of book 1 finished in the first week? In my version, that's a third of the book, which seems like a lot given the length of the read-along :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHaha, ok, one last update - there are parts within the books in my edition which appear to correspond to your books. I think I've got everything figured out so I can keep on track with everyone else. Never mind :)
DeleteHello :) Not sure if you've found it or not, but here is the schedule:
Deletehttp://www.bookinginheels.com/2015/01/war-peace-read-long-2015-schedule.html
I think they;re referred to as 'Parts' in some editions and 'Books' in others. Basically, Book One should be roughly a hundred pages... don't worry, I'm not asking you to read a whole third of War & Peace in a week!