Announcing my first date...with Anna Karenina

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Let me tell you about the hot date I had last night. With Mr. Nomadreader out of town this week (he's home in a few hours--hooray!), I opted for a Friday night date night of epic proportions (literally, she's an epic.) It may have only been our first date, but I think we'll be together until the new year. We won't be monogamous, of course, as many other readers are courting Anna too and I have so many other books to read, but I promise to take her out weekly and spend Friday mornings telling you about our dates. Who is this bewitching lady I'm courting?
Have you met the lovely Anna Karenina? She's lovely. I'll save my thoughts on her for next Friday, but here are some things you might find interesting about her. Although we think of her as one of the most famous Russian novels, she was originally published in serial installments (from 1873-1877), so our weekly dates are almost how Tolstoy intended. She is long. Epically long. Approximately 872 pages. I'll be reading her on my beloved Kindle so I can sip my wine and turn the pages at the same time.

I didn't dream up this idea on my own, of course. I usually need a little push to actually read the big old books I've been meaning to read for years. I place full blame on Wallace from Unputdownables for hosting a read-a-long and providing me with such a reasonable schedule. 63 pages a week? Sold! If all goes according to plan, I'll finish on December 30.

Rather than read a 9 pages a day, I'm aiming to read each week's section in its entirety. It will supplant my short fiction reading somewhat, as I find myself turning to short stories when in between books. Each Friday I'll post my thoughts on that week's readings (with spoiler warnings if needed.) 

Want to join the fun? It's not too late to sign up and all readers are welcome!

As an affiliate, I receive a very, very small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Comments

  1. ZibileeOctober 8, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    I so need to read this book! I feel like such a slacker having not read it yet, but this project seems like it makes it easier to tackle such a long book with relative ease. I am going to have to think about unofficially joining you on this quest. I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. FleurFisherOctober 8, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Anna Karenina has been living in my attic for some time. I'm tempted to fetch her down, but I'm not sure I have the time or the concentration right now. But even if I don't read I shall be watching woth interest.

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  3. AnonymousOctober 8, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    I have been meaning to read this one for years but the size always scares me off!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AudraOctober 11, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    I love this book! I have the Peaver/Volokhonsky translation (I vastly prefer more contemporary, casual translations than the formal ones from the '50s) -- I read it over a summer and was captivated. Can't wait to read your thoughts!

    ReplyDelete

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