Yes, can you believe it? I have finished it! Yay me. And it only took about two months (compared to six months with Ulysses, a novel about 400 pages shorter).
Did I love it? I can't say that I did -- I think it's one of those novels that you need to re-read to fully appreciate -- but I certainly liked it. It's not a book that one can just pick up and read a few pages here and there (at least I couldn't), so it does require a time commitment, but I think it is worth it. The last part of the epilogue is a really dry (REALLY) essay on the significance on history of man's will (at least I think that is what it was about, my eyes glazed over once in a while), but the novel as a whole held my interest.
People far more intelligent and articulate than I have talked about this book, so I won't make an attempt. My classics reading group will be discussing this on Wednesday, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the others felt about it.
You'll find that the 'Siren's Song' does indeed pull you back to this novel periodically over the course of your life. I think I've read 4-5 times now, and it really does get better and better with each read. The sweep, scope, and panorama of the novel makes you go back for more; in some sense it it is the quintessential Russian Dickens novel. I am very glad that you invested the time and energy to read; and I'll bet anything that over time you come to appreciate it more and more. Cheers! Chris
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Sue! This is one of those classics that everyone wants to read in their lifetime but can't seem to muster the courage to :D This is such an overused excuse but "some day" I'll get to it...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I conquered that bad boy late last year. It wook me about 2 months as well. I don't think I will ever have the courage (or interest) in Ulysses.
ReplyDeleteYeay for you! I'm really not looking forwrad to the epilogue....
ReplyDeletewow! congratulations!! :)
ReplyDeleteGood work! I received this same edition for Christmas, and I am hesitantly looking forward (if that makes any sense) to reading it sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you've already seen this, but Ingrid wrote a post pretty recently with some tips for how to read War and Peace. (http://thebluebookcase.blogspot.com/2010/11/post-reading-war-and-peace.html)
Not sure how interesting that'll be to you after the fact, but there it is in case you're interested! :)
Wow - I'm impressed. I did enjoy Anna Karenina but got confused with all the names.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Awesome. I will read it someday. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing!!
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