"Brothers Karamazov Read-and-discuss" sign-up thread and Peanut Gallery

[maddog]

An amendment to the official posters list:

1. maddog
2. Kael
3. Nullifidian
4. ceptimus
5. vremya
6. davidm
7. Gonzo
8. Fencesitter
9. SharonDee
10. freemonkey
11. yguy
12. The Man
13. Demimonde
14. One for Sorrow
15. DaveT
16. ChuckF

The thread will benefit from Chuck's explanations of the Russian language, which will no doubt be needed from time to time throughout our reading and discussion. Chuck, I hope you don't mind doing double duty both for the readers and the Peanut Gallery, as questions arise!

#2579

[maddog]

Originally Posted by Fencesitter

Embarrassing question not really related to the book. I downloaded the version that maddog linked as a pdf file.

It looks fine, but when I print out the pages, there are wide borders on both sides and the top and bottom of the page. Is there a way to decrease the margins and get more text on the printed page in a pdf?

I know from nothing about pdf.'s. Sorry someone more techno-savvy will have to answer.

#2580

[Gonzo]

Awesome wiki pic:

Dostoyevsky's notes for Chapter 5 of The Brothers Karamazov

[mickthinks]

Originally Posted by davidm

He's like some crazy old uncle everyone has who can't hold down a job and blows his welfare check at the racetrack and drinks too much, but he also tells all the good jokes and somehow he's the one you want to hang out with.

I'm assuming that the echo here of Dubya's highly successful "Who'd you rather have a beer with?" image is deliberate. If that's the case then davidm's response to DaveT's comment;

Originally Posted by DaveT

Given Dostoevskiy's beliefs regarding politics and religion, it seems that, by the end of Book I, he has set FP up as a character to be despised ...

... is a strange one.

Wouldn't Dostoyevsky have despised someone like Dubya deeply, conviviality notwithstanding?

[Gonzo]

By the way, maddog, I am really enjoying the discussion. Thanks to you. I would be interested in organizing other book readings on in the future should this one prove to be successful through to the end. We should think of other worthy titles to study here.

[Gonzo]

I am currently read up to book 5... keeping track of stuff I want to talk about later.

[Gonzo]

[ceptimus]

Oooh sorry! I read ahead too, and I didn't want to post any comments that might be considered spoilers by others. Where are we at now?

It's been so long I'll probably have to wind back and re-read the earlier chapters, but that would be no bad thing anyhow.

[Gonzo]

I've been reading over The Grand Inquisitor over and over for a month or so as I've been sidetracked and for the sake of clarity. Hoping to actually finish it this week. It's very cool part, though.

[maddog]

I feel like a failure in my own thread, guys and gals. I had intended to post more about Book II but didn't. So why don't we move on to Book III? Will one of you put up the synopsis? I will hopefully then be inspired to interpolate my finishing thoughts on the Book II while that is moving forward.

#2828

[davidm]

Originally Posted by maddog

I feel like a failure in my own thread, guys and gals. I had intended to post more about Book II but didn't. So why don't we move on to Book III? Will one of you put up the synopsis? I will hopefully then be inspired to interpolate my finishing thoughts on the Book II while that is moving forward.

#2828

We will try to accommodate maddog.

[Gonzo]

I'm all for moving ahead. We don't have to discuss every single thing, but we should finish the book.