[182a] Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky

“It was dark in the corridor; they were standing near a light. For a minute they looked silently at each other. Razumikhin remembered that minute all his life. Raskolnikov’s burning and fixed look seemed to grow more intense every moment, penetrating his soul, his consciousness. All at once Razumikhin gave a start. Something strange seemed [...]

March Madness: Gone with the Wind

For those of you who expressed in interest in reading long epic novels together, I have decided to begin Gone with the Wind on Monday, March 2. For your information, I’m reading the 1st Scribner trade paperback from 2007. Having known practically nothing about the plot of the book, except for a vague sense that [...]

The Question of e-Books

Do you have an ebook reader? Do you read ebooks on your computer? Do you hate the very thought? How do you feel about the fact that book publishing is changing and facing much the same existential dilemma as the music industry upon the creation of MP3s? I think ebook revolutionizes reading in terms of [...]

Literary Boot Camp?

I gave the second (unannounced) reading quiz in the third meeting of my Russian literature course today. I did not intend on one had it not been for the unsatisfactory result of the last quiz, which averaged below a 5 out of 10. A few turned in a blank paper with only their names. They [...]

Sixty Million and More

In addition to Crime and Punishment, which I am reading to prepare for my course, and of which C.B. James has kindly hosted me in his review post, I’m reading Beloved in observance of the upcoming Black History and heritage Month. The first page of the novel, which usually plays host to a dedication of [...]

Lending Policy, a Monday Musing

Today’s Musing Mondays post is about reading while sick… This week I was wondering what your policy was on lending books. Do you lend books to anyone? Just friends? Only big readers? How long are they allowed to have them? Lending books out is just about as selective as letting someone eating off my plate [...]

[181] The Clothes on Their Backs – Linda Grant

“My parents had brought me up to be a mouse. Out of gratitude to England which gave them refuge, they chose to be mice-people and this condition of mousehood, of not saying much (to outsiders or even each other), of living quietly and modestly, of being industrious and obedient, was what they hope for for [...]

Who Wants To Tango?

I mentioned the plan to read long epic novels on New year’s Day. Last year, synchronized with my students from Russian literature class, I read Anna Karenina, War and Peace, and The Brothers Karamazov. To step outside of obligation, I would like to read some monumental novels along with some of you. To recapture the [...]

[180] A Perfect Woman – L. P. Hartley

“She believed she knew herself fairly well. She did not suspect herself of Bovarysme. She did not mean to shoot herself or take poison or break out in any way. But latent in her were feelings she had not quite subdued when she accepted Harold and his gospel of conformity…” [12] “Harold sat quite still. [...]

Spontaneity and Whim

Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by? 5:35 am PST. My spontaneity and the book bloggers. I do not often have a reading plan but maintain a mental note of some specific books that I’d like to read. Reading challenges are great venues to interact with [...]