THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

Starting November 1st, please join us as we read this wonderful novel. As always, please, when responding if necessary put down the chapter with SPOILERS alerted. So grab your book, your kindle, your nook, your sony reader,etc. and come aboard! :)

eeeeekkkkkk isn't that like a 1000 pages? Hmmmm sounds like a fun chanllenge though.

Oh! Kristine, it is only 1475, but if you get it on Kindle it's free! ...and then you have it forever which is about the time it will take us to read it! :) 560,000 words btw!

LOL...I'll have to think about it...as for the Kindle...I just got rid of my dial up internet this year...lol an eReader is a loooong way off for me....:)

Is there a (loose) schedule, of sorts? Maybe that would help people decide to join if they knew it was a slower read?
1475 pages!!! Yikes!!

I'm using the Goodreads version, but they have it as having 346 chapters. I think it's probably better to go by how many chapters a day rather than pages. We'll all probably be using different versions. So, for everyone who wants to participate, how many pages can you read a day? I think that since people have had such problems with this book, I think it's better to probably underestimate the amount you feel comfortable with. (Including me.) Then, once we decide amount of pages per day, we'll read to the nearest chapter.

I didn't realize it was that long, so we can plan on a month and a half or more if that's better for everyone. For 45 days, it would be about 33 pages a day; for 30 days it would be about 50 pages a day. We can stretch it out even further, but I'd like to be wrapped up by Christmas. We should probably plan that no reading will occur for Thanksgiving and Christmas eve/day if we decide on longer than 6 weeks.

I read War and Peace back in high school...on a bet. One of my friends (who is now on Goodreads!) bet that I could not finish it. I said I could. The stakes were very small (she had to buy me a few lunches or something if I completed it.) I ended up enjoying the story very much -- high romance and drama. When Tolstoy would go into his ruminations at the beginning of chapters I know I skimmed (just read words rather than attempted to absorb meaning). But I am glad I pushed through the book. I 'should' re-read it some time as an adult. Right now is just not the right time for me (having a time-deficit issue for the next couple of months!)

The thought of it now just makes me want to curl up in a ball in a corner somewhere ... sorry, just can't do it now. Maybe after I retire :-) In fairness to me, I am reading The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote which is quite long as well.

Shay, Both ways will work for me. Perhaps 33 pages a day is good since that seems to be a fair amount of reading. I have to check the Kindle version as you know it does not do pages. (so for some perhaps the number of chapters might be better). 346 chapters divided by 45 would be about 7-8 chapters a day.

Maybe, for those of us using a Kindle if anyone has the book they can say the Chapters that cover the pages we are scheduled to read. Does that sound ok?

Marialyce, just multiply the number of pages on the ebook version by 2.2%. End it at the nearest chapter. If there are really 346 chapters, the chapters should be really short for the most part.

I just downloaded a version of W & P to my desktop. Don't want to use the one I have on my Nook because I don't want to throw off the "Furthest point read feature". The version I downloaded has 1810 pages, when you take off the pages for the cover, etc. So, 1810 x 2.2%= 39.82 pages. On this version, I have Chapter 9 ending at page 40 and the end of Chapter 17 at page 79. Can someone else "do the math" and verify that this all somehow "calibrates" on theirs? In other words, is the end of Chapter 9 and the end of Chapter 17 2.2 %of the book each?

On the Books you couldn't finish thread, Howard posted these books related to War and Peace.

"You might have a look at "With Napoleon in Russia: The Memoirs of General de Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza". Caulaincourt was there for many of the memorable events of Napoleon's reign and was additionally stationed as a diplomat at the Russian court in the run-up to the 1812 invasion. One gets the French perspective, to be sure, but learns a good deal nonetheless.

Another book is "Napoleon's Invasion of Russia" by George F. Nafziger. While you will learn more than you really want to know about the organization of a French infantry regiment, you will get the campaign and maneuvering laid out clearly and in detail, which may help to follow the thread in W&P.

Finally, to get a picture of life among the gentry of the era, read Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin", a love story with a twisted ending. Aside from the story, you will learn much about the social circles that are featured in the Tolstoi book. It is also the basis for Tchaikovsky's wonderful opera of the same name."

Howard always recommends the best history books. Just wanted to get them in this thread so we can always find them.

You are amazing, Shay and I thank you for all the math and the books about the setting of W & P. I am going to google it in and see what they have to recommend too! I am looking forward to this. I feel like we are embarking on a mission or a crusade. :)

Thank you Marialyce. Although Howard recommended the books. He always knows of the most remarkable history books. I haven't seen him stumped yet on pretty much any time period.

I'm afraid that if I start W&P again, I'll end up putting it aside as I have before. I will download it to my nook, but can't promise that I'll keep up with the rest of you.

Steve wrote: "I'm afraid that if I start W&P again, I'll end up putting it aside as I have before. I will download it to my nook, but can't promise that I'll keep up with the rest of you."

Steve, don't worry. The threads stay active. Marialyce and I still go back to the Pillars of the Earth thread to comment.

I downloaded the book and I swear my nook seems heavier now!!

LOL...very funny

That is too funny, Steve. I bet it took all morning to download! :)

I use Stanza on my iPod Touch and I can't even see how many pages are in a book. I can see how many pages are in each chapter, but that's it. Chapters sound like the best way, but even that will be kind of complicated. There isn't like a chapter 300, there's a book 8, chapter 12. I just made those numbers up, but that's the way the book is divided up. There are 15 books plus two epilogues, ranging from 12 to 39 chapters in each.

Leslie T. wrote: "I use Stanza on my iPod Touch and I can't even see how many pages are in a book. I can see how many pages are in each chapter, but that's it. Chapters sound like the best way, but even that will ..."

Leslie, I counted all of the chapters from the various sections. So, it'll be Part 1, Chapter 9 for the first day. We'll post some kind of rough schedule for a few weeks, at least,before we start. It sounds like all of the editions are pretty much set up the same, Books divided into Chapters. If in doubt, we can refer to the Goodreads version on the page for War and Peace. It's available online with a with a hypertext linked Table of Contents if anyone wants to double check. When I draw up the schedule, I'm going to be using that version of War and Peace for Book and Chapters so that if there are any doubts or big discrepancies in editions then all anyone has to do is refer to that since everyone can access that version.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/warandp...

There is a very good list of characters and who they are at this site.

NINE DAYS UNTIL WE START!

Reading Schedule for War and Peace
Read through (to the end of) the Part and Chapter listed for the day.

November 1: Part 1, Chapter 9
November 2: Part 1, Chapter 17
November 3: Part 1, Chapter 24
November 4: Part 2, Chapter 1
November 5: Part 2, Chapter 8
November 6: Part 2, Chapter 15
November 7: Part 2, Chapter 21 (this is the end of Part 2)
November 8: Part 3, Chapter 5
November 9: Part 3, Chapter 11
November 10: Part 3, Chapter 18
November 11: Part 4, Chapter 6
November 12: Part 4, Chapter 16 (end of Part 4)
November 13: Part 5, Chapter 8 (I know it seems like a lot of chapters but I checked and most of them are very short.)
November 14: Part 5, Chapter 16
November 15: Part 6, Chapter 4
November 16: Part 6, Chapter 13
November 17: Part 6, Chapter 23
November 18: Part 7, Chapter 5
November 19: Part 7, Chapter 11
November 20: Part 8, Chapter 6
November 21: Part 8, Chapter 15
November 22: Part 9, Chapter 2
November 23: Part 9, Chapter 9
November 24: Part 9, Chapter 18
November 25-November 28: Break for Thanksgiving Weekend
November 29: Part 10, Chapter 2
November 30: Part 10, Chapter 8
December 1: Part 10, Chapter 16
December 2: Part 10, Chapter 24
December 3: Part 10, Chapter 32
December 4: Part 11, Chapter 1
December 5: Part 11, Chapter 11
December 6: Part 11, Chapter 20
December 7: Part 11, Chapter 27
December 8: Part 11, Chapter 34, end of Part 11
December 9: Part 12, Chapter 9
December 10: Part 12, Chapter 16 (end of part 12)
December 11: Part 13, Chapter 11
December 12: Part 14, Chapter 2
December 13: Part 14, Chapter 13
December 14: Part 15, Chapter 4
December 15: Part 15, Chapter 13
December 16: Part 16, Chapter 3
December 17: Part 16, Chapter 12
December 18: Part 17, Chapter 4
December 19: finish book, don't worry, it's not even the full 38 pages.

Thanks Shay! I am very much looking forward to it.

Marialyce wrote: "Thanks Shay! I am very much looking forward to it."

Instead of adding to the schedule in separate posts, I'll edit the first one. Should we plan on a reading break for Thanksgiving Weekend?

I think that sounds good as I am sure we will all be busy getting ready and all.

Marialyce wrote: "I think that sounds good as I am sure we will all be busy getting ready and all."

I start cooking about 5-7 days before Thanksgiving Day. I make everything from scratch, over 12 courses. Including the stuffing- I make a cornbread stuffing, so I even make the cornbread from scratch.

I finished the whole reading schedule for War and Peace. It includes a break for Thanksgiving. Please feel free to start early if you'd like to give yourself a few days "padding".

Shay wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "I think that sounds good as I am sure we will all be busy getting ready and all."

I start cooking about 5-7 days before Thanksgiving Day. I make everything from scratch, over 12 ..."

You are amazing! How many people do you have coming for that feast?

Shay wrote: "Marialyce wrote: "I think that sounds good as I am sure we will all be busy getting ready and all."

I start cooking about 5-7 days before Thanksgiving Day. I make everything from scratch, over 12 ..."

Seriously? Just reading this has made me hungry D: I love Thanksgiving :)

It's flexible, not usually over 15-20 though. It's Christmas that's the killer for me, cooking wise. Way more courses than that, plus the cookie list. People beg to get on my Christmas cookie list. I make between 6-10 kinds of cookies. One of the really cool things is that every year, I do something called "Your grandmother's or mother's cookies." Everyone gets to submit recipes and eventually, I'll make their family cookie recipe. (We're all of that age where our grandparents and parents are not with us anymore) So, I make cookies that people may not have eaten for a decade. The other reason people beg to get on my Christmas cookie list is that it means you're automatically on the birthday cake list. Which means that every year on your birthday, I make you whatever cake you want and the ice cream too.

I want on that list!

I'm excited to do a group read like this. I've never done one that was as organized as this. For one, it's going to motivate me to read it and two, it's almost impossible to talk about a book in a thread where everyone is at a different point.

I can't wait to read this book either Leslie. I'm only 17 but I've been wanting to read this for a while now.

Shay wrote: "It's flexible, not usually over 15-20 though. It's Christmas that's the killer for me, cooking wise. Way more courses than that, plus the cookie list. People beg to get on my Christmas cookie list...."

You are totally amazing, Shay. I wish I lived closer to be on your list. What a truly sweet and loving thing to do!! :)

Marialyce wrote: "Shay wrote: "It's flexible, not usually over 15-20 though. It's Christmas that's the killer for me, cooking wise. Way more courses than that, plus the cookie list. People beg to get on my Christmas..."

I would love to say I planned it, but I didn't. It started off with peanut butter fudge, which I made for someone on the list with gluten allergies. It reminded someone else on the list of the consistency of her grandma's fudge which she hadn't had in about 15 years. Her grandma left a very incomplete recipe- almost nothing but cook time and ingredients. So, I had to recreate the whole recipe. She wanted me to share the recipe, since it was as much mine at that point, so I gave it out with the cookies. Other people started slipping me their recipes. The cake thing started because my friend with the gluten allergy usually had her parents over around her birthday. Her father got really sick and couldn't come, so no one could make her a cake. They bought her a cake at work that she couldn't even eat, so I made her a cake and ice cream. Then everyone else got "jealous" so it continued on from there. I love doing it- when you get older and you can buy your own stuff, gifts like these are better, I think.

I'm new to the group, and decided to take the plunge when I saw you were going to cover War & Peace. I've not read it before, but I thought this would be a good way to jump in and have some motivation to keep me going.

Thanks!

Welcome to the group, Kyle. I'm looking forward to finally finishing this book that has defeated me for many years.

Which translation(version) are we reading since this was originally written in Russian?

I saw a review that the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation is good for first timers.

I also saw the Louise and Aylmer Maud translation is supposedly a bit harder to understand, but it is free for those using ereaders.

I have the KIndle version. I think I heard that the newest translation is the best so I might take a run out to B and N and take a look.

Amazon sells the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation on Kindle for $7.09, which I don't mind paying if we are going to use that translation.

Of course, free is always nice too, but I'm not sure which translation is used on the free Kindle version. I'm guessing it is Maude's, but not sure.

The one you mentioned, Kyle is the one that was recommended to me. So, if we are reading that one, I will download it. That's not a problem to do.

How does everyone feel about that?

I'm OK with the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, especially if it makes it easier to understand!

I think it is a good idea for everyone to get the same translation if possible.

For those of us that have Nooks or Sony's, etc., it's available here: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/...

So far, that's the cheapest I found for the non-Kindle ebook version. It's $20 in paperback at B & N in-store, so still quite a bargain.

I downloaded the Pevear and Volokhonshy version. I will read the Introduction soon.

I downloaded it too. Each Chapter is divided into parts and including the epilogue, there are 17 parts. Each Chapter seems to have Roman Numerals, so I'm going to assume that it matches up with other versions.

The Chapters in the first part don't match up. There are 25 chapters in the Pevear and 28 in the Goodreads which is the Maud translation. In the Part 2, both versions have 21 chapters.

Nanette, I got it from Amazon. If you go to Amazon Kindle and type in Pevear and Volokonshy in the kindle section books will pop up and War and Peace is one of them.

Well, we could still follow the schedule you set up, Shay. We would just get to Part 2 sooner. I had heard hat the Pevear and Volokonshy is a wonderful translation supposedly better than the Maud one.

Marialyce, have you looked at the book part itself? It's extensively footnoted. So, if someone is considering an ebook version of this, I would say that unless you have a touch screen that will let you click on hypertext links to the footnotes, this version may annoy you. Or if you speak fluent French and don't need the footnotes. If not, consider getting the print version. Honestly, I might end up using the Maude version because of all of the footnotes.

I will get that as well tomorrow at B and N. Thanks, Shay. I really have to look at both versions on the Kindle.

I have the book waiting at B & N, but was going to blow it off after I got the ebook. But, I think I might need it. Good thing I haven't spent much on books this month because I can buy the real book too and not be over my book budget. Now, it's just a matter of getting to the bookstore.