I was scheduled to read Eugene Onegin in November as the group read for the Dead Writers Society on Goodreads. I started and made it through the first three chapters. Poetry (technically this is referred to as a novel in verse) has always been a hard genre to wrap my thick head around. I guess I'm more of a do not tell me the frilly version of something that dances around the meaning, just tell me straight up what you mean.
Tanglewood is hosting a read-along that another Dead Writers Society group member is participating in and has nudged me to join so I can finish and move this off my "currently reading" list. You can sign-up by clicking the picture or the blog name Tanglewood, late joining allowed.
I'm joining in a little late, but being I have already read Chapter 1-3 I can jump in on schedule.
Here is the schedule:
Ch. 1 & 2 - January 7 to 16
Ch. 3 & 4 - January 16 to 25
Ch. 5 & 6 - January 25 to February 3
Ch. 7 & 8 - February 3 to February 12
I selected the Oxford World Classics Falen translation for my reading of this Russian poetic life struggles story. Set in Russia during the 1820's we follow the lives of three men and three women tangled by society, life and love. Follow the jump for my thoughts on Chapters 1 and 2.
I actually have been carrying this around back-and-forth for the last two months hoping it would persuade me to finish as it really is a short read.
Falen's translation is heavy on the rhymes for the stanza's, take for example this one about the love they had for the ballet during this period.
Falen's translation is heavy on the rhymes for the stanza's, take for example this one about the love they had for the ballet during this period.
The theatre's full, the boxes glitter; | Portrait of Avdotya Istomina Public domain image from Wikipedia Commons link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Avdotya_Istomina.JPG |
Suggested Questions from Tanglewood's Blog
► First impressions of Eugene?
At this point, I find Onegin to be a rather annoying loof. He spends his nights partying and chasing girls, then sleeps the day away so he can do it all again the next night. He seems to have no desire to take any of life serious even when faced with an opportunity to change, he was becoming bored with this lifestyle and decides writing will change things. Through the loss of his uncle, he obtains a new manor, yet he could hardly bare the solitude the countryside brought him for even a day.
► First impressions of Eugene?
At this point, I find Onegin to be a rather annoying loof. He spends his nights partying and chasing girls, then sleeps the day away so he can do it all again the next night. He seems to have no desire to take any of life serious even when faced with an opportunity to change, he was becoming bored with this lifestyle and decides writing will change things. Through the loss of his uncle, he obtains a new manor, yet he could hardly bare the solitude the countryside brought him for even a day.
But what of my Eugene? Half drowsing, | The place Eugene found so confining |
► Thoughts on the characters sketched out in Chapter 2? Vladimir Lensky is a young romantic that seems to be the polar opposite of Eugene. Despite their difference, in character the two seem to hit it off. Lensky takes Onegin to a neighborhood party hosted by Olga, sister to Tatyana. Tatyana is a young girl lost in herself; she does not yet seem to grasp the social aspects required/expected of someone her age. Too early yet to comment much more on my thoughts as I am still trying to grasp all the details of the verses. [Notice: Original posting 2014-01-23 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com] Tags: Read-Alongs; Onegin | So she was called Tatyana, reader. |