So I just finished Part 2, but I think I'll hold off on posting about it until I know where most of us are. So, where are you in the book? Or the world...some of you I don't know, and most of you don't know each other, so that get-to-know-ya info would be good, too.
If you're not the commenting type, that's fine. I'm just curious about who is actually reading along. Make yourselves known! Plus I know we would all like reading other people's thoughts, so bring it.
Are you liking the book? Having any profound thoughts? Any quotes from the book that stood out to you?
Bring. It.
*Aside: Did anyone else notice in the movie "Bring It On" that the girl actually says "Bring It. (Notice the lack of the word ON)"? No? Just me. Okay. Let's resume our discussion about this great Russian novel then.
I am competitive in sports, even when my trash-talking far exceeds my skill, and usually I just use the phrase, "It's on." But, then again, I was never a cheerleader.....
ReplyDeleteOK, anyway, I just started part 2 and I am really into the book. As conflicted as Anna is, I really like her and can relate to her. I, like Kitty, want to know her "story". I am also anxious to see the choices she makes and how the whole story unfolds.
This quote struck me, near the end of part one:
"She undressed and went to the bedroom, but not only was that animation which had simply burst from her eyes and smile when she was in Moscow gone from her face: on the contrary, the fire now seemed extinguished in her or hidden somewhere far way."
This made me sad. And, in answer to your question, Brooke, it doesn't seem, yet, like her husband is a scoundrel, giving her this grand excuse for an affair or even some innocent flirting, but rather that her life is just monotonous, with no fresh experiences to stimulate her.....
?
maybe that is why Cosmo always has articles about kinky sex and spontaneity in monogamous relationships...so that the fire isn't extinguished, or worse, hidden somewhere far away.
and a little about me...hmmmmm, I always say, first, that I have four amazing sons, I love them so much and spend most of my time on them, their needs and on helping them learn independence.
ReplyDeleteOn the side, I do some web design and I volunteer teaching art to PreK thru 2nd graders since the city of North Platte does not have an art budget or curriculum.
Mark, my awesome husband, is a Nurse Anesthetist at the hospital in town and he likes his job. Once a week we play violent games of kayak water polo with other insane adults. This past summer we also played sand volleyball on a pathetic team of 30 somethings and we ended up winning the whole damn thing!
Mark and I love our date nights with just us two but we also love family movie/game night with our kids and pretty much everything else we do revolves around them, their sports, activities, etc.
And, yeah, I don't really have time to read but I love it and am now so grateful to have some intellectual stimulation in the form of our little online book club!
I guess I could tell my brief bio, too.
ReplyDeleteI married Gabe four and a half-ish years ago and I definitely lucked out there. He is a writer and an English teacher and he's the best person there is :)
We have a two-year-old little girl, Ellis Jane, who is hilarious and sweet and wonderful. She makes everything better.
I am staying at home with Ellis this year (and hopefully indefinitely, because I plan on homeschooling). I'm on a parenting leave from my job as a middle school art teacher. I work once a week at a nearby flower shop. I have a little shop on Etsy where I occasionally sell some furniture or jewelry.
Gabe and I are currently addicted to watching back episodes of Psych on NetFlix, so I'm heading up for that now.
That was pretty surface-levely...
Hi there. A bit about me.....I am married to my wonderful husband Steve for almost thirteen years. I have a beautiful daughter, Rebekah Lynn, who is eleven. I am a nursing student in my first year of a two year program. I am also an EMT and firefighter for a volunteer department in Umatilla, OR.
ReplyDeleteAbout the book.....I must say at first I found it very diffucult to read. It seemed to drag on forever and not really grab my interest. I just started part two (between school, home, family, and emergency calls, my time for reading for pleasure is minimal at best) and I am happy that it has picked up.
Brooke, I have seen your beautiful things on Etsy. I really like what you make.
ReplyDeleteHey, as an art teacher, what artists do you like to teach kids about and do you have any books or websites that you recommend for an amateur like me who is trying to bring art techniques and art appreciation into the public schools?
Thanks!
As I sit typing this I am listening to my beloved dog who comes to "tell" me when one of our girls is crying snort/snore. I love my Yeti.
ReplyDeleteI married a boy who after knowing for 21 years still makes my heart skip when I see him. We now have the joy of watching our two little girls grow into little ladies. I always knew I'd be a mom, but had no idea what a beautiful-heart wrenching-joy it really would be. I love leaves shadow dancing through windows. I was told today by our three year old that I broke her heart "as long as the alphabet" because I said no more hot chocolate. I wish I was a cowgirl with an organic garden that would make a vegetarian weak in the knees.
And I’m really enjoying this book-blog. Thank you Brooke, it’s been nice feeding my mind and reading something of substance…gotta go real housewives of Beverly Hills is on, yep, I enjoy that too…
Oh Amelie! She is already so good at expressing her passion! And she'll be 4 tomorrow!!! Stock show bday party?
ReplyDeleteYou would make an awesome cowgirl. giddyap!
Jenn: I will have to give some thought to your art questions. I haven't taught little ones for almost five years, but I know I've got some good stuff in my brain's archives, so I'll get back to you. That's so cool that you do that.
ReplyDeleteKerri: I can't believe you find any time to read! I've never known a female firefighter---I'm so impressed that you volunteer to do that!
Amy: I think you've got a poet in the making on your hands with Amelie. Her head is as big as elephant poop, and her heart is broken as long as the alphabet. "Beautiful-heart-wrenching-joy"..."Leaves shadow dancing through windows"..."Flowers don't say I'm sorry, your mouth does." It's no wonder where Amelie gets her creative outlook on life :) Lucky girl!
I am totally reading, but am a little tardy with the commenting ... also, I am reading on a Kindle and am still new to it so I have NO idea where I am in terms of Parts. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're reading, too! By any chance are you reading the free version? Apparently that translation is pretty dense and more difficult to get through. Amy just switched over from that one to one she purchased for her Kindle and says its so much easier/more enjoyable to read. I think it's maybe the first post on this blog where I mention my translation, which has been great. Looking forward to some of your reactions!
ReplyDeleteIt was free, so perhaps that's my problem... but it's more likely that my 15 minutes on the train to and from work ain't cutting it with this group! :) I need to step up my game. It's on.
ReplyDeleteIn other news, I am really enjoying the book and was so pleasantly surprised that it reads to me more like Austen and less like Dostoevsky. Not that there's anything wrong with that ...