Welcome from your moderator

[IlanaSimons]

Welcome to our discussion of “The Double,” beginning March 5. We’ll focus on this great early work, which launches the major themes that shaped Dostoevsky's career. If you are reading other short works by Dostoevsky, you can also feel free to start your own discussion threads on this board.

In “The Double,” published at age 25, Dostoevsky established his landmark description of the split self. The story introduces Dostoevsky’s major psychological insights--about guilt, self-alienation, and the burden of being consistent for others. His tour through the human psyche left a large mark in literary history--and we'll explore its impact together.

[ELee]

Bought my book today - "see" everyone on the 5th!

[KristyR]

Looking forward to my first foray into Dostoevsky, see you on the 5th!

[ziki]

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ELee wrote:
Bought my book today - "see" everyone on the 5th!

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Splendid ELee. I am looking forward your comments.

ziki

[Choisya]

Me too! I shall be reading it online though - my book buying budget for this month has been exceeded by pmath

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ziki wrote:

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ELee wrote:
Bought my book today - "see" everyone on the 5th!

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Splendid ELee. I am looking forward your comments.

ziki

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[mildone]

Wonderful reading experience.
mildone

[IlanaSimons]

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mildone wrote:
Wonderful reading experience.
mildone

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Hi mildone,
Did you just finish the story? Or did it stick in the brain after many years?
Ilana

[SumayyaA]

I look forward to this discussion. I read Crime and Punishment a year ago and am ready to explore more of Dostoevsky.

[IlanaSimons]

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SumayyaA wrote:
I look forward to this discussion. I read Crime and Punishment a year ago and am ready to explore more of Dostoevsky.

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Thanks for joining us. I'll be interested to hear what similarities you find between the books.

[Naish]

when i read this, i was somewhat disappointed. i think i might be missing something in the story. i look forward to the discussion in March...

[IlanaSimons]

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Naish wrote:
when i read this, i was somewhat disappointed. i think i might be missing something in the story. i look forward to the discussion in March...

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I'm glad you'll be joining us, Naish. The B&N Classics version has a terrific into to the story, which clarified a lot for me...in case you're working with that edition.
Ilana

[pmath]

Check your e-mailbox, birthday girl.

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Choisya wrote:
Me too! I shall be reading it online though - my book buying budget for this month has been exceeded by pmath

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ziki wrote:
Splendid ELee. I am looking forward your comments.

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ELee wrote:
Bought my book today - "see" everyone on the 5th!

[Choisya]

I did I did! Thankyou so much pmath - you are very very kind - I have PM'd you.

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pmath wrote:
Check your e-mailbox, birthday girl.

[Laurel]

I read the first chapter of The Double for lunch and can hardly wait to see what this man has on his mind, if anything. I am also rereading The Brothers Karamazov for the first time since I was fourteen or so and am finding it every bit as good as I remembered.

Laurel

[IlanaSimons]

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Laurel wrote:
I read the first chapter of The Double for lunch and can hardly wait to see what this man has on his mind, if anything. I am also rereading The Brothers Karamazov for the first time since I was fourteen or so and am finding it every bit as good as I remembered.

Laurel

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Yes--I reread the first few chapters today too. This book gets slightly deeper as I reread. Picking up new things.

[ziki]

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pmath wrote:
Check your e-mailbox, birthday girl.

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:-)
ziki

[ziki]

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Naish wrote:
when i read this, i was somewhat disappointed. i think i might be missing something in the story. i look forward to the discussion in March...

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wonderful, sometimes out of such a position comes the best contribution, welcome.

[ziki]

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IlanaSimons wrote: The B&N Classics version has a terrific into to the story, which clarified a lot for me...in case you're working with that edition.
Ilana

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Speaking of which....I got the Notes From The Underground and I exchanged the book, however, the delivery is delayed so'll be joining you later...is that a good translation?

ziki

[IlanaSimons]

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ziki wrote:
Is that a good translation?
ziki

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Yes, the B&N translation is by Constance Garnett, who's an esteemed translator of Dostoevsky. That said: I don't read Russian; so maybe take my relatively uneducated yes.
The B&N book is certainly a good buy: It has five of Dostoevsky's important short works. And the introduction by Deborah Martinsen, who's done some neat psychological work on shame, reads like a short course on Dostoevsky--a great intro.

Message Edited by IlanaSimons on 03-02-200709:14 PM

[Jimbo1580]

I just started reading the book. Hopefully I have time to read it twice during this discussion. I have read a few books by Dostoevsky including: The Brothers Karamazov, The Possessed, and Notes From Underground. I have also read a couple books about him. The reason I keep reading him is because the more you read and know, the more you realize how complex HE is as well as how complex and deep his books go. I have never been in a discussion about his books, so I am looking forward to it.

-Jim