kjellika's NEW challenge 010808

See also:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/54114

As I am a rather slow reader, and love to read voluminous books (some shorter ones I'll surely read as well), I've decided to try reading 30 pages a day (average) in the next 15 months. I'll also count the books I've read the last two months (aug.-sept. 2008).
From 01.08.08 to 31.12.09 makes 518 days.
518 x 30 pages = 15540 pages.

Finished books from August 1 2008:

Midnight's Children: 466 pages
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: 268 pages
In Search of Lost Time, volume I: 558 pages.

=1292 pages, i.e. approx. 22 pages/day :-(

I know how frustrating not reading as fast is! It is good to see you set a goal for yourself, keep up the reading, and do not get discouraged even if you do not always seem to be making the progress you are hoping for. Enjoy your reading time! :)

#3
Thank you for your kind words!
:-)

Hooray! New thread for kjellika. I have it starred so I can follow your reading.

I ought to speak up in the Proust group one of these days--I'm also reading In Search of Lost Time. I think averaging 22 pages a day is pretty good when you're reading Proust! I find him delightful, though, so I don't mind settling back and taking my time.

#5
Well, I started reading ISOLT ultimo july this year and have read about 700 pages out of approx. 3660 so far. Reading 10 pages a day it should take "exactly" one year finishing it, i.e. july 2009.

My challenge is to read 20 pages from other books simultaneously. This will make 15540 pages from august 1, 2008 to december 31, 2009.

I'm halfway through Kristin Lavransdatter (group read). My Norwegian edition has got 1266 pages, and I plan to finish it this month.

Where are you in In Search of Lost Time by now?
I started reading volume II some ten days ago, and I agree with you: Proust is delightful.

I'm about halfway through the second volume. I started reading a few weeks ago. I'm not reading any other fiction books, though--certainly nothing as big and complicated as Rushdie or Undset! I find it difficult to read more than one novel at a time, so unless I take a break between volumes, I'm going to stick with Proust, I guess.

Are you reading Proust in Norwegian? If so, I'd be interested in your thoughts on the prose in your translation. I'm reading the recent Penguin English translations of ISOLT, and I find the prose quite beautiful. Musical, full of lovely imagery and creative language. In some places I find myself underlining quotes on almost every page!

I'm reading a Norwegian edition of ISOLT, and the prose is very good and easy to read, I think.
My version (7 volumes, paperback 2000) is translated from French by ANNE-LISA AMADOU, and I imagine I've read some place that she got an award for just this translation.

How many volumes are there in your English edition? Maybe we're approx. at the same place in the novel.
Have you read about Gilberte and the narrator, or are you reading it now?

Mine is in 6 volumes (from Proust's original 7 volumes, they combined volumes 5 & 6, The Prisoner and The Fugitive, into one physical volume). I think we're reading the same volume--the one that is translated in English as In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower or In a Budding Grove. I've read about Gilberte and the narrator, and I've just started the next section, where he is going to Balbec.

The prose flows very easily in this translation as well. I was surprised to find that it reads so smoothly--I've always heard about Proust and his famously long, difficult sentences. I was fearful that I wouldn't be able to understand them.

Yes, section 2 of volume II is titled "Balbec", but I'll have to read about 150 pages to reach that section.

Proust and the (Norwegian) translator use really long (sometimes nearly a page) sentences, but they are not at all difficult, I think. Although you should read some of them rather slowly to get all the info they contain. Charming.

Happy further reading.

Virginia Woolf. En biografi by Bjørg Vindsetmo: 176 pages.

1292 p. + 176 p. = 1468 pages

Kristin Lavransdatter (Norwegian edition 2007): 1269 pages

1468 p. + 1269 p. = 2737 pages

15540 p. - 2737 p. = 12803 pages to go.

2737 p./ 80 days ~ 34 pages a day, hurray!! (so far).

Platon - Samlede verker, bind 1 by Plato: 248 pages

2737 p. + 248 p. = 2985 pages

15540 p. - 2985 p. = 12555 pages to go

Den fremsynte (Samlede verker, vol. 1) by Jonas Lie: 82 pages

2985 + 82 = 3067

15540 - 3067 = 12473 pages left.

Nye Hamsun Samlede (NHS), vol. 1: Sult (Hunger) by Knut Hamsun: 204 pages

3067 + 204 = 3271

15540 - 3271 = 12269 to go

Orlando by Virginia Woolf: 220 pages

3271 + 220 = 3491

15540 - 3491 = 12049 to go

Poisson d'or by J.M.G. Le Clezio: 216 pages

3491 + 216 = 3707

15540 - 3707 = 11833 pages left.

Poisson d'or is a novel about a girl from Africa and she tells her story herself, and that story is quite a curious one about childhood and youth in Africa, Europe and the US. Le Clezio is very clever to describe characters and their emotions and thouhts, but I guess he has written better novels than this one, as he was chosen as the winner of the Nobel Prize 2008. I would surely like to read more by him.
All the same:
My rating for Poisson d'or is 3 1/2 stars.

Finished "Prosessen" (The Trial) by Franz Kafka: 211 pages

3707 + 211 = 3918

15540 - 3918 = 11622 pages to go.

The Trial is amazing. A nightmare.

In Search of Lost Time, volume 2: 681 pages

3918 + 681 = 4599

15540 - 4599 = 10941 pages left

How Fiction Works: 194 pages

4599 + 194 = 4793

15540 - 4793 = 10747 pages left.

How Fiction Works was a bit difficult to understand for a Norwegian, but by using some time on it you'll learn very much about fiction and how to read it.
Interesting, especially the chapters "Character" and "Language".

'Modernisme eller litterær populisme?' by Eldrid Lunden: 122 pages.

4793 + 122 = 4915

15540 - 4915 = 10625 pages left

from August 1 until now: 123 days.

4915/123 = 39.95 pages a day.

Mysterier by Knut Hamsun: 321 pages

4915 + 321 = 5236

15540 - 5236 = 10304 to go

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: 350 pages

5236 + 350 = 5586

15540 - 5586 = 9954 pages left,
and a little more than one year to read them.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: 118 pages

5586 + 118 = 5704

15540 - 5704 = 9836 pages to go

Welcome 2009!!

"Redaktør Lynge" by Knut Hamsun: 187 pages

5704 + 187 = 5891

15540 - 5891 = 9649 pages left

(359 days remain of 2009:
9649 / 359 = ~ 27 pages a day)

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare: 257 pages

5891 + 257 = 6148

15540 - 6148 = 9392 pages left

PAUL LANGE OG TORA PARSBERG by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson: 67 pages

6148 + 67 = 6215

15540 - 6215 = 9325 pages to go

One of my challenges: Reading 50 plays in 2009.
cf. #1

I'll count the pages of these plays here.

"Byggmester Solness" (The Master Builder) by Henrik Ibsen: 90 pages

6215 + 90 = 6305

15540 - 6305 = 9235 pages left

Medeia by Euripides: 111 pages

6305 + 111 = 6416

15540 - 6416 = 9124 pages to go.

"MEDEIA" was a shocking read !!!
(4.5/5.0)

Titus Andronicus by W. Shakespeare: 171 pages

6416 + 171 = 6587

15540 - 6587 = 8953 pages left

Queen Tamora and her lover Aaron are disgusting !!!

(4.5/5.0)

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: 151 pages

6587 + 151 = 6738

15540 - 6738 = 8802 pages to read before 2009-12-31.

Shouldn't be impossible!! :))

What did you think of Raisin? Or have you posted your comments somewhere?

Oops! Never mind, I just found your comments!

More comments:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/54845

and

http://www.librarything.com/topic/54114

Yesterday I finished volume 3 of my Norwegian edition of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust: The Guermantes Way, and I'll soon start reading volume 4: 'Sodom and Gomorrah'.
'ISOLT' is quite a humorous, but challenging read, and I'm glad I'm reading it SLOWLY. Very little action, but much to learn about human life (emotions, thoughts, behaviour etc.), art, music and literature.

The Guermantes Way by Marcel Proust: 678 pages

6738 + 678 = 7416

15540 - 7416 = 8124 pages left

Finished The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen. A marvellous drama!!

"The Wild Duck": 108 pages

7416 + 108 = 7524

15540 - 7524 = 8016 pages to go

Kjellika, As much as I've always revered Ibsen, I can't believe I haven't read The Wild Duck. I'll have to finally pull out my old theater boxes to see if I have it, (and I'll bet that I do) given your recommendation.

Theaelizabet, if you have, find and read The Wild Duck, could you please tell me what you mean of it and how you rate it ??
:)

Certainly! I'll pull out the boxes this weekend, as I have been meaning to do so for quite awhile.

Finished Pygmalion. A great play. "famous" characters. I guess all of you've heard of Eliza Doolittle and Mr. Higgins.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: 148 pages

7524 + 148 = 7672

15540 - 7672 = 7868 pages left

Finished "Troll kan temmes" (The Taming of the Shrew) by William Shakespeare. Amusing.

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare: 130 pages

7672 + 130 = 7802

15540 - 7802 = 7738 pages left

'Nokon kjem til å komme' (The first play in the collection Teaterstykke 1) by Jon Fosse: 84 pages

7802 + 84 = 7886

15540 - 7886 = 7654 pages to go

('Nokon kjem til å komme' is a modern play about jealousy)

I have a book by Jon Fosse that, for no real reason, I have been a bit reluctant to pick up--Melancholy (Melancholia I and II). Have you read that one?

Edited to say: Actually, I think that's incorrect. It may be a translation of just Melancholia I.

I did read a few pages of it some years ago, and I didn't like it very much then (maybe now, but I've got too many other books on my TBR pile). It is about a "mad" Norwegian painter, I assume, and I can't even remember the painter's name now, alas.

I imagine most people think Fosse to be a better playwright than a novellist. He's regarded as the greatest contemporary Norwegian playwright, and is even compared to Ibsen (who else?). Imo, there are no playwrights as great as Shakespeare and Ibsen. Let's discuss it in a 100-200 years.

I'd heard that he is a great Norwegian playwright, and that's why I picked up Melancholy (which I think I'm avoiding because it looks too dark and is stream-of-consciousness). It's not a play, but I think it's the only work of his available in English. Hopefully I just need to look harder to find some plays, then, as it appears you think Melancholy wouldn't be a proper introduction.

Thanks for the advice!

"Hit - men ikke lenger" av Cecilie Bjørnstad: 98 pages

Recently Cecilie Bjørnstad (Norwegian) made her debut with this collection of short stories. Promising. I hope she'll publish her first novel soon.

7886 + 98 = 7984

15540 - 7984 = 7556 pages left

'Lille Eyolf' (Little Eyolf) by Henrik Ibsen: 68 pages

7984 + 68 = 8052

15540 - 8052 = 7488 pages to go

This play is much about guilt and remorse.

Orestien, 'I - Agamemnon' by Aeschylus: 40 pages

8052 + 40 = 8092

15540 - 8092 = 7448 pages to go.

An old greek tragedy about treachery, revenge and murder.

King John by William Shakespeare: 169 pages

8092 + 169 = 8261

15540 - 8261 = 7279 pages left for the next ~9 months

'King John' (Norwegian: Kong Johan): A historic play about war and kings and lines of succession, etc. etc.

'Don Juan' by Moliere: 60 pages

8261 + 60 = 8321

15540 - 8321 = 7219 pages left

"Don Juan" was not as humorous as I expected.

Sodom and Gomorrah (vol. 4 of 'In Search of Lost Time') by Marcel Proust: 599 pages

8321 + 599 = 8920 pages

15540 - 8920 = 6620 pages left

(I wonder if the narrator is going to marry Albertine. He says he has to.).

3 volumes left of my Norwegian edition of ISOLT (På sporet av den tapte tid)

Volume 5 is titled "Fangen" (= 'The prisoner', maybe it has got a different title in English. The French title is 'La Prisonniere' (Paris 1923)).

En folkefiende ('An Enemy of the People') by Henrik Ibsen: 100 pages

8920 + 100 = 9020 pages

15540 - 9020 = 6520 to read before 2009-12-31.

En Folkefiende: WHAT A PLAY!!

"Ny jord" (Shallow Soil) by Knut Hamsun: 275 pages

9020 + 275 = 9295

15540 - 9295 = 6245 pages to go

"Ny jord" is one of Hamsun's less known novels, but as I reread it I discovered lots of qualities: the language, the style, the characters, the time, the plot etc. etc. It was published in 1893.

Oedipus the king (in Norwegian: "Kong Oidipus") by Sophocles: 79 pages

9295 + 79 = 9374

15540 - 9374 = 6166 pages left

Currently reading:
In Search of lost time, vol. 5: The prisoner
Pan by Knut Hamsun
Albertetrilogien by Cora Sandel

Harens år (The Year of the Hare) by Arto Paasilinna: 159 pages

9374 + 159 = 9533

15540 - 9533 = 6007 pages left

A very humorous novel!

Finished Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: 155 pages

9533 + 155 = 9688

15540 - 9688 = 5852 pages left

The world's most famous love story tragedy!

'Dronning Tamara' by Knut Hamsun: 65 pages

9688 + 65 = 9753

15540 - 9753 = 5787 pages to left

"Dronning Tamara" (Queen Tamara) is one of Knut Hamsun's six plays. It was published in 1903.
An interesting plot about Christianity, Islam, love and power.

Kongsemnerne by Henrik Ibsen: 122 pages

9753 + 122 = 9875

15540 - 9875 = 5665 pages to go

'Kongsemnerne' is a historical play "about" Norway in the first half of the 13th century.

Alberte-serien by Cora Sandel: 662 pages

9875 + 622 = 10497

15540 - 10497 = 5043 pages left

'Alberte-serien' consists of three novels: Alberte og Jakob (1926), Alberte og friheten (1931) and Bare Alberte (1939). The trilogy is a Norwegian classic. I didn't like it that much.

'Den politiske Kandstøber' by Ludvig Holberg: 60 pages

10497 + 60 = 10557

15540 - 10557 = 4983 pages left

'Den politiske Kandstøber' is an old Norwegian (the Danes will say Danish, I assume) play (comedy).

The Forsyte Saga. Volume One by John Galsworty: 906 pages

10557 + 906 = 11463

15540 - 11463 = 4077 pages to go

'TFS' was a light read with an exciting plot and very interesting characters.

Do you think that you will read the other two? I am still towards the beginning but I am really enjoying it. Have a great day!
--BJ

#64, BJ
(maybe a very little spoiler(?))
I assume I'll read the other two later, but not this year.
At the end of Volume One all the "old" Forsytes are dead. so I think the break is quite natural.
Surely I've loved what I've read so far, and I think you too will enjoy the rest of volume one.
Happy reading!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare: 106 pages

11463 + 106 = 11569

15540 - 11569 = 3971 pages left

Imo, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is NOT a VERY great comedy.

'The Prisoner', volume V of In Search of Lost Time: 462 pages

11569 + 462 = 12031

15540 - 12031 = 3509 pages left

I didn't like 'The Prisoner' very much. Tedious (a quite jealous narrator).
Hoping vol. VI will become a "better" read!

The Oresteia II: 'The Libation Bearers' by Aeschylus: 27 pages

12031 + 27 = 12058

15540 - 12058 = 3482 pages to go

I loved this part of 'The Oresteia'.

Jeg forbanner tidens elv by Per Petterson: 226 pages

12058 + 226 = 12284

15440 - 12284 = 3256 pages left

Out Stealing Horses (Norwegian: "Ut og stjæle hester") is a better novel than "Jeg forbanner tidens elv", in my opinion. I'm not sure if it is translated into English yet.

The Eumenides by Aeschylus: 26 pages

12284 + 26 = 12310

15540 - 12310 = 3230 pages left

Orestes was not punished.

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen: 107 pages

12310 + 107 = 12417

15540 - 12417 = 3123 pages to go

I've read this play once or twice before. It's still quite curious to me. Makes me wonder ....

Volume VI of In Search of Lost Time ("Uten Albertine" (Albertine disparue) by Marcel Proust: 311 pages

12417 + 311 = 12728

15540 - 12728 = 2812 pages left

and only ONE volume left of 'ISOLT' !!!!!!!!!

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller: 109 pages

12728 + 109 = 12837

15540 - 12837 = 2703 pages to go

More than half a year left, so I'm sure I'll make it.

Volume 4 of NYE HAMSUN SAMLEDE: 'Pan', 'Victoria' by Knut Hamsun: 233 pages

12837 + 233 = 13070

15540 - 13070 = 2470 pages left

Both 'Pan' and 'Victoria' are marvellous novels, at least in their original language.
I've read some chapters of 'Pan' in English on the web, and I think the online version follows my Norwegian paper edition quite well.

Tekst og kultur by Hans Marius Hansteen: 188 pages

13070 + 188 = 13258

15540 - 13258 = 2282 pages to go

Volume 5 of NYE HAMSUN SAMLEDE: 'Svermere', 'Under høststjernen' by Knut Hamsun: 209 pages

13258 + 209 = 13467

15540 - 13467 = 2073 pages to go