Why you should read War and Peace on your phone

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

The Signet is an easier read, but if you want to learn about the culture, and the biographical information of the main real characters and some of the military history of the wars, then read the aforementioned version. The footnotes are very detailed, in one instance down to the level of describing that a particular communique dispatched prior to a battle was indeed the actual sent communique. It's a great read in either version, but reading the aforementioned version was an eye opener for me, and that was the third time I read it.

I wonder though, if you're reading a novel like this for pleasure, if you aren't better off reading the 'easier' Signet version. Then, once you are familiar with the book, you could go through the more elaborately footnoted version.

What is great for the dedicated fan might just be a distraction for the new reader.

My better half and I are reading the Penguin edition of Treasure Island. She decided to read through the introduction while I dove into the story. She said the introduction spoils the book by going through the entire story and telling what happens at the end. Granted, it's a +130 year old book. But perhaps the introduction (which was clearly aimed at the dedicated fan) would have worked better as an afterword. It didn't help these new readers.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

My better half and I are reading the Penguin edition of Treasure Island. She decided to read through the introduction while I dove into the story. She said the introduction spoils the book by going through the entire story and telling what happens at the end. Granted, it's a +130 year old book. But perhaps the introduction (which was clearly aimed at the dedicated fan) would have worked better as an afterword. It didn't help these new readers.

You can safely assume that the introduction in a "Penguin Classics" edition of a book will be a detailed discussion of the book. These are scholarly editions, with introductions reflecting that fact. The introduction will always be a "spoiler".

[rem736]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I don't often do it, but I agree with the Wolf here.

If I understood the article correctly, it essentially said "digital books enabled me to read a book that is otherwise too bulky and cumbersome in a paper format. It's just a shame the book wasn't in a paper format."

who knows. maybe one day someone will be able to create a paper-like material that works with e-ink. so in this sense, you can have a "paper" book with let's say 100 blank pages. when an ebook is loaded the first 100 pages will load. and when you read to the end of the book, pages starting 101 will load at the front of the book, overwriting the first 100 pages. you get the feel of a paper book with the benefit of an e-reader. no light though.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rem736

who knows. maybe one day someone will be able to create a paper-like material that works with e-ink. so in this sense, you can have a "paper" book with let's say 100 blank pages. when an ebook is loaded the first 100 pages will load. and when you read to the end of the book, pages starting 101 will load at the front of the book, overwriting the first 100 pages. you get the feel of a paper book with the benefit of an e-reader. no light though.

That seems utterly pointless to me . I can see the benefit of a double-width reader that could load either two separate pages, or a double-page illustration, but additional physical pages? What would be the practical benefit?

[rem736]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That seems utterly pointless to me . I can see the benefit of a double-width reader that could load either two separate pages, or a double-page illustration, but additional physical pages? What would be the practical benefit?

only that it would feel like a real book.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You can safely assume that the introduction in a "Penguin Classics" edition of a book will be a detailed discussion of the book. These are scholarly editions, with introductions reflecting that fact. The introduction will always be a "spoiler".

I still say they would work better as an afterword. What is there to lose?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rem736

who knows. maybe one day someone will be able to create a paper-like material that works with e-ink. so in this sense, you can have a "paper" book with let's say 100 blank pages. when an ebook is loaded the first 100 pages will load. and when you read to the end of the book, pages starting 101 will load at the front of the book, overwriting the first 100 pages. you get the feel of a paper book with the benefit of an e-reader. no light though.

I mentioned a similar idea in post #10:

I think what we need is flexible e-ink screens that are paper thin and can display on both sides. Then, we could bundle a large number of these paper-thin pages between some sort of cover...

But

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I still say they would work better as an afterword. What is there to lose?

In theory it could be done that way, I suppose, but that’s just not how scholarly editions of texts are published, and it’s a publishing tradition that goes back not merely years, but centuries. These are editions that are published primarily for people who are already familiar with the book, and want to read an analysis of it from someone knowledgeable in that particular field of literature.

If you just want the book without the analysis, Penguin have another imprint called “Penguin English Library” (also available as an ebook) which will get you exactly that.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

In theory it could be done that way, I suppose, but that’s just not how scholarly editions of texts are published, and it’s a publishing tradition that goes back not merely years, but centuries. These are editions that are published primarily for people who are already familiar with the book, and want to read an analysis of it from someone knowledgeable in that particular field of literature.

If you just want the book without the analysis, Penguin have another imprint called “Penguin English Library” (also available as an ebook) which will get you exactly that.

At this point, the damage is done. I'll keep my edition. I skipped the intro anyway.

Something lost in here was my original point: Someone coming to a new work who isn't reading the book as part of a group or class would likely be better served by reading the simpler version of the book initially.

Based on my second-hand experience with Treasure Island and the experience mentioned by drofgnal, I would likely start with the Signet edition of War and Peace. Then, if I wanted to revisit the book I would pick up the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Something lost in here was my original point: Someone coming to a new work who isn't reading the book as part of a group or class would likely be better served by reading the simpler version of the book initially.

Yes, I completely agree with you.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You can safely assume that the introduction in a "Penguin Classics" edition of a book will be a detailed discussion of the book. These are scholarly editions, with introductions reflecting that fact. The introduction will always be a "spoiler".

I found that out the hard way the first time i read a Penguin Classic back in high school. They should put a spoiler warning before the introduction for the benefit of first-time readers.

[Pulpmeister]

I'm still searching for the Classics Illustrated comic book version of War and Peace. (Who said graphic novels are new?) Then, if I like it, by easy steps into the Readers Digest Condensed version, then a good translation, and finally (drum roll) in the original Russian. Except my total Russian vocabulary is da and nyet.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

I'm still searching for the Classics Illustrated comic book version of War and Peace. (Who said graphic novels are new?) Then, if I like it, by easy steps into the Readers Digest Condensed version, then a good translation, and finally (drum roll) in the original Russian. Except my total Russian vocabulary is da and nyet.

I just learned Russian. Thank you.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Pulpmeister

I'm still searching for the Classics Illustrated comic book version of War and Peace. (Who said graphic novels are new?)

Joke or no, it was a comic adaptation of Dracula, the one with art by Nestor Redondo, that first showed me that the movie wasn't like the book.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I just learned Russian. Thank you.

I think you mean Spasibo