Hi there, Samarth here!

Quick update: I had rescheduled the Nausea meet to 16 August (this Sunday). Earlier, it was planned for the 8th. I had informed everyone who had sent their notes, but sharing this with everyone as well: if you want to join us, as always, write back with a note by the 13th.

Nausea is easily one of the hardest books I have read. I’m thinking that along with discussing Sartre’s existential ideas, we also make this Sunday’s book club conversation around “how to read”: why this book felt hard, what exactly made it difficult, and how learning to sit with that difficulty can make us better readers of literature.

And now, onto what we’re reading next.

We are hosting a six-week read-along of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Here’s why, and how to join.

First, we know so many people who want to read this book, but feel intimidated. Some think Dostoevsky is hard. Some think the book is too long and they’ll give up. Some are simply intimidated by classic literature and think it’s not for them.

To all of you: read with us. We start on 17 August 2026.

We want to build a community that gives you the collective support you may need to dismantle those psychological barriers and pick up one of the finest novels ever written.

Second, reading along often gives you a goal to work towards. We don’t believe all reading should be optimised and turned into a project, but sometimes a timeline—six weeks, in this case—helps anchor your reading when it might otherwise slip.

And once you’re done, you’ll have a half-day gathering of fellow Karamazov readers on D-Day (i.e. Dostoevsky Day) on 10 October 2026 in Mumbai. (We promise great conversations, great coffee, and great food.)

Third, this is simply an attempt to build a reading culture and lower the barrier to entry. Maybe you start and don’t finish. That’s fine. You’d still have read some Dostoevsky. Maybe you finish three weeks late. Also fine. The point is to make starting easier, and reading together more fun.

How will this work?

1. The book has 12 Sections. We’ll read two a week, which works out to roughly 100-120 pages a week. (Another way to think about it: three focused reading sessions a week, of about 30-40 pages each.)

2. We are not running a literature class. (We are no Russian Literature Tsars. Just readers.)

In the WhatsApp group, the three moderators—me (Samarth), Vipul Falor, and Tanveer Gupte—will share things we find interesting, do weekly check-ins, and discuss the book with the community to keep the read-along alive.

3. Vipul and I are reading the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. Tanveer is reading the newer Michael Katz translation. Between the three of us, we’ll also be noticing how the two translations differ—a topic we’ll discuss when we meet.

If you want to join us, buy the book and fill this form.

We’ll ask you to upload a photo of your copy. There is no entry fee. We want to keep the barrier to entry low, and are trusting that you won’t upload fake photos and are joining with intent. :)

PS: Friction is a Mumbai-only book club. We meet offline only. No Gmeet/Zoom.

Happy reading!

Samarth Bansal