I think it is best to read Dostoyevsky in more modern translations. The best version of 'Crime & Punishment' in my opinion is David McDuff's.
I think it is best to read Dostoyevsky in more modern translations. The best version of 'Crime & Punishment' in my opinion is David McDuff's.
I find it really difficult to get through the Russians, There have been a few that I've started and not finished. It's not that I'm not interested, as I'm reading for my own pleasure, and it's not that I don't appreciate the work because I will never ever consider myself well-read until I have thoroughly covered the Russians. Any idea why this could be?
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
My case is totally different. I have never failed to finish a Russian novel. I can not get through an English novel to save my life. I read some during the course of my student years but could never finish anything for pleasure. I can read American novels, even contemporary English writing but can't read those 'classics' (Dickens, Hardy, the Brontes etc). Start with Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time and work your way up towards Dostoevsky and Tolstoy via Turgenev and Gogol reading short stories by Pushkin and Chekov's plays on your way when you feel tired of reading longer works.Originally Posted by *Classic*Charm*
I am planning to re-read Dostoevsky in near future.
"The farther he goes the more good it does me. I don’t want philosophies, tracts, dogmas, creeds, ways out, truths, answers, nothing from the bargain basement. He is the most courageous, remorseless writer going and the more he grinds my nose in the sh1t the more I am grateful to him..."
-- Harold Pinter on Samuel Beckett
Oh,I'm reading the second volume of "War and Peace" right now and I am absolutely loving it...I didn't expect this to happen,since the first half of the first book is not quite attractive,but now I am amazed...Absolutely!
You forget that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence: and the kingdom of heaven is like a woman.
James Joyce
It is a fatal miscarriage, so ill to order affairs, as to pass for a fool in one company, when in another you might be treated as a philosopher. Jonathan Swift
They're often difficult, as you said, and I think that's why!!
There are quite a few I didn't finish as well (The Idiot, for instance, or The Brothers Karamazov - but I read Crime and Punishment through to the end, as well as shorter ones by Dostoievsky; and I finished all of Solyenitzin's). I always tell myself I'll have time to take them up again one day, and that maybe I wasn't ready for them at the time...
Have you ever tried the shorter Russian novels? Lermontov, Pushkin, a few of Tolstoi (The Cossacks, The Kreutzer Sonata) and of Dostoievsky (Notes from the Underground...), Gogol (the St Petursberg's stories)... There are lots of those, and I sometimes have the impression they tend to be forgotten, shadowed as they are by the more famous longer works.
Russian literature is the most prominent subject,there are a eclectic of these books being translated.I have hitherto read Russian literature books and they make the biggest portion of my stupendous library.
hey wilbur, i just wanted to say that eventually I hope Russian Lit makes a large part of my library too. May I ask who is your favorite Russian author? Having begun reading Russian Literature less than a year ago, I am not very well-versed in it, but Dostoevsky is to me far more interesting than Tolstoy.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
I actually ahven't read any of the shorter novels and short stories. I kind of just dove right in, starting with The Master and Margarita, as well as The Brothers Karamazov. Neither worked out particularly well. I'm going to try them again later..It was really disappointing though.They're often difficult, as you said, and I think that's why!!
There are quite a few I didn't finish as well (The Idiot, for instance, or The Brothers Karamazov - but I read Crime and Punishment through to the end, as well as shorter ones by Dostoievsky; and I finished all of Solyenitzin's). I always tell myself I'll have time to take them up again one day, and that maybe I wasn't ready for them at the time...
Have you ever tried the shorter Russian novels? Lermontov, Pushkin, a few of Tolstoi (The Cossacks, The Kreutzer Sonata) and of Dostoievsky (Notes from the Underground...), Gogol (the St Petursberg's stories)... There are lots of those, and I sometimes have the impression they tend to be forgotten, shadowed as they are by the more famous longer works.
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
It's quite normal: they're practically the hardest you could have chosen!!
Bulgakov wrote easier novels than The Master and Margarita, which is interesting but quite heavy-going; ditto for Dostoievsky's The Brothers Karamazov. I don't know whether it's a matter of personal taste, but I found Crime and Punishment far more accessible.
And do try Notes from the Underground - I really loved that book. Or A day in the Life of Ivan Denissovitch, a good place to start for Solyenitzyn. Or The Kreutzer Sonata, a beautiful (long) novella by Tolstoi, ifyou don't feel like starting straight off with Anna Karenina or War and Peace.
There are so many other Russian authors and works... it's really a pity to be disappointed by Russian literature only because you've chosen the "wrong" introductions to it... I know I went through a period when I was fascinated by them.
Last edited by Bitterfly; 09-23-2008 at 01:33 PM.
I've read pretty much everything Dostoevsky wrote over the last couple of years, and would definitely say that 'Crime & Punishment' is the best book to start off with. It's somehow easier reading than his other 'big' novels, and also more satisfying than his shorter work. If you don't enjoy it then I think it's unlikely that you'll like the heavier, more difficult to read stuff.
I'm now looking to expand my Russian reading as apart from lots of Dostoevsky and some Gogol (and Nabokov, don't know if he counts though...), I haven't read much else in the field. I keep thinking about giving 'War & Peace' a go, but am currently reluctant to commit myself to one big novel for ages... Any thoughts on other 'must read' Russian masters?
'Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish'd me.
War and Peace is a truly amazing book. I would put it on your list for a rainy day...or 50but do read, you won't be disappointed.
Are you looking for 19th century Russian or any era? A wonderful 19th Century author is Ivan Turgenev. He writes these short little books but are able to capture that era and society so succinctly and yet they are incredibly astute commentaries on the times. Fathers and Sons is a must read book and another favorite Turgenev book for me was On The Eve although you really can't go wrong with any of his works.
A couple of other worthwhile 19th century novels are Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov, it's a little slow to begin with but stick with it and you will be richly rewarded...and The Golovlyov Family by M.E. Saltykov.
the luminous grass of the prairie hides
feet lovely and still as sleeping doves,
porcelain bones strong enough to carry a life,
but weighty and unmovable
As black Dakota hills. ~ Riesa
Great! Thanks a lot for the recommendations (and yes, I was mainly thinking of 19th century authors). I'll admit I was a little put off Turgenev because of Dostoevsky's attitude towards him, and satire of him, in 'Demons', but I still felt 'Fathers and Sons' was something I should really read at some point. I've never even heard of Goncharov or Saltykov, and both the books you mention look very interesting.War and Peace is a truly amazing book. I would put it on your list for a rainy day...or 50
Are you looking for 19th century Russian or any era? A wonderful 19th Century author is Ivan Turgenev. He writes these short little books but are able to capture that era and society so succinctly and yet they are incredibly astute commentaries on the times. Fathers and Sons is a must read book and another favorite Turgenev book for me was On The Eve although you really can't go wrong with any of his works.
A couple of other worthwhile 19th century novels are Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov, it's a little slow to begin with but stick with it and you will be richly rewarded...and The Golovlyov Family by M.E. Saltykov.
'Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish'd me.
"A couple of other worthwhile 19th century novels are Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov, it's a little slow to begin with but stick with it and you will be richly rewarded..."
I didn't think it was "slow" to begin, I think the beginning was in fact rather funny.
Et l'unique cordeau des trompettes marines
Apollinaire, Le chantre
I had the good fortune to read Turgenev before I knew anything of the man or others' opinion of him so I had a very open mind. There is no denying that he was a "Dandy". We was a very "European" Russian and lived his life somewhat extravagantly and I have little problem understanding why Dostoevsky disliked him so, he was, in many ways, the epitome of what Dostoevsky railed against...however, that doesn't take away from his talent. He's a very different writer from Dostoevsky or Tolstoy, he doesn't have the same concerns, he isn't coming from the same place, neither is he looking towards the same place but he still has a lot to say and he says it very well and I think he opens the window to a different aspect of Russian society at that time.
I just had a very hard time connecting with the character of Oblamov, he was such an incredibly superfluous human being and granted, that's kind of the point but it just got old for me quickly. There were certainly some amusing anecdotes but there came to be a time when I was wondering whether this was just going to be one long, clever story about how ridiculous this class of people were or if it was going to go somewhere a little deeper and of course, it went somewhere deeper and then it all fell into place but there were a few chapters where I struggled to keep my interest up.
the luminous grass of the prairie hides
feet lovely and still as sleeping doves,
porcelain bones strong enough to carry a life,
but weighty and unmovable
As black Dakota hills. ~ Riesa
Well I had already discussed this in some thread about the book. Oblomov is a caricature, but he is a very good caricature actually. I think from what I got too many people judge him for how he acted rather than for what insight there is in such a caricature and for it's merit as a character.
I thought this book was genius.
Et l'unique cordeau des trompettes marines
Apollinaire, Le chantre
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
