Mortal I have repeatedly said something very similar about people who insist on ideas, whether philosophical or political or cultural, in their literature or art in general. "If the writer was striving to communicate ideas he would have written an essay. But he didn't. He created a work of art."Originally Posted by mortalterror
That said, I still think Dostoyevski is a great writer.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
"Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena
My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/
Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm "anti," mophead. We could discuss Kerouac but I doubt you have anything you can tell me that I don't already know about him.
Oh you don't insult me, you just need to open your eyes because this thread is considering whether Anna Karenina is a great or sucky novel. I voted it worst novel.
"He was nauseous with regret when he saw her face again, and when, as of yore, he pleaded and begged at her knees for the joy of her being. She understood Neal; she stroked his hair; she knew he was mad."
---Jack Kerouac, On The Road: The Original Scroll
@Mortalterror:
I don't believe Dostoevsky has ever been artless. I think that philosophy is more effective in prose than it is in direct essay writing, as one may see the philosophy acted out. Sure, his characters are unrealistic, but they're archetypes. You may say Dostoevsky was showing off, but knowing his history and the kind of man he was said to be, I doubt this highly. Dostoevsky's philosophy is actually very basic, not big, unwieldy or strange in any manner. It goes to the very root of the human psyche and isn't afraid to show the true colors of its subjects. You are entitled to your opinion, of course. But the fact is that his philosophy isn't strange, it's very universal and simple, only never presented in the way Dostoevsky presents it, because it seems that a lot of it may be embarrassing to humanity.
The salvation of the world is in man's suffering. - Faulkner
I thought it was very funny that anyone would ever ask such a question.
Sorry if I thought your indictment of the spittle-lipped sheep who happen to sometimes like established old works was a self-congratulatory punk rock position, beret.
I don't care what your or anyone else's opinion of Anna is enough to insult someone. I just thought it was interesting to say "I don't mean to insult you but" followed by your insulting him.
"To try to be informed and literate today is to feel stupid nearly all the time, and to need help." - DFW
I don't think it's true that you can't judge the sloppiness of prose in translation. Sentence-size and simplicity of thought are there or not. The neatness and modesty of the writer's mind are there or not there, regardless of translation.
If style didn't translate, then there'd by something boringly similar about all translation; but, to the contrary, they are as alive and individual as books in one's own language.
Dostoyevsky is wonderful, but anyone can see that his writing is very mixed in quality. I don't need to know Russian to see that he's very fond of superlatives and over-excitement, and often repetition. But then, I wouldn't change this; he may never have arrived at his best words and thoughts by any other route. Criticizing the best books is like criticizing a human being: something very begrudging about it.
Last edited by joseph90ie; 02-14-2009 at 11:57 AM.
Not.
Next question.
I really like this book, and i suggest that you must read it, I think 'Anna Karenina' has a very good plot
and wonderful characterization. I am sure you will enjoy it.
Er...undue credit...
You taught literature?
Where this whole thing about Anna Karenina being the greatest novel of all time was when there was a survey taken from 125 writers, and through what they ranked in their top 10, Anna Karenina appeared the most and highest.
I thought Anna Karenina was a terrific novel along with The Death of Ivan Ilyich. I had planned on reading Wuthering Heights very soon, so since I heard good news about it here, I think I definitely will pick it up.
While Anna Karenin enchanted me up to the flat ending, Wuthering Heights was overwhelmingly powerful and convincing.
He wouldn't teach a Russian Lit. class if he didn't like Dostoevskii.
The salvation of the world is in man's suffering. - Faulkner
Dostoevsky thought that Anna Karenina was long winded and lacked substance actually.
Why not? Apparently he did just that.
The novel promises so much yet delivers so little.
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