Where should I start with Dostoyevsky?

[sillyman]

I've never read anything by him and I want to broaden my reading since I read mostly British/American novels with the occasion foreign novel every now and then. The only works I'm familiar with are Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment. Should I read those or does he have shorter books that are a better introduction?

[Adderhead]

To my knowledge, Dostoyevsky is best known for Crime and Punishment. I just finished reading it yesterday and it was very good. My only problem was I could never remember all the Russian names in the book and I didn't know which character was which some of the time. It drove me crazy!!!!

[Olga4real]

I think to have the right impression of an author you need to read not only one short story, especially if it is one of the greatest writers of the world. However you can start with "Idiot". It is hard to recommend anything because each piece of Dostoevki's works are different. Don't be scared by the size of his works, because if you start reading you will like them after the first page, you read.
Good luck!

[Gladys]

However you can start with "Idiot".

I have it, on the best authority, that this is a most difficult book to grasp.

[Tsuyoiko]

To my knowledge, Dostoyevsky is best known for Crime and Punishment. I just finished reading it yesterday and it was very good. My only problem was I could never remember all the Russian names in the book and I didn't know which character was which some of the time. It drove me crazy!!!!

I started with Crime and Punishment and Dostoevsky is now my favourite writer. That's a good reason for me to recommend it. I read the Everyman's Library edition, which has a character list at the beginning, including all the variants of everyone's name. Very useful

I have it, on the best authority, that [The Idiot] is a most difficult book to grasp.

I agree. It's the one I've read most recently, and I coped because I've already read all his other major works.

[bazarov]

I read the Everyman's Library edition, which has a character list at the beginning, including all the variants of everyone's name. Very useful

Crime and Punishment is great for start, I agree.

[grotto]

I would agree with Crime and Punishment for starters, to me it was very accessible, I however didn’t take that advice; my first read was “The Idiot”, loved that book! I had also read “Notes from the Underground” before C&P but if I had to do it all over again, I would start with C&P.

[EPluribusUnus]

I recommend Crime and Punishment.

I started with Crime and Punishment, read Notes from Underground, The Idiot and am currently reading The Brothers Karamazov. It felt like a natural progression, at least to me, hence the suggestion.

[ImaginaryFriend]

Crime and punishment is great but so is the Brothers Karamazov. Its like a soap opera and murder mystery all rolled into one!
Crime and Punishment has a better writing style though... hmm. . . is so difficult to choose . . .
hope that helped a little

[Mariamosis]

I also agree with 'Crime and Punishment'. It will make for an easy transition into his others works.

I tried beginning with 'Notes from Underground' and stopped halfway through. Although I plan to finish it after I read 'The Idiot'.

[loe]

My first Dostoevsky was The Idiot - and it's still my favourite novel.
I absolutely love "Notes from the underground", therefore I would recommend it to everybody, but I think it may be not everyone's taste.

In my opinion, his greatest shorter story is "White Nights" - maybe an excellent start to get a first rough impression from this genius.

Best regards

[blazeofglory]

With the Idiots, his famous novel is the best to start with.

[Olga4real]

I agree with loe about White Nights it can be a good start.
My first Dostoyevsky's novel was Crime and Punishement but I like Brothers Karamasov and The Idiot more.

[Gladys]

Not unike Olga4real, of the Dostoevsky books I've read, I liked the very dark and savage 'Crime and Punishment' least. 'The Brothers Karamazov' and 'The Idiot' are equally gems.

Why not start with something shorter, such as the racy 'The Gambler', the quirky 'The Village of Stepanchikovo' or the unfinished 'Netochka Nezvanova'?

[DanielBenoit]

I love The Idiot (reading it right now), but don't think it's the best novel to start with, for it's not one of his most Dostoyevskian (the focus of the main character usually being an existential anti-hero, here the focus is an ideal Christ-like figure).

I say Notes from the Underground. It immedietly gives you his outlook on life and the typical Dostoyevskian anti-hero.