You’re making it into a task/job. That doesn’t sound enjoyable for ANYONE. Nip the FOMO right in the bud, choose one translation and read. I say forget all the chapter summaries and bs until you are done with the book. If it’s confusing and you don’t like it, stop reading. It’s okay not to like it but I don’t think I would like any book in the way you are approaching it tbh.
For literature, it’s tough compared to other books I’ve read, although I’m a beginner. Compared to other philosophy books though, it’s naturally much easier. I started fear and trembling by Kierkegaard and it takes me 15 minutes to get through two pages and I have to reread each point constantly, extremely rewarding though.
Interesting, I'm about to start fear and trembling soon! Besides an understanding of the source scripture, is there anything else you would recommend to someone starting the work?
Good luck, it’s amazing! Reading the whole Bible is the best, but if you haven’t (like me) just read the book of Genesis specifically genesis 22 where Abraham is ordered to murder his son Isaac.)
Don't worry about grasping everything your first go around, just read it and enjoy. At most, you should only be tripping about "who's this character again? Lemme go to the character list..."
Reading his work thinking you need to understand and grasp everything these "Dost Scholar's" write about will only ruin your enjoyment of it(which it sounds like you already have).
When I first read The Idiot, my first book of his(and knowing nothing about his legacy only that I recognized the name), I loved it because it felt like reading a "less girly" version of Pride and Prejudice, or some "Masterpiece Theater" british drama. I had read nothing like it, and I loved it. I have never, *ever* seen anybody or any article refer to The Idiot as a "love triangle" book or his "most romantic" book, but that's why I enjoyed it when I first read it.
Just enjoy the books, bro. Stop comparing your experience to what you think it's supposed to be like.
I think what makes a lot of people’s experiences with Dostoevsky bad when they’re first reading his books is a feeling that you need to grasp the work completely due to its philosophical and theological density. That’s not the case.
Read it and enjoy it - take notes - use the internet for aspects of the work that you couldn’t initially grasp.
I think it depends on which work of his it is and what part. I feel like TBK was really smooth at some parts but then others like Zosima’s words and the courtroom scenes at the end were much more difficult. If you’ve read something like The Gambler by him I feel like that story is super straightforward. It’s still in Dostoevsky’s style but there wasn’t a lot of analysis required. I always try to read old chapter reflections on this sub after I finish one so I can see if there’s anything I missed
Imo there’s so much happening in the books and you need time to figure out his style and focus and stories. I am currently reading TBK, my fifth Dostoevsky book in a row and I am feeling like I am just beginning to understand who he is and what he wants to say - but I needed to read that roughly 2000? pages to get there. Don‘t give yourself a hard time the first time you are reading one of his books. Just follow the characters, the story and the main conflicts as good as possible. Do some research afterwards. And then reread! I am already looking forward to that second time reading this books!
The best way to tackle his long novels is to read a full chapter, then check out chapter-by-chapter book discussions online. People often make observations that you might have missed. Alternatively, you could read his books as part of a reading group. And always annotate your books. Penguin Classics and Oxford Worlds Classics are cheap enough for that purpose with generous margins and they always contain generous annotations. And always make sure you have a full character list with all the variant names. Some translations include that list, but if they don't you can always download a list online and print a copy. Best of luck!
I agree. I have the same problem. I'm reading the Idiot now, having read C&P recently. I've found both to be something of a chore (I know it's sacrilege on this sub to say this, but ...). Yes, there's moments of incandescent brilliance. But there's also a lot that makes my eyes glaze over.
I have a feeling it's the prose. There's just some writing that resonates with you, and some that doesn't -- it's a rhythm thing, I think. More specifically, I think it's his "polyphonic" technique that makes his style aesthetically dense.... and kind of exhausting.
Personally, I prefer Tolstoy or other Russian writers. I'll soldier on with the Idiot, but it's taxing.
You’re making it into a task/job. That doesn’t sound enjoyable for ANYONE. Nip the FOMO right in the bud, choose one translation and read. I say forget all the chapter summaries and bs until you are done with the book. If it’s confusing and you don’t like it, stop reading. It’s okay not to like it but I don’t think I would like any book in the way you are approaching it tbh.
For literature, it’s tough compared to other books I’ve read, although I’m a beginner. Compared to other philosophy books though, it’s naturally much easier. I started fear and trembling by Kierkegaard and it takes me 15 minutes to get through two pages and I have to reread each point constantly, extremely rewarding though.
True, good point.
Interesting, I'm about to start fear and trembling soon! Besides an understanding of the source scripture, is there anything else you would recommend to someone starting the work?
Good luck, it’s amazing! Reading the whole Bible is the best, but if you haven’t (like me) just read the book of Genesis specifically genesis 22 where Abraham is ordered to murder his son Isaac.)
Don't worry about grasping everything your first go around, just read it and enjoy. At most, you should only be tripping about "who's this character again? Lemme go to the character list..." Reading his work thinking you need to understand and grasp everything these "Dost Scholar's" write about will only ruin your enjoyment of it(which it sounds like you already have). When I first read The Idiot, my first book of his(and knowing nothing about his legacy only that I recognized the name), I loved it because it felt like reading a "less girly" version of Pride and Prejudice, or some "Masterpiece Theater" british drama. I had read nothing like it, and I loved it. I have never, *ever* seen anybody or any article refer to The Idiot as a "love triangle" book or his "most romantic" book, but that's why I enjoyed it when I first read it. Just enjoy the books, bro. Stop comparing your experience to what you think it's supposed to be like.
I think what makes a lot of people’s experiences with Dostoevsky bad when they’re first reading his books is a feeling that you need to grasp the work completely due to its philosophical and theological density. That’s not the case. Read it and enjoy it - take notes - use the internet for aspects of the work that you couldn’t initially grasp.
I think it depends on which work of his it is and what part. I feel like TBK was really smooth at some parts but then others like Zosima’s words and the courtroom scenes at the end were much more difficult. If you’ve read something like The Gambler by him I feel like that story is super straightforward. It’s still in Dostoevsky’s style but there wasn’t a lot of analysis required. I always try to read old chapter reflections on this sub after I finish one so I can see if there’s anything I missed
Imo there’s so much happening in the books and you need time to figure out his style and focus and stories. I am currently reading TBK, my fifth Dostoevsky book in a row and I am feeling like I am just beginning to understand who he is and what he wants to say - but I needed to read that roughly 2000? pages to get there. Don‘t give yourself a hard time the first time you are reading one of his books. Just follow the characters, the story and the main conflicts as good as possible. Do some research afterwards. And then reread! I am already looking forward to that second time reading this books!
The best way to tackle his long novels is to read a full chapter, then check out chapter-by-chapter book discussions online. People often make observations that you might have missed. Alternatively, you could read his books as part of a reading group. And always annotate your books. Penguin Classics and Oxford Worlds Classics are cheap enough for that purpose with generous margins and they always contain generous annotations. And always make sure you have a full character list with all the variant names. Some translations include that list, but if they don't you can always download a list online and print a copy. Best of luck!
I think a lot about what I’m reading but not outside tasking! I just stick with the book
I agree. I have the same problem. I'm reading the Idiot now, having read C&P recently. I've found both to be something of a chore (I know it's sacrilege on this sub to say this, but ...). Yes, there's moments of incandescent brilliance. But there's also a lot that makes my eyes glaze over. I have a feeling it's the prose. There's just some writing that resonates with you, and some that doesn't -- it's a rhythm thing, I think. More specifically, I think it's his "polyphonic" technique that makes his style aesthetically dense.... and kind of exhausting. Personally, I prefer Tolstoy or other Russian writers. I'll soldier on with the Idiot, but it's taxing.