What’s a good book of his to start with?
It’s few years i have the same idea but i never start. I’m keeping an eye on this thread, maybe this is the right moment to start.
‘If not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not us, who?’
:rolleyes:
Yeah my problem is i’m lazy to start but once i’ve taken the first steps i enjoy the trip to the end. Well not always if i find the book uninteresting, but it never happened with “classics”.
For what it worths i’ve always tought to start with “l’idiota” don’t know the english title " the idiot?"
Idiot is very good. But its very long read and gets pretty stale.
i also recommend Crime and Punishment.
Any idea on how to approach it?
Is there a certain context/subtext one must first understand to eke out the most of his work?
For example, I know a little bit about his history (like how the bro was damn near executed, etc.), and how that memory forever altered his person.
But yes - how would you, having read the book, advice me to approach it, sir?
Start with “Игрок” . Short and can give you idea if you want to read moar =) . “Бесы” is also on my recommendation list. Stay away from “Братья Карамазовы” =)
Ok. I can’t read russkie, so google translate yielded this - ‘player’
You messing with me? 
Gambler <_<
Here is “il giocatore”
“The Gambler”.
It’s been a fair few years now since I read any Dostoevsky, but I also remember enjoying The Gambler, so I…guess that’s a recommendation from me too? Even though it’s been long enough that I can’t even really remember that much of it at all. Crime and Punishment was pretty good as well. Of course, then there’s the issue of making sure you get a half-decent translation…I imagine most of them are probably fine though.
Yeah, I couldn’t get into The Brothers Karamazov at all. People say it’s good and all, but I just found it to be a massive slog. :eek:
Ok. Again, how would you approach it?
If I’m gonna read his shit, Imma read the shit out of it.
Personally, I just opened at page 1 and started reading. If there is a “proper” way to read Dostoevsky, I don’t know what it is.
At least, I don’t particularly remember anything that I didn’t understand as a result of not having prepared or researched Dostoevsky properly beforehand. I suppose there might be a few historical Russian terms you might not know, and keeping track of character names could be a bit tricky if you’re not familiar with Russian diminutives/nicknames, but it ain’t too bad overall. 
(though again, it’s been years since I read any of these, so my memory might be a little fuzzy )
Alright guys. I’m gonna throw myself into the deep end of the russian literary pool here, and hope I don’t drown. :rolleyes:
Hopefully, the 4 years I spent studying philosophy in pre-med will be of use.
Thanks so much for the response!
I made that mistake at university and now my head is full of useless shit.
Philosophy is great! How is it useless?
It’s been the most educational 4 years of my life - it’s given me a huge advantage in medical school as well. Half my peers can’t think. I feel sorry for their patients.
Yeah i was trying to be somewhat ironic but looks like i sucked at it.
Nah bro. Probably just the lack of context because we are typing words on a forum. :rolleyes:
I can’t even google translate that. Hahaha
@Mods: sorry for posting this in the wrong subsection of the forums!