1.17.2006
The Idiot
I started reading Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Idiot last night. I received the book for Christmas, as it was on my wishlist. It is a Barnes and Noble Classics edition. I really like the B&N Hardcover editions, they are attractive books and are very reasonably priced. I usually take the dust jacket off when I am reading the book, especially if it has some sort of portrait of the character. Better to let your own mind envision the characters!
Last year I read Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov and thoroughly enjoyed them both. I am only a little ways into The Idiot and it looks to hold the same enjoyment. There is something about these two writers that is captivating. I tend to talk about how much I like Russian literature, but really I have only read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. There is something about the Russian culture that is enchanting and dark at the same time. I tried to explain to my wife why I liked the books so much, and all I could think of was that it was like watching a train wreck (so cliche, I know). The amount of tension in these books is incredible, you never know when someone is going to destroy themselves, and yet you fall for these characters.
Anyways, it's nice to read some fiction right now, and I tend to move through these books a lot quicker. Reading The Idiot has made me want to go back and re-read Anna Karenina again. It was probably one of the best books that I read last year. There's so many books to read though, I would feel bad re-reading it when I have so much sitting on my shelf!
I started reading Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Idiot last night. I received the book for Christmas, as it was on my wishlist. It is a Barnes and Noble Classics edition. I really like the B&N Hardcover editions, they are attractive books and are very reasonably priced. I usually take the dust jacket off when I am reading the book, especially if it has some sort of portrait of the character. Better to let your own mind envision the characters!
Last year I read Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov and thoroughly enjoyed them both. I am only a little ways into The Idiot and it looks to hold the same enjoyment. There is something about these two writers that is captivating. I tend to talk about how much I like Russian literature, but really I have only read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. There is something about the Russian culture that is enchanting and dark at the same time. I tried to explain to my wife why I liked the books so much, and all I could think of was that it was like watching a train wreck (so cliche, I know). The amount of tension in these books is incredible, you never know when someone is going to destroy themselves, and yet you fall for these characters.
Anyways, it's nice to read some fiction right now, and I tend to move through these books a lot quicker. Reading The Idiot has made me want to go back and re-read Anna Karenina again. It was probably one of the best books that I read last year. There's so many books to read though, I would feel bad re-reading it when I have so much sitting on my shelf!
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I gave my daughter A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich many years ago, and that has flowered into a great love for Russian Literature.
Also found interesting your preference to let your own imagination sketch the characters. This is why we usually pass on the movie version of our favorite fiction. . . we can't stand the interference with the imaginative interaction with the author.
James
Also found interesting your preference to let your own imagination sketch the characters. This is why we usually pass on the movie version of our favorite fiction. . . we can't stand the interference with the imaginative interaction with the author.
James
Interesting thoughts on dust jackets. I had thought about the effect of movies on my imagination of characters, but hadn't thought of dust jackets. It makes sense though.
I've read Anna Karenina twice, and enjoyed it both times.
The main plot is like "watching a train wreck", but Lev and Kitty bring hope and joy, and save the story from total grimness. I liked The Brother's Karamazov as well, and although I read it fairly quickly, not taking a lot of time to try to unravel everything that was happening and why, it has been one of those books that has stayed with me and come to mind again and again.
There is a richness, somehow, to those two authors. It is hard to put a finger on, though.
Let us know what you think of The Idiot. :-)
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I've read Anna Karenina twice, and enjoyed it both times.
The main plot is like "watching a train wreck", but Lev and Kitty bring hope and joy, and save the story from total grimness. I liked The Brother's Karamazov as well, and although I read it fairly quickly, not taking a lot of time to try to unravel everything that was happening and why, it has been one of those books that has stayed with me and come to mind again and again.
There is a richness, somehow, to those two authors. It is hard to put a finger on, though.
Let us know what you think of The Idiot. :-)
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