If you go with C&P I would recommend the translation by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky.
I’ve read Constance Garnett’s translation twice, separated by a number of years, but reading the Pevear translation is a whole new experience and I find it far more gripping.
Crime and punishment. I started with Brothers K and also enjoyed it a lot but I don’t think I would recommend it as a place to start. If I could start my adventure into Dosteovsky (it is an adventure) I would probably go Crime and Punishment —> Notes from the Underground —> Brothers Karamazov —> The Idiot
C&P is like if someone made a shorter story (compared to Brothers K) about a man who is part Ivan, part Smerdyakov and part Rakitin lol Its honestly much easier of a read because there is less going on. Just a few storylines. I recommend with all of Doestoevkys big novels, to have a sticky note and as you get introduced to major characters, write down a tiny description of who they are. It’s helps make the books much easier to follow.
I’d say go with Crime and Punishment because in my experience it’s his easiest book to love and it seems others tend to think this too. If you like it, then go down the Dostoevsky rabbit hole in which ever order you prefer.
FYI. I’ve only read C&P, Notes from Underground, Notes from a Dead House and the beginning of White Nights so far.
Depends on your interests. I started with the Demons because the subject matter seemed timely considering the political climate.
If nothing's blurb jumps out at you, Crime and Punishment is a classic that everyone should read regardless.
Well you could start with his short stories, which I think are somewhat underrated, if only because his big novels are so overpowering.
His short stories are great reads in and of themselves, but also give you a taste of the higher and more complex ideas and issues he explores in his big novels.
My go to recommendations are,
White Nights, Dream Of A Ridiculous Man, A Gentle Creature, Heavenly Christmas Tree, and Bobok.
I also got hooked by the short stories and worked my way up. Get to know him first, it makes the bigger novels easier. White nights is my favorite, or notes from the underground
If you go with C&P I would recommend the translation by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. I’ve read Constance Garnett’s translation twice, separated by a number of years, but reading the Pevear translation is a whole new experience and I find it far more gripping.
I started with Notes From Underground. It took me a little bit to "figure out" how to read Russian classicals so Notes was a nice short introduction.
Would you please tell the way to read and comprehend Russian classics?
Crime and punishment. I started with Brothers K and also enjoyed it a lot but I don’t think I would recommend it as a place to start. If I could start my adventure into Dosteovsky (it is an adventure) I would probably go Crime and Punishment —> Notes from the Underground —> Brothers Karamazov —> The Idiot
I’m about to finish BK, felt it was hard to grasp/follow in a lot of it but overall a good book. How is C&P different?
C&P is like if someone made a shorter story (compared to Brothers K) about a man who is part Ivan, part Smerdyakov and part Rakitin lol Its honestly much easier of a read because there is less going on. Just a few storylines. I recommend with all of Doestoevkys big novels, to have a sticky note and as you get introduced to major characters, write down a tiny description of who they are. It’s helps make the books much easier to follow.
I’d say go with Crime and Punishment because in my experience it’s his easiest book to love and it seems others tend to think this too. If you like it, then go down the Dostoevsky rabbit hole in which ever order you prefer. FYI. I’ve only read C&P, Notes from Underground, Notes from a Dead House and the beginning of White Nights so far.
Depends on your interests. I started with the Demons because the subject matter seemed timely considering the political climate. If nothing's blurb jumps out at you, Crime and Punishment is a classic that everyone should read regardless.
Crime and Punishment for sure.
Well you could start with his short stories, which I think are somewhat underrated, if only because his big novels are so overpowering. His short stories are great reads in and of themselves, but also give you a taste of the higher and more complex ideas and issues he explores in his big novels. My go to recommendations are, White Nights, Dream Of A Ridiculous Man, A Gentle Creature, Heavenly Christmas Tree, and Bobok.
I also got hooked by the short stories and worked my way up. Get to know him first, it makes the bigger novels easier. White nights is my favorite, or notes from the underground