Have you read Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground?

Just some informal research....

Yes, I've read most of his novels.

^ I would sooner re-read "Crime and Punishment" (one of my recommendations I made to someone at the site) or various others. I read "Notes from Underground" for one of my classes many years ago.

A survey was done elsewhere on how many had read it. It received something like 963 votes in a week before being closed. 25% voted that they had read it, and I wondered how that would compare to the audience here. I knew we wouldn't get as many votes here -- even a Prog poll with the most popular of bands would not reach such numbers, we are an increasingly small, active community, and the subject matter would be more likely to appeal to that other audience (deals with philosophical and psychological subject matter). That said, I also knew that we have had a literate community here with people such as Vomps who are into such things.

Edited by Logan - January 26 2019 at 10:12

I am embarrassed to say that with all of my reading (including tons of classic lit), I haven't read any Dostoevsky.  I really need to.  My son is a huge fan of Russian literature, he will likely have a good recommendation for me on what to start with, but in the meantime, what do any of you readers suggest?

Snicolette wrote: I am embarrassed to say that with all of my reading (including tons of classic lit), I haven't read any Dostoevsky.  I really need to.  My son is a huge fan of Russian literature, he will likely have a good recommendation for me on what to start with, but in the meantime, what do any of you readers suggest?

Crime and Punishment is a good one to start with. Not as complex as some of his later novels but still a pretty good example of what he's about.

It's hard to argue against it giving us the first existential novel, the unreliable narrator as a literary device and a warning about the anomie engendered by collectivism

On discussing with my son, he agreed with those here who felt Crime and Punishment would be the best start.  He has also read The Gambler, The Brothers Karamazov and Notes From The Underground, and suggested that I also read Pushkin, who is his favourite.

Edited by Snicolette - January 28 2019 at 09:17

Edited by Lewian - January 29 2019 at 08:39

I'd most recommend The Brothers Karamazov, and then the Idiot and Crime and Punishment if you're in the mood.

I agree with you on his very informal, non-serious study, Lewian. When the professors with a quite popular podcast did the same poll on twitter, they got 973 or so votes in a week with 25 percent voting no, but it's to be expected that more of their fans would want to take part in it. Even then the results would be biased towards those who have read it (plus there was a bet going). Whenever I make polls, I do make predictions of who will and won't post, and how said individuals will vote. I predicted that this poll would not get so much attention period (either posts or votes), and in terms of a study, it's the amount of attention that I was most looking at (I was hoping it would generate some discussion, and it has).

I had read some Dostoevsky for my own pleasure (my mother and a brother was a "fan"), but I read Notes From Underground, like with Chaser, for Philosophy. I don't know that I would have gotten around to reading it otherwise. Dostoevsky is more the sort of thing I would have read more in my youth for pleasure (or even when I joined PA) than now, but I don't read nearly as much for pleasure as I used to (I do find reading books harder with my eyes now -- I now have reading glasses, but never got used to them). When I was younger, reading was my main solitary pastime.

Edited by Logan - January 29 2019 at 09:29

Snicolette wrote: Logan wrote: I'd most recommend The Brothers Karamazov, and then the Idiot and Crime and Punishment if you're in the mood. I agree with you on his very informal, non-serious study, Lewian. When the professors with a quite popular podcast did the same poll on twitter, they got 973 or so votes in a week with 25 percent voting no, but it's to be expected that more of their fans would want to take part in it. Even then the results would be biased towards those who have read it (plus there was a bet going). Whenever I make polls, I do make predictions of who will and won't post, and how said individuals will vote. I predicted that this poll would not get so much attention period (either posts or votes), and in terms of a study, it's the amount of attention that I was most looking at (I was hoping it would generate some discussion, and it has). I had read some Dostoevsky for my own pleasure (my mother and a brother was a "fan"), but I read Notes From Underground, like with Chaser, for Philosophy. I don't know that I would have gotten around to reading it otherwise. Thank you, Logan...For me, it made for some good recommendations and good conversation....probably not what the poll intended, but I'll take it.

Ultimately, I'm all about the conversation, recommendations, and just reading what people have to say here (especially from people such as yourself whom I always enjoy reading). Thank you for being here.      

Edited by Logan - January 29 2019 at 09:37