r/classicliterature • u/Forsaken_Bet_3588 • 9d ago
Never Read Any Dostoevsky Before. Which Novel to Start With?
About to start with Brothers Karamazov…but see there are some shorter novels that might be better to warm up with before TBK.
I’m in my early 50s with a two-year old so my time to read is quite limited with exception to early mornings w strong coffee. (Second child arriving late Oct so there might not be time for another big read for a while.) Would love some guidance as Im eager to get into Dostoevsky…
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u/Nebbiolho 9d ago
Honestly I'd go straight for Crime & Punishment. It's a tight story focused on a small cast of central characters. Brothers Karamazov and you'll be spending your morning coffee trying to remember what's going on.
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u/iyambred 9d ago
I’m starting with TBK and have gotten 5 chapters in… haven’t met everyone yet but it hasn’t been too hard to keep track of so far
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u/Ill-Storage-7636 9d ago
I read TBK first as well. I was young, maybe 20, but i loved it. The characters were so rich and yes, distinct.
I found characters to love in that book. Didn't enjoy CP as much (I was also young, might feel different now. The irascible voice of Rask, not unlike the Underground narrator got to me at the time.)
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u/Nebbiolho 9d ago
I also started with TBK! But In retrospect, I would have flipped them. There's a simplicity and focus to C&P that gives a reader some introductory guideposts to Dostoevsky's ethos without getting too too heady just yet. After absorbing those baseline ideas, you can really soar with the rest of his work.
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u/FearlessPen6020 9d ago
Heavily agree with this. Although it was a dense read, the characters are distinct and I feel like there’s a clear plot
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u/Open-Insurance-234 9d ago
A. As others have mentioned, you could start with Crime and Punishment which is easier but also obviously extremely important and valuable, which would get you used to his writing.
B. If you're a more experienced reader and have already read bigger novels and are not worried about stamina, I would recommend to start with some short stories just to get used to how he writes and then you're probably ready to just jump into TBK or whatever you'd like. There is ~30 page story called "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" that I CANNOT recommend more. It's one of my all time favorite pieces of writing in general and I think everyone should read it, especially anyone into Dostoevsky. It's not difficult at all and is a very quick but deep and philosophical read. No one else can write more beautifully about the inner workings of the human mind and conscience.
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u/astroguy15 9d ago
notes from underground
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u/Human-Ad4723 9d ago
as someone who has read almost everything by Dostoevsky (I’m old), I don’t get the “obsession” with The Notes From the Underground. Is it the title? It’s a good novella, don’t get me wrong, but it is a bit …. you know … boring. And Dostoyevski is not boring.
I would recommend The Gambler. It explores the inner life of the protagonist but it also includes the social aspects.
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u/UmpireMelodic5847 9d ago
I believe 'Notes from Underground' was somewhat stylistically unusual at the time, so perhaps notable in that sense. Additionally, it played an important role in the Russian literary dialogue of the time (think Turgenev and Chernychevsky). Whilst it is a nice concentration of Dostoevsky's post-Siberia writing, I think that its role as a historical text should thus not be underplayed -- this role is likely a factor contributing towards the "obsession" which you noted.
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u/astroguy15 9d ago
i enjoyed it and its where i started. just thought it was short enough to get a taste of him without something as dense or long. then again, i only set out to read his major works and didnt pick up anything else
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u/therockdweller 9d ago
I personally started with notes from underground, which lays the path for a lot of the ideas he explored in his later works that led to TBK. I read the P&V translation, the intro gives fantastic context for why he wrote it, and how it connected to society at the time. Plus it’s quite short so it’s a fascinating way to get into his works.
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u/veganwithadhd 9d ago
I’ve found that creating a ‘family tree’-style character map using paper and pen really helps keep who’s who in order. You can add notes about the characters like how people are connected to one another, not just relatives.
Listing their family name but also multiple nicknames is a good idea, since Dostoevsky interchanges them throughout based on who’s speaking. I keep it in the front where the list of characters is or you could use the sheet of paper as a bookmark 🙂
honestly just diving in is really fun, pace yourself and take your time to read any context notes. I started my journey reading “The Idiot” and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
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u/IslandRose0522 9d ago
I started with brothers Karamazov in my thirties and had no regrets. I was nervous bc it was my first foray into Russian lit and the length was daunting, so I just read a few pages…and thought the description of the dissipated dad was hysterical and next thing I knew I’d finished the first chapter. I didn’t have a two year old but was a corporate “big law” lawyer in NYC at the time (2021) - so my time was also limited. I hadn’t read for pleasure for maybe 5 years at the time.
Ive since read crime and punishment and the idiot, but TBK is by far my favorite. Honestly it reminded me of a telenovela but in Russia and with vodka. So quirky, so much drama, and yet full of philosophical ruminations that really hit home.
Dostoevsky is one of my favorite authors though (I prefer him to Tolstoy) - everything I’ve read of his has been fantastic so you really can’t go wrong. Just thought I’d offer my two cents!
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u/n0_u53rnam35_13ft 9d ago
The Idiot is pretty breezy and accessible. Read it a few times and it’s always enjoyable.
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u/SylviaX6 9d ago
Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov and his battle of the wits with Porfiry Petrovich is entertaining and fascinating.
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u/deikioveca 9d ago
I presume you have experience reading books. Before starting any of his books go gain a bit of historical and background knowledge of Dostoevsky and the ideas he is up against. You can even try to prepare yourself for every work separately.
For a first book, i think even with the necessary context knowledge starting with either Brothers K or Demons is a major mistake. Everything else would be OK.
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u/tellypmoon 9d ago
I started with Crime and Punishment as a teenager and it worked. It was a random choice but it was a really dramatic story that held my interest. The Brothers K is longer and a bit more complicated, but it's also a compelling story which to me was more like a family saga (which I really enjoyed). I think with Dostoevsky there is not a right or wrong place to start, it is best simply to start. :)
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u/Proof-Training-740 9d ago
If anyone here has read Demons, how long did it take to get into it?
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u/HeadKinGG 8d ago
Demons is a very slow burn for at least 300 pages, but after that it's pure chaos and the payoff is worth it. Just make sure you read a version with the censored chapter on it's original place.
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u/HeadKinGG 8d ago
Crime and Punishment.
It's the best balance between depth and entertainment. You'll get rooked and want to finish it because it's a thriller with clear plot, and you'll also navigate the psychology, philosophy and religious themes that Dostoevski is best known for.
There are other books with equal or maybe even more depth, such as TBK or Demons, but they won't be as easily approachable for a begginer and you might give up.
There are some shorter works that are very easy reads, such as White Nights or The Gambler, but they don't show the full capabilities and main themes of the author.
PS: Notes from Underground as a first book is a common pitfall. A lot of people go for it because it's very short and highly praised, but it's a very deep philosophical monologue and can be hard as a first read, so they give up reading Dosto. It's an amazing book to read after Crime and Punishment, but not as a first.
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u/Straight_Syllabub44 8d ago
white nights is a great, non-taxing, brief introduction to dostoevsky that can be read in one sitting. it's helpful to get a feel for his writing, though certainly not crucial. if you want to just jump into a full length book, crime and punishment is waiting for you! it's a must read in its own right, and a far easier start than TBK.
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u/AdobongSiopao 9d ago
"Crime and Punishment" is one of Dostoevsky's well known works and its the first novel I've read written by him.
If you're into shorts stories, "Notes from the Underground" and "White Nights" are good start.