In fact it is Dostoevsky who never ceased inspiring me after decades. I read so many writers thereafter when I read Dostoevsky two decades ago and yet all I have read gotten overshadowed by this novelist. My favorite novel is still the Brothers Karamazov though I read so many. The reason is no book even Tolstoy's novels and essays did not appeal to me compared with his books. What I like mostly of him is his psychological profundity or insight in to the psyche. Perhaps no writers could so much sublimely enter into discussions about things they never felt or experienced. I have read this book several times but still it demands reading =.
Can I ask if what translation you read him in? I went for the Garnett for C&P, Notes from Underground and White Nights as I heard she was the most faithful. Apparently people don't like P&V especially for Notes from Underground. I also went with the Maude translation for some Tolstoy, so maybe I just prefer the originals?
I've heard Garnett is old-fashioned because her translations read like Victorian era works at times, and she sometimes left out sentences for some reason. That being said, I still enjoyed her Crime and Punishment translation. I've heard good things about P&V, though they seem to have their fair share of criticism as well. I guess the issue with them is that they tend to modernize the language a bit too much, but overall, they seem to be some of the best translators of Russian works. The moral here is that translating Dostoevsky is very tough.
Something something nihilism... something something the Christian god... something something suffering is salvation... Something something vodka and rubles. And don't forget the prostitutes. That's all we need to know.
I have started 'Demons' aka 'The Possessed' 3 times and had to go to the beginning out of utter confusion. I feel it's worth it but damn, my brain just cannot remember who the characters are and I get check mated by this thing!
I'd highly suggest starting with White Nights or Notes from Underground if you've not read Dostoevsky before. If you haven't read the Russians at all, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is also a good place to start.
I should mention I have read Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground and The Brothers Karamazov. I didn't really have problems with the first two. I had to stop reading The Idiot as well due to boredom and confusion. There appears to be something wrong with me when it comes to Dostoevsky where I'm reading it but I lose track of who the characters are and what's happening. Perhaps my brain has turned to mush.
I struggled as well. I think it's a lot easier for Russians to keep track of the names since they grew up with the complicated naming system.
