Why is Russian Literature such a pain in the ass? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Taq Man · 08-24-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

My favorite novels are War and Peace and The Brothers Karamazov. Russion literaterure is the best. It influenced even so many great American and British writers. It does take a frame of mind I suppose.

Believe me I want to get there. I'm Russian after all. It just seems like Tolstoy and expecially Dostoevsky are way more concerned with the characters than the story.

Can you give me your top two reasons for loving War and Peace? perhaps I will give it a third try.

SeattleUte · 08-24-2007, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taq Man

Believe me I want to get there. I'm Russian after all. It just seems like Tolstoy and expecially Dostoevsky are way more concerned with the characters than the story.

Can you give me your top two reasons for loving War and Peace? perhaps I will give it a third try.

The characters are the most vividly realized of any I've ever read. I also liked the battle scenes. I even like the essays they often take out or put in an appendix. I ate it up. It's not a tough read, just very long. Anna Karenina was great too, maybe more sophisticated in a way, but still I like War and Peace better. Since I read War and Peace I've re-read passages for years. You may want to start with some of Tolstoy's shorter novels like Hadji Muhrad, The Cossacks, or The Kreutzer Sonata.

I think the Russian novelists get religion about right (more so Tolstoy than Dostoyevsky).

Taq Man · 08-24-2007, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

The characters are the most vividly realized of any I've ever read. I also liked the battle scenes. I even like the essays they often take out or put in an appendix. I ate it up. It's not a tough read, just very long. Anna Karenina was great too, maybe more sophisticated in a way, but still I like War and Peace better. Since I read War and Peace I've re-read passages for years. You may want to start with some of Tolstoy's shorter novels like Hadji Muhrad, The Cossacks, or The Kreutzer Sonata.

I think the Russian novelists get religion about right (more so Tolstoy than Dostoyevsky).

Thanks much appreciated.

The description of the murders and the emotions right after in Crime and Punishment creeped me out. I thought that only a man who had commited a murder could have described it so vividly. It was the 300 pages after that ruined it for me.

SeattleUte · 08-24-2007, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taq Man

Thanks much appreciated.

The description of the murders and the emotions right after in Crime and Punishment creeped me out. I thought that only a man who had commited a murder could have described it so vividly. It was the 300 pages after that ruined it for me.

Tolstoy's greatest short novels and stories are collected in this volume:

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Short-To...7932490&sr=1-1

SoonerCoug · 08-24-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taq Man

Believe me I want to get there. I'm Russian after all. It just seems like Tolstoy and expecially Dostoevsky are way more concerned with the characters than the story.

Can you give me your top two reasons for loving War and Peace? perhaps I will give it a third try.

I didn't know you're Russian, Taq Man. Are you originally from Russia? Or do you just have Russian heritage? I served my mission in Russia.

I never read War and Peace. Too long.

MikeWaters · 08-24-2007, 06:40 PM

I've read Crime and Punishment twice. The first time I struggled. The second time was a much better translation (IMO) and it was easier.

I found Anna Karenina a fairly easy read.

SteelBlue · 08-24-2007, 07:24 PM

I read Crime and Punishment many years ago and I enjoyed it. When I was a young guy, I used to circle any word that I didn't know and look it up after each chapter. I still remember that I learned the word magnanimous from Crime and Punishment. How's that for a random memory?

creekster · 08-24-2007, 07:28 PM

Bros. Karamazov can not be read in 20 minute grabs here and there, IMO. I trieed it and had the same experience., I had to devote some time and, having done so, it rewarded me with a greta literary experience. I have yet to read War and Peace and now I am feeling like I should.

RockyBalboa · 08-24-2007, 07:42 PM

Next Summer I'll read "War and Peace" as my Summer Classic Tradition.

Taq Man · 08-24-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

I didn't know you're Russian, Taq Man. Are you originally from Russia? Or do you just have Russian heritage? I served my mission in Russia.

I never read War and Peace. Too long.

Russian heritage. My great grandparents (along with my grandfather) came over in the early 1900's.

08-24-2007, 07:28 PM	#8
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	Bros. Karamazov can not be read in 20 minute grabs here and there, IMO. I trieed it and had the same experience., I had to devote some time and, having done so, it rewarded me with a greta literary experience. I have yet to read War and Peace and now I am feeling like I should. __________________ Sorry for th e tpyos.

08-24-2007, 07:42 PM	#9
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	Next Summer I'll read "War and Peace" as my Summer Classic Tradition. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

08-24-2007, 06:40 PM	#6
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I've read Crime and Punishment twice. The first time I struggled. The second time was a much better translation (IMO) and it was easier. I found Anna Karenina a fairly easy read.

08-24-2007, 07:24 PM	#7
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	I read Crime and Punishment many years ago and I enjoyed it. When I was a young guy, I used to circle any word that I didn't know and look it up after each chapter. I still remember that I learned the word magnanimous from Crime and Punishment. How's that for a random memory?