Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The second quarterly short story read for April thru June is The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky by none other than Fyodor Dostoevsky. One of the most popular classic authors out of Russia, Dostoevsky's most well-known novels are Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. High school and college students are often assigned one or the other of those two books. If you enjoyed reading one of them, maybe you will also enjoy his short stories. OR if you did not enjoy those books or have not checked out Dostoevsky yet at all, checking out some short stories by him could be a good opportunity to try the author in a new way or get a taste for him.

Hopefully both old and new fans of Dostoevsky can enjoy this collection. Most editions are 300-400 pages.

The Heavenly Christmas Tree it starts out with, Is this a true story or is it made up. Maybe it is somewhere inbetween.

Dosty's works are insightful it seems to be of the human condition with all of it's suffering.
I have read a few of his works and find them very well written.

His writing drafts are amazing to look at. He is all over the place on the paper no organization and the drawings...
His style is different. Not sure how to explain it, like he is not writing to be writing a fictional novel but with more of himself in his work.

I hope you try some of his shorter fiction and essays too. Some of them include “Mr. Prokharchin”, “Another Man's Wife and a Husband Under the Bed”, “An Honest Thief” and “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man.”

I am hoping to read one more at least this month!

Has anyone read White Nights?

Lesle wrote: "Has anyone read White Nights?"

I liked the movie much more than the book.

Lesle wrote: "Has anyone read White Nights?"

One of my favourites!

Piyangie wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Has anyone read White Nights?"

One of my favourites!"

Thank you Piyangie! I think that will be my next short from him.
I have read only a few of his shorts including:
The Adolescent
Poor Folk
The Landlady

How was Poor Folk, Lesle? I'm considering reading it.

I enjoyed Poor Folk when we read it as a group a few years ago, Piyangie.

Thanks, Rosemarie. I've added it, but won't be able to start till late May. I'm really behind in my reading.

I read Poor Folk several years ago. I gave it four stars.

It is a good read.
Letters between cousins and how they are down on their luck and struggling.

Thanks, Lesle and Luis. I'm encouraged. :)

How is your progression of reading Dostoevsky's short stories coming along? What are your favorites of his that you would recommend? Why? Which ones do you wish that you had skipped reading? How come? No judgement here! We'd love to hear what your thinking.

Well - a day late and a dollar or so short, but I just finished - not the book - the first story - White Nights. I really liked it. Such a feeling of suspense and dread. Something was going to go horribly wrong - you just knew it. Hard to hold my breath waiting for 52 pages! Will read a few more. Sadly I just don't have time to read the whole book right now. I don't believe I have ever read any Dostoevsky. He's a pretty good author, huh? :)

Glad to hear you enjoyed White Nights, Karen. I loved that book. It's one of my favorites. And needn't I say that Dostoevsky is a favorite of mine as well? He is one of the most incredible authors I've come across.

Karen it is totally fine. I am behind too, hoping to still read White Nights.
Dosty is a real talent!

Karen, there is no need to feel pressure to rush or to read the entire book right now. Enjoying the stories you read is more important than reading them all within the quarter. :)

I read a few more last night and this morning. The Honest Thief - so bleak but so touching. The Christmas Tree and a Wedding - scathing and, what's the word I'm looking for, cold-blooded, merciless, ruthless, sadistic? And The Peasant Marey - a vivid juxtaposition and hopeful in an odd sort of way. I had no idea that Notes From the Underground is so long. I likely won't get to that one but I'm interested in the last two.