Today I finished my fourth piece of classic Russian literature since graduating college. I'm not sure how I embarked upon my classics binge, I simply figured that a book is not considered a classic by mistake. My latest installment was Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. Many balk at reading a dark novel for pleasure, but the content is not so much my concern instead I focus on the writing itself. Dostoyevsky has become one of my favorite authors after having read a pair of his books. In Crime and Punishment he details the events of a criminal over a short period of time: before, during and after a murder. One aspect that I enjoy overwhelmingly is the depth of the main character. In particular Dostoyevsky's ability to complicate him and take him from a despicable character to a complex, troubled, but overal decent person. Another fascinating aspect was the psychology of the main character at different phases and the way it was explored.
I read The Brothers Karamazov upon a friend's suggestion and became immersed in it almost immediately. Easily one of my favorite books of all time. The juxtaposition of the three brothers and their strained relations with their father, all the while they all have at least a bit in common, which made for great reading. I suppose having now read two Dostoevsky novels he tends to include tragic aspects. This book creates great suspense and a true relationship with its characters. The length of the book can be a bit daunting at first (over 1100 pages) but with such great storytelling I found myself wanting more. The book explores so many themes and areas beautifully. The idea of spirituality is discussed throughout, with each brother representing a different viewpoint, and it helps make the entire novel incredibly thought provoking.
George Orwell's 1984 is a chilling and in many ways terrifying novel. The most worrisome part of the post apocalyptic classic is the distinct aspects that can be reflected or predicted in our own society. We are certainly a long way off from Orwell's Big Brother, but there are many things that struck me as eerily reminiscent as I was reading. The book is certainly captivating and a lesson to be taken seriously. Many read this book as part of a curriculum in school, but certainly a good one to go back to and look at it again.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is considered by many one of the best novels written. I found it to be wonderfully written and painfully interesting. Looking back now there are certain similarities that I can draw between Lolita and Crime and Punishment. The way both books look into the psychology of unusual minds fascinated me. Lolita tells the story of a love affair between a middle aged man and a young girl, who becomes his obsession. An interesting look at love in a very uncommon way. The main character goes to great lengths to pursue her despite his realization that his imagined life cannot be reality.
Cloud Atlas was another recommendation from an avid reader, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The first half of the book gives portions of six stories going in order from earliest (1800's) to latest (sometime way in the future) with little or very subtle indications that the stories are related. Each portion is written in a various style too. A journal, letters, diary, spoken, etc. which adds a very intriguing element to the book. The second half begins the descent down the ladder, finishing each story and connecting them in unexpected ways. The book explores the theme of connectivity among generations and was a fascinating and very fresh novel. Recently made into a movie, which not only did not do the book justice but the directors seemed to manipulate it into their own perception.
Anna Karenina was an incredibly beautiful and tragic novel. Leo Tolstoy is easily amongst my favorite authors and this stands out as one of his best. The various story lines that he creates in his novels exploring various themes, which are prevalent now as they were centuries ago, are artfully crafted. His style of writing and ability to set up a scene bring you into a story. Anna Karenina delves into the subjects of love, betrayal, pride, shame and so much more. The film was recently released, and I, like so many readers before, profess the superiority of the book, but emphatically I say the film did not even seem to try to capture the true essence of the novel.
War and Peace currently sits atop the list of my favorite books. A bit more daunting in its length (1400+) and deep subject matter, but it could not be more worth the trials and tribulations of getting through. At times profound and transcendent through its subjects of high society in Russia during the Napoleonic era, Tolstoy tells a marvelous story. Various story lines are again prevalent in this Tolstoy masterpiece and are intertwined perfectly. The ability to switch from scenes of battle to scenes of courtship, stirring up various emotions and calling upon philosophy give this novel such a unique greatness. If ever I were to recommend a book it would be this one. Not necessarily an easy read but certainly worth the time.I have mixed in a few other books since the end of my college career. I read The Hunger Games series to take a break from all the heavy stuff. I enjoyed it but found that by the end the author didn't exactly seem to know where she was going with it. A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by the author of the Kite Runner, told a beautiful story of Afghanistan and the struggles of women through the lens of two generations during multiple wars. I listened to a book (George Orwell's Animal Farm) on tape, which is highly out of character for me, but I enjoyed it immensely, especially when the reader sang. As for whats next I'm still undecided. Obviously I'm impartial to Russian literature, but something different may be in order.
