Brothers Karamazov is quite a difficult book to read but still it’s really good. From all your choices Anna Karenina is the best book in my opinion. There’s also a short book from Ivan Turgenev around 200 pages called “First love” which is really good.
Excellent list! We obviously get recommendations from the same people. I just finished East of Eden and loved it. I have read other Steinbeck books but not that one. I’m so glad I did it. I have also taken Jess’s recommendations and the Game of Tomes too. The biggest problem is prioritizing which of these great books to absolutely tackle and which to put off…should be a great reading year!
I'm so glad you loved East of Eden!! I should be finishing it up in the next few days and I'm so sad it's almost over. And you're so right, it's hard to prioritize and tackle all of these amazing books! Thanks so much for being here, happy reading :)
Anna K seems to be getting the most positive vibes over the past couple of years. It would be a great place to start. And then you could move to the completely depressing The Road. That would make for an amazing reading experience (the literary Barbenheimer!).
Absolutely start with Tolstoy, Dostoevsky is notoriously difficult and I was cocky thinking I could just jump into Crime and Punishment. Crime and Punishment is heavily based in like 2 centuries political and moral philosophy and the structure of the Russian government. If you’re fine not understanding everything that’s fine and I really do think that it’s still enjoyable, but because I didn’t understand it Crime and Punishment sent me into a several month spiral of just not feeling at all excited about reading anything and is largely the reason why I only read 7 things. I was also trying to read it while balancing math and biology courses at university, so maybe if you have the time to read it alongside a guide that would help but I would strongly recommend Tolstoy who I’ve heard is far easier to read. Besides my attempt of Dostoevsky, the only other Russian I’ve read is Chekov and while what he writes is very deep and complex it’s far more approachable than the notoriety his name carry’s would initially make you think (I read the Seagull and Ivanov and I enjoyed them both a lot, he doesn’t write very long things so if you want something that’s not a massive commitment then go with Chekov).
@@fiddleleaffiction of course, and that doesn’t mean it’s impossible either. Just don’t be naive about it, it’s definitely going to be a task to get the full of it if you haven’t read very much philosophy or don’t have a background in Russian lit.
I read Brothers Karamazov as my second Dostoyevski and that was a bit too deep for me, I loved the book, but it took some effort to finish. Crime and Punishmet is much more accessible, it is a crime story after all and as excellent as Brothers. For Tolstoy not sure which one is better to start as I never read Anna Karenina :) most likely both are excellent. Lord of the Rings isn't really a trilogy, just a novel. You could say it forms a trilogy together with The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. You just convinced me to read Jonathan Strange with its good flop :) Infinite Jest was a chore for me, I also used two bookmarks
East of eden is my favourite book of all time, im just obsessed! I love seeing otver people love it :) also recommend grapes of wrath if you havent read it yet! Currently resding Anna Karenina which I'm really enjoying too. Excited to hear what you think!
Please keep me posted on how Anna Karenina goes for you! And oh my gosh I completely see why everyone loves East of Eden so much. I have about 100 pages left and I’m just savoring it, I don’t want it to end 😅 it’s been about a decade since I read Grapes of Wrath so I might have to revisit that in the next few years as well. Thank you for being here!!
Of the four classic Russian novels I would recommend starting with Tolstoy's War and Peace. It is certainly the longest book but it gives a broader sweep of events that have a highly significant place in Russian history, in particular the Napoleonic invasion of Russia, peasant life, the aristocracy, etc. Of course, all four of these books are super-classics that deserve to be read slowly and re-read from time-to-time. Be careful to choose a good translation.
Thank you so much for the detailed response, super helpful! I have the Oxford World Classics version of War and Peace -- do you think that is a good translation?
Game of Tomes: Count. I don't think I'll get to finish the book by the end of this month (500pgs in). 1Q84: 407,000 words. Best book I've ever read. Kafka: 5 stars. I want that Folio Society edition. March of the Mammoths: IT by S. King.
I sadly will not be done with Monte Cristo this month either but I definitely will keep going! Glad to read your positive feedback about Murikami and hope you’re enjoying IT! Thanks for your comment 😊
Dickens' Great Expectations is truly one of the best classics out there, I absolutely love it. But also Bleak House is another great one that I enjoy reading in the fall/winter time.
Both War and Peace & Crime and Punishment are on my hope-to-get-to-this-year list. I really enjoyed Anna Karenina and found it flew by me. The Count of Monte Cristo is so much fun! Currently doing a reread of LoTR as well. I loved Elena Knows, definitely a favorite in recent years. Same with The Door - so good, Szabo is an excellent writer. What a TBR you've got!
You have inspired me to read finally Infinite Jest - I actually thought I'd got rid of it but happily found it on my shelf😊- all your choices are appealing to me, lol ❤
I'm so glad you enjoyed my picks and resonated with them! And YES please pick up IJ! Apparently it's popular to read it throughout the summer and call it your Infinite Summer so that's my plan haha. Please join me! :)
If I were to choose in accordance with my personal preference --- War and Peace. I haven't read Cormac McCarthy but Blood Meridian was praised as McCarthy's best and worthy of being placed with Moby Dick and As I Lay Dying by Harold Bloom. He said it was a very tough book to get through because of the carnage however. I've read Down and Out in Paris and London. It is worth reading like all of Orwell.
Thanks so much for your suggestions to go with W&P and Blood Meridian! I think I may go for Blood Meridian first, it just sounds too intriguing. Thanks for your comment and checking out my channel 😊
Anna Karenina is my favorite…..think you would like it more than Crime and Punishment. I haven’t tackled War and Peace yet, but am reading The Brothers Karamazov this year!
Thank you for the recommendation! Anna Karenina does sound really interesting and heartbreaking. I hope you enjoy reading Brothers this year, and thanks so much for the comment! 😊
Down & Out in Paris & London is a great read… I think you oughta start with The Brothers Karamazov then Crime & Punishment then Tolstoy… War & Peace is such a mammoth undertaking … The Brothers K is a breezier read … also, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a worthwhile read. Some quick recommendations here: Hamnet, The Known World, The Bee Sting, Tmrw & Tmrw & Tmrw….
Thanks so much for the other quick recs! I own Tomorrow… and Hamnet so hopefully I can get to those this year. And good to know about starting with Dostoyevsky. Everyone has varied opinions on this topic which is fascinating, but I think I’m leaning towards Dostoyevsky first. Thanks for being here!!
Not sure I'd call Brothers K 'breezier' 😀I would read C&P first. War and Peace is an easy read but just soooo long. But all four well worth the effort..!👍
Crime and Punishment is great and fairly easy to get through (once you figure out who is who). I haven't read the others yet. Slightly intimidated. 🤷♀️
I love getting everyone’s varied opinions on this topic! 😄 thank you for sharing! Please keep me posted on which one you tackle next! Maybe Anna Karenina?
I loved Little Friend but was not a fan of Goldfinch ( no need to mention History as it's impeccable). Tartt's next book .....cannot wait ( no idea of course of even when or if ).
Am currently reading Goldfinch and I really like it. I also have Tartt's other two books and will also be reading them. I too will be awaiting her next novel.
I embarrassingly forgot about Chekhov! I read some of his plays in college. Might have to add some of his stuff to my library :) last year I read Dostoyevsky’s White Nights which was a nice intro into his work!
Great Expectations is a really good place to start with Dickens. It's a great story. A Tale of Two Cities is also a fantastic read but I always think of it as being less typical of his work, because it's about the French Revolution and therefore much of it is set in France. Also it's a historical novel when much of his work is contemporary to the time he was writing.
This is great to know, I appreciate your suggestion! I will definitely start with Great Expectations then. Thanks for being here and for commenting! :)
Brothers Karamazov is quite a difficult book to read but still it’s really good. From all your choices Anna Karenina is the best book in my opinion. There’s also a short book from Ivan Turgenev around 200 pages called “First love” which is really good.
Great to know, thank you! I actually own First Love as well, so maybe I’ll sneak that in before one of these big tomes? Thanks for being here 😊
Excellent list! We obviously get recommendations from the same people. I just finished East of Eden and loved it. I have read other Steinbeck books but not that one. I’m so glad I did it. I have also taken Jess’s recommendations and the Game of Tomes too. The biggest problem is prioritizing which of these great books to absolutely tackle and which to put off…should be a great reading year!
I'm so glad you loved East of Eden!! I should be finishing it up in the next few days and I'm so sad it's almost over. And you're so right, it's hard to prioritize and tackle all of these amazing books! Thanks so much for being here, happy reading :)
Anna K seems to be getting the most positive vibes over the past couple of years. It would be a great place to start. And then you could move to the completely depressing The Road. That would make for an amazing reading experience (the literary Barbenheimer!).
Haha I love the Barbenheimer reference, that is great 😂 sounds like Anna K and The Road would be a perfect duo!
I loved Down and Out in Paris and London too! So good!!! I need to reread! This was great to watch!
Absolutely start with Tolstoy, Dostoevsky is notoriously difficult and I was cocky thinking I could just jump into Crime and Punishment. Crime and Punishment is heavily based in like 2 centuries political and moral philosophy and the structure of the Russian government. If you’re fine not understanding everything that’s fine and I really do think that it’s still enjoyable, but because I didn’t understand it Crime and Punishment sent me into a several month spiral of just not feeling at all excited about reading anything and is largely the reason why I only read 7 things. I was also trying to read it while balancing math and biology courses at university, so maybe if you have the time to read it alongside a guide that would help but I would strongly recommend Tolstoy who I’ve heard is far easier to read. Besides my attempt of Dostoevsky, the only other Russian I’ve read is Chekov and while what he writes is very deep and complex it’s far more approachable than the notoriety his name carry’s would initially make you think (I read the Seagull and Ivanov and I enjoyed them both a lot, he doesn’t write very long things so if you want something that’s not a massive commitment then go with Chekov).
Thank you so much for the thorough context and suggestion! Will definitely take this into consideration as I decide :) thanks for being here!!
@@fiddleleaffiction of course, and that doesn’t mean it’s impossible either. Just don’t be naive about it, it’s definitely going to be a task to get the full of it if you haven’t read very much philosophy or don’t have a background in Russian lit.
Loved Anna Karenina and Tale of Two Cities. Great suggestions on your reads, so many sound so good!
You’ve read a lot of the greats, and I’m glad you like them! 😊
I read Brothers Karamazov as my second Dostoyevski and that was a bit too deep for me, I loved the book, but it took some effort to finish. Crime and Punishmet is much more accessible, it is a crime story after all and as excellent as Brothers. For Tolstoy not sure which one is better to start as I never read Anna Karenina :) most likely both are excellent. Lord of the Rings isn't really a trilogy, just a novel. You could say it forms a trilogy together with The Hobbit and The Silmarillion. You just convinced me to read Jonathan Strange with its good flop :) Infinite Jest was a chore for me, I also used two bookmarks
I love a good crime story, so C&P is definitely calling to me. I hope you enjoy Jonathan Strange! Thanks for being here!
East of eden is my favourite book of all time, im just obsessed! I love seeing otver people love it :) also recommend grapes of wrath if you havent read it yet!
Currently resding Anna Karenina which I'm really enjoying too. Excited to hear what you think!
Please keep me posted on how Anna Karenina goes for you! And oh my gosh I completely see why everyone loves East of Eden so much. I have about 100 pages left and I’m just savoring it, I don’t want it to end 😅 it’s been about a decade since I read Grapes of Wrath so I might have to revisit that in the next few years as well. Thank you for being here!!
Your hair is beautiful. ❤
Ah thank you so much!! 🥹
Of the four classic Russian novels I would recommend starting with Tolstoy's War and Peace. It is certainly the longest book but it gives a broader sweep of events that have a highly significant place in Russian history, in particular the Napoleonic invasion of Russia, peasant life, the aristocracy, etc. Of course, all four of these books are super-classics that deserve to be read slowly and re-read from time-to-time. Be careful to choose a good translation.
Thank you so much for the detailed response, super helpful! I have the Oxford World Classics version of War and Peace -- do you think that is a good translation?
White Oleander as good as History.❤❤❤❤❤
okay THIS comment made me even more excited to read it :D
Game of Tomes: Count. I don't think I'll get to finish the book by the end of this month (500pgs in).
1Q84: 407,000 words. Best book I've ever read. Kafka: 5 stars. I want that Folio Society edition.
March of the Mammoths: IT by S. King.
I sadly will not be done with Monte Cristo this month either but I definitely will keep going! Glad to read your positive feedback about Murikami and hope you’re enjoying IT! Thanks for your comment 😊
Dickens' Great Expectations is truly one of the best classics out there, I absolutely love it. But also Bleak House is another great one that I enjoy reading in the fall/winter time.
I’m so glad to hear this! I really want to pick up Great Expectations very soon!!
Both War and Peace & Crime and Punishment are on my hope-to-get-to-this-year list. I really enjoyed Anna Karenina and found it flew by me. The Count of Monte Cristo is so much fun! Currently doing a reread of LoTR as well. I loved Elena Knows, definitely a favorite in recent years. Same with The Door - so good, Szabo is an excellent writer. What a TBR you've got!
So happy to hear positive feedback about so many of these, thank you for sharing!! Can’t wait to get to all of them 😊
“You know I like to be unsettled while reading” 😂
You found me!! And yes, give me all the uncomfortable feelings in a book, I’ll take it 😂
You have inspired me to read finally Infinite Jest - I actually thought I'd got rid of it but happily found it on my shelf😊- all your choices are appealing to me, lol ❤
I'm so glad you enjoyed my picks and resonated with them! And YES please pick up IJ! Apparently it's popular to read it throughout the summer and call it your Infinite Summer so that's my plan haha. Please join me! :)
If I were to choose in accordance with my personal preference --- War and Peace. I haven't read Cormac McCarthy but Blood Meridian was praised as McCarthy's best and worthy of being placed with Moby Dick and As I Lay Dying by Harold Bloom. He said it was a very tough book to get through because of the carnage however. I've read Down and Out in Paris and London. It is worth reading like all of Orwell.
Thanks so much for your suggestions to go with W&P and Blood Meridian! I think I may go for Blood Meridian first, it just sounds too intriguing. Thanks for your comment and checking out my channel 😊
Anna Karenina is my favorite…..think you would like it more than Crime and Punishment. I haven’t tackled War and Peace yet, but am reading The Brothers Karamazov this year!
Thank you for the recommendation! Anna Karenina does sound really interesting and heartbreaking. I hope you enjoy reading Brothers this year, and thanks so much for the comment! 😊
Have you read We Were The Mulvaneys ( JC Oates) ?
I haven't read any Oates but I've definitely wanted to! I'll add this to my list, thanks for the rec :)
Down & Out in Paris & London is a great read… I think you oughta start with The Brothers Karamazov then Crime & Punishment then Tolstoy… War & Peace is such a mammoth undertaking … The Brothers K is a breezier read … also, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a worthwhile read.
Some quick recommendations here: Hamnet, The Known World, The Bee Sting, Tmrw & Tmrw & Tmrw….
Thanks so much for the other quick recs! I own Tomorrow… and Hamnet so hopefully I can get to those this year. And good to know about starting with Dostoyevsky. Everyone has varied opinions on this topic which is fascinating, but I think I’m leaning towards Dostoyevsky first. Thanks for being here!!
Not sure I'd call Brothers K 'breezier' 😀I would read C&P first.
War and Peace is an easy read but just soooo long.
But all four well worth the effort..!👍
You are wrong about the word vibe - it's great! :) I'll read Kafka on the Shore with you or The Birthday Party - I like the sound of that one!
I’m glad you like the word vibe 😂 and yes, let’s buddy-read those ones!!
Crime and Punishment is great and fairly easy to get through (once you figure out who is who). I haven't read the others yet. Slightly intimidated. 🤷♀️
I love getting everyone’s varied opinions on this topic! 😄 thank you for sharing! Please keep me posted on which one you tackle next! Maybe Anna Karenina?
I loved Little Friend but was not a fan of Goldfinch ( no need to mention History as it's impeccable). Tartt's next book .....cannot wait ( no idea of course of even when or if ).
Am currently reading Goldfinch and I really like it. I also have Tartt's other two books and will also be reading them. I too will be awaiting her next novel.
Crime and punishment was a pretty fast read.
This is great to know! Mayyybe I might try to tackle both Crime & Punishment and War & Peace this year :D
Elena Knows is an amazing book!
Yay, I’m so glad to hear that! Really looking forward to getting to it soon. Thanks for being here! 😊
The road by cormac mccarthy is the depressing book
I’ve heard!! Not sure if I’m prepared but I definitely want to check it out 😅
I would actually start with Anton Chekhovs short story, a Black Monk. In my opinion he’s the greatest Russian author!
I embarrassingly forgot about Chekhov! I read some of his plays in college. Might have to add some of his stuff to my library :) last year I read Dostoyevsky’s White Nights which was a nice intro into his work!
Great Expectations is a really good place to start with Dickens. It's a great story. A Tale of Two Cities is also a fantastic read but I always think of it as being less typical of his work, because it's about the French Revolution and therefore much of it is set in France. Also it's a historical novel when much of his work is contemporary to the time he was writing.
This is great to know, I appreciate your suggestion! I will definitely start with Great Expectations then. Thanks for being here and for commenting! :)