The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about the books I’ve been reading. The truth is, I haven’t given up. Just reading at a slower pace, and waiting too long to blog about it. This week I’ll be trying to play catch up to get where we’re at.

The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky was #20 in my book-a-week conquest for 2009. I started reading it by the pool, then with my dog in the park, then gradually finished the thing on short breaks at work. It’s difficult to read landmark Russuan fiction while listening to coworkers compare crazy weekend stories, but you do your best. I chose the famous author’s definitive short works over The Brothers K and Crime and Punishment, because, obviously, it seemed more manageable. I also got plenty of comments lugging Dostoevsky around. For a solid week I felt like an intellectual, if only a pretentious one.

On a more serious note, “White Nights” might be one of the most tender things I’ve ever read. I think there’s a bit of the honest dreamer protagonist in everyone. Just don’t ever name your daughter “Nastenka,” even if you’re convinced she’ll turn out warm and beautiful. Other than that, “A Christmas Tree and a Wedding” was enjoyable, and “Notes From the Underground”… (what can I say about “the first major work of existential literature?” I found it enlightening?)

My mind started wandering in the last few stories, which seems to be the common case these days. It’s always good to follow some American and Finnish children’s with 19th century psychological fic. Remember we’re supposed to keep it diverse. One day I’d like to look back on 2009 as my literary cocktail year.

Later this week expect something more recent. We’ll talk about a strange yet popular book that (sort of) has to do with trout fishing.