|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Babayaga
Joined: 28 May 2005
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:05 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Kuros wrote: |
| death from above wrote: |
| Dostoevsky is so much better.. |
Amen...
But, I don't want to be unfair to Tolstoy, he has his virtues. Indeed, I would recommend War and Peace to any high schooler who was interested in reading, even if only as someone to get beyond.
I, too, find Dostoyevsky more engaging and interesting. The only problem with Dostoyevsky, however, (if I may plagiarize Leo Strauss) is that he could only write about tragic characters, and he could never master a novel about a character who overcame his/her own deficiences to grow. |
Actually, War and Peace appeals to people with education far beyond high school level , despite his faults. I certainly wouldn't recommend Dostoyevsky to high school students either, but not because of the superior complexity of his works---but because of the despairing,morose tone of his works, which might make a very negative impression upon sensitive souls.
Last edited by Babayaga on Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
batman
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Oh so close to where I want to be
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Babayaga, I tend to agree with everything you have written thus far. Although I do enjoy the works of Dostoevsky (took enough University courses on him when I was younger), I believe he pales in comparison to Tolstoy (took even more courses on him). Dostoevsky is a good read for many reasons, positive or not but, then, so is Stephen King. Tolstoy, though, is where my heart is. I find it impossible to read anything of his without being affected on some level. Whenever I read any of his work, whether it be the larger epics like War and Peace or a short story like What Men Live By
I find by the time I close the book some part of me, no matter how small, has changed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Babayaga
Joined: 28 May 2005
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| batman wrote: |
| Babayaga, I tend to agree with everything you have written thus far. Although I do enjoy the works of Dostoevsky (took enough University courses on him when I was younger), I believe he pales in comparison to Tolstoy (took even more courses on him). Dostoevsky is a good read for many reasons, positive or not but, then, so is Stephen King. Tolstoy, though, is where my heart is. I find it impossible to read anything of his without being affected on some level. Whenever I read any of his work, whether it be the larger epics like War and Peace or a short story like What Men Live By I find by the time I close the book some part of me, no matter how small, has changed. |
Tolstoy is where my heart is ,too. Basically, I find him inspiring, heart--warming and consoling. There's a lot of humanity and joy in life in his works.
Dostoyevsky I find somewhat irritating: in his pessimistic subject matter, convoluted reasoning and, particularly, his cultural prejudices. I find I have to force myself to go on reading, particularly every time I see references to Jews.
Tolstoy, by contrast, is a pleasure to read. Although he also expressed dislike for different nationalities, it was never done in the same contemptuous, rabid way. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
batman
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Oh so close to where I want to be
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
" Tolstoy, by contrast, is a pleasure to read"
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
skinhead
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I always get Tolstoy confused with Trotsky! Why is that, Baby Aga? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| death from above wrote: |
| Dostoevsky is so much better.. |
Agreed. Anna Karnina is one of the most over-rated works I've read. It's good, but some call it the greatest novel ever. Not to me. I'll take, "The Idiot" anyday. Read it three time now and love it each time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Babayaga
Joined: 28 May 2005
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| skinhead wrote: |
| I always get Tolstoy confused with Trotsky! Why is that, Baby Aga? |
Probably because you're "beep" clueless,as you've indicated in the quotation at the bottom of your message. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well now..aren't we all such well educated intellectuals because we've read the thickest novel on earth?
Nuffink great about Tolstoy except that you can say you've read it.
Over-rated.. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Babayaga
Joined: 28 May 2005
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rapier wrote: |
Well now..aren't we all such well educated intellectuals because we've read the thickest novel on earth?
Nuffink great about Tolstoy except that you can say you've read it.
Over-rated.. |
To each his own.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
