Welcome to Litsy!

A chilly 10 degrees snowy morning #snowday😁 I‘m a kid again. A big cup of hot coffee. Happy Tuesday!!!

If I were less patient for slow starts, I might have put this down. But the set up is worth it. After developing the setting, the remaining pages were thrilling. It‘s a product of its time in some ways, but in others, there are discussions of real, modern problems. Some actions characters take are repulsive, but it‘s not dwelt on for longer than needed to portray what despair can drive people to do. Good for those who like lengthy reads.

Back to Devils.: Another‘s man‘s sins!

Ok… couldn‘t wait Christmas decor up✔️
Coffee cup refilled✔️
Yummy croissant from my favorite French pastry shop✔️
READING NOW✔️🥰

In 2024 I plan on reading a classic a month! Join in the fun by picking one classic of your choice each month.🖤🩶📚
✨Happy New Year!

All I recalled about - Devils/Demons/The Possessed - is that it was the toughest Dostoevsky novel I had read, so when I came across it in my Audible membership, narrated by George Guidall no less, I figured it was time for a refresher.

It‘s still his toughest book; it was a struggle to stay focused. But what it lacks on the surface it makes up for in subtext. It‘s not Dostoevsky‘s greatest novel, but it might be his greatest philosophical work.

I rarely bail on a book. I want to give it a chance until the last page. But I‘m working to get over that ridiculousness. A major health scare helps! Why spend my precious time on the tagged book when I could be reading something so more fulfilling? Begone Demons!!!! 😂😂😂😂. I will go on to other Russian novelists I enjoy. Maybe I will try Brothers Karamozov one day. But I banish the Demons! #SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Tagged. I'm hardly religious, but Demons makes a compelling argument for the emptiness and degradation of a life not guided by some sincere belief. Though in Dostoevsky's case it was Christianity and its centrality to "Russianness" (in his view) the lesson applies equally well to any ethical/moral code.
2. In the States that usually means drinking a ton, and I'm simply too old to hack it anymore ??

#Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #demonsbescary #MysoulbelongstoJesusbruh #Halloween

A cacophony of voices—I know, I know, polyphony!—but he wrote it like a pamphlet and that‘s how it reads. Left me totally cold. I love “novels of ideas,” and I know how FD is revered, but he‘s my least favorite of the Russians. And I‘m not a reader who insists on plot. His words lie dead on the page imho.

Hmm, self-styled "revolutionaries" cynically plot to overthrow the prevailing order (supposedly for high-minded ideals, but really just a power-grab), resort to violence, and threaten to plunge a nation into a moral and political abyss. I wonder why this book resonates so much right now... ?

Demons and Devils are titles used for the same Dostoyevsky book (also The Possessed), and that was not the only confusion created by this book. Like so many other Russian novels, every character has double names and often quite similar ones, so it took me a lot of time to figure out who was who. The portrayal of manipulation was good though, and I especially liked the imagery used. But I didn't really connect with the characters.

Well instead of a fictional horror this year I thought I would read this by Dostoyevsky who I think is one of the best authors ever. It is based on a true event and for me makes it more enjoyable.

Ha, I can‘t believe I actually finished this book. It‘s been so long that I‘ve been reading it....

So now that I‘m done: it‘s my favorite Dostoevsky novel.

Really, a remarkable book!

I think it‘s because the novel is challenging, but also entertaining, so the perfect mix of the two. There‘s this edge to it that keeps me having to pay close attention, which I really like because it makes the payoff so satisfying.

Halfway through this, and I had to take to Litsy to exult. I don‘t know how this novel isn‘t one of Dostoevsky‘s more popular ones, but it definitely deserves more recognition.

Well worth the read. Conspiracy, betrayal, murders; tragedy ensues on multiple fronts.

Dostoyevsky's, The Possessed, is about as droll as one could expect from Dostoyevsky; however, if you have a love of Russian history and philosophical narratives, then this is a great novel. Although it is obviously dated and far removed from what we relate to as far as political satire, it still plucks many a chord when speaking of the opposing ideologies of the time. A must read for whomever likes a challenge with classical literature.

My sister-in-law gave me this one for Christmas last year. This cover is really hard to find. It is one of the most meaningful gifts I have ever received. Love you @khedge ❤️ #LitsyAtoZ

I‘m not superstitious or anything but someone else follow me please 😂😂

I mean it as the highest compliment when I say that no one does #peoplearestrange like Dostoevsky 🙌

#Rocktober @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen

Apparently this is an exploration of materialism as demonology. I'm with you, Fyodor! #exorciseyourdemons #hallowreads

Oh man! I need to add something to my Goodreads TBR stat!!

So B&N classics were on sale...... bought a few I was missing. And some others 😬

#Riotgrams Day 3: #OneWordTitle

As you might be able to tell, I just looked through my TBR shelf (which is in alphabetical order by author's last name) and pulled out one-word titles. I figured I had enough by the time I got to H.

I'll get to these... someday.

Everyone loves Dostoevsky but I just can't. It didn't help that I got halfway through the book not understanding the naming conventions and thinking that 2 people were like 5 different characters. I'm ok with Tolstoy or bulgakov but this guy's just not for me I guess. #dnf #readjanuary

I received my copy of Demons from @BetterWorldBooks today and found a Borders receipt from almost exactly 20 years ago stashed inside. They also purchased NPR interviews, Linus & Lucy—with sampler, and Best Top 50 CD—White Christmas! 🤓

It looks like they never even read the book!

Sundays are my favourite days. Strong coffee, good books, and a whole day wide open.

Shameless pre-holiday book buying 🎄😍📚

L'uomo è infelice perché non sa di essere felice. Soltanto per questo. Questo è tutto, tutto! Chi lo comprende sarà subito felice, immediatamente, nello stesso istante.
I demoni -FD-

In college, I took a course called "Tolstoy vs Dostoevsky" aka the Russian Lit Smackdown Hour. These books were the syllabus. #booksintranslation #SomethingForSept #SeptPhotoChallenge

Books from this week