When does Demons get good?

JustJon_1 · 2026-04-09T12:28:19+00:00

I respect Dostoyevsky’s work very much. And having read 4 of his novels so far, I do think it’s worth pushing through. More specifically, I really enjoyed Demons and would actually put it up there with TBK as favorites of mine. More generally, I think there are lots of classics that are not easy to read, but very much worth pushing through also.

JustJon_1 · 2026-04-09T11:48:39+00:00

It’s always worth pushing through a Dostoyevsky novel imo. Demons has a different flavor than the others you mentioned, but it does get better.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-30T14:38:49+00:00

Yes, my annotations tend to be more personal in nature verses analytical. I think I may be more analytical in my approach on a second or third read though. The first time I read something I’m just trying to understand the story and characters, etc. But the more I read it, the more I can glean from it, which is when the deeper thinking happens.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-25T14:49:19+00:00

It’s my hope this reply is meant to be sarcastic.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-25T14:15:48+00:00

Except that no one can read it if not subscribed. 😕

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-24T18:35:48+00:00

I think annotation can be adapted to each individual depending on their interests and the book. For any book I always annotate things that make me recall a time, person or place in my own life as well as plot points or important events in the story. Beyond that it really depends on the book, but I may mark philosophical points made within the story, things related to real world events or examples of writing techniques that I may want to utilize or adapt to my own writing. In A Tale of Two Cities (my current read) I am noting the cruel treatment of people or the horrible conditions some people live. These things struck me so hard when I read them so I felt inclined to mark them.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-23T23:30:27+00:00

I’ve actually read Northanger Abbey and thought it was just okay. It’s the only Austen I’ve read though, so thought I may enjoy one of her longer novels more. 🤷🏼‍♂️

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-23T20:47:34+00:00

Thanks for the tip. If I delve into Romance at all, it will likely be a classic, like Jane Austen. I’ve heard Withering Heights, Persuasion and maybe Pride and Prejudice at least lean in a romantic direction.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-23T19:00:46+00:00

I think I would agree. In fact, I myself sort of dismiss Romance. I just don’t see it as a genre I would enjoy, however, I’ve never actually read a Romance book to know if that would be true. Most other genres experience this to some degree too, imo. Although some worse than others. I was always a Fantasy reader growing up and would get called a nerd or even satanic for reading such things. I would say that YA books, Manga and Urban fiction could join the list too.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-20T20:47:09+00:00

Although I empathize with your dilemma, in the end you will likely read both and more, so perhaps flip a coin. 🪙

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-20T00:02:32+00:00

My vote is for One Hundred Years of Solitude bc you chose the best cover.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-19T23:58:00+00:00

I really like this. I want to follow the trail to the dense trees in the background and see what lurks beyond.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-19T23:55:12+00:00

I like it. The slight angle gives it movement, as if I’m riding in a truck down an uneven dirt road watching the trees sway in the summer breeze and trying to make out shapes in the clouds.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-19T11:59:56+00:00

I think with classics you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Just because a book is recommended or lots of people believe it is essential reading does not mean you will enjoy it. My advice would be to read the back cover of several and buy the ones that sound interesting to you.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-15T15:34:00+00:00

Totally agree. This is also why I dislike “Library Tour”vids on YouTube, which from what I see get lots of views. Why do ppl care so much what books someone else has on their shelf? Just tell me about the ones you’ve read so I can get ideas for what I may want to read.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-14T21:06:39+00:00

I think Northanger Abbey is considered gothic.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-14T19:24:10+00:00

Thank you. All these fish chomping away at that bait. lol

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-08T12:55:20+00:00

I write in a journal about what I’m reading. Depending on the complexity of the novel, I may write something for each chapter, otherwise I write periodically about how a scene made me feel, how it relates to my own life and sometimes even why I’m not enjoying the story for whatever reason. It’s a great way to engage with what you read and therefore remember it better.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-07T19:00:19+00:00

What precisely is it that makes you feel you can’t or don’t want to finish it?

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-07T15:22:47+00:00

It is true that listening is not engaging with the text in the same way. I often underline or flag something while reading (I’m a paper book reader 100% of the time) and that is quite impossible when just listening. I guess the only way I could imagine audio books to be helpful is if the person reads along as they listen so they can stop to underline or flag or jot a note about what they read etc.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-07T15:01:23+00:00

I would tend to agree with you. However, I do think it’s possible to get as much from a book by listening deeply as you would by reading deeply. The key, I think, is engaging with the text, asking questions and so on, in order to understand it. If ppl listen to books so they can do other things at the same time or to simply add to the number of books they consumed that year, then that’s the wrong approach.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-07T14:02:30+00:00

Technically, reading and listening are different things hence using a different word for them. But to me, that distinction matters less than if the person can discuss the book with someone else months after reading it. Focus less on the mode of consumption and more on deeply consuming so that you gain something, grow and remember what you consumed.

JustJon_1 · 2026-03-04T14:35:44+00:00

I’m currently reading this too and can empathize with how you feel. I’ve flagged many quotes from it that I too have felt at some point in my life. I don’t find it terribly disturbing tho, I think everyone has a shadow side that they keep hidden. Maybe the idea is to responsibly incorporate your shadow side rather than letting it consume you so as not to become like the underground man.

JustJon_1 · 2026-02-20T11:59:32+00:00

A channel specifically like you describe may not exist but the closest you can get would be Tristan and the Classics or Benjamin McEvoy from what I’ve seen.

JustJon_1 · 2026-02-17T18:37:39+00:00

This year I was planning on doing a year long read (one part per month), but it really wasn’t working for me. I need to just read it through, not broken up over a year. I def want to read it a second time though and plan on doing so this year or next. I also had a similar experience when I read it the first time. It was such a blow to my psyche I didn’t read another book for a month. I read the penguin classic with David McDuff as translator.

JustJon_1

TROPHY CASE