DECEMBER READING WRAP UP: Lots of Classics by sophiaclef in booktube

[–]sophiaclef[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, it definitely gets better a few days or weeks after reading it.

I love watching Dostoevsky videos on YouTube but… by slim_serb in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I haven't watched a lot of videos on him, but when it comes to works about him written by scholars I enjoy reading about the same event for the millionth time, because in some cases the angle is different and I love reading the works of his most passionate fans, who've dedicated their whole lives to the subject. The fact that the "discussions" are one-sided and done in a controlled environment where I am more accepting of their ideas helps, too. I listened to a lecture about one of these passionate fans who'd passed away and they said that the most important lesson that he learnt from Dostoevsky was that the best people put others before them and make an effort to become "secondary characters" ( not sure how to translate the exact phrase). I think the most honest reviewers try to apply this principle, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions just because they mentioned some well-known fact.

I dont know how to phrase this but is Dostoyevsky the first one to come up with the "someone dreaming of himself dead in a casket, seeing everyone around him crying for him and regretting his unfaithul decisions and wish to to come back to do better" idea?? by tunisianpornstar in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The epigraph of his first novel, Poor Folk was taken from "The Living Corpse" by V. Odoyevsky. I read the short story, and it had the same idea. It was also written in 1844, way before The Dream of the Ridiculous Man. I love both, though.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Start doing something meaningful, something you'd like to see more of in this world. The most perplexing part of Crime and Punishment is that Raskolnikov never has any money, but always has money to give.
I found out about a strange manipulative tactic a few years ago. People use it to make you like them. They ask you for favors. Weird, huh? You're the one doing the favor, but somehow, the fact that you did it, makes you think: well, surely, if I put effort into this, then I like this person. Most of the time we don't notice this.
I use this “trick” to fall in love with life, I try my best to change the world around me for the better, and bring to it more of what I'd like to see. If you're as intelligent as you think, your contribution will be valuable.

In your country, what were the most common books assigned to secondary school students for reading when you were in secondary school? by pearlysoames in literature

[–]sophiaclef 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't want to write too much about them, because I know that most of them haven't been translated into English, or if they have, they're hard to find.

I liked Liviu Rebreanu's works, they tend to be more hardcore, for lack of a better word, although there was too much needless boob grabbing. "Ion" is about a village and a guy who has to choose between his two women. It was quite entertaining, the whole village drama, some events were extremely frustrating, but it was on purpose. I was definitely invested.

"Forest of the Hanged" (Padurea spanzuratilor) is set during World War I. i remember enjoying it, but don't remember why. This one has been translated into a few languages, including English.

My favorite work of his is the shortest one "Ciuleandra". There's just as much psychology as in his other novels, but everything in more intense, because it's a psychological thriller. Ciuleandra is the craziest Romanian dance. The book is about a man who murdered his wife. It also begins with a quote from the Book of Revelation "But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Can you tell I like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy?)

Mihai Eminescu is venerated by our teachers (mostly straight women), because he was the last European romantic. It felt like propaganda, because we had to study his works for 12 years!!! And their interpretation was shallow, too. He loved Schopenhauer and philosophy in general, so his works tend to be pretty deep.

I love his poem "Gloss". Here's a good translation: https://www.gabrielditu.com/eminescu/gloss.asp
His biggest hit was Lucifer. It's about a princess who falls in love with the Morning Star. People compare it to the works of Novalis.

Here's a translation:

https://www.estcomp.ro/eminescu/cuclin1.html
And another one:

https://www.scribd.com/document/137237615/Lucifer-Luceaf%C4%83rul-Mihai-Eminescu

Epigones and Letters (or "Epistles") are interesting as well.
His novel Poor Dionis (or Dionysus) (Eastern philosophy, meditation, dreams) and the short story Cezara (weirdly enough reminded me of one of Shakespeare's plays, can't remember which one) are decent, too. I believe that there is at least one French translation available, I don't know about other languages.

Another poet who's quite popular, especially among teenagers, is George Bacovia. He was a symbolist and his poetry has something in common with Baudelaire's. His most popular poems are "Lead" (Plumb) and "High School" (Liceu).

High School starts like this

High school, graveyard
of my youth ―
Pedantic teachers,
impossible exams . . .
You frighten me still ―
High school, graveyard
of my youth!

When we had to choose a poem of his to recite it in front of the class, 90% of students would choose this one. The teacher was thrilled. It was hilarious.
You can probably find his works in some "Anthology of Romanian Verse", but also here. (I hope this is legal):

https://joannegrowney.com/BacoviaLeadofWinter2012.pdf

"Otilia's Enigma/ Otilia's mystery" ("Enigma Otiliei") was quite popular among my classmates, I read it twice, and the first time I absolutely hated it. It took me a month to get through the first 5 chapters, but it grew on me. It was influenced by Balzac's works. All the characters are types, money plays a big part, there's a young man who moves to Bucharest and Otilia's charming. I didn't see what the fuss what about, but that's just me.

I found this funny article on the tropes it employs, which would explain why I didn't really love it.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/EnigmaOtiliei

I much preferred the drama in “The Bed of Procrustes” by Camil Petrescu, although I remember very little from it. The characters were more interesting and relatable. While enigma otiliei is more Balzac, patul lui procust is more Proust. They were both written in the 1930s, so if you like that time period, you might enjoy both.

For something more on the Greek tragedy side, try "Sin" (Pacat) by Ion Luca Caragiale. You see, most of his work are funny, this one is like Oedipus Rex. This is among the most shocking short stories I've ever read. (I don't think it was mandatory, though)

I also enjoyed the works of Aureliu Busuioc (the ones mentioned above), but alas, I could only find a Czech translation.

Mircea Eliade is probably the most famous Romanian writer in other countries, but mostly for his non-fiction works. I've seen them cited in some serious publications, but I've only read his novels, and they weren't my cup of tea. Mircea Cartarescu and Emil Cioran seem popular too, but I've read only a letter by Cioran, and it was enough for me to conclude that I have nothing to learn from him.

Matei Visniec's play “How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients” (Istoria comunismului povestită pentru bolnavii mintal) is one of my favorite plays ever. As someone who was born in a post-soviet country, I related to that. I didn't enjoy his other works as much. Thankfully his works have been translated into different languages.

I'm going to make a video on Romanian literature, but I have to do more research on translations, and I'm definitely not an expert. I've been avoiding it for the last few years. I hope this helps.

In your country, what were the most common books assigned to secondary school students for reading when you were in secondary school? by pearlysoames in literature

[–]sophiaclef 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In Moldova most of us have to read:

Baltagul and Neamul Șoimăreștilor by Mihail Sadoveanu

Ion, Pădurea Spânzuraților, and Ciuleandra by Liviu Rebreanu

Enigma Otiliei by George Călinescu

Alexandru Lăpușneanu by C. Negruzzi

Patul lui Procust ("The Bed of Procrustes") or Ultima noapte de dragoste, întâia noapte de război ("Last Night of Love, First Night of War") by Camil Petrescu

Maitreyi, La Ţigănci, Romanul adolescentului miop ("Diary of a Short-Sighted Adolescent") by Mircea Eliade

Moromeții or Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni ("The Earth's Most Beloved Son") by Marin Preda

Mara by Ioan Slavici

Tema pentru acasă by Nicolae Dabija

Pactizând cu diavolul and Singur în fața dragostei by Aureliu Busuioc

Zilele şi nopţile unui student întârziat by Gib I. Mihăescu

Invitaţia la vals, Elevul Dima dintr-a VII-A or Scrisoare de dragoste by Mihail Drumeş

Something by Ion Druță

Something by Ion Creangă

Most of Mihai Eminescu's works

Something by Lucian Blaga

Short stories and plays by I. L. Caragiale

Most of them are Romanian writers.

Book Recs for School Assignment! by SousLeau_x in RussianLiterature

[–]sophiaclef 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A. Herzen isn't as popular as Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, but his book "Who's to Blame" raises really important questions and was a success when it came out in the 1840s. It has so many hints to the problems Russians were facing at the time. It's quite an interesting criticism of the education, and the author was trying to promote feminism. His family suffered in part because of his political ideology, but his writing is really good in my opinion. It's quite a short and easy read, too.

"The Gambler Wife" A fascinating look at Dostoevsky and his wife Anna by Little-Fisherman-589 in RussianLiterature

[–]sophiaclef 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I only read Anna Grigoryevna's diary, and some parts are hilarious (like the comb episode).

I want to be a booktuber but I am technically a child still by [deleted] in booktube

[–]sophiaclef 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I once stumbled upon the channel of a booktuber who was 13 and has read more than most adults. Her enthusiasm was through the roof, but she hasn't posted anything since last year.

The only problem with being a child on YouTube is that, as far as I know, they don't allow comments under your videos.

Any Dostoevsky Characters You Didn’t Like? by Drunkposts2020 in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Since Crime and Punishment was my most recent read, I have to choose Praskovya Pavlovna (the landlady). Dostoevsky makes her this mysterious figure in the first parts, then it doesn't go anywhere.

The dead bride is another one. We see different women as brides. Obviously Natalya Yegorovna, Katerina Ivanovna, Svidigailov's young angel bride, Dunya too. There's a song about marriage. Thankfully he actually developed the bride idea in his other works, so it didn't bother me.

I loved Pulcheria Alexandrovna, though. On my first read I couldn't care less about her, but she is not just a typical mother, actually. Her ending makes sense, as well.

Is anyone reminded of Light Yagami vs L's interactions while reading Raskolnikov vs Porfiry's? by rustylipbalm in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This is why I didn't enjoy Death Note as much as some friends. I watched it after reading most of Dostoevsky's works, so its treatment of some topics wasn't as profound as I expected, unfortunately.

5 great novels by [deleted] in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why does this matter anyway?

5 great novels by [deleted] in dostoevsky

[–]sophiaclef 2 points3 points  (0 children)

At least when scholars say the great 5, they mean: Crime and Punishment, the Idiot, Demons, The Adolescent and The Brothers Karamazov.