How to get others to read

[UndergroundMyshkin]

First off I'd like to say that  I love Dostoevsky, the first one I ever read was the Idiot, I saw it in a bookstore and it looked good, the first chapter hooked me right away, after that I read TBK, which was amazing. I have read others since, and I'm trying to get other people I know to read it, but they refuse, saying russian literature is too hard to read and stuff like that, how can I get them to read it, because i know they would love it if they gave it a chance.

[Christopher Burks]

Same here, but that is to be expected at my age.  

[Mitya]

I don't know that you can "get" people who have no interest in D. to read D. A lot of intelligent friends of mine just don't want to make the effort to read literature that's this involving. Sometimes you just have to wait until they're ready. I would suggest recommending a shorter D. work to them before confronting them with Brothers Karamazov, et cetera... even though TBK would be good for them!

[axon]

Actually, I've got many people to read Dostoevsky...even my  dad I really don't tell them that they should read this or that, but I talk about D a lot - and connect his works with almost everything in some sort of way. Most people see that he must be an intersting character and important for literature, philosophy, and other art of the past and current centuries.

[tcwheatl]

This is a tricky thing to do.

One of the things that I do is bargain with friends. By this I mean that I agree to read a book of my friend's choice if he or she agrees to read a book of my choice. I guess this only works if your friends have an affinity for literature (though most fans of Dostoevsky are probably serious about literature and so would likely have at least a couple of friends who are as well).

Seriously, this works. Before I had read any Dostoevsky I got my high-school English teacher (who was about 60 years old) to very reluctantly watch Pulp Fiction in exchange for me reading The Poisonwood Bible. Also, I've got a friend who is crazy for Oscar Wilde. He's agreed to read a Dostoevsky novel (I haven't decided which one) in exchange for me reading The Picture of Dorian Grey.

Well, give it a shot. You might even read and enjoy something you otherwise would not have.

[poor knight]

It is a good question. I remember I was having dinner with some friends, and we were talking about the typical guy stuff; sports, politics, etc.. And that was all fine and fun mind you, but when I went back to my car and saw the copy of C&P on the seat, I realized there was a big part of my intellectual life that they just didn't share. It was sad. Fortunately, I was on another FD group at the time, which gave me an outlet much like this one.  Still, I wish I could convey to my friends just how amazing it can be.

CS Lewis wrote:
You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words: but most of your friends do not see it at all, and often wonder why, liking this, you should also like that.

[Radio Saturday]

My mom turned me on to Dostoevsky (and, later, classics generally) by just talking about "Crime and Punishment" and reading her favorite parts aloud to me. She didn't talk as much about the ideas in the novel, but she did talk about the story and the characters, who sounded so interesting I simply had to read it.  

Just a thought.

[AKaramazovatheart]

I also like to ridiculuze the things they do, like i did one time with someone that played football.  I told him football is for idiots.  Go run after your ball, doggy.  There's nothing to it.

Don't forget that sports are invaluable events that satiate man's hunger for violence and competition.  And they also serve as the only socially acceptable outlet for men to release emotion within the macho circle.  

But on topic, I can usually tell whether people will be interested in Dostoevsky so I only attempt to recommend it when I think there's a chance they might actually like it.  Nobody in my family reads literature so I don't really bother.  And what's wrong with other people not wanting to read Dostoevsky?  They think it's boring, so what?  That's their loss.  I remember when I was in high school, I barely made it through the conversation Raskolnikov has in the bar with Marmeladov.

I would recommend to friends but...I don't really have any (I don't say that for pity but just to exhibit how it's difficult for one who prefers to stay home and read Dostoevsky instead of getting drunk on a Friday night to make friends).  Most of my college friends are spread over the country and I don't work.

I'm overjoyed that I discovered this message board!  Yay for intellectual dialogue about Dostoevsky, my new obsession!  

[lerik]

Well,if a person isn't used to reading,then it can become quite a problem.I have one friend that unfortunatelly doesn't read anything apart from Cosmopolitan.I tried suggesting her books to read but she just tells me that she isn't interested and that's it.I mean,of course she read all the books that were in the course of Russian schools(and Dostoevsky as well) but she just doesn't like anything.
So,I just want to say that this love for books comes from your childhood.If you were used to reading books since then,you will continue to read.If not,then with age it's really hard to 'get' that person to read.

[Suvorov]

I replaced my translation of Demons and gave my old copy to a friend. Hopefully that might get him reading dear old Dostoy.

[Tom F]

I published an "Americanized" and updated version of Crime and Punishment in the hopes that it would generate more interest in Dostoyevsky and respect for his work.

Check it out & please let me know what you think.
http://home.earthlink.net/~mmdpublishing

[tzar]

First off I'd like to say that  I love Dostoevsky, the first one I ever read was the Idiot, I saw it in a bookstore and it looked good, the first chapter hooked me right away, after that I read TBK, which was amazing. I have read others since, and I'm trying to get other people I know to read it, but they refuse, saying russian literature is too hard to read and stuff like that, how can I get them to read it, because i know they would love it if they gave it a chance.

i'm afraid, persons not interested in religion and ways to understand what christianity actually is, do not need this sort of the literature.

should we ever attempt to trouble their minds?
i don't think that D is any help for person trying to get along in our pagan society.






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[Beatrice]

I discovered Dostoevskij thank to a friend of mine.
So, I think inviting other people to read itis very important.
Of course, you can't just go around shouting that D's novels are great. You should find people who usually like reading, and are interested in philosophy.
And I think also your age is very important. The first time I read TBK, I stopped after 10 pages. I simply wasn't ready for it. A few years after, I tried again... and I read it twice (as soon as I finished it, I started it again^^)

Last thing: my brother, who is 18 and a half, had never read Dosty, although he likes reading quite a lot. After I spent years telling him about D's novels, last week he finally started Crime and Punishment, and HE LIKES IT!!
For me that's really gratifying!

[Secret Smile]

I'd recommend a couple of his short stories. The Meek One is a little long for a short story, IMO, but absolutely engrossing. Tell them Dostoevsky is the Russian Edgar Allen Poe - and that's who he is.

I've heard that The Eternal Husband is also short at 100 or so pages, and I plan to read it eventually.

[nitetimenoise]

I would say why bother - it's what you love that matters and the rest is fodder. How are you going to get anyone to do anything that they're not inclined to do already and if it interests you then that is your primary support. I stayed up nearly every night one summer about 20 years ago and what I would do is read and re-read, "Crime and Punishment", and, "The Brothers Karamazov". Brought meaning to my life - I love Dostoyevsky. I simply love him. And I always will and I've never been able to impart that to anyone or really share it with anyone because it is personal  - how can I get anyone to share my deeply personal love for this man and his literature? It seems quite hopeless to me. Read on.