2007-01-08 16:15:36 · 8 answers · asked by Slim Tim 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Not at all funny in the ha-ha sense. Funny as in queer, perhaps.
But Dost. is a very penetrative writer, very good in describing the workings of the mind, and also the social scenario. The only drawback is his books are very heavy -- weight wise as well as depth wise. You can't read them fast, and you can't read them just once. I've read his Crime & Punishment, The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov. All three were translated by David Magarshack.
Crime & Punishment is shorter than the other two, so I read it three times, each time after a span of about two years. Each time I saw new things I'd not seen before. I know I should read Idiot and Karamazov again, but their sheer mass puts me off.
I believe he's written some short stories too. Perhaps you should try some of them first.
2007-01-10 03:31:02 · answer #1 · answered by wisdom tooth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think D. is a highly clever writer that gets into his characters' minds and explores the depths of their mentalities. What you find there can be depressive, saddening, repulsive, interesting or funny. It all depends on a reader. I remember that when I was reading some of his works I was totally absorbed in the story material. He offers a great psychological study which readers can trace, see people's actions from different perspectives and understand their motives.
Honestly speaking, I would describe D as a semi-depressive but highly interesting writer, not so much a funny type. If you , however, are looking for something really 'suicidal', read "Painted Bird" by Kosinski. This is the kind of book that will shock you, believe me. I have read lotsa things, but "Painted Bird" is by far the most depressing, shocking and ugly.
2007-01-08 23:57:37 · answer #2 · answered by May 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both, I'd say. In the midst of the most depressing passages of "The House of the Dead" or "Notes from Underground", there are suddenly highly humoristic scenes.
2007-01-08 22:26:15 · answer #3 · answered by Sterz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you find Fydor funny then you'll roar at Cheery Chekov and Tittering Tolstoy. Misery made hilarity!
2007-01-08 16:26:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beckett can be blooming hysterically funny at points, and I find this genius in the same vein.
2007-01-12 05:55:03 · answer #5 · answered by duckee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very honest, very psychologically penetrating.
2007-01-08 17:12:05 · answer #6 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hes just an old rusky windbag
2007-01-09 12:05:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both, and neither.
2007-01-08 21:26:46 · answer #8 · answered by los 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋