Deferential_dreams t1_jadp605 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:18 PM

The book is meant to be entertaining and doesn’t strive for absolute realism. The characters being dramatic is completely intentional.

In fact, it’s hard to think of many creative works that don’t feature overly dramatic characters. Everyone in any Shakespeare play or most characters in modern film and TV, for example. Think of the “I am the one who knocks” scene from Breaking Bad - excellent stuff, but no one talks like that in real life.

And one thing that doesn’t come through in some translations is that the book is supposed to be really funny at times. Obviously there are serious moments and philosophical moments, but a lot of the book is supposed to be goofy. Several parts made me laugh out loud.

FlyingPasta OP t1_jadq1rj wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:23 PM

Agh yeah u fortunately the goofyness seems to get lost in the confusion, although couple parts did make me chuckle.

Gotta grow some chest hair and read it in Russian, just that my reading level has fallen to around grade 4 probably (or fourth class of gymnasium as they’d say)

Deferential_dreams t1_jadrjvd wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:33 PM

I have that same dilemma.

My Spanish is conversational, but there are enough gaps in vocabulary that I have to have a dictionary open to read anything too challenging in Spanish.

My French is excellent, but I still read about half the speed in French compared to my native English. I’ve been putting off reading the Count of Monte Cristo for years because I don’t want to read it in English but I don’t want to commit to a slow reading of nearly 900 pages. It would probably take me 3-6 months.

I don’t know which you have, but the Pevear & Volokhonsky translation of BK is wonderful.

FlyingPasta OP t1_jaes9r7 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:28 PM

I’ve got the penguin classics edition, already had it so it was too late to pick the best. I did get P&V’s Crime and Punishment though :)