What is it that makes Russian literature so good?

I've never read Russian literature, but I've heard much praise for it here and from critics like Harold Bloom. Is there a specific thing that makes it good? Any recommended novels?

Have you never heard of any russian novels?

War & Peace and the Young Doctor's Notebook, although the latter was via the TV series.

I've also heard of Leo Tolstoy

Fydor dostoevsky - Crime and Punishment

The greatest novel of all time

The two greatest authors of all time are Russian. Are you living under a rock? Russian literature is the highest tier of literature; Americans cannot compete.

Hey, you suggested that same novel to me the other thread. You must be a huge fan of it.
Alright, if you say so, then I trust you.
Alright Ivan, easy on the vodka. I'll confess to being a newfag to literature.

What I am asking for is on what exactly makes Russian lit so good. Is there a common theme among these kinds of works? Do they have something other western writers don't? Latin American literature, for example, has its own identity and traits which differentiate it from other forms of western literature. I was wondering what the traits of Russian literature were, and what makes it so great.

There is something in Russian literature which hits close to home. Something about the essential nature of being a human. It's really hard to explain, but you will understand it better if you read Dostoevsky.

I've heard Russians are very melancholic people. I'm guessing that must be reflected in its literature as well. Judging from the themes, ending, mood, and sense of humor of the Young Doctor's Notebook, I'd say that's probably accurate.
This kind of literature sounds very honest and raw to me, which sounds very appealing and a breath of fresh air considering all of the plastic, mediocre, phony YA novels that surround me.

Russian works are almost always more philosophical in tone and focus - Dotoesvky is a good example of this. Theres this kind of residual tension between western rationalism that orthodox mysticism that you can also really feel in Russian works as well - settings and characters that wouldn't be out of place in any Western nation, but often contrasted with lots of religious symbolism and 'otherness' that makes it both familiar and strange to western readers in general.

I'd recommend starting with short stories by Chekhov - if you dive right into War and Peace or Crime and Punishment you'll quickly find yourself overwhelmed. If you like Chekhov's style and approach, then move on to the bigger hitters.