>constantly hear people recommend Anna Karenina >not very familiar with Tolstoy, but really like Russian literature >read pic related to get a taste, before I dive into a major work This was one of the worst short stories I've ever read. The entire thing plays out like a folk tale. The "realism" is completely compromised by the author's religious beliefs. The didactic tone was nearly identical to a parent scolding a child, nauseating.
>The didactic tone was nearly identical to a parent scolding a child, nauseating. Get used to this. But overall, yes. He is worth reading. There is a reason he is highly regarded. He was a real jerk but he had a lot of interesting ideas.
Jaxon Sanchez
>muh realism you have brain damage
Jonathan Scott
Dostoyevsky is better in every way imo.
Brody Miller
>get recommended one work >don't read it >read a lesser-acclaimed work instead >mad about the result
Dummy.
I'm not even going to go into Tolstoy's politics and writing style at that point in his life.
Liam Perry
>The entire thing plays out like a folk tale. hurr durr That's obvious from the first sentence you Khazar dog.
Brayden Turner
>doesn't understand that Tolstoy was literally a "Realist writer" in the academic sense Retard.
Austin Flores
"An elder sister came to visit her younger sister in the country." I don't remember reading that one in Grimm's. Reading a short story to get used to an author before diving into his major works is a perfectly fine practice. This story is frequently reprinted, studied, and anthologized. It's not his magnum opus, but it is still "essential Tolstoy."
Owen Edwards
Of all the Tolstoy short stories to read, you chose that? You get what you deserve.
Robert Morales
Better in what ways specifically?
Easton Miller
James Joyce wrote to his daughter that it is "the greatest story that the literature of the world knows." (source: Wikipedia, it checks out though)
Nolan Johnson
Humour, tragedy, character psychology, plot. Pretty much everything.
Evan Brooks
Not an asshole.
Daniel Adams
>hasn't read the short story >academic sense realy jogs the noggin
John Thomas
I'm not OP. I've read almost all of Tolstoy's work. I also understand that "Realism" was a literary movement, not some vague adjective, and that Tolstoy's works are considered part of it.
>hasn't read the short story >this short story is an example of realism >ba english you've convinced me
Lucas Cooper
Sounds like you got a shit translation senpai. I adore Tolstoy.
Kevin James
I have read the short story. Here's some more information on Russian Realism (from a more scholarly source), since you seem to be lacking a fundamental grasp.
Thanks, I usually take recommendations from r/edditors who like KonoSuba.
Julian Richardson
>paywall article that is not about the short story >terrible high school essay: this story is realist because there's a peasant in it you must really impress your tutor with these knowledge bombs
Hudson Hernandez
I'm not going to keep linking you articles. Look it up yourself, ignorant faggot. All of Tolstoy's work is considered Realist. It's not up for debate, or something OP or I are pulling out our asses. I've read the short story. I've read his major novels. I don't understand your obstinance. It's pitiful.
Jacob Flores
AK is two books sewn together. You're gonna love one and hate the other.
Ryder Robinson
You might as well. You know the short form of the title, you're probably weeb trash yourself.
Cameron Hughes
If I had to collect ten if the world's greatest parables this would come in right after the Book of Job. I hated it the first time I read it but in hindsight it became a favorite. It's a terrible read but the philosophical content is essential
Robert Gonzalez
You're trying too hard user.
Luke Flores
>>>r/anime
Mason Morales
I liked Death of Ivan Ilyich and Where Love Is, God Is. Never read that one OP so I can't comment on how different it is, sorry.
Aaron Foster
...
Logan Peterson
>it's realism because I say so >it's not up for debate lmfao and to top it all off you're making this fucktarded stand trying to claim the most painfully obvious parable in fictional history is actually a work of 19th century realism. Holy fuck.
>Reading Tolstoy Why? Dude was a faggot that was jealous that Napoleon get's circlejerked by military historians while his Russian generals get delegated to Russian Winter status.
Blake Reyes
>on Ulysses >Molly's monologue is the weakest chapter in the book. >on Beckett >Author of lovely novellas and wretched plays >on Elliot >Not quite first-rate >on Salinger >By far one of the finest artists in recent years
How can such an amazing author have such shit taste?
Levi Gomez
>amazing author Meh.
Owen Gray
folk tales aren't fables, you retard
Aaron Morris
>one is an absolute chat who after years of debauchery, fighting wars and just mucking about Europe realizes that God made man free and reinforced a personal relationship with Jesus and the liberation of worldwide working class >the other is a resented gambling addict who spent his days getting more and more paranoid, moralizing, reactionary and burning every possible bridge until death >you pick Tolstoy as the asshole
Kayden Price
When did anyone ever mention fables? You're pathetic. Learn to read.
Christian King
I'll concede that I made a small translation mistake in calling fairy tales fables, but the Grimm Brothers didn't compile folk tales, folk tales don't need to be fantastic, they compiled FAIRY tales, dolt.
Lincoln Brown
I see no relation whatsoever between the things you listed and being an asshole.
Charles Russell
Listen just read David Lodge on the fucking project of realist literature you obstinate eel.
Ryan Robinson
Haven't gotten around to his short stories, but Anne Karenina is definetly one of my favorite novels, maybe surpassed only by The Brothers K. I have never finished a 1000 pages book faster than Anna Karenina
Robert Jackson
>the Grimm Brothers didn't compile folk tales Are you joking with me? Almost all folklore is fantastic. The Brothers Grimm were folklorists. Please do some research before making yourself seem ignorant, for no apparent reason besides wanting to argue.
Julian Stewart
>war and peace >uncritical of its historical sources >except the parts where tolstoy goes on for chapters telling the reader not to trust any history of any event >not even the narrator's attack on the "great man" theory is exempt from doubt >uncritical
Jaxson Cook
Wow every post in this thread is terrible this one included desu
Charles Parker
>one of the worst short stories I've ever read Either you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable unless you haven't read many short stories or you're a complete pleb / ragey teen. I can understand thinking the story is not particularly great, but calling it one of the worst is laughable.
Benjamin Stewart
>he can't access jstor
Jaxon Martin
This is unsettling to me for some reason. Also, you should kill yourself for thinking anyone who has different taste than you hasn't read a lot. It's blatantly ignorant.
Brody Anderson
thats not his point at all you fucking moron
Bentley Turner
no
Brody Gray
>calling it one of the worst I called it one of the worst I've ever read. I don't really stray outside of highly canonical authors, so most things I read are fairly interesting. Calling it one of the worst I've read isn't a stretch at all. I enjoyed literally every single story in The Arabian Nights more than this one, so that alone puts it outside my top 100. It really isn't that special.
Cameron Perez
>it's realist because it's got a peasant in it >listen to this podcast lmao
Samuel Taylor
>doesn't understand what realism means in literature
Samuel Smith
Not the same person faggot.
Kevin Jenkins
please listen to Chingo Watkins on the nature of fucking parables It's the one with a peasant in it right?
Nicholas Thomas
You were recommended a text by an established literary critic, not a podcast.
Ryan Parker
Yeah I figured after googling. But it isn't turning up anything about how much land does a man need and david lodge. Do you mind posting the part where he writes about it?
Logan Nguyen
>It's the one with a peasant in it right? Yes, actually.
Nolan Moore
amazing
Grayson Torres
I would say that the first thing to read by tolstoy is "the kingdom of god is within you" to understand his theology and point of view from the beginning. But his novels are good.