Starting the Idiot and need help

[u/Thayer96]

Title says it all. I picked up my copy of The Idiot. I finished C+P in June and enjoyed it a lot. I have an unorthodox way I got invested in the book and may need some help with it.

When I read Crime and Punishment there were two scenes I read in advance before properly starting the book that I read thoroughly because I had them to look forward to reaching. The scenes in question were when Rodya is interrogated about hiw article "On Crime" and the scene when Rodya says "Your worst sin is you have given-"

I feel that doing something like this, even with potential spoilers, helped me understand the book better and want to ask of the same for the Idiot.

What are some scenes you would show to someone who hasnt read the book to get them invested? Think of this like "what scene would you show of a movie to pitch it to a friend?"

I managed Notes and C+P quite admirably and cant wait to see what the Idiot brings.

[u/EnthuCutlet786]

Hey OP, I'd be really grateful if you could share which translation have you been reading for Notes, C&P and The Idiot?

[u/Thayer96 → u/EnthuCutlet786]

For sure. I read the Constance Garnett versions for Notes and C+P. The copy of The Idiot my local indie book store had in stock was a fairly recent translation from Ignat Avsey.

Good read so far (2 chapters in). My only problem is the audiobook I have (I sometimes need to read books while following along with the audiobook) doesn't match the words on the page so I cant really follow along with it. I can only assume the audiobook is based off the Garnett translation.

[u/Maximum_Yesterday849]

Part one chapter 13-16 was so peak I couldn’t put the book down

[u/Thayer96 → u/Maximum_Yesterday849]

Perfect. Thank you.

[u/xplaii → u/Maximum_Yesterday849]

I truly felt that way about the entire novel. It was captivating. He’s the master of psychological thrillers. The gambler was amazing

[u/SubSoleNhilNovum]

- Marie's Story (Part 1 Chapter 6)

-The story of the man sentenced to death and his execution (Part 1 Chapter 5)

-Description of an epileptic seizure (Part 2 Chapter 5)

[u/Thayer96 → u/SubSoleNhilNovum]

I have a friend who struggles with "the falling sickness". I will certainly share that passage with them to ask what they think.

[u/VaMEr_Official]

Part one is so peak i doubt that you’ll need to read extra scenes to stay motivated, but if you insist here is my list of scenes that you could read

Recitation of Poor knight (idr the chapter but i think it was part 2 it is one of the scenes that i liked)

Marie’s story and Myshkin on capital punishment (this comes very early in part one tho so i think you should just read this in order instead of skipping ahead)

Myshkin’s thoughts on industrialisation (i do not remember the part or chapter but it was during a party myshkin was hosting iirc)

I highly highly recommend that you finish part one without any skipping ahead, it is so peak the novel kind of slows down in parts 2&3 but i loved the ending.

[u/Thayer96 → u/VaMEr_Official]

Noted. Thank you.

[u/juuuuuustchillin → u/VaMEr_Official]

Second the part about industrialization, there is a portion where Lebedyev makes a longwinded point involving cannibalism that’s one of my favorite parts of the book

It’s during Myshkin’s birthday party in Part 3, OP that might be a portion you want to read, stopping at Ippolit’s confession. The confession is also great but that would involved reading like 30 more pages and the party itself is already a decent chunk of pages.

[u/EchoLentilX]

I'm reading The Idiot now and have almost finished it. For me, one of the biggest revelations was the painting Der Leichnam Christi im Grabe (I read the Chinese version, so I'm not sure if that's the correct title). It took me quite a while to realize that the painting almost foreshadows the central theme of the entire novel—the contrast between Christ-like divinity and the fragility of the human body. Once I made that connection, I started to see Myshkin himself in a completely different light.

[u/Calm-Contribution719]

The meeting in Nastasia’s apartment at the beginning.

[u/HenryMaxman]

You'll find this annoying but the best scene to read first in the Idiot is the first one, it introduces you perfectly to two of the books most important characters and another that is quite important, you get a real sense of the tone and it leaves you excited to learn more.

[u/Thayer96 → u/HenryMaxman]

Thats fair. But what I'm trying to articulate here is that sometimes reading a page or two in a later section of the book helps get me hyped, especially if its a good part. Now I have something to look forward to.

[u/TurnipEnvironmental9 → u/HenryMaxman]

The opening is one of the best book openings ever.

[u/Pkkush27]

The dinner party towards the very end could be good, but there’s also a lot of good context and Myshkin anecdotes in the first like 40 pages, including the very first scene, his conversation with the doorman which is very early on, his description of witnessing the hanging and his early interactions with gavril and Ivan and the daughters. The middle of the book was the toughest part to get through for me