Awhile ago I downloaded several books including things like War & Peace, Sense & Sensibilities, Ulysses etc.
Some of them are quite thick, and I am wondering if I mostly did so to seem intelligent or smart on some subconscious level.
Have any of you gotten enjoyment or insight from any of these kinds of books? or is it just society and schooling that are telling me these are "good."?
The Idiot is nothing like this. Well it is sometimes, but I loved it so much more than C&P. The best parts, for me, like any Dostoyevski books, are the those pages and pages freeing themselves from the general story and diving into one aspect, into one character's monologue, or fantasy, or anything. The ones in The Idiot are truly a fucking blessing. And instead of being unpleasant like in C&P, they are simply freeing. Sometimes, they are deeply tortured, but it's not the same aspect here, it goes elsewhere. Read it.