One of Dostoevsky’s most brilliant, darkest, and least known novels is The Possessed, also called Demons or The Devils. Dostoevsky, as a devout Christian, often grounded his novels in particular biblical stories. The opening scripture in this novel is about the pigs being cast into the ocean (Luke 8:32-37). Have you ever wondered what possessed Putin to invade Ukraine, and … [Read more...] about Pigs in the Ocean: The socialism of Dostoevsky’s The Possessed
Books
The foolishness of God in Dostoevsky’s Idiot
In Dostoevsky’s favorite novel The Idiot, we meet Prince Myshkin, a Christ-like person whose goodness, open-heartedness, and genuineness lead people to call him an idiot sixty times in the novel. Dostoevsky saw Myshkin as his best and richest poetic idea. Three times in his notes, Dostoevsky identifies Myshkin as a Christ figure. Like Jesus, he was full of child-like … [Read more...] about The foolishness of God in Dostoevsky’s Idiot
Dostoevsky’s conflicted Brothers Karamazov
Do you enjoy ‘who-done-it’ murder mystery stories by Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle? Then you will love the Russian Christian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky. He was a master at using graphic crime stories to create the most remarkable psychological/philosophical novels ever written. You will be puzzled as you try to figure out which of the four Karamazov brothers killed his … [Read more...] about Dostoevsky’s conflicted Brothers Karamazov
Thank You. I’m Sorry. Tell Me More by Rod Wilson, a book review
As human beings we are susceptible to self-centered attitudes, defensiveness and entitlement. Conflict is inevitable in our relationships, whether at home, at work, in our friendships, in politics or in our faith community. Written not just for the Christian community, this book makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for anyone. As human beings we are susceptible to … [Read more...] about Thank You. I’m Sorry. Tell Me More by Rod Wilson, a book review
The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s characters in Anna Karenina
Perhaps more than any other book, Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy’s novel that readers consistently say they cannot stop reading. If you are still mystified to why Russia recently invaded Ukraine, read Anna Karenina. The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s complex characters allows us to read it again and again with new insights about the Russian soul. Many consider Anna Karenina to be … [Read more...] about The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s characters in Anna Karenina