I liked the Idiot and Crime and Punishment, but Some of his other Works were a bit much for me.

Dostoevsky is my favorite ancient author. The Brothers Karamazov is my favorite book, not just from him, but my favorite book period. I also enjoy the Idiot, Crime and Punishment, The Gambler and Notes from the Underground. His books are moralistic, but as others have pointed out--not dogmatic. His personal life was pretty interesting, in a sad way. His father was a violent alcoholic, he came from a large family, his mother died of T.B., he was exiled to Siberia after being part of a 'mock execution' which, apparently, is how they handled criminals back then. Weird. I believe that it was all these events that led him to be an existentialist back before it was 'cool' to do so. I also think this is why his books are so awesome still to this day. They do not always translate well, but they are definately worth the read.
"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. "
"If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you. "

Dostoyevski, good stuff....gooood stuffffffff...

Personally, I think life is a little short to read too much Russion fiction, but if one must, Dostoevsky or Gogol is probably the best bet.

Dostoevsky is my favourite foreign author. Crime and Punishment (the first real crime story) is one of my all time favourite novels. It is a complex book that delves into the workings of the human mind, the inner struggle between right and wrong/good and evil, and at its heart deals with choice, conscience,psychology, existentialism, religion, aetheism, morality/immorality (and the dichotomy therein), and ultimately, redemption.

I have also read The Brothers Karamazov (outstanding), The Idiot, The Gambler ( Dostoevsky was a compulsive gambler ). Doestoevsky's greatness cannot be understated. He influenced many great writers who came after him.

One of my all-time favorites. An interesting man, one of the funniest of the world's great authors. I am of the opinion that the great 19th century Russian writers, at their best, are the best novelists I've ever read. No other country's novelists explored what later came to be known as psychology, or matters of class, so intricately, thoroughly, and insightfully. "Crime and Punishment" is everything the reviewers below claim it is, the novella "Notes From The Underground" is sad, disturbing, and at the same time, darkly humorous. And the peak moments of The Brothers Karamazov" are as good as it gets in literature. Strongly recommended.

one of the most brilliant literary minds of the 19th century, a devout catholic who instead of overwhelming people with his beliefs(brought on by a stay in siberia)wove his dogma creatively into novels of morality, penance, and redemption. complex stories to boot. Crime and Punishment is probably one of the best examples of the tortured criminal psyche ever put onto paper.

He wrote stunning works that explore the human psyche in depth. My favorite is the Brothers Karamazov; on the surface, it's a murder mystery but at its core, it's a treatise on human nature and the questions that confront us.

The greatest novelist who ever lived.

Books are really incredible. Great author who can philosophically capture nihilism, as if it were even possible to actually touch nothing!

One of the greatest authors ever. Combines humor with intelligence and perfect writing. Stunning ability. Fun to read. Deals mostly with Russian poverty. Wrote Crime and Punishment.

I absolutely disagree with the reviewer below. Crime and Punishment is hardly a parable - if anything Dostoevsky makes the reader start to wonder if HE/SHE could pull off the perfect crime - hardly the stuff that moralistic stories are made of. It is my opinion that Dostoevsky is a master of writing about shades of grey, and will make most readers question their own positions about what is absolutely right, and what is absolutely wrong. If you haven't read Crime and Punishment, do yourself a favor and get it. Although the translation is strained at some points, Dostoevsky's ability to get in the mind of his very human characters will make you think.

Possibly the greatest Russian novelist.

Dostoyevsky has something of an antiquated and moralistic take on everything but he writes a good and vivid story, filled with memorable characters. In his works, one often gets the sense that his fictitious world is the way that he would have liked the real world to be -- that justice will always somehow work through to punish the private crime, and that only turning to the proper way leads a person to escape a tragic end. As such, his stories are parables, more than useful commentary on the real world.