[Dr. Sivana]

Dostoevsky makes a good fourth.

Doestoevsky is an excellent writer, but when I picked up Crime and Punishment after having read in high school 35 years ago, I found the difference between him and Dickens (whom Doestoevsky admired). Dickens would have high drama and seriousness punctuated by light-heartedness and a badly needed release (especially in Bleak House). Doestoevsky just goes down down dowwwwwwn.

[arrogantsob]

I compare reading Dostoevsky to being in a small room where everyone is screaming at each other. Very draining.