Who is the Better Writer: Austen, Tolstoy, or Dostoyevsky? (Book Battle II) (Patreon)

As we mentioned in the first book battle, one of the most exciting parts of embarking upon a lifelong reading plan is sharpening your ability to weigh and compare authors.

When you finish a book, ask yourself:

• Who is this writer better than?
• Who do they fall short of?

You're meeting many great writers on your journey, collecting wisdom and insights into the human condition, learning about the world, other people, and yourself.

In the first video, we pitted Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky against each other, grading them on the following four aesthetic dimensions:

1) Characterisation

2) Pacing

3) Language/voice

4) Theme

In this video, we're adding Jane Austen into the mix and throwing some bonus criteria on top:

5) Metaphor/allegory

6) Wisdom/prophecy 

Play along at home and score them with me.

Let's compare notes.

There are no right or wrong answers. It all comes down to your personal taste.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 why should we compare our writers?
• 1:30 the objective criteria of this subjective art
• 3:00 discussing the kindred spirit poll 
• 4:45 ranking reread-ability 
• 5:00 characterisation: Austen vs Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky 
• 8:00 which world would you prefer to live in?
• 9:00 pacing: Austen vs Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky
• 10:50 language: Austen vs Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky
• 11:15 reading the Russians in translation
• 12:14 theme: Austen vs Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky
• 12:38 which novel is most relevant to your life?
• 13:12 who is the best craftsman of metaphor?
• 14:00 the wounds of great writers
• 14:50 who is the best human?
• 16:00 Austen's lost love 
• 17:30 preaching/sermonising as an art form
• 18:20 which writer is my kindred spirit?
• 20:00 which book is most reread-able?
• 21:26 can you rank these (or other) authors?

Share your scoring below!