i've always preferred dostoyevski to tolstoy. he captures and dissects the human condition better than most current writers. i recommend the brothers to begin.

What i love abt fyodor is his ability to define his characters according to a line of conscience and awareness of such, despite and even inspite of their misgivings, and which line no longer dictates us..and thus makes the reader understand, if not sympathise with and sometimes fall for the fallen...i have to re-read him often and at different points of departure in my life in order to allow my intellect to feed off him in a further manner at each newly enlightened turn.