Dr. Bryan Burton on Dostoyevski

I always enjoy seeing what book Bryan Burton has in his hands at Starbucks. It was at Starbucks that he first insisted I read Dostoyevski. So it was a great pleasure to have him come speak today about C&P.

I particularly liked that my students were able to hear a real reaction to literature, how it connects with the deep stuff of life, how Bryan was first struck by Dostoyevsky while studying theology in seminary. I like that my students could see a pastor who is moved to his core by the power of a story. Indeed, it's always been evident to me, from the pew, that he was a man of books. I like to introduce students to men and women of books.

Even as a teacher who must explain existentialism to students each year, I got a little schooling today. It's such a complex and difficult topic that to hear it packaged anew was of great benefit. One sentence I wrote down as he spoke was, "you can't separate being and doing" in existentialism. That was a good phrase for me. If being (existing) is so vitally linked to doing, then the importance of psychology is elevated - I'd never thought of that before. And existential lit would then be profoundly interested in bringing the reader into a character's internal reality. We'll talk more about this, dig through it, in class.

A few final thoughts: Our library needs a copy of Invitation to the Classics, if we don't already have it (we might). We also need The Gospel in Dostoevsky. I need to read some Dorothy Sayers. I should get on to Tolstoy sometime soon. And I am seriously considering forgiving Dr. Burton for blaspheming Shakespeare :)