So here's where I'm at...

I'm spending more time reading/studying.  Each day during part of my lunch hour, I'm walking over to the library to enjoy my reading time in a neutral environment where I can just enjoy the moment.  I'm in a place where I can really get back into my study of Dostoevsky.  As I've said before, I'm not sure where this journey is taking me, but I write down my thoughts as well as notes so that I can reflect upon them at my leisure.  I'm on book three of five in the biography/social-cultural study of Dostoevsky.  My plan all along was to periodically stop reading the book as I came to each new book or short story of Dostoevsky so that I could really use it as a study tool to gain a better understanding of his works.  Because, believe me, without reading some background material, I would not fully appreciate what the works contain.  There is so much of the times reflected in his works and without studying the times, I would not "get" the fuller meaning.  This study has become a passion for me.  I believe some of it has to do with my interest in human psychology.  I've come to realize (or maybe I've really known all along) that when something fascinates me to this level, it all comes back to psychology.  That's where my interest in reading true crime books by Ann Rule came from (I also have a side interest in trial law - something that has been with me since college.  I had contemplated law school, but in the end did not pursue that avenue).  The subject seems to give me endless things to think about.  Sometimes I can't always put into words what I am thinking or feeling, but that's okay.  I continue to learn and grow as an individual.  And, that, is exactly what I need. 

So, the plan for the indefinite future, is to play catch up on the short stories and novels I've skipped over.  I got a little side tracked with reading Tolstoy, but I think that had something to do with the fact that it was eating away at me that I had not read any of his works.  Other Russian authors can be next on my list.  I've already purchased many of the books for my collection.  I need to stay focused.  Here is my list:

1846	Mr. Prokharchin	short story
1847	Novel in Nine Letters	short story
1847	The Landlady (also called The Stranger-Woman)	short story
1848	The Jealous Husband (also called Under the Bed and Another Man's Wife)	short story
1848	A Faint Heart (also called A Weak Heart)	short story
1848	Polzunkov	short story
1848	Out of the Service	?
1848	The Honest Thief	short story
1848	The Christmas Tree and a Wedding (also called The Fir Tree and a Wedding)	short story
1848	White Nights (also called Bright Nights)	short story
1849	Netochka Nezvanovna	medium novel
1849	The Little Hero	short story
1859	The Uncle's Dream	short novel
1859	The Village of Stepanchikovo (also called The Friend of the Family)	medium novel

The only one I cannot read is "Out of the Service."  I can't find it in print and I'd have to refer to one of the previous volumes to be reminded of the details of its original publication. After I finish this list, I will be where I have left off in the third volume - ready to start "The Insulted and the Injured."  I'm really looking forward to this journey as it has been rewarding thus far. 

Aside from that, I do want to find more time for knitting.  I have not had the time for that either in the past several months and I'd really like to start fresh by getting rid of old projects I'll never finish and start anew.  I think this is the best for me. 

And, that, my friends, is where I'm at...

P.S.  I forgot to mention I'm also reading selected letters written by Dostoevsky.  There are volumes with all his letters, but I haven't purchased them at this time.  I'm in the process of playing catch up here too.   : )