Should I read Ivan Turgenev or Alexander Pushkin next?

Question by : Should I read Turgenev or Pushkin next?
This summer, my personal little reading project was to read a basic survey of the great, canonical Russian writers, because, owing to an unfortunate reading of War and Peace at the age of eight (long story, I was offered money, I got through the book but came away with a deep-seated loathing of Tolstoy and Russians in general) it remained a gap in my literary knowledge (except for Nabokov, who I already knew and loved. But he doesn’t REALLY seem to write like a Russian, so I’m not sure he counts). So far, I’ve read Crime and Punishment and Chekhov’s stories. I’m working on Anna Karennina. So my question is: who’s read Turgenev or Pushkin? They are completely different, but I’m adrift in a sea of such meticulous social angst I lack the willpower to decide what to tackle next. I’ve never seen a word of either before.

Bonus question: are there any particular translations of either you’d recommend?
Oh man, I forgot Gogol completely! I’ve always meant to read him! And I am a short story fiend, so all the better.

Also, the fact that Nabokov didn’t like Dostoyevksy lowers my opinion of him, a bit… Crime and Punishment was possibly the best book I’ve ever read.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Zack H
First of all. If you read Constance Garnett’s War & Peace, I’m sorry.

I’ve read Pushkin and that’s it. I’ve always wanted to read Fathers and Sons but I haven’t. I think, though, that you should, instead of them, read Gogol. He is, in my opinion, ..better. Read a book of his short stories or read Dead Souls. He is my second fav. Russian author (Dostoevsky IS the Russian author), slightly ahead of Nabokov, who doesn’t even like Dostoevsky.

I didn’t really answer your question, but I’m too infused with lassitude to edit it. Just read some Gogol. And don’t read Constance Garnett.

EDIT: C&P rules. Best scene’s when Sviddy dies. Powerful chapter.

Read all the answers in the comments.

What do you think?