Fyodor Dostoevsky For The First Time (Recommendations)

Hello everyone,
I was just curious about the consensus on which Dostoevsky novel to read for someone unfamiliar with his work. To be truthful, I did read The Idiot several years back, but it was at a time that was incredibly stressful for me mentally and emotionally, and I had difficulty grasping the philosophies and themes in the novel itself. Oddly enough there was one portion of the novel that grasped my attention as I read the book, and that was the quote, "Only beauty can save the world".

I read this sentence as I was reading the introduction before I read the book itself and the impact those words had on the author himself as well as the implications they had on the book altogether. They compelled me to read the story even when it became wearily slow for me. When I read that sentence and throughout the story, and after I had finished reading the story, I questioned what beauty was to me. I would walk in silence around my neighborhood on evening promenades reflecting what beauty was to me. I wrestled with that question for probably three whole years before I realized what beauty was to me. To put it briefly, beauty to me is brotherhood. A brother celebrates with you in victory -- your accomplishments are his. A brother mourns when you are in despair -- your pain and suffering is his.

In Christ, I think this is represented by his crucifixion on the cross and his willingness to lay down his life for not only his disciples, but for the whole earth. John 15:13 says, "There is no greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Even though I think a large portion of this book might have gone over my head, I was curious as to whether The Idiot might not be the best introductory book for Dostoevsky. I did find a large portion of the book slow, but I would like to re-read it eventually once I get familiar with his work. Between Crime and Punishment and Demons, which would be more oriented for someone trying to get familiar with Dostoevsky. I truly do not believe The Idiot was the best book to start with, but I mean, since I am being honest: I have never had an author make me question a concept for several years making me contemplate my own inner values. I think that an author that makes me question something so seemingly basic for such a prolonged period of time has something insightful and worthwhile for me to read.

Cheers.