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baba_yaga_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Short story. I like the psychological insight that a person can be unable to handle getting everything he dreamed of - the lack of enough "gratitude" as Vasya says. Interesting to ponder.
apalebluedot's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shauny_32's review against another edition
3.0
A Faint Heart is about a bromance. One of them is getting married and as a result their lives will never be the same again. To say the groom is overwhelmed with adoration for the bride is an understatement.
Unfortunately, external forces threatens the situation, and the story culminates in disaster.
Dostoyevsky is in my top 5 writers of all time but some of these early stories aren’t great examples of his gift. I’m sorry, but apart from the ending the story did little for me.
Unfortunately, external forces threatens the situation, and the story culminates in disaster.
Dostoyevsky is in my top 5 writers of all time but some of these early stories aren’t great examples of his gift. I’m sorry, but apart from the ending the story did little for me.
jane620's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ilse's review against another edition
4.0
The dark side of happiness
At times one might dream of unexpected reversal of fortune, particularly when hardship has been one’s part for a long time. However, when the tide turns and change seems impending, even it is a change for the better, it might turn out strangely tough to accept it, the heart and mind might wish to cling to the habitual and safe state of quiet resignation, sheltering in the second skin of moderate despondency. With a profound inner conviction one is not worth a better fortune and is undeserving might mingle a deep-seated mistrust in one’s chances and an instinctive fear of a new trick of cruel fate. The oblivious anxiety that hope will turn out futile once again and the resentment of being a mere plaything of fate might push one unintentionally but fatally to ruin one’s own luck, in a defiant but hopeless desire not to be the moth but the flame.
"No, Arkasha, no. I know that there is no limit to your affection for me; but you cannot be feeling one-hundredth part of what I am feeling at this moment. My heart is so full, so full! Arkasha, I am not worthy of such happiness. I feel that, I am conscious of it. Why has it come to me?" he said, his voice full of stifled sobs. "What have I done to deserve it? Tell me. Look what lots of people, what lots of tears, what sorrow, what work-a-day life without a holiday, while I, I am loved, I...”
Unlike for people to whom happiness seems to come only naturally, for some, like for young Vaysha Shumkov, finding himself unexpectedly in the possibility of marrying the beautiful young girl he is in love with, the uncommon experience of sudden, intense happiness is so overwhelming the heart and mind move into overdrive. Delusion befalls the happy person, ambushing him in his vulnerable state of startled incredulity of his own good luck, self-sabotaging himself before the powerful emotions have the chance to smooth by entering the regulatory mechanism of hedonic adaptation, reducing its affective impact to a viable level by desensitizing the vehemence of feeling so happiness can eventually attain the stage of habit in everyday life.
She followed, as he did, the fashion;
On elegance her mind was bent.
But what availed her urgent passion?
They married her sans her consent.
Her prudent husband, to distract her.
Off to the country promptly packed her,
Hoping her grief might thus abate;
They settled down on his estate.
Where she, with God knows who for neighbours.
At first but wept and tore her hair.
Spoke of divorce in her despair.
Then plunged into domestic labours:
Content, since habit, more or less,
Is surrogate for happiness.
(Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, Chapter 2, XXXI)
In the 1848 novella A faint heart (to be read here) Dostoevsky masterly dissects and exposes the rueful contradictions in the plagued human mind and heart, exploring compassionately another manifestation of the seemingly endless variety of human fragility and suffering.
A woeful and gripping tale on how too much happiness can tear someone not used to it to pieces, exactly like too little of it can.
At times one might dream of unexpected reversal of fortune, particularly when hardship has been one’s part for a long time. However, when the tide turns and change seems impending, even it is a change for the better, it might turn out strangely tough to accept it, the heart and mind might wish to cling to the habitual and safe state of quiet resignation, sheltering in the second skin of moderate despondency. With a profound inner conviction one is not worth a better fortune and is undeserving might mingle a deep-seated mistrust in one’s chances and an instinctive fear of a new trick of cruel fate. The oblivious anxiety that hope will turn out futile once again and the resentment of being a mere plaything of fate might push one unintentionally but fatally to ruin one’s own luck, in a defiant but hopeless desire not to be the moth but the flame.
"No, Arkasha, no. I know that there is no limit to your affection for me; but you cannot be feeling one-hundredth part of what I am feeling at this moment. My heart is so full, so full! Arkasha, I am not worthy of such happiness. I feel that, I am conscious of it. Why has it come to me?" he said, his voice full of stifled sobs. "What have I done to deserve it? Tell me. Look what lots of people, what lots of tears, what sorrow, what work-a-day life without a holiday, while I, I am loved, I...”
Unlike for people to whom happiness seems to come only naturally, for some, like for young Vaysha Shumkov, finding himself unexpectedly in the possibility of marrying the beautiful young girl he is in love with, the uncommon experience of sudden, intense happiness is so overwhelming the heart and mind move into overdrive. Delusion befalls the happy person, ambushing him in his vulnerable state of startled incredulity of his own good luck, self-sabotaging himself before the powerful emotions have the chance to smooth by entering the regulatory mechanism of hedonic adaptation, reducing its affective impact to a viable level by desensitizing the vehemence of feeling so happiness can eventually attain the stage of habit in everyday life.
She followed, as he did, the fashion;
On elegance her mind was bent.
But what availed her urgent passion?
They married her sans her consent.
Her prudent husband, to distract her.
Off to the country promptly packed her,
Hoping her grief might thus abate;
They settled down on his estate.
Where she, with God knows who for neighbours.
At first but wept and tore her hair.
Spoke of divorce in her despair.
Then plunged into domestic labours:
Content, since habit, more or less,
Is surrogate for happiness.
(Pushkin, Eugene Onegin, Chapter 2, XXXI)
In the 1848 novella A faint heart (to be read here) Dostoevsky masterly dissects and exposes the rueful contradictions in the plagued human mind and heart, exploring compassionately another manifestation of the seemingly endless variety of human fragility and suffering.
A woeful and gripping tale on how too much happiness can tear someone not used to it to pieces, exactly like too little of it can.
silly_glasses_is_reading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At first, I did not really understand the story of the book and it seemed boring. After thinking about it, Vasya and his descent into madness is very interesting: he was so grateful for what he had been given that he drove himself crazy worrying and getting in his head. He wanted to pay back for all the good things he was given. I reckon it is a great lesson, teaching several things: getting in your head too much can drive you crazy; your body and mind need to rest; being grateful is important, but does not mean one must kill themself trying to pay the world back.
Would read again in a few years.
Would read again in a few years.
aeroyou's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
j_black's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0