2.24k reviews for:

The Idiot

Fyodor Dostoevsky

4.04 AVERAGE

poor_knight's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

caiizenn's review

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

leblader's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

zurkh's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jkac's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

draconan's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bazzelai8o8's review

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tazwarf's review

4.5

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A very dense read - but in it, Dostoevsky gives us clarity on how to navigate a world that is deceptive and cruel. Yes - to love in a world like this will lead to pain and suffering, and probably being considered an idiot....but such is the cost to love truthfully and unconditionally.

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love."

dmoatmeat's review

2.0

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DNF at 41% - I’ve been a Dostoevsky fan in the past but just couldn’t make it through this one. 

mollyreading's review against another edition

4.5

challenging reflective sad medium-paced