2.24k reviews for:

The Idiot

Fyodor Dostoevsky

4.04 AVERAGE

kyliebentley's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

oooonu's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

clallen37's review

4.0

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ballisticbaylor's review

3.0

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Dostoevsky has created some incredible characters here (especially the Idiot himself, Prince Myshkin), but unfortunately they exist within a very thin, meandering plot. This is mostly due to its published medium of serial installments in a Russian magazine. The best moments always come about unexpectedly, such as a poignant story told in some monologue, not within the actual plot itself. However as long as the “story” runs, it never ceases to be entertaining to witness characters encounter the Prince, find him at first frustrating, dotty, and bothersome, only to minutes later find him refreshing, charming, and wise in a elegantly simple way. Dostoevsky's holy fool is an unforgettable character.

creativitylag's review

5.0

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so good

bookybell's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

lemonavocado's review against another edition

5.0

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i like the experimental pacing more than most readers seem to and lev is probably my favorite dostoevsky character. my beautiful princess with a disorder talk to me

vanessaleon's review against another edition

1.0

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No lo pude terminar, sorry, muchos problemas de gente privilegiada para mí

phenomenecology's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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My favorite Dostoevsky. Utterly tragic and deeply hilarious. I found myself immediately pulled into this world. Each of our main characters depicts a well of hubris so real, so human, and so wholly that one cannot possibly expect a happy ending for any of them, yet cannot help but to hope for one in vain. 

matritense's review

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes