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erinbarton's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
white nights = 3.5 stars
a gentle creature = 3 stars
the dream of a ridiculous man = 3 stars
the three stories definitely had more of a whimsical / upbeat feel to them compared to dostoyevsky’s novels and novellas that i’ve read so far (even though a gentle creature has a bleak ending)
the three stories definitely had more of a whimsical / upbeat feel to them compared to dostoyevsky’s novels and novellas that i’ve read so far (even though a gentle creature has a bleak ending)
adelinade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coboshimself_'s review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
"But how could you live and have no story to tell?"
Russian literature, the Russian language to be entirely honest, is filled with a distinctive melancholy. "Toska", a Russian concept which roughly translates to "a profound feeling of inexplicable sadness, longing and loss" is the word I would use to describe these stories.
In just a few pages of White Nights, Doestoevsky is capable of evoking a whirling of emotions that make us connect with the narrator. We experience his loneliness, his hope, his fear, his love.
For anyone who has ever been heartbroken, it is easy to identify oneself with the narrator, The Dreamer, and how he wrestles with his romanticized fantasies of what his life should be. He is the hoper of far-flung hopes, forever destined to never reach them.
It is a warning, I believe. To not forget how to live. To Dream, but to not let ourselves be lost in those dreams.
A Gentle Creature explores this to a greater extent but I prefer the melancholy heartbrokenness of White Nights.
"May your sky always be clear, may your dear smile always be bright and happy, and may you be for ever blessed for that moment of bliss and happiness which you gave to another lonely and grateful heart. Isn't such a moment sufficient for the whole of one's life?"
Russian literature, the Russian language to be entirely honest, is filled with a distinctive melancholy. "Toska", a Russian concept which roughly translates to "a profound feeling of inexplicable sadness, longing and loss" is the word I would use to describe these stories.
In just a few pages of White Nights, Doestoevsky is capable of evoking a whirling of emotions that make us connect with the narrator. We experience his loneliness, his hope, his fear, his love.
For anyone who has ever been heartbroken, it is easy to identify oneself with the narrator, The Dreamer, and how he wrestles with his romanticized fantasies of what his life should be. He is the hoper of far-flung hopes, forever destined to never reach them.
It is a warning, I believe. To not forget how to live. To Dream, but to not let ourselves be lost in those dreams.
A Gentle Creature explores this to a greater extent but I prefer the melancholy heartbrokenness of White Nights.
"May your sky always be clear, may your dear smile always be bright and happy, and may you be for ever blessed for that moment of bliss and happiness which you gave to another lonely and grateful heart. Isn't such a moment sufficient for the whole of one's life?"
h3ily21's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whoopsbooks's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
graceliles's review against another edition
3.5
LOVED white nights. HATED a gentle creature. enjoyed the dream of a ridiculous man. losing major points for the girls being minors. oh take me back to 19th century russia. but there’s no disputing that the writing is absolutely breathtaking. there are lines in white nights that i will think about for the rest of my life. i adore existentialism so it was about time i read from one of the founding fathers.
arachide's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kayleighjadex's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very fast paced read and although it is written in a very scattered brained format you get a good feel for the main character.
After the death of his wife the 40 year old pawnshop owner is questioning what lead to the event of his wife’s suicide.
He shows himself to be extremely self-serving and egotistical. Throughout the book he speaks of how society has viewed and treated him which makes sense why he would choose to marry a woman he views as below him. It’s almost like she is another item he owns within his pawn shop as he fixated on her innocence and purity and regularly speaks of it.
It’s interesting how at the beginning of the book when chasing the wife he speaks so little of her and refers to the pleasure he takes in the power dynamic of their age gap (16&40). He speaks in conflicting thoughts of his perception of her jumping between naivety, purity and as if she were an evil entity, a burden upon his life.
At moments she is seen to need him the most is when he speaks of her with highest regard compared to moments displaying independence.
His perception of his wife lacks any dept regarding her as a person and seems to all be a mirror to his ego and his reflection upon himself and how he feels he is being perceived.
His character is written really well because you have a clear image of him as a person and he is sooo easy to despise. I would recommend reading if you’re looking for something fast paced that will give you a lot to think about.
After the death of his wife the 40 year old pawnshop owner is questioning what lead to the event of his wife’s suicide.
He shows himself to be extremely self-serving and egotistical. Throughout the book he speaks of how society has viewed and treated him which makes sense why he would choose to marry a woman he views as below him. It’s almost like she is another item he owns within his pawn shop as he fixated on her innocence and purity and regularly speaks of it.
It’s interesting how at the beginning of the book when chasing the wife he speaks so little of her and refers to the pleasure he takes in the power dynamic of their age gap (16&40). He speaks in conflicting thoughts of his perception of her jumping between naivety, purity and as if she were an evil entity, a burden upon his life.
At moments she is seen to need him the most is when he speaks of her with highest regard compared to moments displaying independence.
His perception of his wife lacks any dept regarding her as a person and seems to all be a mirror to his ego and his reflection upon himself and how he feels he is being perceived.
His character is written really well because you have a clear image of him as a person and he is sooo easy to despise. I would recommend reading if you’re looking for something fast paced that will give you a lot to think about.