Reviews

The Meek One by Fyodor Dostoevsky

olya_hakob's review against another edition

Okay, I can't say I liked the narrator, I can't say I liked the story. But it did make me feel extremely uncomfortable and upset (which I don't mind at all when reading literature). The question is: was it the merit of the writing or just me being easily annoyed by such toxic, pointlessly tragic relationships. The story did have a bitter aftertaste, so maybe it was effective, that's why still three stars.

What was interesting to me when reading was that I felt like reading different layers stacked on top of each other. On one hand, we have this extremely toxic narrator, on the other hand I couldn't help but picture how sad, broken and isolated his life must have been to not figure out elementary things like talking-is-good, nobody-can-read-your-mind type of things. Still, I perceived more annoyance than empathy with the character.

Finally, there was the layer of loss, the mere helplessness against death and not understanding how something that tragic might have happened. To us, it doesn't seem all that mysterious why it all came down to that ending but the story did convey the emotions one might feel when losing somebody dear.

jonathanovd's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

hnnihlim's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

twentystitches's review

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read this and A Nasty Business 
This one was actually pretty good it got me thinking 
A Nasty Business was pretty much about A Nasty Business 

joana_22's review

2.75

I disliked the main character in this book a great deal and it made me realize why some man always try to justify themselves even when they are clearly in the wrong.

The story follows a man that, after his wife suicides, recounts us the story of their marriage. But, in my opinion, and because it is his recounting of the events, he is always justifying himself and make it appear as he had nothing to do with his wife because he was a caring and loving husband.

But, what Dostoyevsky does so well is that you feel sadness and comprehension towards him even if he is the main component of his wife's death. It isn't until you have finished reading that you recount how awful he is. He is gaslighting us readers into believing a nonexistent version of the events.

mahdieh_nsr's review

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

mind_of_doaa's review

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

loved how he created a story of a newspaper article it’s very impressive how 

filz__42's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

michelareads's review

4.0

ah yes, another story of a man who assumes instead of asking, who feels superior but is actually a coward, and ugly cries when he is alone again
what's not to love about this
4 stars

kylec97's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0