Reviews

Memorie del sottosuolo by Fyodor Dostoevsky

pcdbigfoot's review against another edition

3.75

"He (humankind) ... would deliberately desire the most fatal rubbish, the most uneconomical absurdity, simply to introduce into all this positive good sense his fatal fantastic element. It is just his fantastic dreams, his vulgar folly that he will desire to retain, simply in order to prove to himself--as though that were so necessary--that men still are men and not the keys of a piano ... even if this were proved to him by natural science and mathematics, even then he would not become reasonable, but would purposely do something perverse out of simple ingratitude, simply to gain his point.”

Our desire for free will (ego) obscures our logic.  The author's quote is a better summary than I could write.  This one's pretty short - a timely read for me.  

aubreymccabe's review against another edition

4.0

Thank u Dostoevsky

selfishdesire's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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

3.75

lavidaquees's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-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

4.75

rabid_possum's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-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

5.0

sunleung's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

Much has been said about this book. All of the praise it has earned is warranted. First published in 19th century Russia, the lessons in the book remain relevant today. 

bobaduckie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

wghams's review against another edition

5.0

Incredible book. I have never read a book which I simultaneously relate to and am disgusted by. I found myself on several occasions laughing at the Underground man, but then catching myself thinking "should I really be laughing at this?"

jannagregory's review against another edition

4.0

"But man is a frivolous and ludicrous creature, and perhaps, like a chess player, loves the process of the game, not the end of it." The writer of the Notes is a study in contradiction and eschews the idea that man will act rationally in furtherance of his best interest. I alternately wanted to slap him and give him a big hug, which I think is exactly how he wanted me to feel.

bairdo's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-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

2.0