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tomsass's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cosminelul's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
zach_medina's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brittney1226's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
She just like me fr
maddyc_17's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautifully tormenting short little novel about unrequited love.
"Why is it that the very best person is always hiding something from other people and is quiet about it? Why not frankly and immediately say what's in your heart, if you know that you're not speaking idly?"
"A dreamer, if you require a precise definition - is not a man, but some sort of sexless being, you see. For the most part, he makes his home somewhere in an inaccessible corner, as if he were hiding there from the light of day."
It was poetic and the prose was heartbreakingly exquisite. I would read again and again.
"Why is it that the very best person is always hiding something from other people and is quiet about it? Why not frankly and immediately say what's in your heart, if you know that you're not speaking idly?"
"A dreamer, if you require a precise definition - is not a man, but some sort of sexless being, you see. For the most part, he makes his home somewhere in an inaccessible corner, as if he were hiding there from the light of day."
It was poetic and the prose was heartbreakingly exquisite. I would read again and again.
chrisrohlev1234's review against another edition
4.0
A short novella from Dostoevsky. I've spoken before about his brilliance but I will mention it here again. Dostoevsky is, in fact, an evil person. He does things in novels that should be forbidden. Sometimes I snicker to myself when I see a collection of "banned books" set out in a local bookstore. Books like Fahrenheit 451, Catcher and the Rye and of course the Bible of all books. But these books aren't dangerous, they're not even close. Sure, I read a book about government censorship and I'm suddenly transformed to a raging libertarian who is a total anti-authoritarian. But that's not the point. Whether you read Huxley, Orwell or Bradbury you're getting the same thing. Big government bad, individual rights good. The same can be said of all these so called "controversial" books. The platform(book) may be convincing but it's not changing anything inside of you.
That's where my man Dosto comes into play. This is why he's an evil person. Dostoevsky has a remarkable ability to cut you open and play around with things that shouldn't be played with. Most writers temper on your emotional side. Dostoevsky plays with your spirit and he has a terrible way of doing it. He gives you characters that are broken. They are depraved and lonely, overcome by jealousy and greed. Most of all they are human. This is where it begins. He makes them lovable, he makes the reader feel compassion for them. He gives these characters one of the worst human characteristics, hope. So you start rooting for these insufferable characters and you suddenly possess the same sense of hope they do. You start thinking that everything will turn out alright, that people aren't so bad after all and that this pitiful thing we call existence is actually meaningful. Then just at the point that you have accepted that everything will be alright, Dostoevsky crushes you. He firmly places you in reality. Where people lie, cheat and steal. He reminds you that the most dedicated husband can still be unfaithful. He reminds you of all the men who are overcome by their addictions. He gives you the painful reminder that the people you think are the most moral are the most vile inside.
So what is the moral of this rant? Dostoevsky is truth. He gives you something beautiful and that is truth. He asks you what love is? Is it the idyllic 5'10" blonde sorority girl you meet at a summer vacation who loves dogs and running? You both love coffee and walks in the rain so you must be meant for each other right? Dostoevsky, if he could, would come down from heaven and slap you in the face. He would say "this isn't real life you idiot." He says look at you both and how shallow you are. How deep is your love? Will you love each other through hardship, through death? What if one of you becomes sick? So he transforms you. He makes you realize the superficialities of life and act against them. Then when you actually fall in love, it is real and deeper than you can truly explain. Dostoevsky is truth.
"And now I know more than ever that I have squandered all my best years! I realize that now, and the knowledge is the more painful because God has sent you to me, my good angel, to tell me and demonstrate the fact. Now, as I sit next to you and talk with you, I feel positively terrified of the future, because in that future loneliness lurks once more, again that musty, pointless existence; and what will there be for me to dream about, when close to you I have already been so happy in the real world."
That's where my man Dosto comes into play. This is why he's an evil person. Dostoevsky has a remarkable ability to cut you open and play around with things that shouldn't be played with. Most writers temper on your emotional side. Dostoevsky plays with your spirit and he has a terrible way of doing it. He gives you characters that are broken. They are depraved and lonely, overcome by jealousy and greed. Most of all they are human. This is where it begins. He makes them lovable, he makes the reader feel compassion for them. He gives these characters one of the worst human characteristics, hope. So you start rooting for these insufferable characters and you suddenly possess the same sense of hope they do. You start thinking that everything will turn out alright, that people aren't so bad after all and that this pitiful thing we call existence is actually meaningful. Then just at the point that you have accepted that everything will be alright, Dostoevsky crushes you. He firmly places you in reality. Where people lie, cheat and steal. He reminds you that the most dedicated husband can still be unfaithful. He reminds you of all the men who are overcome by their addictions. He gives you the painful reminder that the people you think are the most moral are the most vile inside.
So what is the moral of this rant? Dostoevsky is truth. He gives you something beautiful and that is truth. He asks you what love is? Is it the idyllic 5'10" blonde sorority girl you meet at a summer vacation who loves dogs and running? You both love coffee and walks in the rain so you must be meant for each other right? Dostoevsky, if he could, would come down from heaven and slap you in the face. He would say "this isn't real life you idiot." He says look at you both and how shallow you are. How deep is your love? Will you love each other through hardship, through death? What if one of you becomes sick? So he transforms you. He makes you realize the superficialities of life and act against them. Then when you actually fall in love, it is real and deeper than you can truly explain. Dostoevsky is truth.
"And now I know more than ever that I have squandered all my best years! I realize that now, and the knowledge is the more painful because God has sent you to me, my good angel, to tell me and demonstrate the fact. Now, as I sit next to you and talk with you, I feel positively terrified of the future, because in that future loneliness lurks once more, again that musty, pointless existence; and what will there be for me to dream about, when close to you I have already been so happy in the real world."
nickel_is_neat's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
2.0
perky's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0