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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel somewhat conflict about Notes from Underground.
Whilst reading the first part I agreed with the narrators thoughts on awareness versus ignorance and free will versus predestination. At the end of the first part vehemently disagreed with his opinion that inertia would be the best course of action in trying to deal with that. This disagreement was a sign of things to come.
During Part 2, I started to resent the narrator; the moment where he started to ridicule Zverkov's speech impediment really pushed me that way. And despite hating the narrator, or perhaps because of it, I find him to be a really well written, character, and I really commend Doestoevsky for it.
Whilst reading the first part I agreed with the narrators thoughts on awareness versus ignorance and free will versus predestination. At the end of the first part vehemently disagreed with his opinion that inertia would be the best course of action in trying to deal with that. This disagreement was a sign of things to come.
During Part 2, I started to resent the narrator; the moment where he started to ridicule Zverkov's speech impediment really pushed me that way. And despite hating the narrator, or perhaps because of it, I find him to be a really well written, character, and I really commend Doestoevsky for it.
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
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
4.25 stars, (8.5/10). I'm reviewing this based entirely from Notes from Underground (as The Double is not a part of my Dostoevsky versus Tolstoy debate i'm doing this year!)
What an interesting look into the human psyche! I'm so glad to have read this, as it provided a pretty good feeler into Dostoevsky's writing style. The first half is written into a philosophical essay, while the latter involves a plotline invloving the main chracter.
The character depicited here, the "anti-hero", is extremely interesting. He is a man who doesn't beleive in virtuous happiness, and happily condemns others to suffering (while hating it for himself). (In many ways, I see the tendencies of an incel?) I actively disliked the main character, while simultaneously rooting for his possible redemption.
The quips in here were also great. Some very, very funny moments!
Dislikes pertain towards my own personal enjoyment. I like dark stories, I wish I had gotten a little more out of this one. The first half especially seemed a little to rambly, (even though that fits 100% with the character), and I love philosophical interjections.
This is definitely a novel you can prod and poke and get something new out of every time. I hear that Crime and Punishment is the grown-up version of this one, so I am excited to get into it in February!
What an interesting look into the human psyche! I'm so glad to have read this, as it provided a pretty good feeler into Dostoevsky's writing style. The first half is written into a philosophical essay, while the latter involves a plotline invloving the main chracter.
The character depicited here, the "anti-hero", is extremely interesting. He is a man who doesn't beleive in virtuous happiness, and happily condemns others to suffering (while hating it for himself). (In many ways, I see the tendencies of an incel?) I actively disliked the main character, while simultaneously rooting for his possible redemption.
The quips in here were also great. Some very, very funny moments!
Dislikes pertain towards my own personal enjoyment. I like dark stories, I wish I had gotten a little more out of this one. The first half especially seemed a little to rambly, (even though that fits 100% with the character), and I love philosophical interjections.
This is definitely a novel you can prod and poke and get something new out of every time. I hear that Crime and Punishment is the grown-up version of this one, so I am excited to get into it in February!
Bro, stop demanding satisfaction! You're scaring all the hoes away!
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
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
Notes from Underground struck me as a keen look into the twisted worldview of many modern day incel types, and in that way, it is a valuable read. It allows you to understand the wickedness of that perspective, but also to empathize with where it comes from in the oftentimes soul-crushing societies we live in.
The Double is truly a funky read. It is hard to forget the downward spiral of "Our Hero" Mr. Golyadkin.
The Double is truly a funky read. It is hard to forget the downward spiral of "Our Hero" Mr. Golyadkin.
3.5 stars.
These novellas were my first ever Dostoyevsky reads, and it was an interesting and somewhat challenging experience. For this review, I will be reviewing each story individually.
Notes from Underground - 4 stars.
This novella was the one I wanted to read the most by Dostoyevsky. I always thought it sounded very interesting, although some people had told me it was challenging. It is narrated by an unnamed protagonist, a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg. The novella is split into two parts; the first a sort of rambling memoir, the second a depiction of the events that led up to his current situation. The narrator deals with numerous topics such as human suffering and theories of reason and logic, amongst other things.
I enjoyed reading from the narrator's viewpoint, as although he was unreliable, he had an incredibly strong personality that really bounded off the page. He was so angry and stuck in his own ways and almost nihilistic in a way that sometimes I found his ramblings very funny. It goes without saying that I enjoyed the second part of this novella more, as there was an actual narrative of sorts, but I would definitely recommend this if you like philosophical fiction.
The Double - 3 stars.
I had already seen the Richard Ayoade film adaptation of this novella earlier this year, and part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed it more if I had read this first. The protagonist, Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, is a titular councillor who encounters a man who is his exact double. Although they initially begin being friends, Golyadkin soon sees his double infiltrate his way into his life, taking over everything and turning his colleagues against him.
I really enjoyed the premise of this novella, but I found it a little difficult to read at times. Sometimes there would not be a paragraph break for two pages, and I found the way the protagonist used other characters full names repeatedly in the same sentence quite irritating. Although I did enjoy the fact that the events in the novella were different from the film adaptation, I felt that I enjoyed the adaptation better as there was a great deal more drama, and more of a development in the characters' relationships. Saying that, this was an enjoyable read, and one I would recommend.
These novellas were my first ever Dostoyevsky reads, and it was an interesting and somewhat challenging experience. For this review, I will be reviewing each story individually.
Notes from Underground - 4 stars.
This novella was the one I wanted to read the most by Dostoyevsky. I always thought it sounded very interesting, although some people had told me it was challenging. It is narrated by an unnamed protagonist, a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg. The novella is split into two parts; the first a sort of rambling memoir, the second a depiction of the events that led up to his current situation. The narrator deals with numerous topics such as human suffering and theories of reason and logic, amongst other things.
I enjoyed reading from the narrator's viewpoint, as although he was unreliable, he had an incredibly strong personality that really bounded off the page. He was so angry and stuck in his own ways and almost nihilistic in a way that sometimes I found his ramblings very funny. It goes without saying that I enjoyed the second part of this novella more, as there was an actual narrative of sorts, but I would definitely recommend this if you like philosophical fiction.
The Double - 3 stars.
I had already seen the Richard Ayoade film adaptation of this novella earlier this year, and part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed it more if I had read this first. The protagonist, Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, is a titular councillor who encounters a man who is his exact double. Although they initially begin being friends, Golyadkin soon sees his double infiltrate his way into his life, taking over everything and turning his colleagues against him.
I really enjoyed the premise of this novella, but I found it a little difficult to read at times. Sometimes there would not be a paragraph break for two pages, and I found the way the protagonist used other characters full names repeatedly in the same sentence quite irritating. Although I did enjoy the fact that the events in the novella were different from the film adaptation, I felt that I enjoyed the adaptation better as there was a great deal more drama, and more of a development in the characters' relationships. Saying that, this was an enjoyable read, and one I would recommend.