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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
reflective
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
Subjective rating: 2,5 stars
Objective rating: 4,5 stars
I feel so horrible for giving this book such a low rating. I will defend Dostoyevsky and his works ANY day, but this particular work of his was not for me. It took me 1½ year to finish and I'm so glad it's over. I really liked the main character of Prince Myshkin though and I looove those typical scenes with 20 people in the same room fighting over nothing; it's hilarious. But over all, this book did little for me... 3
Objective rating: 4,5 stars
I feel so horrible for giving this book such a low rating. I will defend Dostoyevsky and his works ANY day, but this particular work of his was not for me. It took me 1½ year to finish and I'm so glad it's over. I really liked the main character of Prince Myshkin though and I looove those typical scenes with 20 people in the same room fighting over nothing; it's hilarious. But over all, this book did little for me... 3
RATING: 2.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read Dostoevsky's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT last year and loved it, so in one sense I'm disappointed because this wasn't as good as that. There are passages in this book, though, that are just sublime and weird and wonderful.
And for classic Russian literature from a heady, brooding author like Dostoevsky, this is a surprisingly lighthearted book. For the most part, a kind of dry comedy of manners. Lots of misunderstandings, female hysteria, male hysteria, drunkenness, some metatextual comments regarding writing and reading... I don't think all of these things work very well to form a cohesive whole, but taken separately they're interesting and ahead of their time.
The book takes an unexpected turn toward darkness and despair in its conclusion, which is perhaps in keeping with what you might expect from Dostoevsky, but it's out of character for the rest of the story.
It's a mixed bag. I would recommend it to those interested in Dostoevsky and/or the Russian classics, but I'd have a tough time recommending it to anyone else.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read Dostoevsky's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT last year and loved it, so in one sense I'm disappointed because this wasn't as good as that. There are passages in this book, though, that are just sublime and weird and wonderful.
And for classic Russian literature from a heady, brooding author like Dostoevsky, this is a surprisingly lighthearted book. For the most part, a kind of dry comedy of manners. Lots of misunderstandings, female hysteria, male hysteria, drunkenness, some metatextual comments regarding writing and reading... I don't think all of these things work very well to form a cohesive whole, but taken separately they're interesting and ahead of their time.
The book takes an unexpected turn toward darkness and despair in its conclusion, which is perhaps in keeping with what you might expect from Dostoevsky, but it's out of character for the rest of the story.
It's a mixed bag. I would recommend it to those interested in Dostoevsky and/or the Russian classics, but I'd have a tough time recommending it to anyone else.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Is being different from others a flaw?
The difference we do not understand and will reduce, isolate or even denigrate is how we can forge a society of reasonable intelligence.
With the strength of his style, the author leads us into this philosophy to make us ask questions and leave us with questions about our views of yesterday.
The difference we do not understand and will reduce, isolate or even denigrate is how we can forge a society of reasonable intelligence.
With the strength of his style, the author leads us into this philosophy to make us ask questions and leave us with questions about our views of yesterday.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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