Reviews

Notes from Underground & The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jessie Coulson

tomdonlon98's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Interesting social commentary on 19th century Russia in both books, Dostoevsky uses his protagonists to challenge contemporarily accepted social practices and to shine a light on their cracks. Notes from underground is a distinctly more aggressive story, in that the protagonist is disillusioned and discordant with his place in society. As a clerk he feels worthless and powerless to change an oppressive regime, he turns his attention internally instead. The double was a slightly tougher read, with less wit than the prior, but the discourse on identity and social position is valuable and interesting to consider.

pernille_branden's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.0

Notes from underground: 5 stars

The double: 3,5 stars

luism's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.5

dyphilleias's review against another edition

5.0

If I was self-isolating for this long, I would too end up like him!

staticmemories's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

vanisweeroom's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

ipollock009's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-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

4.0

bookshopvampire's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

3.0

maedavage's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

2.5

i’ve never read a book where it’s this blatantly clear that nobody has ever told the author to shut the fuck up before
notes was fine if a bit tedious at the start, couldn’t finish the double bc i got bored but considering i finished one of them i wanted it in my log

jennal13's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-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

5.0