A review by s3471g3r12
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This one hurt. Badly.

Shoutout to all of my fellow Situationship Survivors who relate a little too much to the Dreamer.

"She Had the World (Alternate Version)" by Panic! at the Disco is what I listened to on repeat after finishing this short story because it reminded me of Nastenka. This part in particular hits hard:

"I don’t love you
I’m just passing the time
You could love me if I knew how to lie
But who could love me?
I am out of my mind
Throwing a line out to sea
To see if I can catch a dream"

Both the Dreamer and Nastenka felt like real people because of how Dostoevsky explored their respective flaws, vulnerabilities, and contradictions. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style, as well, which makes me excited to check out his other works once I emotionally recover from this one.