A review by mikkiokko
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

emotional 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? It's complicated
White Nights could be very good, if the 26 year old man wasn't in love with a 17 year old girl. 

The age gap ruins so much of what could be a very interesting story about loneliness, dreams not coming true, unrequited love, and happiness that comes from brief moments of connection with someone else even if it does end up being spoiled. Instead, the age gap turns this into a naive young girl trying to get out of a not so ideal home life being lured in opposite directions by two much older men. This age gap especially ruins the narrator because instead of empathizing and understanding his yearning he just becomes creepy as hell. I think this story would be much much better if the characters were all young and around the girls age because there is something to be told and learned about experiencing unrequited love at a young age. So, do I hate this story? No. But do I think it has a massive flaw that spoils the story.