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A review by grettypop
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What I love about reading is that I discussed this book with a male friend and we got two completely different interpretations of it. While the underlying meaning of what it means to be a Dreamer, to be an observer, removed from the world, is the same --- To me this read like a satire.
What I got out of it is a 'pick me' type of man, who whines that people don't like him, yet makes no effort to even talk to people. He says he is unloveable and everyone leaves him... But also admits he talks to no one, makes no effort. He sees the outcome of the situation all along -- regretting at the end of his life that he as no regrets, because he never really lived -- and then does NOTHING to change that.
I see a man who projects his love onto a woman who from day one says she is NOT interested... And when it turns out that she actually isn't interested and wasn't just faking it to *be cute*, he's like 'woowwwwwww'.
And yes, I see the counter argument of someone taking a chance on you and actually listening to you and you getting hope in a hopeless situation... I just think you cannot be shocked that it doesn't work out when the writing's been on the wall all along. The love of your life is not a 17 year old immature chick you met 3 days ago (who herself comes from an abusive situation). And as a woman, I don't think men deserve a cookie for taking rejection well and not getting angry. That's maturity.
That being said, this was very though provoking. I liked it a lot -- but probably for all the wrong reasons.
**This novella is only ~90 pages, so a perfect addition if you need to meet your reading goals.
What I got out of it is a 'pick me' type of man, who whines that people don't like him, yet makes no effort to even talk to people. He says he is unloveable and everyone leaves him... But also admits he talks to no one, makes no effort. He sees the outcome of the situation all along -- regretting at the end of his life that he as no regrets, because he never really lived -- and then does NOTHING to change that.
I see a man who projects his love onto a woman who from day one says she is NOT interested... And when it turns out that she actually isn't interested and wasn't just faking it to *be cute*, he's like 'woowwwwwww'.
And yes, I see the counter argument of someone taking a chance on you and actually listening to you and you getting hope in a hopeless situation... I just think you cannot be shocked that it doesn't work out when the writing's been on the wall all along. The love of your life is not a 17 year old immature chick you met 3 days ago (who herself comes from an abusive situation). And as a woman, I don't think men deserve a cookie for taking rejection well and not getting angry. That's maturity.
That being said, this was very though provoking. I liked it a lot -- but probably for all the wrong reasons.
**This novella is only ~90 pages, so a perfect addition if you need to meet your reading goals.