Reviews

Memoirs from the House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky

loyaultemelie's review against another edition

4.0

A poignant study of prison life in tsarist Russia, though this work was slow at times it was undeniably compelling. It also left me with an even deeper horror for the degradations convicts are put through. It also reminded me of the way Jean Valjean’s life as a convict was described by Hugo. Though of course Dostoevsky’s account is much more vivid and true to life. Still the parallels were fascinating, though they left me somewhat depressed.

I thought I wouldn’t enjoy this work as much as others because of my dislike for aspects of Dostoevsky’s personal, political, and religious life. Evidently I was wrong.

fermentedsorcerer's review against another edition

dark informative sad slow-paced

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

4.25

monicarobotin's review against another edition

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

4.75

olunek's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ricardo_reis's review against another edition

4.0

“Fierce and solitary he awaited death, mistrustful and hostile to all”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The House of the Dead

lonelystar98's review against another edition

3.0

so overall jail is a proper punishment for bad guys

steven_nobody's review against another edition

5.0

What did you think of the part where the man tells about cutting his wife's throat and lying on her screaming his head off as she bled to death? This is so unlike anything Dickens wrote that it is shocking to go from him to Dostoyevsky.

herbata's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

autumnaabram's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sanmeow's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

even more intriguing because it's partially an autobiographical story, inspired by the time dostoevsky was imprisoned in siberia. despite not being my favorite from dostoevsky, it's really good, and i generally enjoy it when he writes about his views on humanity. the writing is amazing as always ^^