Reviews

Notes from the Underground & The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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sensormellow's review

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.5

suprimecy's review against another edition

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funny reflective tense slow-paced

4.5

Notes from Underground is one of the best studies on the delusions of the insecure mind that I've ever read. At times highly cringeworthy, always poignant, and highly relatable to what I observe now in the present across social media. The chapter about the toothache and how we moan from the pain more to be heard moaning than from the actual pain itself was the perfect metaphor for my Facebook feed. There is not a lot of character growth in this story, but rather character regression as he slides away from dealing with society and isolates himself in his own personal underground. If I was in a worse mood when I read this, it would likely be a harrowing experience. Instead, I found its observations enlightening and I actually ended up ordering a copy for one of my best friends as I sadly felt that this story really reflected his current state of mind over the last few years, and I hope he sees enough of himself inside this book to reflect and hopefully change his attitude a bit.

The Gambler was wild and completely not what I was expecting. I don't think I've ever used the word "romp" before, but this was a fun romp through mid 19th Century resort towns in Europe where gambling is the only way to truly live. I thought this was going to end up being a frenetic ride to the lowest of human lows as the energy and addiction of the games led our narrator down an ever-darkening path, but instead I was given the lovely surprise of Dostoevsky just having a good time and enthusiastically spinning a yarn that he clearly had a great time writing. Very well paced and packed with some of my new favourite characters in literature, I had to keep forcing myself to put this one down for fear of finishing it too quickly as I wanted it to last for as long as possible.

i_hate_myslef's review against another edition

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3.0

Notes from the Underground is a window into the eyes of a truely pathetic man, it is a cautionary tale about what happens when you live a life aloof from everyone around you. The book does an excellent job portraying this and is captivating the whole way through.

The Gambler is a story that never once gets interesting the whole way through. You're better off reading a wiki-how article on roulette.