Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - White Nights

That book was crazy. I was thinking of reading it for a while and forgot why I never done it and it took me by surprise when I read the very reason that made me uncomfortable reading the book; P3d0philia. At first I thought it was a cute love story, but then I found out how old Nastenka was and how old Matryona already was. But then I remembered that in the century Dostoevsky wrote this was a norm, so I could live with that. But still gave me a wtf moment.

Anyway, except that it triggered me a bit it was very interesting. Short, but interesting. The whole idea to meet at night as they also met the first time at night was so cool and then their stories, especial the 'pinning' part. I thought I read strange stories, but this one was more than just strange. But also relatable.

It was relatable, as the characters didn't have a normal sleep schedule, didn't act like robots and were authentic. Had a hard life and might never made any friends. And they both loved. As love happens so often.

Really liked the writing style once again! It's old, but still so good!!

Lastly, except the relationship with a minor and adult I also disliked the ending as Nastenka acted like a whore and I despised that on her. Also disliked how Matryona accepted her offer, which she wrote down in the letter. Both are so foolish. Probably done on purpose, but it still ruined the whole mood for me.

Content Warnings

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense fast-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

3.0

I found this book on bookstagram as well as seeing one of the booktubers I watch recommend it and the way they sold it sounded right up my alley so I decided to give it a go especially considering how short it was. However, I was sadly disappointed. I may have done myself a disservice in terms of the speed at which I read this book. It's said to be about 80 pages and I finished in about an hour and a half. I think this is the type of book you have to take your time with and digest. However, if I'm being quite frank I still don't think I would've connected with the story even if I "took my time" with it. I just didn't find it all that compelling. I can acknowledge that the story within itself is truly sad, however, because I wasn't connected to the characters or the way the story was written I just didn't feel that emotional effect that the story was going for. Speaking of the writing, I don't know if it's because I'm not accustomed to reading classics as well as considering this was also a piece of translated fiction, but it wasn't doing it for me. It was understandable enough, and it did contain some nice lines, but other than that it wasn't really for me. I saw someone else comment that said " Clinically depressed man gets friendzoned." And that's literally the basis of what happens so do with that as you may. Not something that I would personally have an emotional attachment to.

Also, this book is expecting me to suspend my disbelief too much. By day 2, this guy is in love with her and I'm expected to take this story seriously. Of course, this may be a product of its time, but still. Another reason I couldn't connect to this book. I wasn't feeling this "loneliness". You can infer that the narrator falling for Nastenka could indirectly illustrate how quickly he is to fall for someone because he's so lonely, but I'm not willing to take that leap. Also, maybe I read it wrong, but I found it quite disturbing that Nastenka is described as a literal child and the narrator is 26. That gave me the ick. And therefore, further disconnected me from the story.😖

No hate to anyone that I liked this one; it just wasn't for me and that's okay.

Content Warnings

russianliteraturefan's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

lizetteratura's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

1.5

1.5 ⭐

DISCLAIMER!! THIS IS JUST MY OPINION!!

I am struggling to find the words to describe how much I....disliked this story and did not, at any point, feel anything for these characters.

The story follows the main character, the narrator, who is a young man from Saint Petersburg who has suffered from extreme loneliness his whole life. One day, on a stroll through the streets of the city, he encounters and falls in love with a young woman, but the love is unrequited since she misses the man she loves, with whom she is ultimately reunited.
Our narrator is a lonely guy with few acquaintances, except for his housekeeper, Matrona. He is sensitive and philosophical (read pathetic and manipulative), looking for feminine admiration, but struggles with feeling isolated. (In other words, he's weird and has never felt a woman's touch.) He's an idealist who believes Nastenka, the young woman he meets and falls in love with in a day?, is the perfect woman he's been searching for his entire life. Nastenka is, similarly to our narrator, an emotional, whimsical, and idealistic young lady. Throughout the story, she is constantly torn between feelings, unable to let go of her lover, whose return she is waiting for. However, she worries that he will never return to her. From there on, the narrator gaslights Nastenka into "being in love with him," and she thinks she loves him, but she doesn't because she's already in love with another. Therefore, under the guise of her confounded feelings, she professes love to the narrator, which in a way leads him on, then forgets about him the instant she reunites with her sweetheart and marries him. A mess. Anyways....

I disliked the portrayal of both characters; I found them so whiney and obnoxious that I couldn't wait for the story to end. Not in any moment did I feel or gather any sympathy or other similar emotions for them or the predicament from which they are suffering. You can blame that on either me being a hater to the core or on Dostoyevsky's writing, which I also didn't enjoy much. Also, before I get jumped, I know that one of the points of the story is the rejection of idealism and "living in one's head", but I just don't like the way it's done!

The 0.5 star is thanks to the only thing that I enjoyed, which was the truly sorrowful words that portrayed loneliness beautifully. The language is beautiful, and there are some particular quotes that sound better without knowing the context of the whole story, but that is about it.

Content Warnings

riverofhorton's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

2.0

White Nights
I read this after someone posted about it on TikTok, saying he thought he understood love, then he read this.

This was not about love. This was about abuse masquerading as love, with its stalking, paedophilia, coercion, love bombing and gaslighting. Women are consistently infantilised, regardless of their age, treated as objects to be sold, who are nought but over-emotional wrecks.

The female lead did have a couple of funny quips, but they were few and far between.

Bobok
I don't even know where to start with this. More misogyny, and paedophilia here, I'm afraid. As well as an unusual premise. It could see a similar idea being used for something else and it turning out good, but this just didn't do it.

Content Warnings

ostavetemenamira's review against another edition

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3.25

Noone will love you more than a nice guy "best friend" loves his idealised image of you

So beautifully written but so incel and pedo. Mention the age of the characters was a choice. I get that TimEs wErE DifFeReNt but that couldn't stop me from gagging.

I am starting to think women were stereotyped as "naive", "emotional", "child-like", "pure" etc. simply because men were only talking with underage actual-child girls and not fellow-adults women.

Great quotes for Insta about love or whatever (when taken out of context).

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