Scan barcode
clairescotia's review against another edition
4.0
Insane book to read as a domestic violence advocate lol
tuskact4's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lolz_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lakmus's review against another edition
3.0
Read in Russian.
Everyone needs therapy, a job, and to stop spreading so much gossip (cured by having some actual shit to do). It's basically Mean Girls, but with extensive socio-politico-philosophical commentary.
I'd actually love to read some good analysis of this, because there was so much going on, I am massively confused and keen for some interesting interpretations.
Everyone needs therapy, a job, and to stop spreading so much gossip (cured by having some actual shit to do). It's basically Mean Girls, but with extensive socio-politico-philosophical commentary.
I'd actually love to read some good analysis of this, because there was so much going on, I am massively confused and keen for some interesting interpretations.
emanuele312's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sam_mehdi's review against another edition
2.0
Alright, I'm a huge Dostoevsky fan. I have a sticker of the guy on the back of my phone. Crime and Punishment is my second favorite book. But The Idiot is just boring. I love Dostoevsky for his psychologically hard-pressed characters. His characters have more emotional depth than most real humans. But The Idiot is just a disappointment. Who's Nastasya going to marry? Who's it going to be!?!? It all feels so artificial and absurd. Maybe that's why I disliked the book; I came into it expecting Dostoevsky-esque realism, but I got proto-postmodern-existentialism, with all these characters making totally inane decisions. SKIP!
grantj00's review against another edition
5.0
This was my final book in the quartet of Dostoyevsky’s most acclaimed novels. Those being The Idiot, Crime & Punishment, Brothers Karamazov, and The Gambler. I would rate them as such:
1. Crime & Punishment
2. Brothers Karamazov
3. The Idiot
4. The Gambler
The Idiot places the noble, pure, but naive Prince into various impure social situations, and explores how he navigates them. The best parts of Dostoyevsky’s novels though, are when characters will have an aside and/or rant about various philosophical issues. It gives Dostoyevsky a framework within which he is immensely creative and effective. My favorite such discussion in The Idiot was centered on death row prisoners, which was especially hard-hitting given that Dostoyevsky himself was one!
I will definitely be returning to these 4 novels in the near future, but first must explore the remainder of his works :)
1. Crime & Punishment
2. Brothers Karamazov
3. The Idiot
4. The Gambler
The Idiot places the noble, pure, but naive Prince into various impure social situations, and explores how he navigates them. The best parts of Dostoyevsky’s novels though, are when characters will have an aside and/or rant about various philosophical issues. It gives Dostoyevsky a framework within which he is immensely creative and effective. My favorite such discussion in The Idiot was centered on death row prisoners, which was especially hard-hitting given that Dostoyevsky himself was one!
I will definitely be returning to these 4 novels in the near future, but first must explore the remainder of his works :)
cdariiaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
4.25