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shibbie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying and Classism
Minor: Rape and Alcohol
eve_kadou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Alcohol
hjb_128's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying and Confinement
saomah5566's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
filipa_maia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was my first time reading Dostoevsky and, for me, his writing is a middle ground between confusing and brilliant.
This is a very heavy and dense book but that completely transmits to the reader the utter caos that is going on in the main character's head. His feelings of not want to belong to the society but, at the same time, being alone. He wants to be left alone but wants to be noticed. He wants to be independent from others but wants to be loved.
Confusing!
Brilliant!
This is a very heavy and dense book but that completely transmits to the reader the utter caos that is going on in the main character's head. His feelings of not want to belong to the society but, at the same time, being alone. He wants to be left alone but wants to be noticed. He wants to be independent from others but wants to be loved.
Confusing!
Brilliant!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
nathiddles_106's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Mental illness
Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
abbyschafer's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Dostoevsky really captures the self-righteous, manic ramblings of someone who has locked himself in a basement for 40 years (derogatory)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Rape
astridmalmhester's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Trafficking
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
ninjawolf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I don’t even know what to give this one, I had a love-hate relationship while reading it.
I wanted to love it because I love Dostoevskij, I liked the beginning, I hated reading some parts though, I could kind of see myself in some things (unfortunately) and not at all in most (fortunately).
I like how Dostojewski is able to portrait people, especially the dark in people, and show us how an idea, a mindset brings you to some truly despicable actions. Also it’s astonishing how relatable his works are, even if only in theory.
I think I simply wasn’t in the right mood for this, first: it’s inevitable to encounter sexism in classics (some more some less), you just have to set it apart but I had troubles doing that this time, which dampened my reading of the second part, second: I’m getting in such an optimistic mindset in my personal life that I have the feeling it’s sometimes difficult to « get » or maybe care? what the main character is all about.
To be fair: I still enjoyed it, just not as much as other stuff he wrote. (Even though I loved the monologue in the beginning and think it’s brilliantly done)
I think if you want to give it a try, try to read it in as less sittings as possible to really enter the vibe, also knowing something he wrote before this (for example crime and punishment, I see correlations here) and/or some theories that were around at the time (because he reacts to them!) will enhance your reading.
If you want a lot of plot: this is a monologue, very philosophical and psychological and there’s also narrative in the second part of the book but it’s more of a character study, so there ain’t much of plot here.
I wanted to love it because I love Dostoevskij, I liked the beginning, I hated reading some parts though, I could kind of see myself in some things (unfortunately) and not at all in most (fortunately).
I like how Dostojewski is able to portrait people, especially the dark in people, and show us how an idea, a mindset brings you to some truly despicable actions. Also it’s astonishing how relatable his works are, even if only in theory.
I think I simply wasn’t in the right mood for this, first: it’s inevitable to encounter sexism in classics (some more some less), you just have to set it apart but I had troubles doing that this time, which dampened my reading of the second part, second: I’m getting in such an optimistic mindset in my personal life that I have the feeling it’s sometimes difficult to « get » or maybe care? what the main character is all about.
To be fair: I still enjoyed it, just not as much as other stuff he wrote. (Even though I loved the monologue in the beginning and think it’s brilliantly done)
I think if you want to give it a try, try to read it in as less sittings as possible to really enter the vibe, also knowing something he wrote before this (for example crime and punishment, I see correlations here) and/or some theories that were around at the time (because he reacts to them!) will enhance your reading.
If you want a lot of plot: this is a monologue, very philosophical and psychological and there’s also narrative in the second part of the book but it’s more of a character study, so there ain’t much of plot here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Classism
codifyy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-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
I found it difficult to understand without extra reading. After analysing it for my essay, I began to understand it more and therefore appreciate it more. I think I would benefit from reading it again after acquiring more knowledge on related areas of thought. The last few pages were where I really gained clarity on the message. It was intricately written and it was interesting to see how the character had developed into a self-loathing man by reading about his experiences. The underlying themes like poverty and politics were prevelant but not so much that the novella felt like non-fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Confinement and Stalking