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A review by aksmith92
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Setup: White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky - and O.N. Shartse as the translator - is a poignant and reflective novella that delves deep into the emotional themes of loneliness, unrequited love, and the longing for human connection. Set in St. Petersburg, the story unfolds over four nights and a morning, following the narrator, an unnamed dreamer who lives a solitary life detached from the bustling city around him.
The dreamer's life turns when he encounters a young woman named Nastenka, who also grapples with her loneliness and heartache. As they share their stories, a deep emotional connection develops between them. The dreamer falls quickly in love with Nastenka, but his feelings are not reciprocated, as she dives into the story about another man who has promised to return to her.
The novella delves into the dreamer's inner world, capturing his intense emotions and the fleeting nature of happiness. Dostoevsky masterfully portrays the pain of unfulfilled desires and the bittersweet reality of dreams that never come to fruition. This classical book resonates with the typical human condition and experience of love and connection, making it an engaging read for many.
What I Liked: This unnamed dreamer and Nastenka were certified YAPPERS and I was HERE for it. They delved on and on and on about the intricacies of loneliness and heartache. The dialogue felt real. This wasn't a classic with incredibly poetic prose 100% of the time (although it sure did include it), but the conversation between the two characters felt raw, helping you better understand their emotions and feelings. I was interested in their stories and what they were willing to share in this incredibly short novella. Overall, the lovely quotes and the yearning from the unnamed dreamer were profound and will stick with me. While this has some misogyny peppered throughout, likely because of the time, I did enjoy Nastenka's character and her complicated feelings with the man she was waiting for and the unnamed dreamer.
What Could've Been Better: This was a bit of a challenging read for me—there were lengthy sentences, and the language was so different from my usual reading. It felt a bit too short to develop that deep connection to the characters and the plot. That wasn't the point, but something was still missing for me. It's funny to fall in love in four days, too, but that's irrelevant, so I digress...
Overall, this book hit the spot and will stick with me for some time. Dostoevsky has a unique and heartfelt way of capturing the human experience.
The dreamer's life turns when he encounters a young woman named Nastenka, who also grapples with her loneliness and heartache. As they share their stories, a deep emotional connection develops between them. The dreamer falls quickly in love with Nastenka, but his feelings are not reciprocated, as she dives into the story about another man who has promised to return to her.
The novella delves into the dreamer's inner world, capturing his intense emotions and the fleeting nature of happiness. Dostoevsky masterfully portrays the pain of unfulfilled desires and the bittersweet reality of dreams that never come to fruition. This classical book resonates with the typical human condition and experience of love and connection, making it an engaging read for many.
What I Liked: This unnamed dreamer and Nastenka were certified YAPPERS and I was HERE for it. They delved on and on and on about the intricacies of loneliness and heartache. The dialogue felt real. This wasn't a classic with incredibly poetic prose 100% of the time (although it sure did include it), but the conversation between the two characters felt raw, helping you better understand their emotions and feelings. I was interested in their stories and what they were willing to share in this incredibly short novella. Overall, the lovely quotes and the yearning from the unnamed dreamer were profound and will stick with me. While this has some misogyny peppered throughout, likely because of the time, I did enjoy Nastenka's character and her complicated feelings with the man she was waiting for and the unnamed dreamer.
What Could've Been Better: This was a bit of a challenging read for me—there were lengthy sentences, and the language was so different from my usual reading. It felt a bit too short to develop that deep connection to the characters and the plot. That wasn't the point, but something was still missing for me. It's funny to fall in love in four days, too, but that's irrelevant, so I digress...
Overall, this book hit the spot and will stick with me for some time. Dostoevsky has a unique and heartfelt way of capturing the human experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness