A review by hassanazmi
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

5.0

How does Dostoevsky create such different protagonists and yet you relate to them so deeply all the same? The prince is one of my favorite characters in any book and so is Nastasya. Their dynamic is so goddamn tragic and it's caused simply because they are too kind to NOT help each other. They are both so willing to sacrifice themselves for the other and that is what leads to both of their fates. I've never seen that before in a novel but what a great story.

The big question of this book is what would happen if Christ returned to modern society? It's worth asking even today though the answer would probably be the same as it was in the 1800's. But great concept to think about.

Also, the part where the prince goes on a rant about being sentenced to death being more cruel than being tortured is very interesting if you know Dostoevsky's history.

All in all, I liked Crime and Punishment and Brothers Karamazov more than this but this is still better than anything anybody else could write.