2024-02-11 | #book #Dostoevsky #read #short story #7 #2022
The tale is satirical in nature, bearing little resemblance to Dostoevsky but rather reminiscent of Saltykov-Shchedrin. There’s a sense of disjointedness and incompleteness in its execution, yet overall, it was enjoyable. Finished: 2022 Rating: 7
2024-02-11 | #book #Dostoevsky #read #short story #8 #2022
The chasm between people of different social classes is vividly depicted. The wedding and revelry are described in detail, with a particular focus on the chapter detailing the groom’s life. Though not the main protagonist, his life serves as a reflection of the societal divide. The struggles and hardships of living as impoverished individuals are portrayed, highlighting the inability to break free from the confines of their circumstances. The surnames deserve special mention: Psel’donimov and Mlekopitaev.
2024-02-08 | #book #Dostoevsky #read #10 #2022
The classic, the first work of Dostoevsky that brought him fame. It’s a story of poverty. The meaning in the story is twofold: poverty and the poor. As always, it’s a difficult and melancholic book. There were bright moments, but they were few. Mostly it’s filled with sadness and some kind of heaviness. The main character is weak, and Varya stands out as very strong against his background. It’s worth reading.
2024-02-06 | #book #Dostoevsky #read #10 #2023
Ode to Gambling. The life and demise of a gambler. Perhaps the best story about gambling. It’s an easy read. I definitely recommend it to understand what it’s about. During the reading, two questions arose. 1. Why did Russians gamble so much in Europe? It feels like gambling was prohibited in Russia. 2. Money is constantly mentioned, but what did these sums mean back then and today? 100,000 talers, florens. I can imagine a sum of 100,000 rubles lost by a grandmother.
2024-02-06 | #9+ #book #Dostoevsky #read #2023
Difficult to read, with a plethora of reflections. Some quite intriguing. Overall, it feels akin to Tolstoy. There are numerous characters and thoughts. It feels as though it were truly penned by an adolescent. The dialogues are intricate. Blackmail, deceit, love, idea, childhood, coming of age, life, and destiny. There are intriguing thoughts and ideas. One of the best chapters is the last one. Everything falls into place, and almost all plot lines are resolved, with hints given about some future events.
