Pure pleasure, and great value. This collection is a must-read, whether you're a die-hard Dostoyevsky fan or not.

Short stories offer a wonderful means to acquaint yourself with his remarkable world, and they are more than sufficient to leave you craving for more. I have truly worn down my copy from front to back.

There are 7 short stories in total, and all of them are splendid.

"White Nights" takes you on a journey of longing and fleeting romance.

"The Honest Thief" explores the complex nature of morality and redemption.

"The Christmas Tree and Wedding" presents a vivid picture of different social classes and their aspirations.

"The Peasant Marey" delves into the power of kindness and human connection.

"Notes from the Underground" is a profound exploration of the human psyche and the nature of existence.

"A Gentle Creature" tells a tragic tale of love and despair.

"The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" is a thought-provoking piece that challenges our beliefs and values.

One of the most fascinating aspects of classical literature lies in the extremes it portrays: devastating poverty and horrendous people, contrasted with saintly acts, the scum juxtaposed against the angel. This is amplified in these short stories, as if they were a piece of photography, capturing the essence of the human condition with astonishing clarity.

Dostoyevsky is a renowned Russian writer, and this collection of his short stories is truly one of the best.

Before delving into his greatest masterpieces such as "Crime and Punishment," "Brothers Karamazov," or "Idiot," it is highly recommended to read these short stories. By doing so, one can gain a profound understanding of Dostoyevsky himself and the characters he created.

The dreams and psychological states of these characters are perfectly in sync with the author's own life. It offers a unique perspective into Dostoyevsky's mind and his creative process.

Among these short stories, some of my personal favorites are as follows. "White Nights" is a beautiful and poignant tale that earns a perfect 5/5 rating. "Notes From Underground" is another remarkable work that also receives a 5/5. "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" is equally captivating, with a score of 5/5.

"A Gentle Creature" and "The Peasant Marey" are both excellent, each rated 4/5. "The Honest Thief" and "The Christmas Tree and a Wedding" are also good reads, with ratings of 3/5 respectively.

This collection provides a diverse range of stories that showcase Dostoyevsky's literary genius and his ability to explore the human condition in a profound and thought-provoking way.

This book took me an extremely long time to read.

It is rather dense material, and at times, I became somewhat bored with it.

To be honest, I could see aspects of myself in most of the main characters, which was a bit scary.

Most of these stories are depressing, but the last one delves into how Sin enters the world and the state of man both with and without it.

I don't think Dostoyevsky is overly cynical; I simply believe he lived in a cynical world.

I would definitely read more of his works.

Also, people constantly claim that Notes from the Underground is some of his finest work.

It certainly has its outstanding moments, and I should reread it at some point, but the man really needs an editor.

The text could be improved with some trimming and better organization to make it more accessible and engaging.

Despite its flaws, Dostoyevsky's writing still has the power to make us think deeply about the human condition.

I have a writer that I really like, but I'm not a Dostoyevsky worshiper, and I don't have a negative prejudice against him either. After stating these things, I can very easily say that most of these stories are taken from his novels. Some are already close to novellas. They are extremely striking stories. They are written without the limitations of the patterns of the era and the restrictions of the novelist role that still persists today. They are poured from the pen of a darker and more pessimistic Dostoyevsky. Definitely read them.

His works have a unique charm that attracts readers. The complex characters and profound themes in his stories make people think deeply. Although his writing style may be a bit heavy at times, it is precisely this heaviness that gives his works a certain depth and power. Whether it is a novel or a short story, each of his works is a masterpiece that is worth savoring.

In conclusion, if you are a literature lover, you must not miss the works of this great writer. You will surely gain a lot from reading his works and have a deeper understanding and appreciation of literature.

“The consciousness of life is higher than life, the knowledge of happiness is higher than happiness” - this is the very thing we must combat! And I will, indeed, I will fight against it!

This collection of short stories is perhaps more than half composed of straightforward philosophy. True, the philosophy is presented through the characters, but in such copious amounts that I often found myself forgetting that the narrator was engaged in some action - not just expounding beliefs.

After reading one story, I pondered: why bother writing a narrative? Why, when one can philosophize so profoundly, create storylines, characters, and settings? Reflecting on this reveals what might have been the greatest contributor to Dostoevsky's creative genius:

He is a genius who simply cannot refrain from expressing his brilliant mind in a creative manner. His thoughts are not mere floating formulas and theorems. They come to life in a world with cobblestone streets, disgruntled housekeepers, and peasant girls with torn boots. The characters in Dostoevsky's stories approach truth solely through specific physical experiences. And with him guiding us, the readers, we too get to approach it.

This took me an incredibly long time to read, but it was truly outstanding!! I also learned a vast amount of vocabulary. The writing style really intrigues me in just the perfect way. You see, I despise reading descriptions of physical settings or phenomena, which I feel is overly abundant in many books. However, Dostoevsky almost exclusively focuses on what is internal to his characters. These internal thoughts are mostly odious, craven, and pathetic - ideas that I would never desire to think or hear from anyone else. But yet, I recognize that they are the seeds of the human psyche, and I can't help but understand them, even as I cringe.

The writing felt extremely dense, and I found myself spending a significant amount of time digesting it, especially in those more thought-heavy and plotless sections. Nevertheless, I found every single aspect of it profoundly interesting.

My absolute favorite was "Dream of a Ridiculous Man"! I'm adding this to my mental library of life-changing short stories. It's truly a remarkable piece of literature that has left a lasting impression on me.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky has truly surprised me. His writing is a lot more erratic and humorous than I ever expected. Before delving into his work fully, I always had the assumption that he was a serious, no-frills man. However, as I've been reading, I've discovered that his prose is really manic for the most part!

I'm particularly intrigued by his depictions of how men interact with and perceive women. The way he describes the visceral back-and-forth of men's emotions is captivating. There's the desperation and hatred, the exalting and devaluing, and the self-centered projection towards women. They crave intimacy with women, but at the same time, they hate themselves so much and feel so estranged from the world that they can't bring themselves to let these women in a healthy way.

It's entirely disconcerting, yet it makes for fascinating analyses. I'm really excited to explore his longer works in the future and see what other insights and surprises he has in store for me. I can't wait to continue this literary journey with Dostoyevsky.

Notes From the Underground was initially quite difficult to understand. I had to seek assistance from online sources to gain a better comprehension. Although it may not be my absolute favorite among Dostoyevsky's works, I still find it to be a captivating story. The second half, in particular, truly showcases Dostoyevsky's profound philosophy. It delves deep into the human psyche and explores the complex nature of our thoughts and emotions.

The other stories, while not as incredibly memorable, still had their own charm. White Nights was an enjoyable read, filled with a sense of romance and longing. It painted a vivid picture of a brief encounter that leaves a lasting impression. A Gentle Creature, on the other hand, was somewhat similar to Notes From the Underground. It explored themes of love, loss, and the power dynamics within a relationship. Overall, while not all of Dostoyevsky's stories were equally impactful, they all offered unique insights into the human condition.

A collection of Dostoevsky's best short stories offers a diverse range of literary experiences. The average rating is 2.86 stars, which rounds up to 3. While several stories didn't quite resonate with the reviewer, there are definitely some standouts.

"White Nights" earns a 3/5. A man, usually shy around women, gathers the courage to talk to a young girl in St. Petersburg. Enthralled by her and the simple act of conversation, he quickly falls in love. The girl, however, has another love who is due to return after a year away. They both express their grief, love, and the simplicity of their lives in poetic terms. In the end, he is friend-zoned. It's a decent story, but lacks excitement.

"The Honest Thief" also gets a 3/5. A homeless drunkard shows up at the doorstep of a poor man, who takes pity on him and brings him in. But the drunkard steals a pair of breeches and leaves in shame. He later returns, apologizes, and dies. It's a sad but well-written tale.

"The Christmas Tree and a Wedding" receives a 2/4. A man with no business commitments is invited to a grand party of businessmen. Another man takes a keen interest in a little girl. Years later, the first man sees the other man marrying the girl, now 16. It seems like a Lolita-like story, but it's not very interesting.

"The Peasant Marey" is rated 2/5. It's a short story about a prisoner passing time in his bunk, dreaming of his past and the memories it holds. This story was written when Dostoyevsky was in jail himself, and the fictional character is based on him. However, the double meaning doesn't make the story more interesting.

"Notes from the Underground" gets a 2/4. The narrator is a man who has abandoned his ideals by writing a diatribe against society and its foundations. What's remarkable about this work is that it argues against the social utopia that the Russian Revolution would attempt to bring about 53 years after its publication.

"A Gentle Creature" earns a 4/5. A pawn shopkeeper falls in love with one of his regular young clients. She has an oppressive, broken family and is about to be married off to a man she despises. The shopkeeper proposes to marry her instead, and she agrees. Their love begins, but soon they have a fight and don't speak for years. She eventually kills herself by jumping out of a window. The story is told from the shopkeeper's point of view in stream-of-consciousness diary entries and is very well-written.
Finally, "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" gets a 4/5. A suicidal insomniac is planning to kill himself. He has his gun ready and is waiting for the right moment. One night, he sits in his armchair and slips into macabre dreams where he can't tell reality from fiction. Through his trials, he eventually finds peace and realizes the beauty of life after thinking he has actually killed himself. His dreams are ridiculous, as is his outlook on life, but Dostoyevsky's writing makes this a truly interesting story about life and death.

Overall, this collection of short stories showcases Dostoevsky's talent as a writer, with some stories being more engaging than others.

This book is not an easy read, but it's not bad either.

The stories within it seem to have hidden depths that require more than a cursory glance to fully understand.

One could either choose to pay more careful attention while reading, perhaps re-reading certain passages and trying to piece together the meaning on their own.

Or, they could opt to read an analysis of the book to gain a better understanding of the author's intentions and the underlying themes.

While it may take some extra effort to get the most out of this book, it could potentially be a rewarding experience for those willing to put in the work.

It challenges the reader to think deeper and engage with the material on a more profound level, which is something that not all books can achieve.

Overall, it's a book that may require some patience and dedication, but it could be well worth it in the end.

"Micul erou și alte proze de tinerețe"

- Domnul Proharcin

- O inimă slabă

- Polzunkov

- Soția altuia și un soț sub pat

- Un pom de Crăciun și o nuntă

- Micul erou

"It is said that he is a wise man. In some circles, those who belong to the type of people who have fattened themselves on the backs of others, who do absolutely nothing, who do not want to do absolutely nothing, and who, because of their permanent idleness and the state of doing nothing, instead of a heart, have a piece of fat, are thus named."

These are the elements and descriptions presented in this text. The story seems to be a collection of various characters and situations. The mention of "Micul erou" (The Little Hero) might suggest a central or important figure, perhaps one who stands out in this rather complex and perhaps somewhat satirical portrayal of different individuals and their behaviors. The other elements, such as "O inimă slabă" (A weak heart), "Polzunkov", and the rather strange combination of "Soția altuia și un soț sub pat" (Someone else's wife and a husband under the bed), add to the mystery and perhaps the quirkiness of the narrative. The reference to "Un pom de Crăciun și o nuntă" (A Christmas tree and a wedding) might bring in elements of celebration and new beginnings, but it's not entirely clear how these fit into the overall picture.

If I were required to rate all the stories in The Best Short Stories, here are the ratings that I would assign:

“White Nights” would receive a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a captivating tale that draws the reader in with its beautiful prose and engaging plot.

“The Honest Thief” also earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The story explores themes of morality and redemption in a thought-provoking way.

“The Christmas Tree and a Wedding” is another excellent story that I would rate 4 out of 5 stars. It offers a unique perspective on love and marriage.

“The Peasant Marey” is a masterpiece that当之无愧 deserves a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. It is a deeply moving and powerful story that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading.

“Notes from the Underground” is also a 5-star story. It is a complex and profound work that delves into the human psyche and the nature of society.

“A Gentle Creature” receives a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a touching and tragic story that showcases the author's skill at creating memorable characters.

Finally, “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” earns a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a strange and wonderful story that challenges the reader's imagination and makes them think about the meaning of life.

I look forward to writing a more in-depth review of this book in the future.