Another work that brought back to me the joys of reading.

Dostoevsky is indeed a highly talented author. His ideas and themes are not only unique but also extremely interesting. He frequently employs the use of first-person, unreliable narrator stories. These stories often deal with internal conflicts, existential crises, similar to midlife crisis situations, rants, streams of consciousness, and just random thoughts. It's almost as if we are reading directly from someone's diary or delving into their mind, rather than being an omnipotent observer. So, in a sense, most of his short stories are not so much about the plot itself (unlike works like "The Great Gatsby" or Shakespeare's plays) but rather about the characters. The story serves as a means to push the boundaries and explore the ideas of the characters.

Dostoevsky also has a clear affinity for the outcasts and marginalized members of society. Many of his characters are "weak," bullied, abused, or simply shunned and excluded from society. Here are just a few concise thoughts about the stories for future reference.

"White Nights" - It's an excellent introduction to Dostoevsky. Super short, yet emotional, heartbreaking, and vivid.

"Honest Thief" - An interesting idea that delves into compassion, guilt, humanity, and pity.

"Christmas Tree and a Wedding" - Probably one of my favorites. It gets to the point quickly, is somewhat predictable (but in a good way), and is shocking. It shows the oppression and power struggles within the social hierarchy.

"Peasant Mary" - A cute and wholesome story that demonstrates how humanity transcends class.

"Notes from the Underground" - Likely my favorite of the bunch. It's still very relevant in the modern day and showcases the issues related to pride, honor, overthinking, and the desire to fit into society. It's a really good read.

"A Gentle Creature" - I didn't entirely understand this one, but nevertheless, it still provides a powerful perspective on love, and the differences between physical, emotional, and spiritual care and love.

"Dream of a Ridiculous Man" - I'm not sure if this reflects Dostoevsky's actual views or if he is simply trying to humanize the character, but it contains interesting ideas. It challenges the whole "ignorance is bliss" concept and questions whether knowledge is truly beneficial to society. I'm not sure if this actually holds up or makes sense in practice.

Stunning.

I truly enjoyed all of the stories, despite the fact that they were not the happiest ones.

"Notes from the Underground" served as a powerful indictment of how the author perceived mankind. It was mostly negative, with its portrayal of cynicism, guilt, and angst, which made it a true masterpiece.

"A Gentle Creature" was both sad and frustrating to read, as it showed how someone could be so short-sighted.

Most of the stories were linked with the theme of power, with some characters having it and others not.

All in all, I came away from reading these stories with a strong desire to reread them in the future.

They left a lasting impression on me, making me思考 about the human condition and the various emotions and experiences that we go through.

The writing was engaging and thought-provoking, and I look forward to exploring more of the author's works in the future.

I really relished some of these stories to a great extent. However, there were others that I simply thought were just okay.

Dostoevsky has a rather meandering and discursive style of narrating stories, which is also a characteristic trait of his longer novels.

When the story was engaging and enjoyable, I was able to tolerate and even appreciate this style. But when I wasn't quite as captivated by a particular story, this style began to irritate me a little.

For me, the two best stories were "Notes from the Underground," which is by far the longest in this collection, and "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man."

Both of these stories have a protagonist who is extremely self-conscious and yet tells their story in a self-deprecating manner, almost ridiculing themselves for their actions within the story.

One can easily tell that these stories are those of individuals who don't feel at ease in their own skins and don't conform to cultural or social norms.

It's fascinating to explore the inner turmoil and unique perspectives of these characters through Dostoevsky's writing.

Only two of the stories really spoke to me.

They had a certain charm and authenticity that made them stand out.

The rest, however, were just long winded crazy internal rants of anarchist young men who thought themselves far too important.

It seemed as if they were trying to make a statement, but in reality, their words were just a jumble of confusion and self-importance.

They rambled on and on about their ideals and beliefs, but failed to connect with the reader on any meaningful level.

It was almost as if they were more interested in hearing themselves talk than in actually communicating their ideas.

Perhaps if they had taken the time to organize their thoughts and present them in a more coherent manner, their stories might have had more impact.

As it was, they just came across as a bunch of angry young men with nothing better to do than spout off their opinions.

Incredible set of stories! I'm not very good at giving ratings, but I'll arrange the stories in order of preference.

First is "A Gentle Creature". It's a captivating tale that draws you in with its细腻的情感描写.

"Notes From The Underground" is next. This story offers a unique perspective on human nature and the inner workings of the mind.

"White Nights" follows, painting a beautiful and bittersweet picture of love and longing.

"The Christmas Tree and a Wedding" is a charming story that combines elements of romance and celebration.

"The Honest Thief" presents an interesting moral dilemma and explores the concept of redemption.

"The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" is a thought-provoking piece that delves into themes of meaning and purpose in life.

Finally, "The Peasant Marey" rounds out the list with its simple yet powerful story of kindness and compassion. Each of these stories has its own unique charm and offers something different to the reader.

While some of the stories seemed to drag on a bit, there were others that were truly incredible. Among them, my absolute favorites were “Notes From the Underground” and “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man.” These two tales had a certain charm and depth that really captured my imagination. The complex characters and thought-provoking themes made them stand out from the rest.

I also really enjoyed “A Gentle Creature.” This story had a different kind of appeal. It was filled with tenderness and a sense of tragedy that tugged at my heartstrings. The way the author portrayed the relationship between the characters was both beautiful and heart-wrenching. It made me think about the nature of love and sacrifice.

Overall, I found the collection of stories to be a mixed bag. Some were slow-paced and didn't quite hold my interest, but others were truly outstanding. I would highly recommend these three particular stories to anyone looking for a good read.

I haven't read all the short stories just yet. In fact, I've decided to place it back on the shelf for the time being. The reason being, I simply can't consume a large amount of Dostoevsky all at once. He is like dark chocolate, intense and rich, requiring careful savoring.

My favorite among them, however, was White Nights. After going through a couple of rather boring and mundane stories, it suddenly hit me right in the gut out of nowhere. It was so powerful that I decided to admit myself into literary rehab after being diagnosed with fictional heartbreak and whiplash.

I was truly, too stunned to speak. I have this strange feeling as if I'm in an emotionally abusive relationship with a dead Russian author. No matter what, I always seem to come back to his literary shenanigans.

Anyways, that's all for now.

Goodnight.

Here are my reviews:

I absolutely adored this book. It consists of 7 short works, among which White Nights and the Dream of a Ridiculous Man are two of the finest stories I have ever read. The opening lines are truly remarkable. Notes from Underground commences with "I am a sick man, a spiteful man. I believe something is wrong with my liver." Underground is the lengthiest piece in the book, and the first half presents a manic jumble, yet the second half offers a rather engaging narrative. Just like many of his other books, these stories feature shy and flawed characters who strive to expose those who would exploit and intimidate others. There aren't an abundance of happy endings, but rather fleeting moments of happiness. This book serves as an excellent introduction if you haven't delved into any Dostoyevsky or Russian Literature. It definitely deserves a 5-star rating.

It is a captivating collection that showcases Dostoyevsky's unique writing style and profound insights into the human condition. The stories are filled with complex characters and thought-provoking themes that will leave readers pondering long after they have finished the book. Whether you are a fan of Russian Literature or simply looking for a good read, this book is highly recommended.

I’ve been captivated by Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s writing ever since my college days when I took a Russian literature course. It has been a great pleasure to have the opportunity to read or reread some of his works here.

Here, I would like to share my favorite passage from each of the seven stories and my personal rating.

White Nights—3.5/5 stars. The passage “Well, yes. And do, for goodness’ sake, be fair. Just think—who am I? At twenty-six—yes, I’m twenty-six—I’ve never really known anyone. So how can you expect me to speak well, cleverly, and to the point?” reveals the protagonist’s self-doubt and lack of confidence.

An Honest Thief—4/5 stars. The thought “After all,” thought I, “what harm can a homeless old tramp do you?” shows the narrator’s initial perception of the thief.

A Christmas Tree and a Wedding—4/5 stars. The description “His whiskers were indeed extremely handsome. But he stroked them with such enthusiasm that one could not help feeling that his whiskers were brought into the world first, and the gentleman himself was only afterwards attached to them in order to stroke them” is both humorous and vivid.

The Peasant Marey—2.5/5 stars. The passage “Whenever I happened to come across him now and then, I never spoke to him either about the wolf or anything else, and now twenty years later in Siberia I suddenly remembered this meeting so distinctly that not a single detail of it was lost, which means of course that it just have been hidden in my mind without my knowing it, of itself and without any effort on my part, and came back to me suddenly when it was wanted” highlights the power of memory.

Notes from the Underground—5/5 stars. The opening lines “I am a sick man…I am a spiteful man. No, I am not a pleasant man at all” set the tone for the entire story and introduce the complex and tortured protagonist.

A Gentle Creature—3/5 stars. The description “He kept shouting at me, ‘A handful of blood poured out of her mouth! A handful of blood! A handful!’ and pointing to the blood on a stone. I believe I touched the blood with my finger, smeared my finger, and looked at my finger (I remember that), while he kept shouting at me, ‘A handful! A handful!’” creates a vivid and disturbing image.

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man—5/5 stars. The statement “I will not and cannot believe that evil is the normal condition among men” expresses the protagonist’s hope and belief in the goodness of humanity.

Overall, Dostoyevsky’s works are a treasure trove of complex characters, profound themes, and beautiful language. Each story offers a unique perspective on the human condition and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

I'm not entirely certain that I truly like Dostoevsky all that much, as it has turned out. Even "White Nights" doesn't quite manage to win me over completely. In this work, there are few characters who are truly appealing. Mostly, they come across as whiny, self-pitying, and misanthropic to one degree or another. While Dostoevsky observes them well enough, in the end, I find myself just not that interested. It's not that the writing is bad; in fact, it's quite remarkable in its ability to delve into the human psyche. However, the overall tone and the nature of the characters make it a bit of a slog for me to get through. Maybe I just need to give Dostoevsky more time and try some of his other works to see if I can find something that truly speaks to me.

This collection of short stories offers a profound opportunity for deep introspection.

Not all of Dostoyevsky's protagonists are virtuous; in fact, some are entirely malevolent. These corrupt anti-heroes attempt to rationalize their unseemly deeds.

Some protagonists evoke pity, while others are warped; yet all of them are isolated. It is truly brilliant.

The prose is simple yet exquisite, capable of presenting diverse lessons in a straightforward and captivating manner.

This is a fantastic collection that leaves a lasting impression.

4.5/5

Dostoevsky's works offer a beautiful and profound inspection into the world of living, delving deep into the complex range of thoughts and emotions that one bears. Each story has its own unique charm and significance.

"White Nights" earns a rating of 4/5 (rr), captivating readers with its engaging narrative. "The Honest Thief" receives a 3/5, presenting an interesting exploration. "Christmas Tree and a Wedding" gets a 3.5/5, being insidious and calculative while also shedding light on the morals of our society and men from an outsider's point of view. "The Peasant Marey" acts as a prequel to the next story, adding an extra layer of depth. "A Gentle Creature" scores a 4/5, highlighting the multitudes within women and the hard lessons a man learns. "Dream of a Ridiculous Man" is rated 3.5/5, with its 3 am thoughts extended over days.

The quoted passage beautifully expresses the intense love for the earth and the idea that on our earth, we can truly love only with suffering and through suffering. It shows the deep connection one has with the world they have left behind, even in the face of extreme circumstances.