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The concept of a star rating seems rather absurd in this context. I can't claim to have adored it, yet I'm undeniably glad that I read it. For the past six months, I've been immersed in these 700 pages, and looking back, all I can say is that these are remarkable portrayals of deeply tragic and unlikable individuals. Dostoevsky is a sensitive soul, and in many respects, these stories were more accessible than I had anticipated when he embarks on one of his emotional tirades. Of course, it gets difficult when the patronymics and the journeys between houses in the snow blend together. I had hoped that this would enhance my vocabulary, but instead, I started having dreams of shouting accusations like, "You scoundrel! You blackguard!" Clearly, there's a British influence at play; I wish I could read Russian. But for me, this is enough. Let's talk about the standout stories. It's all too easy to be entranced by the simplicity of the Underground Man's worldview. He's the quintessential Redditor, and the malevolence at his core corrupts the beauty of his intellect and his longing for human connection. In this story and the others, Dostoevsky reveals what I've come to understand as the ultimately isolating nature of certain interpretations of "master morality" - one discovers no equals, only gods to be worshipped or children to be coerced. This can be seen in the viewpoint characters' treatment of the women in their lives. After reading White Nights, I was amused to come across reviews lauding it as a beautiful love story, as the instant and superficial attachments struck me as nothing short of pathological. "You two don't even know each other!" I kept muttering to myself. That's what's so chilling - these narrators are so profoundly misguided in their approaches to people yet are convinced of their own righteousness. I had to abandon A Gentle Creature in the middle because of the appalling way the woman was being treated. I'm aware that I've written this review as if I'm the one who's correct, and that's definitely not the case. It's complex. Sometimes, it's beneficial to spend time in minds like these. This collection accompanied me on subway rides between the gym and my summer job in New York. I took pictures of the pages, attempted to mimic his style. I resisted it, and that was good. It's beautiful and challenging. But for now, I've grown weary of the routine and am moving on to other books.
