The writer who has experienced a great deal of adventures has a greater creative ability, because the creative process, essentially, stems from personal experiences. Dostoyevsky proves this rule.

Dostoyevsky was a passionate gambler, and he had the experience and the talent to write more than 200 pages about roulette.

The novel "The Gambler" like some of Dostoyevsky's novels was written in a hurry under the pressure of poverty and the desire to get some money. It was written in only 25 days, but it came out beautiful and touching, but it is not completely perfect.

The novel is full of emotions as usual. Emotions sometimes become illogical and unjustified, but I tell myself that the novel was written a long time ago, perhaps these emotions reflect the people of that era!

The strange love relationship between the narrator and the waitress Pauline was extremely painful; her envy and exploitation of him and subjecting him to this exploitation was a hateful thing.

It is a good novel, but it is not the most beautiful thing he has written.

The story of the book "The Gambler" is, like many of Dostoyevsky's (and of course Tolstoy's) stories, a story of the gradual downfall of characters. If in the book "A Nasty Story" the cause of this downfall is self-conceit and alcohol, and in "Crime and Punishment" the desire for crime to establish justice causes the downfall of the heroes of the story, here it is "gambling" that has the function of pulling the hero of the story into decline.

The satire of the times is that they say Dostoyevsky wrote this book in a hurry (in 26 days) to pay off the debts he had incurred in gambling. So it is not surprising that first, the author has felt the phenomenon of gambling to the bone, as he presents to the reader an unparalleled and detailed description of the psychological state of the characters during the game of gambling and the pleasure and frenzy that causes them to fall into the abyss of gambling. Second, Dostoyevsky, as a perceptive wolf, knows well what the consequence of falling into the trap of gambling is and that the final profit will eventually go into the pockets of the casinos, not the gamblers.

But gambling can be considered a symbolic phenomenon in the story, a symbol that we can fill with many things in our daily lives, the pitfalls that are placed in front of us and are designed to corrupt our efforts and thoughts by offering short-lived pleasures and frenzies.

As always, Dostoyevsky's excellent characterization is one of the strengths of his book (the character of the grandmother, the character that interested me in this book).

Another thing that is very noticeable in this novel is the Russian view of the people of European countries (including the French, the English, and the Poles), a view that perhaps many Russians still have.

As a weakness, it can be said that the book is not as mature as some of Dostoyevsky's works (perhaps because it was written in a hurry), and I could not understand Alexei Ivanovich's escape with Madame Blanche to Paris (and that Madame Blanche whom Alexei Ivanovich was crazy about throughout the story).

About the translation

Soroush Habibi's translation from Russian, as always, was excellent, fluent and with appropriate power.

Another good translation from Russian is Mr. Atashbari's translation, which also includes several critiques. I do not recommend the other translations.

The cold gambling that he lost, what was it?

It seems there is nothing but the passion for gambling left.

Every storybook and novel has it.

The gambler must be repeated and read like gambling, again and again.

The gambler may be the life of all of us.

When we sometimes become stupid and eager (like the grandmother).

When we fall in love (like Alexei Ivanovich and Polina Alexandrovna Praskovya), and perhaps even the general can be placed in this category.

Loving those who are more foolish.

Or like Dougov, sometimes we post.

And sometimes, like the Englishman, we have a good role for ourselves and help the situation.

The important thing is what choices we make!

Before I read about the gambler, I had a different perception. And when I went to him or, better to say, received his gift, it was like I entered a window where I am a spirit in the fictional city of Roulettenburg and see all the behaviors of the characters in the story.

Dostoyevsky painted this story in 26 days, 26 days when he was involved in this reality, and when you tell it from the bottom of your heart, it doesn't hurt your heart.

Oh my grandma!!!! This is my first encounter with Dostoyevsky and I'm extremely excited. I'm already thinking about which of his books I will read next!

Dostoyevsky's works are renowned for their profound exploration of human nature and the complexity of the human psyche. His novels are filled with vivid characters and intense emotional dramas that draw the reader in and keep them engaged from beginning to end.

With this first reading experience, I have been completely captivated by his writing style and the depth of his ideas. I can't wait to dive into another one of his books and continue this journey of discovery.

I'm sure that each new book will offer a unique perspective and a new set of insights into the human condition. Whether it's the psychological turmoil of the characters or the social and political issues of the time, Dostoyevsky's works have the power to make us think and reflect.

So, here I am, eagerly anticipating the next book by Dostoyevsky, ready to be immersed in his world once again.

A story that depicts the love, greed, pride, and vanity of people with different personalities...

Be sure to read the full story with the excellent translation by Servush Habibi❤

The end...

27th of Mordad 1400

11:40 am

This story seems to offer a complex and multi-faceted view of human nature. It likely delves into the various emotions and traits that drive people's actions and interactions. The mention of different personalities suggests that the story explores how these diverse characters navigate through the web of love, greed, pride, and vanity. By reading the full translation, one can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the story's themes and the author's perspective. The specific date and time at the end might add a sense of context or perhaps mark the completion of a particular stage in the story's development. Overall, it seems like a story that has the potential to engage and captivate readers with its exploration of the human condition.

If the Russians have had three good things in their history, the first is the city of Leningrad and the second is Andrei Tarkovsky. But undoubtedly, Fyodor Dostoyevsky cannot be placed in the third place because of writing the novel "The Gambler".

Although "The Gambler" is considered an attractive and exciting literary work in terms of writing, it is ultimately a moral message. And it betrays Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary in a blatant way. Everything in this work is simple, predictable, and lacks surprises. The characterization is so complete that it leaves no room for any discoveries for the reader. In the end, it neither raises a question nor provides an answer. Although "The Gambler" is a story about love, it is by no means a love story and is not even close to the description of love that Gustave Flaubert presents in Madame Bovary. Gustave Flaubert shines a light on life in Madame Bovary, but Bovary gambles and it leads her to the brink of death. Meanwhile, Dostoyevsky's gambler has a cowardly personality and is not worthy of attaining love. Perhaps it can be said that the name "The Gambler" is more suitable for Flaubert's Madame Bovary than Dostoyevsky's "The Gambler".

Flaubert in Madame Bovary has been able to present betrayal as a sacred concept. With this underlying argument that whatever is done out of love, good and evil are put aside. But Dostoyevsky cannot free gambling from the shackles of clichéd generalizations. And this issue is more related to the lowly position of love in his view. I don't even believe that any Russian man has been able to experience love. Throughout the novel "The Gambler", there is not even a hint of a passionate kiss. The gambler loves a girl without being present to sin in order to reach his beloved. Sin, of course, is the most beautiful prelude to love. For this reason, "The Gambler" cannot be considered a beautiful work.

In general, I find "The Gambler" a disappointing attempt. Of course, I haven't read "Crime and Punishment" yet. But it takes a miracle for a man with such a low and closed view of love and existence to be able to create another glorious work in the future. Perhaps the greatest effort of mankind should be in this direction to free oneself from the shackles of good and evil and virtuous values.

Honestly, I find myself in a bit of a quandary when it comes to The Gambler. On one hand, I truly appreciate Dostoevsky's unique writing style, which is as engaging as ever. His profound thoughts on gambling are especially captivating, especially when an interesting character emerges in the middle of the story, allowing us to witness firsthand how gambling can have a profound impact on people's lives. The atmosphere he creates is at times ominous, almost foreshadowing that something dreadful is about to occur.

On the other hand, I have to admit that I didn't really connect with the characters. It's not that I disliked them; rather, I simply didn't care about them at all. In fact, by the end of the story, I could hardly remember any of their names, which indicates that something didn't quite click for me. This is especially concerning when it comes to a short novel, as one would expect to have a better memory of the details.

The story, presented in the form of a diary, was relatively easy to read and had a certain straightforward charm. I read the Ronald Meyer translation, which I thought was quite good. It was at least readable and understandable, unlike a previous translation I had read that left me with a disappointing experience. However, I believe my main issue with this book was the story itself. As I delved deeper into it, I found myself getting increasingly bored. By the end of the novel, I had lost all interest and could barely force myself to keep reading. It took me almost three afternoons to slog through the last three chapters, whereas I had breezed through the first five chapters in a single sitting.

The ending was a real letdown for me. It felt abrupt and predictable, as if the author was in a hurry to wrap things up and didn't take the time to come up with a more satisfying conclusion. That being said, the overall message of the story regarding the consequences of gambling addiction was spot on and very informative. It felt personal and realistic, as if Dostoevsky had firsthand experience with this unfortunate situation.

Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy reading The Gambler is a matter of personal preference. There are plenty of other great books by Dostoevsky that you might enjoy even more. Personally, I'm looking forward to exploring some of his most famous works, such as Devils (or Demons, depending on the translation), The Idiot, and especially The Adolescent, as I've heard that it's a coming-of-age story, and I'm a big fan of that genre. Maybe this just wasn't the right time for me to read The Gambler, or perhaps there will never be a perfect moment. Either way, I would still recommend it, as I'm sure there are some readers out there who will thoroughly enjoy it.

The William Tell Overture: An Alphabetical Anecdote.

I used to reside in student accommodation within the city of Edinburgh, often referred to as the “city of literature,” although more people purchased DVDs than books annually. I spent my days cooped up in a box room, penning mediocre essays about Austen and Dickens. In my spare time, I composed appalling 900-page tracts about sexual frustration, using self-deprecating humour to make life seem less dismal. However, this technique didn't have the same effectiveness in my mid-twenties.

During the second term, a new student moved in. This individual had a passion for classical music, typically the exuberant bombast of Beethoven’s Ninth and the like. He would play his music at absurdly high volumes, fearing that some pimply Scot might scoff at the beauty of Beety. I, indeed, scorned.

Later, as our acquaintanceship reached its zenith of begrudging tolerance, he acquired a girlfriend. At night, horrors emanated from his room. When sleeping with his girlfriend, he would sing embarrassing sexual songs to the William Tell Overture. Among the most dreadful, sung by them both in their giggling lunacy, was: “Put it in, put it in, put it in, put it in in in, put it in, put it in, put it in in in, put it in, put it in, put it in in in, put it iiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn . . . put it in in in!” And so it went on.

This truly occurred. The situation became so dire that I would seek replacement accommodation for the next term and also seek counselling. Alas, I can no longer relish the William Tell Overture. I read this book when all of this was transpiring.

The entire book can be summarized in one sentence:

«That cold gambling, no matter what the outcome was,

Let there be nothing but the passion for gambling!»

I liked the overall plot of the story, but I can't recommend it to anyone because here, like in Dostoyevsky's other novels, there are dialogues with bombastic speeches like ours, which may be tiresome for many people.

The book's descriptions of people's mental states are very good (Dostoevsky's specialty!).

In some places, the plot of the story may seem exciting and appeal to your taste, but it doesn't make you want to close the book and ignore it.

In my opinion, the best part of the book is the ending. It is excellent in every respect, although it is completely predictable but doesn't disappoint the reader.

The moral lesson of the book:

Never introduce your grandparents to a casino. (Also with Instagram!)

Postscript:

I read this book in the translation of Soroush Habibi, which is better than the other translations.

On my YouTube channel, you can obtain information about the life, books, and chronological reading order of Dostoyevski:
https://youtu.be/0i9F0L1dcsM

The one who wins in gambling also wins in love. In Russia, it's like this in stories.

This is the second book of Dostoyevski that I read with laughter. The Village of Stepanchikovo came in second in this regard.

I started reading this book knowing that it was different from the previous books of Dostoyevski that I had read and that Dostoyevski wrote this book in only 26 days along with commercial concerns. Because indeed, The Gambler didn't resemble the 9 books I had read before. The characters seemed to have plunged into the plot all at once as if all the decorations and scenes of the play were prepared, and there were very few descriptions of the setting because the only important thing was the passion for gambling.

In my research, I also saw that; as a measure taken by the Russians since the beginning of the 19th century, I learned that I. Aleksandr took steps to improve relations with England and France in order to break the ring of enmity surrounding Russia. I think writers don't categorize the characters in their works in such a way for no reason, and I think that books are enriched in this way both with the subtle allusions made through the characters and with the references made to political periods.

I read Dostoyevski's The Gambler book remembering all the logarithmic, integral, derivative, irrational, polynomial, parabolic, and all other complex mathematical operations that passed through Zach Galifianakis' mind when he was gambling in the Blackjack scene of the Hangover movie. The type of gambling in that scene was Blackjack, but here it is roulette.

In a way, The Gambler book, which made me feel as if I were reading an autobiography in some places, actually reminded me of a past where all those complex mathematical calculations could be spent with a "0" number (That's why the probability of red or black coming is never 50%), where the probability of the number coming in the same color again after 10 reds or 10 blacks is not related to the previous ones, and where no matter where you bet, even if you put it only on the "0" number, in the end, a very big "0" comes and the croupier takes all the bets you placed.

The points where I laughed out loud were that after Aleksey Ivanovich, the main character of the book, worked hard in a section in the middle of the book, made crazy calculations on it, and distributed his money in a very logical way, a very big "0" came to him again.

Let's say gambling for you, betting, blackjack, lottery, lucky ball, ten numbers, bets10, or love for us. Yes, love is sometimes a gamble too. The only thing I will recommend to you after this book is that you do not get involved in any type of gambling except the love type of gambling because the house always wins. Maybe the house also wins in love, who knows? There are moments when both sides feel that they have won nothing and think that they have not gained anything after their loves. The gamble of love begins with the revelation of the love of two people, and it is a gamble that can continue until one side consumes the love belonging to the other side. That's why love is like a completely Islamic Bitcoin, halal draw, or unrequited gift next to love. Love is a more valuable concept than love, I think.

Anyway, I think the best thing is for you to read this book of Dostoyevski too. I had mentioned that it was written in 25 days only with commercial concerns, so you will witness how much this author, who has become so great, can use his writing skills even in such a situation.

What makes a person become a gambler? The answer is simple and yet extremely complex. Dostoyevsky chooses to talk about his greatest passion in the simplest words. If we leave aside the extreme characters that surround the protagonist and the various tragicomic events that occur, I hold one thing. The gambler is someone who doesn't just gamble at roulette. Every day, in every choice of your life, you play with the odds. Sometimes out of superficiality, sometimes out of recklessness, and sometimes out of ignorance of the risk. Isn't love a gambling game? How do you know where the ball will land? You bet everything and make your bet. When you base your entire future on the expectation of a will and wait for when the old woman will die, aren't you gambling? I think that above all, Dostoyevsky wanted to tell us this. We all gamble even if we never sit at the roulette table. At least that's what I understood from reading "The Gambler".

He shows us the allure and the danger of gambling, not just in the literal sense but in the broader context of life. We are constantly faced with choices that involve taking risks, and sometimes we let our emotions and desires cloud our judgment.

The characters in the story are vivid and complex, each with their own motives and flaws. Through their experiences, we see the consequences of gambling and the toll it can take on a person's life.

Dostoyevsky's writing is powerful and thought-provoking, making us question our own relationship with risk and chance. "The Gambler" is not just a story about gambling, but a reflection on the human condition.

Rilettura.

Sinceramente, I have appreciated the novel more on this occasion compared to the first time I read it. Was it the wrong moment before? Who knows. It doesn't rank among my absolute favorites by Dostoevskij, but it is certainly a good novel.

It's curious how it was written by stenography in about a month, given D.'s need to pay off accumulated gambling debts. The author (himself a gambler and deeply involved in the subject) makes a sharp analysis of those who become victims of ludopathy: from those who have been victims for years to those who have just approached it.

As always, when writing about something one knows so well, the work benefits from all those nuances that pure research rarely allows. The author leads us, as always, into the labyrinth of the human mind, to that place where pleasure tirelessly battles with ethics, the moral code, and the sense of duty in an endless, but also unequal fight.

Proof of this is that each of the protagonists, despite being aware of the disastrous consequences, always succumbs to their own tempting demons. Is it the desire for a new life? The will to break the rules? The simple thrill of anticipation when a number on the roulette can make the difference between so many possible futures? Maybe it's none of this. Maybe it's all of it.