not dostoyevsky's best but still better than 95% of the other stuff out there to read.

Unfortunately, I had read three of the stories in this five-story collection already. Fortunately, the two I hadn't read were the best of the lot. "Eternal Husband" is really long enough to be considered a short novel, but I imagine it's the length of modern novels that lead to it being packaged with other stories to thicken the book spine.

"Eternal Husband" infuriated me at times. I admit it - I picked the book up because I liked the title. I wanted more husband-ing, but there are very few actual moments of being a husband, as the book opens with a single man meeting a widower. Plot twist -- though it takes him a while to realize it, our single man narrator was once the lover of the dead wife. The widower is the titular "eternal husband" and this is one of those Russian novels that makes sense when you get to the end. "Ok, that's why we read all that!" Y'know?

"The Meek One" is, in contrast, about a husband. The husband of a recent suicide gives a long monologue while standing wake over his dead wife. He describes how they met and how he courted her and how he fell in love with her -- skipping entirely over the wedding as no female author would -- their relationship is strange, he is strange, he's half mad, and the monolog is fragmented by his grief and self-contradictions in a way that feels honest.

Love love love. Hadn’t read Dostoevsky in a minute, so it was lovely to pick him up again. Same as always: uncomfortable scenes, nonsensical motivations, and spiteful narrators.

Just picked it up for The Eternal Husband and Bobok, already read the others

A book illuminating aspects fo Dostoevsky's thought and philosophy - a Dostoevsky abridged or lite. Some moments of real anguish and touching psychology, although I'm not sure how well Dostoevsky lends himself to short stories; even at 150 pages for a story.

interesting, definitely worth reading if you like Dostoyevsky

He had better.

My blog post about this book is at this link.

Dostoevsky's short stories are quite an adventure, especially after his novel. "A Nasty Anecdote" felt like a rehash of the most cringey parts of Notes from Underground. "The Eternal Husband" was heavy, but fantastic. The twist regarding the letter was one that I had wondered about, but it still felt like a shock, which just points to Dostoevsky's talent. "Bobok" was genuinely funny, and it rather reminded me of Act III of Our Town, only everything meaningful went wrong somehow, and it was kind of a great way to end my Dostoevsky adventures (I read it last). "The Meek One" was depressing, but an indication, perhaps, of an underground man who has seen a chance at redemption. Lastly, "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" provides a fascinating insight into Dostoevsky's conception of morality and corruption, as well as lending some insight to Ivan Karamazov, Alyosha, and Myshkin.

“The most monstrous monster is the monster with noble feelings”

Dostoevsky,my man,I love you!, I just do,I can’t help it!!!
I loved all the other books I have read this month,but then I read Dostoevsky's work and it’s a different feeling altogether.

The rich landowner Velchaninov is worrying over a legal case concerning an estate. He's a hypochondriac,nervous type who is haunted by memories from his past.
The past is a collection of shameful misdeeds he is unable to recall with clarity .So he tells himself not to worry,but fails to do so.To make matters worse he sees a strange man with a crepe hat several times.He thinks the man is following him to spite him for some incomprehensible reason.He then dismisses the idea believing himself to be delirious.But then the man shows up at his doorstep,he is real and Velchaninov recognises the man to be “the husband(Pavlovich) of his ex-lover(Natalya)” and lo and behold the drama unfolds!.

The relationship dynamics between these two men is strange ,extraordinary and absurd ,only Dostoevsky can showcase psychologically complicated relationships in such a masterful way!!
Both men are equally twisted but in different ways. Velchaninov is a charmer,a ladies man with no purpose in life. Pavlovich,on the other hand cannot survive without a wife (his purpose) and hence he is ” the eternal husband”.The theme of the eternal husband is brilliantly explored.I never knew it could be so interesting!!.

The psychological duel between these two men is one of the best I have read in terms of mind games between characters.I don’t have to elaborate here,it’s Dostoevsky for God’s sake!!.The writing is top-notch, level with his greatest works, just pure genius.The plot structure and pacing are impeccable!.It’s gripping and unputdownable!!.There are some great plot twists here(never saw them coming!),never a dull moment.Such a powerful little novella!!. Some of the scenes here will be my all time favourites. Love the reference to “Notes from the underground”.
This totally belongs with his greatest,I truly believe that!.
The feeling of reading a Dostoevsky's work for the first time is just beyond words,the man blows me away every time!!.I only have 2 more left,Netochka Nezvanova and Adolescent.After that I shall spend the rest of my life re-reading this genius’s work!!

Just read the story "A Nasty Anecdote" at the moment. Was an interesting diversion, if not much to it.

Excellent short stories. But- Dostoevsky is one of my favorite authors of all time.