This was an excellent novel by Dostoevsky. There was plot twists, extensive character studies, pervasive themes, literary merit, and rapid intrigue all combined into one. You vied for the characters and they became real in their actions, thoughts, and feelings. The plot is one that you can completely absolve yourself into and it becomes persuasive in its impetus that rides alongside you through your reading of it. I was thoroughly interested in this one and I feel it's among Dostoevsky's best novels.

4.5 stars and no less- fully earned! ( )

A bit soap-opera-ish, with a touch of Dickens. Worth a read none-the-less.

The narrator, Vanya, is a novelist in the mold of the author. One of his critics says that his books border on mawkish, and are stained by Vanya's sweat and tears, who works with such febrile intensity to complete them (always under the pressure of a deadline). This weakness is apparent in Dostoevsky's characterizations as well, as nearly everyone in this novel is in a near constant state of delirious emotional upheaval, convulsing (often literally) after every confrontation, as the narrator rushes from one scene to the next with no respite even in dreams. It is easy, not to mention disconcerting, to imagine Dostoevsky on the verge of a nervous attack, in hot-pursuit with his pen as he feels all the emotions as he describes them. It is impossible to sustain a climax for hundreds of pages, so this intensity undermines the arc of the story as the reader habituates to the style, and any revelations only have the force of added melodrama when they emerge.

Each character is again an exaggerated "type," although they are more involving and believable than in Dostoevsky's prior work, and seem based in part on his experience of individuals he knew in reality.

There are hints of Dostoevsky's full powers at work here, though obscured by over-use of certain techniques and under-maturation of his literary/philosophical themes. ( )

Κλασσικό ( )

This book was published in 1861, following Dostoevsky’s imprisonment in Siberia, but before his major novels (starting with Crime and Punishment in 1866). It’s interesting to see the mature Dostoevsky taking shape here, and the influence of Dickens in the character of the little orphan girl Nellie and the seamy underbelly of St. Petersburg. The novel has several fantastic characters, and moments of absolute brilliance, in particular those involving the evil Prince Valkovsky. There is also giving up love in self-sacrifice, touching parental devotion, and even occasional humor in drunken ramblings.

I liked how there were instances of the aristocracy who are evil, immoral or weak, but also others who are good and altruistic – and the same being true of the poor characters. There is a mix of people in each class. However, the main message of his story is that there are times when being insulted demands forgiveness, and it’s foolish to remain stubborn and estranged, and there are also times when being insulted demands sticking to one’s principles, and not compromising them even if one is bribed to do so.

I have to say Dostoevksy gets a little melodramatic at times in this story (there is a lot of sobbing, folks), the parallel and converging story of the insulted/injured is a little contrived, and the action bogs down at times in one character rushing off from one to another. However, some of these shortcomings I chalk up to 19th century literature, and to his credit, Dostoevsky does not sugar-coat the fact that evil sometimes ‘gets away with it’, and wins. He knew first-hand that it’s a tough world, and this is certainly worth reading if you’re a fan of his. ( )

Not as intellectually challenging as Dostoyevsky's other novels, but one which still carries his strong characterization. Sociopathy and romance and a love quandrangle. ( )