Notes from Underground, The Double and Other Stories (B&N Classics)
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Apropos of the wet snow - so beautiful - sometimes I'm him, sometimes her - but that was before.
The frightened and wounded expression on her face was followed first by a look of sorrowful perplexity. When I began calling myself a scoundrel and a blackguard and my tears flowed (the tirade was accompanied throughout by tears) her whole face worked convulsively. She was on the point of getting up and stopping me; when I finished she took no notice of my shouting: "Why are you here, why d...more
The frightened and wounded expression on her face was followed first by a look of sorrowful perplexity. When I began calling myself a scoundrel and a blackguard and my tears flowed (the tirade was accompanied throughout by tears) her whole face worked convulsively. She was on the point of getting up and stopping me; when I finished she took no notice of my shouting: "Why are you here, why d...more
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Read in September, 2007
This book is broken into two parts. The first part is a rambling narrative that I almost couldn't get through because it seemed to be going nowhere. However, the contraditory anti-hero produced so many profound statements that I knew I had to suffer through to catch the hidden gems. The second part suddenly broke into a story that captivated me. Overall, the narrator made me sick, but it was the kind of sick I couldn't look away from.
Fav. quotes:
"Men like that, men of action, doers, q...more
Fav. quotes:
"Men like that, men of action, doers, q...more
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A genius of a book written by a mind that can effortlessly delve into the nuts, bolts and avagadros of the psyche.
Regard this extract:
Every man has reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone, but only to his friends. He has other matters in his mind which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and that in secret. But there are other things which a man is afraid to tell even to himself, and every decent man has a number of such things stored away in his mi...more
Regard this extract:
Every man has reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone, but only to his friends. He has other matters in his mind which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and that in secret. But there are other things which a man is afraid to tell even to himself, and every decent man has a number of such things stored away in his mi...more
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Read in March, 2008
I learned that Dostoyevsky is not for everyone. He is more appealing than his words. In both stories his characters make huge mistakes they pay for for the rest of their lives.
Notes from Underground is about a man so bound by 19th c. societal standards that he will not allow himself to be with the woman he loves because she is a prostitute. The female character, Liza, is compelling and gentle and, although she is sadly naive, you wish her all the luck in the world.
The second story, the...more
Notes from Underground is about a man so bound by 19th c. societal standards that he will not allow himself to be with the woman he loves because she is a prostitute. The female character, Liza, is compelling and gentle and, although she is sadly naive, you wish her all the luck in the world.
The second story, the...more
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Read in June, 2002
recommends it for:
everyone should read this
The first time I read Notes from the Underground I was repulsed by the main character - but after a second reading you realize that The Underground Man is a rare hero - a hero of the modern condition. The scariest part about the Underground Man is you may see some of yourself in him. Deeply philosophical and perhaps Dostoevsky's darkest work. Not the similarities to Taxi Driver starring Robert Deniro.
The early short novella The Double is also inlcuded and is a great work! The story is very k...more
The early short novella The Double is also inlcuded and is a great work! The story is very k...more
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10.03.07. Ok for some reason i cannot get past page three. I think this is not the ideal book to try and read while
a) riding on a van with ten rowdy construction workers,
b) lying on the beach with someone you have a huge crush on, or
c) playing involuntary but much needed hooky from your exhausting job on a rainy day.
However those three pages are really interesting - i have read them ten times! And i am definitely curious about the narrator. I just need to attack this book when i have mor...more
a) riding on a van with ten rowdy construction workers,
b) lying on the beach with someone you have a huge crush on, or
c) playing involuntary but much needed hooky from your exhausting job on a rainy day.
However those three pages are really interesting - i have read them ten times! And i am definitely curious about the narrator. I just need to attack this book when i have mor...more
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Told through first person narrative, this book unearths in my opinion one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever come across - a complete anti-hero. He opens the book attacking the enlightenment and rationalism and rants the whole way through about the flaws of modern society. I had this on my university book list for existentialism and only read it a few weeks ago! Really should have flicked through it at the time!
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Read in January, 2008
I have started to really get into Dostoyevsky. His characters are very complex and unique and I really value that in a book. His characters tend to remind me of myself, though that may not be necessarily a good thing. I think the point is, people can really relate to the characters because of how deep and complex they are. I started getting into Dostoyevsky when I read Crime and Punishment. I'm still currently reading this book.
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Hey wait, are you a misanthrope? Do you feel betrayed and disappointed with life? Are you a bitter, bitter man? Why narrator, I never would have guessed! Why don't you spend the next hundred pages telling me about it? That sounds like loads of fun.
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Only just about the best novel ever! Not only well crafted (oh, how I hate that expression, but it fits), but brimming with psychological insight, and here's what I didn't expect: FUN! I thou hast not yet read it, hie thee to a bookstore this instant and get your own copy (and don't go to a library 'cause you'll want to read it again and again).
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Read in October, 2004
This was an extremely weird book to read at first. I thought I would never want to read Dostoevsky again, not because he wasn’t a good writer, but because it was so hard to concentrate - the first person dialog wore me out. I am, however, interested enough to look though some study guides to try to understand it more.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Russian lit fans
This is actually 2 books:
Notes from the underground - very good - remember that this is a mockery of the communists and scientific socialists. It was actually written in response to a short book by a socialist.
The Double was fantastic - a man's descent into madness - what is real, what is not?
Notes from the underground - very good - remember that this is a mockery of the communists and scientific socialists. It was actually written in response to a short book by a socialist.
The Double was fantastic - a man's descent into madness - what is real, what is not?
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recommends it for:
Any fan of dark comedies
Both stories are great. I challenge any fans of Russian literature to say otherwise. Notes from the Underground is deliciously subversive and twisted. The Double is fantastic and frightening. Dostoevsky is one of the masters of literature--should be part of the canon.
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This is the first Dostoevsky that I read and though I'll always wish I could read it in it's original language I really liked it a lot. 19th century Russian lit should be an important part of any literature lover's reading repertoire.
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A thrill simply for the unabashed and harsh look it gives into the true bleak mindset of a typical Russian male of Dostoyevsky's time, this classic also happens to delve deep into existential crisis at the same time.
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Notes from the Underground is interesting, but the real gem here is The Double. Kafka had to have been inspired by this one. Amazing short novel. If you like it, you will love The Gambler.
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Read in January, 2002
recommended to Michael by:
Margaretrecommends it for: disaffected youth
One of my all time favorites. Sick yet funny. Paralyzed to inaction by his state of overly acute conciousness, we watch our protagonist struggle through life...
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Read in July, 2008
Like Romaji Diary or Keep the Aspidistra Flying, there is a heavy dose of self-contempt and hopelessness and cynicism here.
I think I'll keep reading....
I think I'll keep reading....
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This famous book provides great insight into the rawness of the human psyche and a critique on utopian philosophy. A portrait of a classic antihero.
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If you ever desired to see yourself for the absurd little bundle of pride you are, please read. I never knew I was so awful.
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