The Double and The Gambler
by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear, translator, Larissa Volokhonsky, translator
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of The Double and The Gambler.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 187)
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who likes Dostoevsky
Two short Dostoevsky stories in one. The Double is an early existentialist piece where a man runs into his own Doppleganger, and slowly goes insane as this stranger starts to take over his life. It is written early on in Dostoevsky's career, but shows his initial attempts at what would become his forte: inserting normal characters into extreme situations, and studying their reaction.
The second piece, "The Gambler," was written late in his life. Reading these two pieces side-by-s...more
The second piece, "The Gambler," was written late in his life. Reading these two pieces side-by-s...more
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in March, 2008
not dostoevsky's best. the double was his failed attempt at recreating gogol's diary of a madman. the gambler was the result of expending all of his creative energy on crime and punishment earlier in the day (he wrote both books at once).
a few people have told me they haven't been able to make it through crime and punishment because it's too claustrophobic. i've read it twice now and i never had that problem. reading the gambler, however, i experienced this for the first time. it se...more
a few people have told me they haven't been able to make it through crime and punishment because it's too claustrophobic. i've read it twice now and i never had that problem. reading the gambler, however, i experienced this for the first time. it se...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2005
I haven't read this edition of these stories, but these two stories are certainly among Dostoevsky's best. Both are incredibly psychological, although "The Double" is admittedly complicated to read as a story. Dostoevsky's absurb humor permeates these texts, and while you laugh in many parts, other parts leave you contemplating for days on their meaning. Both are a good representation of Dostoevsky at his best, in my opinion.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
This review is for The Double:
I enjoyed this book a little; it's well written but confusing. I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone who's not well versed in Dostoevsky and the literature of his time. I didn't get a lot of what was going on, but I could still appreciate how it was written and how well F.D. developed his character.
I enjoyed this book a little; it's well written but confusing. I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone who's not well versed in Dostoevsky and the literature of his time. I didn't get a lot of what was going on, but I could still appreciate how it was written and how well F.D. developed his character.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
My go-to guy if I want a really good read, the kind I have to puzzle over for days. This is a two-for-one deal, and they're both fantastic, although The Gambler is the star of this volume.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I read The Double and it was BOOOOOOO-RING! I could barely see through its verboseness to get to the literary pulp.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
sorry fd, this one only gets 5* for the gambler. one might say, "rockin."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
This book made me feel like I was going insane.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
