Reviews

Kumarbaz by Fyodor Dostoevsky

sloppybuster's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Life and times of a man too based to live among us

chanancrompton's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lavinblue23's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

4⭐️
Alexey you stupid son of a bitch.

micaiahrhysss's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

parmyc's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

قمارباز رو از همه‌ی کارهای فئودور کمتر دوست دارم.
ایده داستان جالبه؛ روندش نه.

anna_karenina5's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

erinlovestoread's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This book was witty, fast paced and particularly insightful into the Euromania of the Russian elite in the 1800s.

The introduction was a wonderful preface to this book. The writer does a marvellous job of establishing the connection of the main character's journey to that of the original author. Dostoevsky, a gambling addict, lived a life in a constant flux of success and travesty, personal and professional. Similar to roulette, the story is constantly being pulled in unexpected directions. The characters, often referred to as the Frenchman or the Englishman, are caricatures of the nation they represent. Dostoevsky's commentary on class, the roles of men and women and love are seamlessly weaved into the narrative.

The extreme nature of each character lend itself perfectly to Dostoevsky's existentialist ideology. It was particularly interesting to read the novel from the perspective of a character so lost in his belief that every moment had one hand millions of opportunities and yet no meaning whatsoever.

It is an incredible feat to have written such a fun, at times ridiculous, book that is simultaneously entrenched with existentialist commentary that one can't help but linger over after putting it down.

cheesecakes's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

rnembers's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

younisreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny informative reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0