Book Review: Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Ah, this is my Dostoevsky, the Dostoevsky I know and love after reading Crime and Punishment. I know that The Brothers Karamazov is largely considered to be Dostoevsky’s best work, but I can’t help but feel it is a departure from his other works. While some may deem that a good thing, I prefer Crime and Punishment and Notes from Underground. In other words, the novels with more demented characters. 

Notes from Underground is written from the perspective of a hermit who has separated himself from society out of defiance. His notes are basically a bitter tirade, realistically contradictory and painfully tormented. 

The novel is only 130 pages, so it’s a quick read. It’s unintentionally or intentionally divided into halves (similar to The Brothers Karamazov). The first half is the narrator’s philosophy and is written in a stream of consciousness fashion. The second half is written as more of a story/narrative, which I found more enjoyable. If your reading experience is anything like mine, you will mark up the first half of the novel with quotes, and you will be entranced by the second half. 

I love Dostoevsky for his complex characters and his insightful exploration of the human psyche. This novel delivered. The first half might be a bit heavy, but it’s worth it, because it informs the second half and makes for a well-rounded reading experience. 

Here are my two favorite quotes that aren’t reliant on context:

“I even think the best definition of man is: a being that goes on two legs and is ungrateful.”

“How can a man of consciousness have the slightest respect for himself?”

… And the most relatable quote:

“I wished to stifle with external sensations all that was ceaselessly boiling up inside me. And among external sensations the only one possible for me was reading.”