WHITE NIGHTS BY FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY

-

BOOK NAME: WHITE NIGHTS

AUTHOR NAME: FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY

GENRE: SHORT STORY, CLASSIC 

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN CLASSICS

BOOK BUY LINK: https://amzn.in/d/4aQdZQw


BOOK COVER IMAGE



BOOK REVIEW

I have now officially gained access to the heartbroken Dostoevsky reader club with this novella. I still can’t believe I didn’t read this earlier in life. I have been seeing it all over Instagram and misjudged that it would be one of those overhyped books. But thanks to my cramped reading time and the slump, I picked it up, wasting no time, only to realise that the book was worth the hype.


Written from an introvert’s point of view, the nameless protagonist living in St Petersburg talks about the night he crossed paths with a strange lady - the love of his life he fell for at first sight - and the nights that follow. Honestly, I don’t believe in love at first sight. But I believe in intuition at first sight- how a person makes you feel at the first meeting and makes you predict a forever together. Dostoevsky has fantastically brought out the same thing in the protagonist’s story but with a heartbreaking ending. 


It’s a story of moments - A moment of hope that is then shattered in a moment, a moment that feels all glorious, followed by a moment of melancholy. I went through a series of emotions while reading through this concise story. It made me wonder how a person can pack love, heartbreak, loneliness, belonging, desire, jealousy, and unrequitedness - everything in just a 100-page story. The protagonist’s monologue and the difference in voice between the protagonist’s and Nastenka’s story were distinct and breathtaking. There were places where I felt the protagonist’s emotions transferring to me subconsciously, and there were places where I felt my feelings were projected in the book. I am convinced this book is meant for all the dreamers and loners out there and don’t miss out on this one.


MY REVIEW: 5/5

This is a part of Blogchatter’s #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHAPTER 1 - ALIZA AND AHMED

-
Image
Their eyes met for the second time in the day. Every time this happens, Aliza feels a ticklish sensation in her stomach. It's not that they have not been closer than just eye contact, but the jitters won't leave her alone. Her mother-in-law was busy scooping out the last few morsels of chicken from the bowl with a creaking noise that numbed Aliza's ears. Her father-in-law was lost in thoughts enjoying his chicken malai korma and tempered ghee rice.   ‘Aliza, can you get me some warm water?’ Aliza comes running with a jar of water to fulfil her new wife's duties, and Ahmed finds his moment just when Aliza is filling his tumbler and his parents are busy eating. He pokes her in the hip, which is faintly visible between her saree fold and her blouse. Aliza winces and moves behind quickly. She turns around to ensure no one has witnessed it and promptly returns to work, flashing a smile. Ahmed had to steal moments like these between daily activities because the house was alwa
Read more

CHAPTER 4 - DISTANCE MATTERS

-
Image
'Congratulations on your promotion and transfer. We are looking forward to your full commitment to us. Do get back to this letter at the earliest with your answer.' Read the crafted piece of paper. Ahmed's parents were delighted and jumping with joy. They were chanting 'Alhamdulillah' fervently while Aliza stood confused. She could not make anything of this news because Ahmed's promotion meant everything to her. But his transfer would only mean that Aliza must stay back with her in-laws while he would visit only during weekends. She would happily do so, too, if not for her unsupportive mother-in-law. Aliza wanted to cry, and her eyes brimmed with tears that the world looked like a smudged canvas laying still in front of her. She looked at Ahmed pleadingly and waited until 10 to ask him if he really wanted to go. Asking in front of her in-laws would only mean the end of her good days. Ahmed did not look up because he knew what his transfer meant for both of them.
Read more

CHAPTER 2 - THE BACKSTORY - ALIZA

-
Image
  Aliza is the middle child of her family, with two older siblings and two younger ones. She did not always get her parents' attention because the oldest or the youngest sibling often stole it. She was mostly brought up by her oldest sister, Razia, who made sure she bathed, ate, and went to school on time. After Razia's marriage, her next older sibling Fahim brought home his wife, who had sworn to taunt Aliza all her life. Her younger twin siblings Samir and Ameera were at school, and they often stayed outdoors playing. So Aliza grew up to be the one taking care of her siblings while also managing to thrive herself. After finishing high school, she wanted to join college because her friends were also planning to, and they said studying in college will help a lot in the future. She was also the captain of her school's volleyball team and was a tough player. Aliza thought she could pursue her ambitions after school if she managed to convince her father. But her relatives had
Read more