“I've just finished part one of this book and so far I'm enjoying it greatly, especially the way all the characters are weaved together almost immediately. At first I was decidedly charmed by the simpleness of the Prince's answers and the way he responded to people, but after his declaration during the birthday party, I'm terribly embarrassed to read whatever he says! Any other thoughts about the Prince? Charming? Childlike? Truly an idiot?”
“While I do like this book, and gave it four stars, I am confused by the common claim that the story depicts what would have happened if Jesus appeared in Russia during Dostoyevsky's time. Myshkin is an interesting character, but he is absolutely nothing whatsoever like the biblical Jesus. He seems driven mostly by aestheticism, a watered-down and uncertain morality, and a failure to understand human nature. The only foundation for the comparison to Jesus seems to be that he reflects the vague, pallid notion that most modern people seem to have about Jesus. Any thoughts? ”
“Dostoevsky is great here. 'the world would be saved by beauty', this is what prince myshikin tries find out about and ends up experiencing fits, convulsion, and idiocy in a society that, as a whole, is afflicted with spiritual and moral decay, mindless material pursuit,etc.. This is a story about a society, and by that way individual, with all its super-structure, that is suffering from spiritual and identity crisis. Prince Myshkin is a symbol and representation of ardent desire for the restoration of the lost beauty, regeneration of the spirit, moral, and the self.”
“I could not think of a better place than this to raise a question of mine. Its about one of the assertions Myshkin(its not hard to say,Dostoevsky through Myshkin) makes, that is.."catholicism is anti-christian". What is the background of that assertion?!. Sorry,if that sounds too ignorant.”
“in this upside down world,honesty is idiotic....i think i am an idiot then”
“I should re read this book...it's been ages since ”
“I agree with fatherofhollywood. I first read this book almost 20 years ago, and it still resonates with me today. Few writers can capture the inner psychological workings of the human condition better than Dostoevsky, and while it sometimes seems a bit like an overwraught soap opera, the incredible talent of the writer makes is so much more than that . . .”
“The beauty, terror, and despair in this book is so genuine that it's impossible not to be swept into Dostoevsky's world. So, would I recommend it? Of course, but not to someone unacquainted with Dostoevsky. Crime and Punishment is a much better place to start. But once you're acquainted with Dostoevsky's writings dive into this book, and you'll find yourself longing to help the poor Prince Myshkin, the idiot.”
“Almost 500 papers of this book can be skipped.It's a dull phonebook full of useless characters.”
