The Idiot (Abridged) Audiobook

" Great voice! "

" Just a tiny bit disappointing compared to some of his other books, but great nevertheless. "

" I read this for an intercession independent study credit in systematic theology with Tom Driver at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The topic was Dostoevsky's Theology and the reading was done over the winter break. By this time I'd read most of Dostoevsky's best known works. Having found his orthodoxy somewhat offputting, somewhat mysterious, I welcomed the chance to discuss it with someone who might be able to afford some insight. Unfortunately, Tom wasn't up to it or I was too stupid. In any case, I didn't get much out of meeting with him and I certainly didn't get much out of reading The Idiot. It was supposed to be funny, but while the heavy-handed satire was obvious enough, it didn't tickle me at all. "

" Listened to an abridged version and I think while it might have covered the highlights, it missed out on a lot. "

" long stretches of painfully dull and seemingly pointless developments interspersed with occasional bursts of WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED, HOLY SHIT NATASYA FILIPOVNA, OH NO YOU DIDN'T, your characterisation is annoying and sexist but I still kind of wish you could be on the page all the time. to be honest I'm pretty sure I failed to get the point of this book in any real way and that it just wasn't written for me; the Big Questions it dealt with are not ones that preoccupy me. but there were passages that made it more or less worthwhile; I'm glad I finished because the last 100 pages or so were CRAZY. I particularly enjoyed that one minor character who ripped into the Prince for being so detachedly "good" that he was more interested in abstracts (like rescuing a fallen woman) than the actual impact of his actions/inactions. I wish more reviewers had something to say about this scene because to me the Prince is a lot more than a tragic naif and a lot more culpable in the eventual fucked-up ending than people give him credit for. there's something really eerily empty and passive about him that I think is core to the character. "

" This historical fiction gives you a pretty accurate depiction of Russian society and touches upon very sensitive socio-psychological issues. A great read. "

" Time to read a famous classic. Actually, I thought it would be interesting to read it in French, as i found a copy in french language on the Los Angeles library database. I honestly tried to read it, but within the first 3 pages, i started feeling the dreadfully thick downward drag of boredom. Maybe it is the ponderous and archaic conversation between the characters which I found entirely boring. Maybe it is the subject matter, maybe it was the lack of action and so much analysis of motive, behavior, speech, that just made me yawn. Anyway, I decided that at this point in my life, I needed fluffier, lighter weight stuff and more action. I just could not bear the thought of slogging through this river of mud, so I put it back on a future TR list. Ha! "

" Seven hundred pages of confusion, intrigues and old Russian "spheres". I find this book very confusing, though somehow I cannot say it wasn't worth reading. "

" In my opinion this is slightly inferior to the other works I read by the author (Crime/Punishment, Brothers) , but still a very great book. "

" I got it, but I didn't enjoy reading the confusing names and back and forth muddled story. "

" Probably not my favorite book by Doestovsky but have always been a fan of his writing style. "

" just bought daughter this.... a dif ed. can't find it on GR (wordsworth classics)isbn 1853261750 - 1996. So have 2 copies in the house. One for each idiot. ;) joke "

" An important book in Dostoevsky's writings. Strange, loose plot, strange, fluid character. Concept of Pure Simpleton. Epileptic influences. "