The Demons: A Novel in Three Parts (Vintage Classics)

Before tackling this book BE FAMILIAR WITH DOSTOEVESKY, and I mean having read more than one book (preferably a short story as well). You are going to get to the end, more bloody and confused than after a Shakspearian tragedy and say "What the?!" Then someone will turn to you and say, "It was a comedy". A book meant to be read and re-read. If thinking or holding still causes physical pain,...more

Before tackling this book BE FAMILIAR WITH DOSTOEVESKY, and I mean having read more than one book (preferably a short story as well). You are going to get to the end, more bloody and confused than after a Shakspearian tragedy and say "What the?!" Then someone will turn to you and say, "It was a comedy". A book meant to be read and re-read. If thinking or holding still causes physical pain, this is not your book.   hide

This is an incredibly complex book choke full of observations. At its heart is the argument "What keeps us attached to this world?" and all of the characters represent a certain flavor of attachment - even the krilov. This is a book meant to torment you and all of a sudden make you laugh and then a second later make you bang your head to the wall. Not for the faint of heart.

Nearly hilarious in parts. Its narrative style has grown on me--sometimes, reading this is like wading through treacle (or some other appropriately sticky substance), but it's just so terribly delicious. I probably don't have enough background knowledge to totally "get" this novel, but I can still love it. And I adore Kirillov, though I seem to be in the minority there.

Lots of great intertwined plots in this book. The plurality of characters makes it difficult to follow at times, especially when Dostoevsky describes the exploits of all of the members of "the five." Still, this is the kind of book that Turgenev meant to write with "Fathers and Sons."