Notes from the Underground (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1864)

[madali]

Notes from the Underground (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1864)

"The best definition of man is: a being that goes on two legs and is ungrateful"

I named my first blog after this book. So, maybe teenage me was affected by the book. But I don't know, maybe I was just impressed by myself reading a book like this and the name sounded cool enough for an online diary. Specifically given that the book itself is some sort of (fictional) diary, written by a man who describes himself as "I am a sick man… I am a spiteful man. I am an unpleasant man. I think my liver is diseased" and "It was not only that I could not become spiteful, I did not know how to become anything; neither spiteful nor kind, neither a rascal nor an honest man, neither a hero nor an insect. Now, I am living out my life in my corner, taunting myself with the spiteful and useless consolation that an intelligent man cannot become anything seriously, and it is only the fool who becomes anything." You can see how a angsty teenager like myself would like that and moronically see some resemblance to himself.

A decade later, I'm rereading the book with a new perspective. More matured and less impressed by myself, I figured it was time to have a revisit to the Underground Man.

The book has two major sections. The first half is the ramblings of the narrator, cynical, nihilist, and dark, it's more a raving of an angry man that is inclined to contradicting himself and offering paradoxes throughout his philosophical barrages. It is interesting with some gems, nuggets to make you go "hmm", but it is not an easy read, because IT…IS…RAMBLINGS.

"The formula 'two plus two equals five' is not without its attractions."

The second section moves away from this and offers an actual narrative of events. It has three anecdotes and that second half is a much better read. His ramblings take a backseat to telling a story and his musings give a background to the actions he takes in his anecdotes. The second half is a much better read. If the book's sections were reversed, I would have had difficulties finishing it. But once the stories started, it didn't take long for me to reach the end and wishing the narrator had told more stories from his life and ranted less in the beginning.

"Yes — you, you alone must pay for everything because you turned up like this, because I'm a scoundrel, because I'm the nastiest, most ridiculous, pettiest, stupidest, and most envious worm of all those living on earth who're no better than me in any way, but who, the devil knows why, never get embarrassed, while all my life I have to endure insults from every louse — that's my fate. What do I care that you do not understand any of this?"

4/5

[X.]

Try and finish Camus' THE FALL and I will be really impressed. (Though you re-reading NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND is impressive enough.)

[madali]

I have read his Plague, but I dont think I read his Fall. I'm think of reading Crime and Punishment but it seems scary.

[X.]

Ha ha, yeah, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT is a good test. But it could be worse: you could be testing yourself with WAR AND PEACE, which I am glad you are not doing...

[madali]

Or maybe James Joyce's Ulysses?

[X.]

How are you reading books now? Using the Kindle?

Did you read NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND on it?

Has the Kindle increased your reading habits?

[madali]

I read it on the Kindle. I think it has improved it, because its always on hand and always bookmarked! I also take it with me in my laptop bag to my office, so in case I'm driving a cab to a client or waiting somewhere, or even walking from office to home, I read a few pages. And I read 2-3 books at the same time, so in case I'm not in the mood for one of them, I read something else.

[X.]

[...] because its always on hand and always bookmarked!

[...] And I read 2-3 books at the same time, so in case I'm not in the mood for one of them, I read something else.

That's why it works.

[madali]

Of course, one major disadvantage is not having the physical books lying around to impress girls.

[X.]

Of course, one major disadvantage is not having the physical books lying around to impress girls.

You know, they can be impressed by all the heaps of books in your apartment -- and then they become intimidated, start acting like they know a thing or two; and fail miserably. This is usually the start of them become less and less interesting...

At least with the Kindle, them with their iPhones, you with your Kindle, there is some...what's the phrase...shared sense of equality.