Notes From The Underground (1864) by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reading: Notes From The Underground (1864) by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Roland’s summer selections were based around his theme of Marginal. The book under discussion was Fyodor Dostoevsky ’s Notes From The Underground 

With the “rule of six” being introduced prematurely by The Westbourne pub in Hove we had to relocate to Hove beach. Fortunately, the evening of Thursday 10th September 2020 was most clement

Roland was very enthusiastic about Notes From The Underground although he did pause to enquire, what does it all mean? Would others in the HBG be able to answer his question, or indeed share his enthusiasm?

Hamish branded it “turgid” and lambasted it as “heavy going”

Keith, who had recently read Crime and Punishment revealed that book was much better

Nigel stated it was not his cup of tea. The first half is rambling and tedious however things pick up a bit in the second half. His overwhelming emotion on finishing was relief

Robin said he felt more pain and suffering than the bitter, socially inept, thin skinned narrator Underground Man

Tristan observed that the only good thing about the book was that it was just 120 pages, that said it felt more like 300 pages

Nick was relieved it was not just he who had found the book boring and tedious, and added that any profound or illuminating insights into the human condition passed had passed him by

Nick 2.5 / Tristan 3 / Nigel 2 / Keith 5 / Roland 7 / Robin 2 / Hamish 1

Listening: Gain The Axe EP (2019) by Bleep Bloop

At the discussion Roland tried to withdraw the music however we were having none of it. Those who had listened to it were underwhelmed or indeed hostile

Watching: Unabomber: In His Own Words (2020) (Netflix)

We all agree Roland redeemed himself with this Unabomber four part documentary which threw up many interesting issues, a lot of which feel very contemporary. Keith saw parallels with Crime and Punishment and praised the theme song by Man

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