And December's book is... White Nights!

We'll be reading White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky for our December novel.

Hey!

I’m checking in today to let you know that December’s book read is going to be White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

As a shorter novel (around 100 pages depending on the issue), I’m hoping that many of you will be able to join us for the next discussion!

If you’ve read Jamaica Inn and would still like to share your thoughts, please do come and leave a message on the Substack chat.

The discussion will be taking place on the weekend of 21st/22nd December.

I’m available on both dates, so happy to go with whichever people prefer!

If you need to purchase this book, I’ve got a few options below.

• In the UK, Amazon has a paperback version for £3.00 or the Kindle version for £2.99.

• In the USA, Amazon has a paperback version for $4.35 or the Kindle version for $0.99.

• I’d recommend checking sites like Vinted or eBay for a cheap deal. I got the previous book via Vinted for just £1.50.

Any issues finding a copy then please let me know and hopefully I can help!

What’s White Nights about?

Taken from Goodreads, this snippet gives you an idea of what the novel is going to be about. I’ve not read it - so I couldn’t tell you more than this!

“White Nights is a short story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky that was published in 1848. Set in St. Petersburg, it is the story of a young man fighting his inner restlessness. A light and tender narrative, it delves into the torment and guilt of unrequited love. Both protagonists suffer from a deep sense of alienation that initially brings them together. A blend of romanticism and realism, the story appeals gently to the senses and feelings.”

Who was Fyodor Dostoyevsky?

I took this brief biography from Brittanica, where there is a lot more information about Dostoyevsky and his work.

“Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian novelist and short-story writer whose psychological penetration into the darkest recesses of the human heart, together with his unsurpassed moments of illumination, had an immense influence on 20th-century fiction.

Dostoyevsky is usually regarded as one of the finest novelists who ever lived. Literary modernism, existentialism, and various schools of psychology, theology, and literary criticism have been profoundly shaped by his ideas. His works are often called prophetic because he so accurately predicted how Russia’s revolutionaries would behave if they came to power. In his time he was also renowned for his activity as a journalist.”

You are probably most familiar with his works ‘Crime and Punishment’ and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’, the former of which is largely considered his masterpiece.