As readers, expanding the genres of books we explore is very important to a more fulfilling, enriching reading experience. In this episode of Reader Recommends, we take a step away from modern and popular novels and instead step into the timeless masterpiece of classic literature of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, “White Nights.”
Set over four nights, in St. Petersburg, Russia, a nameless narrator lives in loneliness, but shares his profound thoughts about the fast-moving world he observes around him daily. During his routine night walks, he comes across a young woman being robbed. He intervenes and starts a conversation with her, quickly becoming enthralled.
This is an unusual feeling for him, as he has no friends and seldom speaks to others. Regardless, they both agree to meet at the same place and same time each night. On their second night, they decide to share their stories. The narrator describes, in a long, philosophical rant, the loneliness of his life, and how his only history is that he spends the day pondering the world around him.
On the other hand, the young woman, Nastenka, shares her own sad life. She is bound to care for her blind grandmother by being literally pinned to her. Until a young man moves into the apartment next door. They quickly fall in love as he provides her with a multitude of books and novels. However, he informed her that he had to leave for a business trip, promising to marry her when he returned.
Throughout all these nights, the narrator falls more and more in love with Nastenka, but she only yearns for her past lover to return. Heartbroken yet caring he promises himself to be a friend to her and tries to help her out by writing a letter to her lover asking for him to return. Unknowing the outcome of this, both are left with a deep, crushing love, but for different people.
This beautifully written and flowing novel takes us through an unrequited love story, leaving readers with a deep emotional response, whether compassion or sadness. Dostoevsky’s masterful writing and profound themes make anyone who picks up “White Nights”, ponder on the world around them just as the narrator does.
