By Ash Zhang
This was the first book I’ve picked up to read for enjoyment in a good long time, and it didn’t disappoint. For such a short story, you have to stick around at least until the second night (i.e. second chapter) is complete, give it a bit of a chance before you get scared off by the romantic (almost incel-esque) recluse that you are introduced to at the beginning of this tale. Perhaps it starts out a little slow but it is an interesting exploration of the Petersburg dreamer presented by Dostoevsky in both The Landlady (1947) and presented an article, published in the St Petersburg Gazette in June of 1847. The narrator of White Nights lives within his own life and establishes a relationship with Nastenka, reinforcing his own understanding and interpretation of their relationship. Such a short story conveys so many layers relating to love, youth and the magic of the summertime that makes it far easier to romanticise the characters’ story.
This story is unapologetically lyrical with sprawling descriptions and beauty, capturing Dostoevsky’s personal experience with youthful romantic idealism. It paints scenes and memories from the characters in vivid imagery, and with it comes the fear of wasting his own youth and eventual disillusionment. The narrator alienates himself through the recitations of his stories by referring to himself in the third person and beneath all of the idealism, there lies a layer of despair that he is actively avoiding to face. The anonymous narrator permits you to insert personal interest within this figure and his beliefs and experiences, connecting to a higher personal degree than other fully fleshed-out characters. The short format throws you straight in with little to no world-building (besides the very first section of the book) and sets you up to experience this relationship at its genesis and progression.
This is a story about two very lonely people finding a connection with altruistic love and selfless giving, in a way that is rarely portrayed in the dramatic retellings of modern media. I believe it focuses more on this sense of isolation within the characters than the ‘love’ itself. Being such a short story makes it easy to pick up and finish in a couple of days. Personally, I went and bought the physical copy at the next available opportunity after finishing the ebook. If you are looking to pick up something short and enjoyable after reading nothing but mandated textbooks and set texts for the past several years, this would be a good start to return back to reading for yourself.