It is just Dostoevsky having random conversation about everything and nothing at the same time. It's not Notes From The Underground and it's not The Brothers Karamazov. Should you read this book? Only if you like his other works. He does what he can with the numerous characters Dostoevsky has created in this book.

Constantine Gregory does a decent job at trying to let you know who's talking, by attempting to changing his voice. A little too much, because at some point you are thinking 'why am I finishing this?' I almost didn't a few times. The rest of the book is filled with the deep character building Dostoevsky is been known for. Not his best, but it is still Dostoevsky. I always feel like I have been rewarded with some form of insight or prize after having completed a Dostoyevsky book - and the Idiot is no different. The Idiot is not the most rewarding of the great Dostoyevsky works - but is in every way extremely satisfying and ultimately rewarding. The ever so slight changes in intonation to distinguish the (many and sometimes confusing) characters, and his grasp of the cultural and linguistic peculiarities is masterful. As for Constantine Gregory - BRAVO! I doubt if there is a single other narrator that could quite master Dostoyevsky as he as come to do quite comfortably. Not easy to read but with no ordinary reward. Dostoyevsky is a hike up a mountain - not a hike in the park. And then, as is also often the case with Dostoyevsky - there is the summit - completely unexpected, surprising and in some instances shocking to the bone yet no less amazing. Throughout the story, there are masterful moments of descriptions, dialogues or monologues that have such remarkable significance that they are likely to stay with the readers for the rest of their lives. Every now and then, you come upon a lookout point in a moment of amazement and awe - and then return to hiking. Much of the path appears to be like the past couple of steps - and like the next couple of steps. Reading Dostoyevsky is like hiking up a vast mountain.

Jordan peterson the idiot dostoevsky