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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Literary Fiction / Satire / Russian Literature

Book Review:
If you think of Dostoyevsky only in terms of dark, psychological dramas, ''The Village of Stepanchikovo'' will be a delightful surprise. It's a comic masterpiece. The story revolves around a household completely dominated by the absurd and pretentious Opiskin, a character so brilliantly irritating that you'll laugh and cringe in equal measure. He holds everyone hostage with his theatrical speeches, fake humility, and petty tyranny. The poor, kind-hearted uncle just wants everyone to be happy, and it's both funny and painful to watch him try. The novel is a sharp satire of hypocrisy and manipulation, and it moves at a frantic, hilarious pace over just two days. You can see the seeds of Dostoyevsky's later, more famous characters in Opiskin's blend of buffoonery and malice. This Penguin Classics edition has a great translation that captures the humor. A must-read for Dostoyevsky fans and anyone who loves a good, character-driven comedy.