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This a challenging book to summarize, as its purpose wasn’t clear for the most part, but there are moments of incredible brilliance that truly stand out. Julian is a fascinating character—deeply complex, full of contradictions, and richly developed. The writing is straightforward and matter-of-fact, which I really appreciate—there’s no flowery language or unnecessary embellishment. Yet, the story itself is profound and filled with psychological depth. All the main characters are well-drawn and fully fleshed out. I was completely absorbed by Julian's journey and character growth.

It's easy to see why this novel inspired Dostoevsky and other great writers—it has substance and psychological depth. I wrestled with whether to give it 4 or 5 stars, but after much thought, I’m confident it deserves 5!

“Love born in the brain is more spirited, doubtless, than true love, but it has only flashes of enthusiasm; it knows itself too well, it criticizes itself incessantly; so far from banishing thought, it is itself reared only upon a structure of thought.�

“Ah, Sir, a novel is a mirror carried along a high road. At one moment it reflects to your vision the azure skies, at another the mire of the puddles at your feet. And the man who carries this mirror in his pack will be accused by you of being immoral! His mirror shews the mire, and you blame the mirror! Rather blame that high road upon which the puddle lies, still more the inspector of roads who allows the water to gather and the puddle to form.�

“Indeed, man has two different beings inside him. What devil thought of that malicious touch?�