Dylan Weekley’s Reviews > The Gambler > Status Update

Yeah I’m really loving how the tables have turned here. Alex now had the rich Russian family in there knees begging him to try and keep here fortune, it’s so obvious granny will lose all that money. I kinda think she wants to, she keeps saying how the general will get nothing and keeps giving away money to everyone else. And the mystery aspect too is very engaging, with polina and Mr astley and the Frenchman

Chapter 7 done: a lot less actual gambling than I expected going into this so far and a lot more family drama and a kinda mystery thing going on. And it’s been a good thing because this man writes the main character in such a way where he just says anything and gets away with it. This man uses words as his power, talks his way out of any situation, or into any situation he thinks would amuse him

Chapter 5 and 6 done: man FD does just ramble on and on sometimes, he’s very self aware of it here though, and I’ve heard it’s much worse in his other books. At this point about a third through I am really enjoying it. The main character and the main relationship dynamic leads to very strong conversations and topics discussed.

Chapter 4 done: we get western values vs Russian values here when it comes to the accumulation of wealth, the west works very very hard for many generations, passing wealth to the child and so on, but Russia they just gamble and don’t care to pass wealth to their kids

Chapter 3 done: this chapter felt very flow state like, not in the way of insane action and drama, but just that the words are flowing and the story and characters settling into my mind. The world is becoming more and more visible in my head and I’m growing to understand the characters and dynamics to a much greater degree, the whole polina dynamic is great.

Chapter 2 quotes
“Is it impossible to approach the gambling table without becoming infected with superstition”
“But I notice one thing that of late has become horribly repugnant to me to test my thoughts and actions by any moral standard whatever.”

Chapter 2 done: this one really dissects how gambling works differently for rich and poor, rich do it for amusement, poor do it for the desire of winning. We go into that desire of winning and how gambling is extremely addictive. We see the MC here kinda forced into it and at the end is pressured into continuing it.

Chapter 1 done: interesting start, you get thrown in to this Russian family and are really just trying to understand the dynamics that are at play here. My first time reading a Russian author and the vocabulary and way of talking I will have to get used to, some phrases that I’ve never heard of before. A good set up and yes please go play some roulette