That our perception of a person does not correspond to objective reality, but rather to our own subjective idea, is something we are all aware of. But how big is this difference really?

In this novel, we encounter a very interesting narrative structure. We first get to know our “hero” Pechorin only through the descriptions of others, which immediately creates a certain curiosity. He does not seem particularly likable, yet he has a certain attraction, and I wanted to learn more about him. What is going on inside his mind?

At this point, the perspective suddenly shifts, as we are given direct access to his inner world through his personal diary, right in the middle of the story.

The longer one reads, the more it becomes clear that Pechorin is a bad person, and that he is aware of it himself. He is highly intelligent and understands human psychology extremely well. He can read emotions better than almost anyone, which at first might make you think he is empathetic. However, he uses this very ability to fight his own boredom.

He deliberately plays with the emotions of others, creates chaos, and feeds his own ego through it. It almost feels as if he needs these reactions just to feel something at all. At the same time, there are moments of honest reflection about his past. He says: “I was ready to love the world, but no one understood me, and I learned to hate.”

He seems to fully understand why he has become the way he is, and even recognizes that he cannot change. And that is exactly what makes him so interesting. Because although he sees through himself, he remains trapped in his own behavior, as if a part of him has already died.

He is not only interesting to the reader, but also within the story, several women are strongly attracted to him, even though they are aware of how questionable he is. And although one of them even confesses unconditional love to him, he is unable to return it in the same way. It feels as if he is afraid of real connection, because it would make him vulnerable and he would, in a way, lose control.

For him, independence seems to be the most important thing. He even states that freedom stands above everything else and that he would give up anything for it. Yet the question remains whether he truly wants to live like this, or whether he is simply afraid to take a different step.

Another interesting point is that he says he despises himself, and therefore also despises others. By taking away their dignity and mocking them, he can feel superior for a moment. A broken character through and through. If he did not despise himself so much, he would probably be capable of returning love. But to do so, he would first have to break down the identity he has built over time with all its protective barriers, which would likely make him so vulnerable that he would immediately rebuild those walls even stronger.

Perhaps what protects him is also what ultimately prevents him from ever truly living.

A Hero of Our Time — a very ironic title, yet in a way also fitting. Although the book is older, many of its aspects still feel highly relevant today, especially the fear of real connection. A deeply psychological book with many interesting and authenthic characters, as well as many poetic and beautiful passages, whether in the descriptions of the Caucasus landscapes or the different cultures. Out of all the books in this list, this is by far the one I enjoyed the most.