Although his father's approach to education has been described as strict and harsh, Dostoevsky himself reports that his imagination was brought alive by nightly readings by his parents.
Kuigi Dostojevski isa vaateid haridusele on kirjeldatud kui rangeid ja karme, on Dostojevski ise öelnud, et vanemate õhtune ettelugemine pani ta kujutlusvõime elama.