Favorite characters.

Prince Bolkonsky the Elder (War and Peace)
Although the book's plot is rather dull, all the characters are interesting and unique in their own way. I personally liked this uncle the most. He's a bit eccentric, of course, but I found his beliefs to be the most reasonable among all the other characters. He's a stern, somewhat cynical, conservative man, forced to stay at home surrounded by people who don't understand life. He feels that he's getting old, but he can't just sit idly by when the country is in trouble. So, I respect him.
Taras Bulba
A true man. Brave, noble in his own way, strong, wise, despises a life of luxury. He has firm, unwavering beliefs. He knows no doubts. He is a true patriot. He lives not for himself, but for his homeland and his people. Even during his execution, he only thought about his comrades. He embodies all the best qualities of Cossack chivalry. Perhaps in a decade or two, I will become like Taras Bulba. Well, I'll try.
In general, the book had a strong impact on me. I read it a long time ago, when my mental state wasn't very stable. You've probably heard about those crazy American schoolchildren who started attacking everyone with saws after watching some trash movie? Of course, I didn't jump on a horse, shave my head, grab a saber, and go to war with Poland, but I did internalize some things. I'll just leave a quote.

Educator Grigory Yakovlev argues that Gogol's story celebrates "violence, incitement to war, excessive cruelty, medieval sadism, aggressive nationalism, xenophobia, sexism, religious fanaticism, demanding the extermination of non-believers, unbridled drunkenness elevated to a cult, and unwarranted rudeness even in relationships with close people."