The Brothers Karamazov
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Book Reviews of The Brothers Karamazov
Book Review: Three brothers are these...
Summary: 4 Stars
I heard about this book quite some time ago and never really got around to it recently. Now that I have though I say I'm quite for the better. Sure there were challenges, such as reading through the lengthy raves of the characters, a few in particular might I add, but overall the novel was still much a pleasure.
The plot goes a bit like this. There are three brothers, all with the last name Karamazov, and they've been separated for a few years as they have edged into their adult life. Each following their own paths, whether that be of a priest or a sinner or neither, and all ending up back at their house with their father. Then their relationships with each other and many others develops into a fair number of assorted, yet connected, subplots, in a style I find reminiscent almost of Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo.
Aside from being a classic, particularly in Russian literature where it is much more approachable then Tolstoy's War and Peace, the novel was indeed entertaining, and at points even quite intriguing. The amount of culture one learns and history just from following this fictional family is quite astounding, and I greatly appreciated it.
So those who shun length of any sort stay away, because the book itself is decently long and as I mentioned Dostoevsky likes to include lengthy narration parts too, including those of the "narrator." But those who like a challenge, literature, or just a complex but good story then Karamazov may just be waiting for you.
Book Review: Never too late to get a good education
Summary: 4 Stars
The Brothers Karamazov is a highlight of 19th century literature. I'm not sure there is anything I could say to promote or disparage it that would move the needle on it.
I now understand why most people read this in high school or college. The characters argue about morals and religion and the existence of God and civilization in a way that you have to be 20 to be fully committed to. Once you get much older, you're set in your ways as to your beliefs in whether God created man or man created God and there's no turning back. That said, there were a couple of these arguments that shocked me, particular the "Grand Inquisitor" chapter which suggests that each of the 3 temptations rejected by Christ (which the book describes as miracle, mystery and authority) was in fact embraced by the Catholic Church — after all during this period there was not a lot of love between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.
It's a novel of ideas, a novel that examines the broad scope of 19th century Russia, and only tangentially interested in plot. The father and sons are described as passionate, wild, sensualists. The story is about a murder and the trial and a maybe lost bastard brother, about betrayal and love triangle, about how money was made and lost when one couldn't just sell his serfs anymore. And yet the characters speak in long lectures / speeches to each other, not back and forth conversations, giving everyone the chance to fully disseminate their arguments.
Book Review: Dostoevsky's finest achievement
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm so glad I finally read this book. I was already a big fan of this mystical Russian but somehow this one I neglected to read until now. Words can't describe the depth of this vertiginous book. One minute it forces you to peer into the darkened void, your personal Mephistopheles snickering beside you, the next you've escaped for the moment with a light breeze of hope. It swings from lugubrious lows, swimming in the viscera of humanity, into the despair reminiscent of Sartre in Nausea, through the absurd reminiscent of Camus in the Plague, to comic highs - if not quite high than light, farcical, and ultimately providing for an occasional sigh of relief and a gulp of air above the abyss. Dostoevsky was morbidly visited by spiritual doubt throughout his life and this is the greatest testament to his inner turmoil. Here he brings in the complete cast of characters some of which he surely once was or flirted with becoming, and lets them collide in cramped spaces, forces them to elaborate at length on their hopes and fears. One of the greatest passages in the history of literature dealing with moral struggle and spiritual faith is buried in here. In itself well worth reading, it's called "the Grand Inquisitor" (chapter 5 I believe) though I wouldn't recommend reading it without reading the chapters before and after to get the full breadth of Dostoevsky's intended debate. And don't be intimidated by the 800+ pages! It's well worth the effort. This is the kind of book that haunts and enlightens for life.Book Review: Why this book is so good
Summary: 5 Stars
As in all of Doestoyevsky's books the use of psychology in Brother's Karamazov is incredible as well the passion that these characters invoke in the readers. You come to hate the father Fyodor Karamazov...and his despicable acts of driving both of his wives to the point of insanity, and raping a poor mentally retarded girl. You come to love Alyosha and his kind acts to those who are intentionally mean to him. And you slowly grow to love his somewhat misguided brothers Ivan and Dmitri.
Make no mistake in this book, like Crime and Punishment, the main story revolves the death of Fyodor Karamazov and the involvement of members of his family in that death (thus the title brothers karamazov). However, like any great book or great movie the story is more than just one about murder or death (and the complex underlying reasons behind it) it is also about spiritual growth, redemption and there are a few interesting smaller stories (The elder zossima, Ilusha, the hohlakov's, and the incredibly famous story of the grand inquistor which alone is worth reading the book..all of which become integrated into the larger theme of the book)
There are very few books I would give five stars too because I believe that giving too many stars to too many books lessens the value of those stars. But this book in my opinion is one of the best pieces of literature of all time, so I will give it 5 stars. A good book doesn't simplify but embraces the complexities of life, and this book does that.
Book Review: To Life! To Life! L'chaim!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Brothers Karamazov
Dear Readers of Great Russian Literature;
It behooves me to say that the above mentioned book: "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, is by far the most intrigingly and beautifully written of all the Russian classics. This is the third book of Dostoevsky's I've read. "Crime and Punishment" was the first, then "The Idiot". I've also read "War & Peace" and "Anna Karenina"by Leo Tolstoy( both translated by R. Pevear & L. Volokhonsky). The chapters "Grand Inquisitor" and the closing debates are classic writings. SOme people think that F. D. was too wordy and complex for modern ears and understanding, however, this book is all about LIFE, in all of it's twistings
and turnings. I know in this day and age, talking about Faith and Redemption seems out-moded to most people, but they are the true essenses of human existence.
Mitya, Ivan and Aloysha are the main characters, tho' many others flit in and out, no one however, is a minor character. They all add to the "life" of the book. I truly think that all people should read this translation. It is clear and concise, getting all the various nuances and "voices" just right.
I have tried to read these books in other translations, but the Pevear/ Volokhonsky ones are the best i've seen.
5 stars for everything about this treasure of Literature.