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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Greatest novel of all time. What more can be said?
Well, plenty more, I suppose. Like Mitya, this novel is of two abysses, the binary poles of human experience. Life and death, love and hate, man and God, individual and state. At times harrowing, at times hilarious. Always with a keen understanding of character and psychology.
Well, plenty more, I suppose. Like Mitya, this novel is of two abysses, the binary poles of human experience. Life and death, love and hate, man and God, individual and state. At times harrowing, at times hilarious. Always with a keen understanding of character and psychology.
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It felt like this was two separate books. A huge chunk of this book was characters engaging in philosophical and religious conversations. I thought about why this was important, and partly I think the author was using this as a platform to work through ideas he was very interested in. Partly, too, though, the characters' beliefs underpin their actions. For example, Ivan clearly thinks through a lot of theory to better understand the world around him and hours under character. And because this demonstrates him as such a thoughtful character, it sort of makes him crazy by the end. And it's more tragic that he, an "intelligent person", is outwitted.
I did enjoy the plot and the ever-worsening downward spiral of Dmitry's mistakes. It was fun to root for a character who was stupid but had good intentions. He felt so human. I also enjoyed finding out what happened and then seeing how the court trial plays out wrongly.
The format of the book was cool--it was serialized so each book felt like a separate thematic piece. We got to examine the characters individually and as a familial relationship. The chapter titles were perfectly attuned to the most relevant part of the chapter. The Oxford translation had some good footnotes to better understand Russian history.
I did enjoy the plot and the ever-worsening downward spiral of Dmitry's mistakes. It was fun to root for a character who was stupid but had good intentions. He felt so human. I also enjoyed finding out what happened and then seeing how the court trial plays out wrongly.
The format of the book was cool--it was serialized so each book felt like a separate thematic piece. We got to examine the characters individually and as a familial relationship. The chapter titles were perfectly attuned to the most relevant part of the chapter. The Oxford translation had some good footnotes to better understand Russian history.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My most favorite book of all time. The quintessential work in examining human nature, philosophy, psychology, divinity. It is worthy of all its praises and earns every ounce of acclaim. There has never been something as profoundly human or as discerning in the divine.
This particular translation flows well and is much more understandable than traditional copies (e.g. Constance Garnett, Pevear-Volokhonsky). However, some of the more famous & profound quotes don't have as much flare in this iteration. Greatly pleased with this translation and its footnotes.
It is like a great river has poured out of Dostoevsky. How dense are its verses, full of great passion and sentimentality. There is no chapter without some great wisdom being spoken unto you. Moving and touching. There are many moments I want to note here that I've come to say are my favorite:
The entirety of Book VI: Russian Monk
Book IV: Lacerations, "And In The Fresh Air"
Epilogue, "The Speech at the Stone"
Book III: Sensualists, "Confession of an Ardent Heart, in Anecdotes"
Book IX: Preliminary Investigation, "The Evidence of the Witnesses. The Babe in Arms"
And of course, Book V: Pro & Contra, "The Grand Inquisitor"
There has never been a book that has so far exceeded my expectations as this one. And I have come to wish to experience it all again. There have never been as many times in a novel that I have been moved to tears and wept. It is a great privilege.
Alyosha, the protagonist, is so great in character that it has moved me to change. A symbol of virtue and compassion. Though he is surrounded by so many flawed, troubled people, he always makes it a point to act in great character. He is of great faith and great Love.
By contrast, Ivan, the antagonist, is of both brilliant intellect and charisma. He reasons righteousness out of his Godlessness. If there is great evil inflicted on the Innocent, how can I agree to God's world? Humanity, blessed by Freedom, sees free will. But this freedom has brought them great suffering and great Evil. How can humanity come to Love our Lord, God? It's this righteous sympathy that he has reasoned himself to reject God. But, in that case, let us live in Godlessness! But then "Everything is permitted." Ethics are arbitrary. It's brilliant, but it's not livable. No human can live with this worldview and hope to find Peace. And as a result, Ivan punishes himself with this turmoil to the point of insanity.
Mitya, has turmoil bounded by these two chasms. He is base. But, he clings to a great sense of honor. It is irrational behavior. He is the whip of self-laceration. But Alyosha's grace is what succeeds over all his brothers. Except for Smerdyakov, whose atheism suggests his suicide "woe to those who have slain themselves on Earth." So in Heart, Mind, and Soul exists for Dimitry, Ivan, and Alyosha respectively. And I suppose Smerdyakov is a black sheep that doesn't fit into this neat arrangement. How fitting.
In Alyosha's argument with Ivan, he cannot directly counter any of Ivan's reasonings. He isn't as intelligent. But his Love is his answer. In the Grand Inquisitor, the answer to the cardinal's argument is a kiss. There is no rebuttal to what logic has argued because the answer lies in something that transcends reason alone. The divine is not rational, but it has saved many lost souls. More than any earthly punishment or revenge or righteous retribution for any criminal. And for that, I will not argue for faith in God. I will argue for Love. Though it may not erase the reality of evil and pain, it is its answer. And if God is Love, then perhaps God is the answer.
This particular translation flows well and is much more understandable than traditional copies (e.g. Constance Garnett, Pevear-Volokhonsky). However, some of the more famous & profound quotes don't have as much flare in this iteration. Greatly pleased with this translation and its footnotes.
It is like a great river has poured out of Dostoevsky. How dense are its verses, full of great passion and sentimentality. There is no chapter without some great wisdom being spoken unto you. Moving and touching. There are many moments I want to note here that I've come to say are my favorite:
The entirety of Book VI: Russian Monk
Book IV: Lacerations, "And In The Fresh Air"
Epilogue, "The Speech at the Stone"
Book III: Sensualists, "Confession of an Ardent Heart, in Anecdotes"
Book IX: Preliminary Investigation, "The Evidence of the Witnesses. The Babe in Arms"
And of course, Book V: Pro & Contra, "The Grand Inquisitor"
There has never been a book that has so far exceeded my expectations as this one. And I have come to wish to experience it all again. There have never been as many times in a novel that I have been moved to tears and wept. It is a great privilege.
Alyosha, the protagonist, is so great in character that it has moved me to change. A symbol of virtue and compassion. Though he is surrounded by so many flawed, troubled people, he always makes it a point to act in great character. He is of great faith and great Love.
By contrast, Ivan, the antagonist, is of both brilliant intellect and charisma. He reasons righteousness out of his Godlessness. If there is great evil inflicted on the Innocent, how can I agree to God's world? Humanity, blessed by Freedom, sees free will. But this freedom has brought them great suffering and great Evil. How can humanity come to Love our Lord, God? It's this righteous sympathy that he has reasoned himself to reject God. But, in that case, let us live in Godlessness! But then "Everything is permitted." Ethics are arbitrary. It's brilliant, but it's not livable. No human can live with this worldview and hope to find Peace. And as a result, Ivan punishes himself with this turmoil to the point of insanity.
Mitya, has turmoil bounded by these two chasms. He is base. But, he clings to a great sense of honor. It is irrational behavior. He is the whip of self-laceration. But Alyosha's grace is what succeeds over all his brothers. Except for Smerdyakov, whose atheism suggests his suicide "woe to those who have slain themselves on Earth." So in Heart, Mind, and Soul exists for Dimitry, Ivan, and Alyosha respectively. And I suppose Smerdyakov is a black sheep that doesn't fit into this neat arrangement. How fitting.
In Alyosha's argument with Ivan, he cannot directly counter any of Ivan's reasonings. He isn't as intelligent. But his Love is his answer. In the Grand Inquisitor, the answer to the cardinal's argument is a kiss. There is no rebuttal to what logic has argued because the answer lies in something that transcends reason alone. The divine is not rational, but it has saved many lost souls. More than any earthly punishment or revenge or righteous retribution for any criminal. And for that, I will not argue for faith in God. I will argue for Love. Though it may not erase the reality of evil and pain, it is its answer. And if God is Love, then perhaps God is the answer.
I actually read the first translation, not this version, by Constance Something. There were times that I thought I would never finish the book. That I would be reading it until the end of time. But then I learned that Kafka was heavily influenced by Dostoyevsky and perhaps this trial like pacing and narration was intentional. I also wish I knew more about Russia.
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated