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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Usually I really love Dostoevsky's novels, but I couldn't get myself invested in this one. I didn't grow to care about any of the main characters and the interpersonal drama and I couldn't care less about God and the religious aspect which is very, very, very prevalent in this one. Kolya Krasotkin was a fascinating character, though, wish I was half as eloquent as an adult as this child.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading The Brothers Karamazov is less about following a plot and more about descending into the depths of the human soul. Dostoevsky doesn’t just write characters. Each brother represents a different existential lens: Dmitri, the chaos of desire, Ivan, the agony of reason (hello), Alyosha, the quiet resilience of faith, and Smerdyakov, the fatal result of emptiness. The part that truly captivated me was The Grand Inquisitor. It’s a staggering piece of literature that reads like a standalone philosophical text. Ivan’s parable lays bare a terrifying truth: people often don’t want freedom. They want certainty, comfort, someone else to take the burden of moral choice from their hands. It’s not just a critique of religious institutions. It echoes through modern political life, where we increasingly witness people turning away from democratic responsibility in favor of authority, control, and simplicity. The book reminds us that the fear of freedom is timeless and the refusal to bear its weight is a theme that transcends theology and seeps deep into political structures and everyday life philosophy. It forces us to ask not just what we believe, but what we are willing to take responsibility for.
This book isn’t easy. It’s demanding, dense, and at times devastating. But if you surrender to it, it changes you. Not by offering answers, but by burning the right questions into your conscience.
This book isn’t easy. It’s demanding, dense, and at times devastating. But if you surrender to it, it changes you. Not by offering answers, but by burning the right questions into your conscience.
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was probably the hardest book I've ever read. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, and it took me a whole 6 months or so to complete it. For me, it was okay, I think the reason why maybe it didn't ressonate with me is my fault. I liked the analytical, extensive way Dostoevsky writes, but at the same time, it's precisely what makes the reading so hard.
A compelling novel on the nature of faith, sin, and family.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, that was a damned long read! But after reviewing some bookmarks from early chapters, I realized just how good this novel really is and will likely re-read it one day.
Often incredibly verbose and repetitive, Dostoyevsky is a master of taking you into the mind of his characters, few, if any, of whom are lovable. Exploring those minds can be disturbing at times. Early 19th century Russia is an alien setting to modern readers, but his characters and themes are timeless.; Love, hate, redemption, madness, passion, spiritual and moral questioning, the human experience - it's all here. Does human nature ever really change?
Reading The Brothers Karamazov takes patience. Allow yourself to savor the prose. Ponder the message. Bookmark and re-read passages. If nothing else, it's a great exercise to build your attention span; it took me 5 months to get through, not including a 7 month break, but I'm glad I came back and finished it.
Often incredibly verbose and repetitive, Dostoyevsky is a master of taking you into the mind of his characters, few, if any, of whom are lovable. Exploring those minds can be disturbing at times. Early 19th century Russia is an alien setting to modern readers, but his characters and themes are timeless.; Love, hate, redemption, madness, passion, spiritual and moral questioning, the human experience - it's all here. Does human nature ever really change?
Reading The Brothers Karamazov takes patience. Allow yourself to savor the prose. Ponder the message. Bookmark and re-read passages. If nothing else, it's a great exercise to build your attention span; it took me 5 months to get through, not including a 7 month break, but I'm glad I came back and finished it.
Took me a whole year to get through this book, but not due to any fault of its own. Rather, this is perhaps the first book I’ve read that has thoroughly stumped me intellectually. There are certain literary masterpieces of chapters (I was in awe of how someone could write the way Dostoevsky did) that forced my focus into a word-by-word reading pace. I would be lying if I said I understood everything the author presented.
The characters are like none other I’ve come across. The depth of human character that embodied the cast was almost frightening. I found myself genuinely angry, sad, and confused alongside some characters.
I would probably attribute the slow pace of reading to the unfamiliarity of Russian (translated) prose. Truly a classic, and a book that demands to be reread.
The characters are like none other I’ve come across. The depth of human character that embodied the cast was almost frightening. I found myself genuinely angry, sad, and confused alongside some characters.
I would probably attribute the slow pace of reading to the unfamiliarity of Russian (translated) prose. Truly a classic, and a book that demands to be reread.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
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