Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I mean, you could spend your whole life trying to write 'a review' of Brothers Karamazov. I loved it of course - it's filled with depth and the kind of emotional detail that feels unbelievably real, the kind of observations that don't appear in books, that don't appear anywhere so that it's something that you feel you've seen in others or yourself but never consciously described or unpacked it to the way Dostoevsky does, and always in the service of character. Marvelous.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
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:
Yes
“Not for nothing are we a poet. Not for nothing have we been burning our life like a candle at both ends”
‘The Brothers Karamazov’ is such a dense and philosophical piece, grappling with morality and religion through the lives of the three Karamazov brothers and their turbulent relationships with their father. It took a fair while to get into, and Dostoevsky’s frequent use of nicknames was hard to get the hang of, but soon it evolved from a rambling (I use this word not necessarily in a bad way) literary fiction where a lot of people ask others for loans and are frequently refused, to a sudden courtroom thriller that I drew parallels between such and Dreiser’s ‘An American Tragedy’ in this progression. It was here that I became hooked.
I have come to really like Dostoevsky’s prose and style, though I slightly preferred ‘Crime and Punishment’ for its grittiness, the author’s general attitude to life in his writing is brilliant. I will note that I felt Ivan was a character not given the same treatment by the author as the other two brothers. I got really into the stories and characters of Dmitri and especially Alyosha, although felt like Ivan was cast aside a little and much less developed than the other brothers. Although in the battle of ideologies between Ivan’s atheism and Alyosha’s faith, Ivan does seem to be granted the triumphant world view despite the authors Orthodox Christianity. His doubt towards the fight he believed in does therefore especially prevail within his writing.
(I also had the joy of peer motivation to get through this within the month as I buddy read 'The Brothers Karamazov' with Morgan !!)
(I also had the joy of peer motivation to get through this within the month as I buddy read 'The Brothers Karamazov' with Morgan !!)
this is a great book. that’s honestly a generic thing to say, but in sincerity, in depth, in ambition, in intelligence, very little else i’ve read comes close to the brothers karamazov. and what good am i in reviewing one of the best books ever written? i’ll do it anyway though; these days, anyone can have a voice, for better or worse.
this is a novel with that strange, intangible quality that makes you put a book down occasionally, stare into space, and say, "wow." some years ago, my dad recommended this book to me, saying, "it has all of life in it," and im not entirely sure he was wrong. dostoevsky’s the brothers karamazov is not just a book; it’s an experience that leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about human nature, morality, and the existence of god.
there is so much detail and insight into every character’s perspective and motivations that i felt like i got to know them all deeply. dostoevsky doesn’t just tell you about these characters; he immerses you in their lives, their thoughts, their souls. you don’t just read about ivan’s intellectual struggles or dmitri’s passionate dilemmas—you live them. alyosha’s spirituality too feels like a guiding light, even as he stumbles through the dark complexities of his family’s tragedies.
though it was an enormous feat to finish this book, i definitely recommend checking it out at some point. it is not just a novel; it’s a mirror that reflects every facet of human existence. after reading it, i’m just here, left wondering how i’m supposed to return to my normal life and do normal things?? this book is a revelation, a force that has changed me forever. and it is, without a doubt, the best book of all time ever!! i genuinely consider it my most prized possession, and yes, i wash my hands before touching it.
this is not just a book to read; it’s a book to live, to breathe, to internalize. the brothers karamazov isn’t merely a story, it’s a universe that has swallowed me whole & i’m not entirely sure i want to leave it.
this is a novel with that strange, intangible quality that makes you put a book down occasionally, stare into space, and say, "wow." some years ago, my dad recommended this book to me, saying, "it has all of life in it," and im not entirely sure he was wrong. dostoevsky’s the brothers karamazov is not just a book; it’s an experience that leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about human nature, morality, and the existence of god.
there is so much detail and insight into every character’s perspective and motivations that i felt like i got to know them all deeply. dostoevsky doesn’t just tell you about these characters; he immerses you in their lives, their thoughts, their souls. you don’t just read about ivan’s intellectual struggles or dmitri’s passionate dilemmas—you live them. alyosha’s spirituality too feels like a guiding light, even as he stumbles through the dark complexities of his family’s tragedies.
though it was an enormous feat to finish this book, i definitely recommend checking it out at some point. it is not just a novel; it’s a mirror that reflects every facet of human existence. after reading it, i’m just here, left wondering how i’m supposed to return to my normal life and do normal things?? this book is a revelation, a force that has changed me forever. and it is, without a doubt, the best book of all time ever!! i genuinely consider it my most prized possession, and yes, i wash my hands before touching it.
this is not just a book to read; it’s a book to live, to breathe, to internalize. the brothers karamazov isn’t merely a story, it’s a universe that has swallowed me whole & i’m not entirely sure i want to leave it.
slow-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One reason I didn't find this book enjoyable was that the ending was ruined for me after 5 chapters. (Thank you, CliffNotes for having spoilers for the entire book in the analysis of chapter 5.) This reads like a soap opera with characters ranting, raving, fainting, and driving themselves to madness, illness, and death just by getting into a heated discussion with each other. There were some chapters worth reading, but for the most part, most chapters were full of 30-page asides that did nothing to move the story and only worked to make me hate the characters even more. It took me almost 2 months to the day to finish because I would start to fall asleep after reading 15 pages, and I was forced to read it as an e-book, which I'm not a fan of, just to stay awake. I'll be giving Russian literature classics a break for a long time.