Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The only thing I really want to say about this book--the only thing that probably has not been covered in any of the other reviews--is the equal weight he gave to each of the three major philosophical positions. Dostoevsky was what we would consider a conservative Christian in his day, but the fact that he gave equal consideration to Rationalism (Ivan), even writing "The Grand Inquisitor", is a major feat. This book should unite both Christians and atheists.
Dostoevsky is the greatest novelist who ever lived, and I present The Brothers Karamazov as my evidence.
Dostoevsky is the greatest novelist who ever lived, and I present The Brothers Karamazov as my evidence.
dark
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Yes
After having read most of Dostoyevsky’s previous work I braced myself for a single, complex, neurotic protagonist and found to my relief a kinder, more social story. The focus, especially in the first half was mainly on characters just barely overcoming their issues or just barely succumbing to them. There is a magnetic feeling of immanent transformation that pervades the story even through the long and interconnected plotlines. There is a great consistency of characterization, shades of recognizable characters if not in our own families than in that of others. Great speeches also punctuate the story, with long interludes between where dialogue advances fresh perspectives on the spiritual themes that concern the characters most: God, morality, familial responsibility, social justice,
romantic attachment, mental illness, poverty, hope, and death. It is really amazing as a work of organization around the telling of this story, and the perspective of the storyteller is unique.
My general impression of the novel was that Dostoyevsky wanted to create a story that involved the expanding feeling of empathy, curiousity, openness and nonjudgment in the face of different kinds of suffering. He does this by multiplying the perspectives and by positioning his characters, if only slightly or occasionally, in situations where the better angels of their nature may be expressed. The death of a saint and the rising of another is in the consciousness of all the spiritual characters and whether they believe in God or not the belief in kindness as a source of connection remains so deeply rooted in their hearts that it cannot be erased. Even in the depths of madness or suicide we find characters that Dostoyevsky searching for this part of our humanity and recognizing it even in total chaos. By telling the story from multiple perspectives the reader will come to recognize the truth in the speeches that echo throughout the book, both from the master and his apprentice hero, namely that we are responsible for one another and how we raise each other and reform each other. This is not simply a matter of self sacrifice or self negation but a matter of our existence as human beings. With or without God, we create meaning in our lives out of the meaning that others bring to our lives. Our own life cannot mean anything without other lives being meaningful to us.
I loved the first half especially, but felt that the events after the main climax became too much at times. By that I mean the depths of psychosis that the main characters experience in the second half is hard to bear, especially after having built such a relationship to them over the first 400 pages. The ending was also good.
romantic attachment, mental illness, poverty, hope, and death. It is really amazing as a work of organization around the telling of this story, and the perspective of the storyteller is unique.
My general impression of the novel was that Dostoyevsky wanted to create a story that involved the expanding feeling of empathy, curiousity, openness and nonjudgment in the face of different kinds of suffering. He does this by multiplying the perspectives and by positioning his characters, if only slightly or occasionally, in situations where the better angels of their nature may be expressed. The death of a saint and the rising of another is in the consciousness of all the spiritual characters and whether they believe in God or not the belief in kindness as a source of connection remains so deeply rooted in their hearts that it cannot be erased. Even in the depths of madness or suicide we find characters that Dostoyevsky searching for this part of our humanity and recognizing it even in total chaos. By telling the story from multiple perspectives the reader will come to recognize the truth in the speeches that echo throughout the book, both from the master and his apprentice hero, namely that we are responsible for one another and how we raise each other and reform each other. This is not simply a matter of self sacrifice or self negation but a matter of our existence as human beings. With or without God, we create meaning in our lives out of the meaning that others bring to our lives. Our own life cannot mean anything without other lives being meaningful to us.
I loved the first half especially, but felt that the events after the main climax became too much at times. By that I mean the depths of psychosis that the main characters experience in the second half is hard to bear, especially after having built such a relationship to them over the first 400 pages. The ending was also good.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes