Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself relating to each of the brothers at different points in the novel, though I became especially enamored with Dmitry Karamazov. I felt a deep recognition for the contradiction inherent to Mitya - his hunger to be honorable and noble despite his repeated self-serving actions. I think that that may be Dostoyevsky's strength as a writer — his ability to portray the inner conflict, the coexistence of contradicting drives, that is essential to the human condition.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
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
I need to reread this book.
It is huge, in both page numbers and meaning. The chapter that stuck with me most was Cana of Galilee.
It is huge, in both page numbers and meaning. The chapter that stuck with me most was Cana of Galilee.
I wish I could but I’m not a classsics girl. I’m sorry.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Review:
“Not because you are religious, but because I myself have experienced and felt it keenly, I will tell you that in such moments one thirsts like "parched grass" for faith and finds it precisely because truth shines in misfortune. I will tell you regarding myself that I am a child of the age, a child of nonbelief and doubt up till now and even (I know it) until my coffin closes. What terrible torments this thirst to believe has cost me and still costs me, becoming stronger in my soul, the more there is in me of contrary reasonings. And yet sometimes God sends me moments in which I am utterly at peace.” From one of the letters Dostoevsky had written to someone upon leaving prison. It’s through this that I was able to develop a certain understanding of the premise that lies ahead of the book — by understanding where the author himself stood with his beliefs. The coexistence of faith and unbelief. Which again, is why all three 3 brothers (for me, that is) felt like a representation of Dostoevsky himself, Dmitri the sensualist, Alyosha the kind hearted believer, and Ivan the rational atheist/nonbeliever — but Ivan’s ideals are more complex than that, it’s more about acceptance rather than belief itself which again is one of the ways his character gets misinterpreted, especially with his saying: “Without God, all is permitted.”
The Brothers Karamazov follows a narrative that is from the account of a stranger, a person that knows of our main characters and sincerely admires Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov. It’s through the diverse cast that makes the novel what it is. We barely remain with the same character for long but also long enough for us to understand their complexities and ideals. Usually when I read it’s mostly for philosophical investigations rather than whatever the plot is, thus this masterpiece undoubtedly called out to me because of the message it holds and the lessons it renders. But the plot itself was too good to ignore and there was never a moment I found myself bored, a majority of the characters mentioned could have their own novels dedicated to them and I’d buy them without a second thought. Take Father Zosima for example, he lived such an interesting life and had life changing encounters with certain characters, which then made him the great elder that he was till the remainder of his days. Wise, kind hearted, noble, forgiving, an understanding of true humanitarianism, and a willingness to take on the sins of his fellow man.
Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov is a terrible man and father, so it was within the realm of possibilities for his sons to end up just like him but it was never reason or excuse for it to actually happen. Dostoevsky has a grand understanding of why we do the things that we do and how we end up the way we are, but also that at the end of it all, we are our own person and are responsible for who we become — the stone that holds a hammer and chisel.
I’ve become acquainted with, attached, and have even come to detest so many of the characters mentioned because of how well written and fleshed out they are. Earlier on I opined that the brothers are a representation of Dostoevsky, but I’ve also come to realise it’s not just them alone. A majority of the characters and their state of affairs mirror those of the author as well, more so in the case of the loss of one’s children. We observe as a majority of our cast deal with death and sickness in many different ways and how harrowing it is, especially when coming to terms with their inevitable poverty — leading to socialist conversations. It’s unfortunate that all I’m able to do at the moment is to ramble and not articulate myself proper and form coherent thoughts, especially because I haven’t even spoken about the murder mystery part of the book which takes place at least 55% into the book. For a time I was convinced of one thing and had to then question my comprehension skills as well the deceptive skills of the characters or Dostoevsky himself. It’s truly an amazing story, just marvellous, and it absolutely deserves all the hype around its name. An extraordinary exploration of free will, morality, suffering, family dynamics, poverty, and social commentary here and there.
Personal Conclusion(s):
I have grown further away from religion or the concept of God because I found it hard to render myself to something that is not tangible, but it’s not in a sense of me not trying or giving effort to do so. I try — by all means, and I’ll always be open to new ideas and views. I’m not obtuse or ignorant. But it is also because of the world we live in, the suffering that exists and how it implements the innocent, that I find myself struggling to believe or accept a loving creator.
Which could explain my fondness towards Ivan and his ideas and why I felt a sort of resonance whenever he was present.
When reading book five (Pro & Contra) I was given a newer perspective to my never ending existential dread, and that the meaning of life isn’t something that I ought to find and make my own, but rather something I must be willing to give myself to. Sacrifice my own freedom and letting it become my solace, which is what I think occurs within faith; a full surrendering. It’s within our human nature to do so, to devout ourselves and our entirety to something. To love life even if it means without logic or sense as it is and always was when we were children. Dostoevsky is simply the greatest to ever give narrative to the human condition, what it is to truly be human and again what it means to truly suffer from within — the curse and gift that is of our conscience. And so it is with this that I say, that this book, has undoubtedly changed my life, for better or for worse I’m not the same man I was 800 pages ago.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes