Reviews

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

emily_mad's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

reading_ryn's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

tienno22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An amazingly nuanced book. Amazingly complex character, and even when you think you hate one Dostoevsky will prove that your preconceived perceptions were wrong. Most importantly, the story of the onion declares how a single simply minor good act (a single drop in the ocean per say) can ripple out and positively affect others. One good act and trigger a ripple affect that saves countless lives. Dostoevsky explores the powerful effects of attention. How seeing someone beyond their surface can be a profound act of goodness and salvation. To be seen is powerful. These characters are incredibly complex. Dostoevsky states the difference between active love and love in dreams. Active love is selfish, not done for the stage or even a dimple thank you. A profound exploration of harsh active love. Beautifully and gracefully, Dostoevsky claims the beauty of life. There is something holy in indulging in the joys of life and that it was not designed for endless suffering (though it may feel that way sometimes).

Profound themes, amazing characters, fast-paced plot, great relevance to life.

crossmaster_flash's review against another edition

5.0

One of the few true masterpieces

uvw's review against another edition

4.25

"If the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness."

levonanthony's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I finished this book less than twelve hours ago and I already miss them. 

Who?

Everyone.

emegallego's review against another edition

5.0

Todos somos un Karamázov más.

solarcowgirl's review against another edition

3.0

fantastic ideas and notions on philosophy dredged out in 800+ pages of some of the strangest run on sentences I’ve read in my life. it’s a good read but not that fun of one, I just don’t connect with it the way other people seem to.

maybe I’m too young to appreciate this intensity, or I’m a plot driven person (I’m not, I’ve always been a dialogue girl), but this just seemed like incoherent rambling at certain points, with very beautiful points embedded within. glad I read it, NEVER again.

walruz's review against another edition

4.0

Dostoevski can be long-winded on occasion, in part due to his having published in serial format, but this book is worth it. The chapter entitled "The Grand Inquisitor" gets a lot of press--deservedly--but the chapter which preceeds it, "Rebellion," is in its own right remarkable.

anakuyenhn's review against another edition

4.0

A pesar de ser un libro bastante extenso, tiene una historia muy interesante y no muy común. Las reflexiones a lo largo del libro son muy interesantes sin importar cuales sean tus creencias. El lenguaje es muy descriptivo permitiéndonos conocer a profundidad la naturaleza de cada uno de los personajes. Yo en lo personal me enamoré del personaje de Ivan, quien, aunque no es el principal de la historia, le da mucha fuerza y pone en contexto una fuerte crítica a la sociedad de la época.