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mjmarx59's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The philosophy parts were more interesting than the story. It’s just such a heavy book. Many say this is the best book of all time, and I’m glad I read it, but it’s not worth the massive amount of time it takes to read. I’d just recommend watching a 3 hr YouTube video on it instead of reading it.
greden's review against another edition
5.0
"If there is no God, then everything is allowed" -Ivan Karamazov
I usually don't get sucked into books, but at one time, I did not want to put it down. That was a first for me.
The story is about three brothers, Dmitri, the ex-soldier, passionate and wild, Ivan, the intellectual nihilist, and Alyosha, the youngest of the three brothers, who is a novice monk.
Dostoyevsky, through Ivan, launches a devastating attack on Christianity, first by criticising God that he would allow a terrible situation of a suffering child and saying "I don't reject God, I reject the world he has created." In the most famous chapter of the book, Ivan tells the story of "The Grand Inquisitor" which describes a strange story about Jesus coming back at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. After performing a couple of miracles, he is put in jail, being told by the head of the inquisition that "You are not welcome back, you gave the people freedom, and the church has ever since worked to take that away from them. The people do not want freedom; they want happiness." Jesus reminds silent, and simply kisses him before the Grand Inquisitor leaves Jesus in the jail, leaving the door unlocked.
Alyosha steals Jesus' move and kisses Ivan after giving a devastating attack on Christianity. And it is he, Aloyhsa, the youngest of the three brothers, that win in the end. In terms of arguments, it's easier to argue for atheism over Christianity. What Dostoyevsky points out is that Christianity is about doing the right thing, not being right in an argument. Jesus stays silent and kisses the Grand Inquisitor. Alyosha "wins" in the end: "Hooray for Karamazov" the children praise him, while Dmitri is exiled to Siberia and Ivan goes mad.
I think the message here is that although atheism beats Christianity in terms of arguments, Christianity holds its power in action, not logic. And so in the end, I believe this book is a defence of Christianity.
However...
This book contains a disturbing scene where the famous monk, Zosima, who has been of good moral character and dedicated his life to prayer and good-will, dies. His corpse lies inside a small room, and many visitors come to visit. Eventually, his corpse begins to smell, and there is an outrage of the monastery as if this was proof he was not a holy man. And so Zosima, who has been of good moral character, and dedicated his life to prayer and good.will, has his legacy damaged and remembered for his odour. Aloysha, witnessing this, goes through a spiritual crisis, losing his faith for some time.
There are many instances where Dostoyevsky shows a stunning understanding of human psychology and a broad life experience. Some parts just blew me away, where the dialogue was so spot-on similar to crucial moments in my life. Either it was just some coincidence, or Dostoyevsky knew something.
There are so many things Dostoyevsky wants to get across at once. An attack on Christianity. A defence on Christianity. Odour. Spirituality. Love. Passion. Death. In the end, I think this is a tribute to human imperfection. The irrational chaos of the human spirit is what makes us so beautiful.
I will revisit this book multiple times in my lifetime. It’s one of those books that made me think that people aren’t supposed to be “fixed.” I'm not even clear on what the core message of the book is. I mean, what's the moral of the story here? Be like Alyosha, and just emit 'em good vibes? It's not clear to me. Dostoyevsky makes the point of view of all the brothers "right", yet are incompatible with each other.
I don't really think Dostoyevsky tried to give an answer, instead, he dramatized the tension between our instincts, our rationality and our spirituality in a compelling love/murder story, with profound psychological insights and raising fundamental philosophical questions.
I usually don't get sucked into books, but at one time, I did not want to put it down. That was a first for me.
The story is about three brothers, Dmitri, the ex-soldier, passionate and wild, Ivan, the intellectual nihilist, and Alyosha, the youngest of the three brothers, who is a novice monk.
Dostoyevsky, through Ivan, launches a devastating attack on Christianity, first by criticising God that he would allow a terrible situation of a suffering child and saying "I don't reject God, I reject the world he has created." In the most famous chapter of the book, Ivan tells the story of "The Grand Inquisitor" which describes a strange story about Jesus coming back at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. After performing a couple of miracles, he is put in jail, being told by the head of the inquisition that "You are not welcome back, you gave the people freedom, and the church has ever since worked to take that away from them. The people do not want freedom; they want happiness." Jesus reminds silent, and simply kisses him before the Grand Inquisitor leaves Jesus in the jail, leaving the door unlocked.
Alyosha steals Jesus' move and kisses Ivan after giving a devastating attack on Christianity. And it is he, Aloyhsa, the youngest of the three brothers, that win in the end. In terms of arguments, it's easier to argue for atheism over Christianity. What Dostoyevsky points out is that Christianity is about doing the right thing, not being right in an argument. Jesus stays silent and kisses the Grand Inquisitor. Alyosha "wins" in the end: "Hooray for Karamazov" the children praise him, while Dmitri is exiled to Siberia and Ivan goes mad.
I think the message here is that although atheism beats Christianity in terms of arguments, Christianity holds its power in action, not logic. And so in the end, I believe this book is a defence of Christianity.
However...
This book contains a disturbing scene where the famous monk, Zosima, who has been of good moral character and dedicated his life to prayer and good-will, dies. His corpse lies inside a small room, and many visitors come to visit. Eventually, his corpse begins to smell, and there is an outrage of the monastery as if this was proof he was not a holy man. And so Zosima, who has been of good moral character, and dedicated his life to prayer and good.will, has his legacy damaged and remembered for his odour. Aloysha, witnessing this, goes through a spiritual crisis, losing his faith for some time.
There are many instances where Dostoyevsky shows a stunning understanding of human psychology and a broad life experience. Some parts just blew me away, where the dialogue was so spot-on similar to crucial moments in my life. Either it was just some coincidence, or Dostoyevsky knew something.
There are so many things Dostoyevsky wants to get across at once. An attack on Christianity. A defence on Christianity. Odour. Spirituality. Love. Passion. Death. In the end, I think this is a tribute to human imperfection. The irrational chaos of the human spirit is what makes us so beautiful.
I will revisit this book multiple times in my lifetime. It’s one of those books that made me think that people aren’t supposed to be “fixed.” I'm not even clear on what the core message of the book is. I mean, what's the moral of the story here? Be like Alyosha, and just emit 'em good vibes? It's not clear to me. Dostoyevsky makes the point of view of all the brothers "right", yet are incompatible with each other.
I don't really think Dostoyevsky tried to give an answer, instead, he dramatized the tension between our instincts, our rationality and our spirituality in a compelling love/murder story, with profound psychological insights and raising fundamental philosophical questions.
cyberloop's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this was sooooo crazy like unbelievably crazy… a book about the human condition !
definitely slow at the start was expecting the parricide to happen quick like first 100 pages like the murder in crime and punishment does but theres so much buildup but it all makes sense at the end. also very funny book no one mentions that but i did have a few laughs. the suspense and tension right up to and after the murder is crazy thoughlike you know whats coming to him as he picks up the pestle and then walks around with blood on his hands but you cant do anything but you know he is dooming himself even more right then and there!!!! and you believed mitya didnt kill his father but you know his time free is coming to an end….
and the next 200 or so pages you’re thinking no its not mitya it can’t be but it all seems to keep piling up against him again and again and just when you are finally about to give into your doubt you are told you were right all along!!!
not joking i was reading this on the bus to work in the morning and i legitimately stopped three paragraphs beforesmerdyakov admits to the murder LOL imagine my surprise when i got back on the bus home and started reading again. that being said the last idk 200 pages were like walking into an electric fence repeatedly i was thinking stop the madness pleaseeee pleasee it was like smerdyakov admits to the murder BZZZT thenivan goes berserk BZZZZZT ivan hallucinates and talks to the devil BZZZZZZZZZT SMERDYAKOV KILLS HIMSELF AFTER CONFESSING BZZZZZZZT ivan has brain fever and gives the stupidest testimony ever BZZT and then katerina goes berserk too and recants her good testimony in favour of one than damns dmitri because she wants ivan to be spared BZZZZZZZZZZT and then i die from all the electric shocks AND THEN HE’S CONVICTED!!!!!!! you know what i mean of course (<- guy who is writing this review for one person only)
the real dilemma here is what happens to ivan. does he recover or not. how does he live with himself because he said he was going to chermasnya but then he doesnt actually go to chermasnya but its too late its all too late. AND HE KNOWS!!! i stand by my interpretation i think ivan knew and did nothing and he knows this and this is why he goes crazy…i would too tbh
i did really like that both ivan and dmitri (and raskolnikov from crime and punishment) have the same gnawing issue with the world: why is there needless suffering? why do we let it happen? and the unsatisfactory answer from the world is that we are asking a stupid question. but how do you live in the world without an answer to this!!!! and dmitri and ivan’s worldviews are shaped by finding an answer to this question!!! (but they come to two different conclusions hence their standings by the end of the book). just so crazyy
definitely slow at the start was expecting the parricide to happen quick like first 100 pages like the murder in crime and punishment does but theres so much buildup but it all makes sense at the end. also very funny book no one mentions that but i did have a few laughs. the suspense and tension right up to and after the murder is crazy though
and the next 200 or so pages you’re thinking no its not mitya it can’t be but it all seems to keep piling up against him again and again and just when you are finally about to give into your doubt you are told you were right all along!!!
not joking i was reading this on the bus to work in the morning and i legitimately stopped three paragraphs before
the real dilemma here is what happens to ivan. does he recover or not. how does he live with himself because he said he was going to chermasnya but then he doesnt actually go to chermasnya but its too late its all too late. AND HE KNOWS!!! i stand by my interpretation i think ivan knew and did nothing and he knows this and this is why he goes crazy…i would too tbh
i did really like that both ivan and dmitri (and raskolnikov from crime and punishment) have the same gnawing issue with the world: why is there needless suffering? why do we let it happen? and the unsatisfactory answer from the world is that we are asking a stupid question. but how do you live in the world without an answer to this!!!! and dmitri and ivan’s worldviews are shaped by finding an answer to this question!!! (but they come to two different conclusions hence their standings by the end of the book). just so crazyy
lavrme's review against another edition
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
5.0
petar1604's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mars_perry's review against another edition
4.0
ho approfittato dei viaggi in macchina per ascoltare l'audiolibro di questo capolavoro, spero un giorno di avere la concentrazione e il tempo di leggerlo e gustarmelo con calma ma se volete dare una chance ai grandi classici russi datela a Dostoevskij, ha un senso dell'umorismo che vi entra dentro pure raccontando uno dei parricidi più tragici della storia della letteratura
k_gregz's review
This feels blasphemous for someone like me (religious with PhD in literature) to admit, but I just could not get interested in this. 🙈 I read until The Grand Inquisitor chapter just to make sure. Maybe I'll try again when I have more leisure time in my life.
sn0uty's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
joachimhuyghe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25