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perusingthepages326 's review for:

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
3.0

Let me first say I read this book on a dare. I am part of a book group through my church, typically we read things on contemplative practices and so forth. when the group first started we used a text book to guide us through our meetings. I COMPLETELY HATED THIS TEXTBOOK! At the end of every chapter there were inane exercises to be done before eh next reading. About 3/4 through this book one of the excercises literally said, read a book for next weeks session by one of the great Russian writers, examples were given including Dostoyevsky's "Brothers". I rolled with laughter and a friend in the group challenged me to do this. I actually got a good run on it almost finishing it before the next meeting two weeks hence.

I found merit, but truly the characters are so romanticized that I couldn't make a connection to any of them or their perils. I imagine there are great lessons herein, but I can recite a one. I really am not a poor reader and do try to give the classics a college try - but I read this only on a bet and finished it only because of that.

Regardless, it is wonderfully written and is always highly rated as one of the 100 books to read - I just for the life of me don't get that,lol. I am adding it to my list just to get credit for my tenacity in finishing it!