A review by warro
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

4.5

An epic saga that centres around the eventful passionate Karamazov family, three iconic brothers spiral through lives in drastically different ways, producing conversations of portent and import in philosophy, theology and ethics. It is a story about life and has Dostoevsky's spirit in every line of it. Albeit draggy at times, especially when detailing the lives of side characters like Elder Zosima and Kolya, Dostoevsky presents a story of great significance on God, morals through arguments, characters' pysche and actions and the overarching narrative that breaks, reforms and challenges the Karamazovs in a full-fledged humanistic way. What striked me the most is the prevalent theme of children in the book, Kolya that desires to be more mature than his age, Ilyushchka's early death, Fyodor's negligent treatment of his children and intergenerational effects in a book that essentialises the Russian zeitgeist of that time. It is not a pageturner, but one that leaves you impacted and stunned, staring at a page.