A review by mi__ela
The Karamazov Brothers by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think that if the devil didn’t exist and if man has created him, then he has created him in his own image and likeness.

Took me forever but we've made it chat!!

The Karamazov Brothers is one of Dostoevsky's most known novels. In this book, he passionately talks about his beliefs and ideas, such as, the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the freedom of man, the collective nature of guilt, etc.
I found interesting Ivan's idea about how disastrous it would be if the world operated without God, only based on rational principles (to which he say that 'everything is permissible'). Obviously, nowadays such topic is hardly one that is outrageous, but for that time, it must have been quite the discussion.

I also loved how The Karamazov Brothers ranges over a wide spectrum of human concerns, like family ties, the upbringing of children, the relationship between Church and State, and above all everyone's responsibility to others.

Alyosha (the third son) is described as the main hero of the story, but as I kept reading, it didn't really feel like it, until I learned that Dostoevsky planned a sequel with him as the main character, but he died 3 months after completing this novel. WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALL 😭 

Dmitry and Ivan might be everyone's favorites, but you, Alyosha, shall be mine ☺️

I wanted initially to give this novel a 4.5, maybe a 5 star, because I was willing to overlook the yapping he sometimes went on. However, I took a whole star off because of those last few chapters in the last book, with the closing statements of the prosecutor and the defense lawyer. That shit was a pain to get through, I skimmed through all of those chapters, truthfully speaking.