obtuseblues's review against another edition
4.0
i was entirely too excited to read this after the building up of so much anticipation of seeing snippets and hearing praise for this book, especially this translated version. i think my expectations were high and a little misguided. i figured it would be more exciting and involved in the plot of parricide than it was. instead, like most russian authors, ends up being a thinly veiled social commentary on class and politics of the time, which is all well and good, but not what i was really expecting.
the timeline of this story is so insane because the first few books occur over 3ish days and then there's the murder and trial. dostoevsky is nothing if not thorough. that is to say, the version i read is almost 800 pages, and definitely a more slow-paced book. he really goes through the events of the three initial days meticulously, building tension and dynamics plot-wise, and also molding our characters into whole persons. ultimately, they end up being almost archetypes in way, but still afforded complexity and dimensionality that allows for investment and complicated feelings towards them and their actions. i don't know how i feel about his women characters. the most interesting one by far is liza, but she's afforded a more minor role amidst grushenka and katerina. i loved (the first half of) liza's unbecoming in the presence of alyosha. she really embodied insane girl energy. but then she goes off to a point i no longer enjoy and then is not mentioned thereafter, sadly.
perhaps this is might be a controversial opinion, but as much as i did like alyosha, i liked dmitri much more, despite his stupidity. he had an earnestness paired with passion that really made me believe in his convictions. alyosha as our protagonist is rightfully so, serving as the utmost pious, kind, compassionate moral compass. yet, that made him a little boring, no? ivan was okay. he became his most interesting in his moments of madness. smerdyakov proved to be an intriguing and cunning sort that i almost wish we could spend more time in his life to really know him as the fourth and illegitimate karamazov brother. the bits of ilyusha and kolya were so endearing and feel so important now, looking back, even though they weren't conferred that significance by me as i read it.
i'm glad the foreword mentioned that this was originally published periodically in a paper or journal. the format, pacing, and framing makes much more sense in that context. i thought it was so interesting that we accompany dmitri on his murderous journey, fully equipped with all of the details of the feat, and then are presented with the interrogation and trial. the book is so long that i found myself referring back to the section of the murder to confirm if the litigators' arguments held up, if dmitri's framing really happened. it was such an interesting case of cognitive dissonance, creating an insane liminal space within this book.
masterful. timeless. fascinating. thought-provoking. i will revisit this one day.
the timeline of this story is so insane because the first few books occur over 3ish days and then there's the murder and trial. dostoevsky is nothing if not thorough. that is to say, the version i read is almost 800 pages, and definitely a more slow-paced book. he really goes through the events of the three initial days meticulously, building tension and dynamics plot-wise, and also molding our characters into whole persons. ultimately, they end up being almost archetypes in way, but still afforded complexity and dimensionality that allows for investment and complicated feelings towards them and their actions. i don't know how i feel about his women characters. the most interesting one by far is liza, but she's afforded a more minor role amidst grushenka and katerina. i loved (the first half of) liza's unbecoming in the presence of alyosha. she really embodied insane girl energy. but then she goes off to a point i no longer enjoy and then is not mentioned thereafter, sadly.
perhaps this is might be a controversial opinion, but as much as i did like alyosha, i liked dmitri much more, despite his stupidity. he had an earnestness paired with passion that really made me believe in his convictions. alyosha as our protagonist is rightfully so, serving as the utmost pious, kind, compassionate moral compass. yet, that made him a little boring, no? ivan was okay. he became his most interesting in his moments of madness. smerdyakov proved to be an intriguing and cunning sort that i almost wish we could spend more time in his life to really know him as the fourth and illegitimate karamazov brother. the bits of ilyusha and kolya were so endearing and feel so important now, looking back, even though they weren't conferred that significance by me as i read it.
i'm glad the foreword mentioned that this was originally published periodically in a paper or journal. the format, pacing, and framing makes much more sense in that context. i thought it was so interesting that we accompany dmitri on his murderous journey, fully equipped with all of the details of the feat, and then are presented with the interrogation and trial. the book is so long that i found myself referring back to the section of the murder to confirm if the litigators' arguments held up, if dmitri's framing really happened. it was such an interesting case of cognitive dissonance, creating an insane liminal space within this book.
masterful. timeless. fascinating. thought-provoking. i will revisit this one day.
osttp's review against another edition
1.0
очекував повеќе не знам, не ја ни прочитав до крај.. можеби не ја разбрав, можеби некогаш пак ќе се соочам со оваа книга и ќе и го сфатам подлабоко значењето..3/10
cheapmonday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
my god I actually finished it. stan alyosha!
This is very much a character-driven book. It has a slow and very introspective pacing, which is not a bad thing, but which may seem tedious to someone used to faster paced works. I personally enjoyed that it took it's time to explore certain subjects, though it's long it's not due to any "padding".
This is very much a character-driven book. It has a slow and very introspective pacing, which is not a bad thing, but which may seem tedious to someone used to faster paced works. I personally enjoyed that it took it's time to explore certain subjects, though it's long it's not due to any "padding".
yuliia_trevi's review against another edition
5.0
One of the greatest of all time.
Enjoyed it immensely.
Enjoyed it immensely.
regitzexenia's review against another edition
4.0
I have no idea what to say.
i read the majority of this book in just two days and what an experience that was. But really, I have no idea how to sum up my thoughts about this book. I really enjoyed it yes, but I'm not so sure I can explain why.
One thing is for sure. Now I really need to get my hands on the rest of Dostoevsky's books. Between this and Crime and Punishment, I think he's landed squarely among my favourite authors for good.
i read the majority of this book in just two days and what an experience that was. But really, I have no idea how to sum up my thoughts about this book. I really enjoyed it yes, but I'm not so sure I can explain why.
One thing is for sure. Now I really need to get my hands on the rest of Dostoevsky's books. Between this and Crime and Punishment, I think he's landed squarely among my favourite authors for good.
caitytruss's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
4.25
ellelovesbook's review against another edition
5.0
Although this was my first of Dostoevsky's novels, it won't be my last. Cover to cover took me just over two weeks. I'm glad I finished it in a short time frame so I could really absorb the meaning.
And if we're talking about meaning, The Brothers Karamasov has endless takeaways. It follows the reunion of a Russian family through a murder in their small town. Each brother epitomizes a very different way of living life.
As a religious man, Dostoevsky exemplifies the following in this novel, "I’m not entitled to have an opinion unless I can state the arguments against my position better than the people who are in opposition."
I found a lot of similarities between this book and that of absurdism as defined by Albert Camus. Camus gives us three options to life through absurdism:
1. Suicide (Smerdyakov)
2. Philosophical suicide (Alyosha)
3. Creating a one's own subjective meaning, although it will still be nullified through death (Ivan)
Although I'm sure Dostoevsky wouldn't label his religious belief as "philosophical suicide" (especially since the term was coined well after he passed), it is intriguing to decipher who Dostoevsky proposes as the prevailing paradigm of the novel.
It's a lengthy book and not for the faint of heart. There's lots of dialogue and extended scenes that seemed fruitless at first but it was actually in these parts I found some of my all-time favorite excerpts:
"If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love."
"I believe it’s always best to get to know people just before leaving them."
"And I shall not weep from despair, but simply because I shall be happy in my tears, I shall steep my soul in my emotion. I love the sticky leaves in spring, the blue sky—that’s all it is. It’s not a matter of intellect or logic, it’s loving with one’s inside, with one’s stomach. One loves the first strength of one’s youth. Do you understand anything of my tirade, Alyosha?"
"One such soul, you know, is sometimes worth a whole constellation."
"Didst Thou forget that man prefers peace, and even death, to freedom of choice in the knowledge of good and evil? Nothing is more seductive for man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering."
Thanks to my friend who introduced me to this book. I already keen on reading it again.
And if we're talking about meaning, The Brothers Karamasov has endless takeaways. It follows the reunion of a Russian family through a murder in their small town. Each brother epitomizes a very different way of living life.
As a religious man, Dostoevsky exemplifies the following in this novel, "I’m not entitled to have an opinion unless I can state the arguments against my position better than the people who are in opposition."
I found a lot of similarities between this book and that of absurdism as defined by Albert Camus. Camus gives us three options to life through absurdism:
1. Suicide (Smerdyakov)
2. Philosophical suicide (Alyosha)
3. Creating a one's own subjective meaning, although it will still be nullified through death (Ivan)
Although I'm sure Dostoevsky wouldn't label his religious belief as "philosophical suicide" (especially since the term was coined well after he passed), it is intriguing to decipher who Dostoevsky proposes as the prevailing paradigm of the novel.
It's a lengthy book and not for the faint of heart. There's lots of dialogue and extended scenes that seemed fruitless at first but it was actually in these parts I found some of my all-time favorite excerpts:
"If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love."
"I believe it’s always best to get to know people just before leaving them."
"And I shall not weep from despair, but simply because I shall be happy in my tears, I shall steep my soul in my emotion. I love the sticky leaves in spring, the blue sky—that’s all it is. It’s not a matter of intellect or logic, it’s loving with one’s inside, with one’s stomach. One loves the first strength of one’s youth. Do you understand anything of my tirade, Alyosha?"
"One such soul, you know, is sometimes worth a whole constellation."
"Didst Thou forget that man prefers peace, and even death, to freedom of choice in the knowledge of good and evil? Nothing is more seductive for man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering."
Thanks to my friend who introduced me to this book. I already keen on reading it again.
andrew_w's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book, changed my life. Great for making yourself sound smart to strangers at a bar, plus you get mad street cred if you can pronounce the author's name.
sonjar's review against another edition
5.0
It is said this is Dostoevsky's masterpiece and one of the greatest novels. I completely agree. Amazing...