Reviews

The Brothers Karamazov by Constance Garnett, Fyodor Dostoevsky

ehershkovitz's review against another edition

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5.0

A masterpiece!

kingstongunner's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

catangle's review against another edition

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on the final day of march. i've finished this undertaking. i will miss aleksey. but he's not far away!

nonightlights's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

benrogerswpg's review against another edition

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4.0

It was a really good book.

Inspirational read for sure.

I quite enjoyed this great Christian story.

4.2/5

froggylife01's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

stacevox's review against another edition

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4.0

It’s a Russian Classic, so naturally, I love it. This book is not just a murder mystery, it’s not just about courtroom drama and family dysfunction. This book is a work of philosophy concerning the existence of God, good and evil, free will, the nature of man and it is absolutely gripping.

I love long novels because they are so rich and the supporting characters and their stories are not mere plot points, but fully realised and woven into the story. All of the characters are so human, even as they are set up to be archetypes of their philosophy, how this changes and grows throughout the story they are each beautifully written and developed. At points, you will sympathise with each of the characters, you will be irritated by them, it is their beautiful complexity that makes this novel the masterpiece it is.

Every time I read this novel, I am astounded by how it grips me, and how compelling it is. It makes the reader think hard about who they are themselves, and grapple with the themes of the book, so we are taken on a journey much like the brothers are. I love this book.

dl17's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

lpjdamen's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

themtj's review against another edition

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5.0

Takes a little while to get off the ground and a little while to wrap up (lots of ink spilled on the trial). But all in all it is a masterpiece. Full of irony, comedy, tragedy, theology, and psychology.

While Alyosha is the redemptive character and most enjoyable, I, like everyone in literary history, loved Ivan's, "The Grand Inquisitor." I also enjoyed Ivan's disputation with the devil in the final book. In my mind, those two sons are the crux of the story (despite the Mitya being on trial for their father's death.) All interactions between Alyosha and Ivan made the book worthwhile for me!