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cpope9's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really unsure how to rate this book.
On one hand, it's an ideological and literary classic. There's just so much wonder and beauty and poetry in this book that it's impossible to not give it kudos for its morality, thought-provoking prose, and the depth of its environment and characters.
On the other hand, this is not a satisfying or well-crafted tale. Despite its poetry and philosophy, it often feels like this book is just a 300-page family crime drama with 500 pages of poetic and philosophical digression that hardly seems to add up to something whole. Maybe I didn't read carefully enough or the times I did find myself disengaged or bored were precisely the times I needed to pay deeper attention, but it just didn't add up to me. And despite the eventual outcome of the novel, there were still too many questions left unanswered and the conclusion too meaningless for me to really care or laud this story.
But then it's not about the story...it's clear that it's about the philosophy. It's unquestionable that the characters, interactions, and purpose are all to examine different aspects of human and social behavior, belief, and systems. And that vibes very well throughout the novel...but I guess I just didn't have my philosopher cap on while reading because it still didn't all add up for me.
But I find myself wanting to read it again. Maybe not "again and again", but definitely again. I am saddened to leave behind this unique set of difficult and broken characters. I am longing for the sequel that this book so eagerly sets up (and even references at least once in the novel), but that I know I'll never get. This is just such mastery...but it's so digressive and meandering that I am as annoyed by it as I am happy with it.
So I guess it gets 4 stars from me because I will read it again. But it may be the least earned 4 stars of any of the books I've read...or maybe it's the most deserving at the same time???
...that's the problem with this book. I can't tell if I love or hate it, but I know I want more of it.
On one hand, it's an ideological and literary classic. There's just so much wonder and beauty and poetry in this book that it's impossible to not give it kudos for its morality, thought-provoking prose, and the depth of its environment and characters.
On the other hand, this is not a satisfying or well-crafted tale. Despite its poetry and philosophy, it often feels like this book is just a 300-page family crime drama with 500 pages of poetic and philosophical digression that hardly seems to add up to something whole. Maybe I didn't read carefully enough or the times I did find myself disengaged or bored were precisely the times I needed to pay deeper attention, but it just didn't add up to me. And despite the eventual outcome of the novel, there were still too many questions left unanswered and the conclusion too meaningless for me to really care or laud this story.
But then it's not about the story...it's clear that it's about the philosophy. It's unquestionable that the characters, interactions, and purpose are all to examine different aspects of human and social behavior, belief, and systems. And that vibes very well throughout the novel...but I guess I just didn't have my philosopher cap on while reading because it still didn't all add up for me.
But I find myself wanting to read it again. Maybe not "again and again", but definitely again. I am saddened to leave behind this unique set of difficult and broken characters. I am longing for the sequel that this book so eagerly sets up (and even references at least once in the novel), but that I know I'll never get. This is just such mastery...but it's so digressive and meandering that I am as annoyed by it as I am happy with it.
So I guess it gets 4 stars from me because I will read it again. But it may be the least earned 4 stars of any of the books I've read...or maybe it's the most deserving at the same time???
...that's the problem with this book. I can't tell if I love or hate it, but I know I want more of it.
jorwilsch's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea what this book was about going in, only that it was one of those “greats” of literature. I was intrigued for the first bit, and it mostly held my attention throughout, but by the end I just wanted it to be done. The end was anticlimactic and left quite a bit unresolved. I did get that there the author had a lot to say about the “themes”, but I didn’t really get it. I probably would’ve gotten more out of it in a lot class but I probably would’ve disliked it more.
ellieoffrell's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars because somebody had to go and die before writing Alyosha's book.
carmen_el's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
5.0
This one is a chunkster and is so all-encompassing that there is no way I can do it justice. In short, it’s about three brothers and their tyrant father, a love triangle, and a lot of philosophizing. I loved it and am pretty sure that I could read it ten more times and never really grasp every single concept in the book but I enjoyed it, anyway. It’s one of those books that you’ll either read or not read and my review won’t make a difference, but if you’re thinking about reading it then it’s time to bump it up your list.
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Read more: http://www.thebookwheelblog.com/mini-reviews-russian-lit-mississippi/#ixzz3TdxyL9wu
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escragg92's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
no1knewme's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
not_a_robot01's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Going into this book, I was certainly intimidated. With over 800 pages, it was certainly daunting; it taunted me, laying on my bedside table.
However, I pushed through and, surprisingly, found myself enjoying it more than I had thought I would. I read Crime and Punishment in the past; it was alright, so I didn't have many expectations for this. I'll admit, there were parts that were exhausting to get through, and in total, it took me around a month and a half to finish.
I'm not someone who is familiar with the intricacies of Russian culture in the 1800s, so some things described were lost to me. Despite all these factors, I found this novel no less enjoyable. I was surprised at how engaging it was; in my opinion, it read like a soap opera at times. I was surprised at how funny it was. There were parts that genuinely had me laughing, parts that had my jaw literally drop, and parts that had me tear up. I never would have thought that reading an interrogation could be so engaging.
However, just as I felt with Crime and Punishment, I was disappointed by the ending. Perhaps I am not intellectual enough to understand his vague closing of the story, but I was left with many questions. For example: what happened to Lise? Did Ivan die? Did Dmitri escape? Maybe it was meant to be open ended on purpose, though I just was not satisfied with how the ending was written.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read; I definitely prefer it over Crime and Punishment and I recommend it (despite the boring parts).
However, I pushed through and, surprisingly, found myself enjoying it more than I had thought I would. I read Crime and Punishment in the past; it was alright, so I didn't have many expectations for this. I'll admit, there were parts that were exhausting to get through, and in total, it took me around a month and a half to finish.
I'm not someone who is familiar with the intricacies of Russian culture in the 1800s, so some things described were lost to me. Despite all these factors, I found this novel no less enjoyable. I was surprised at how engaging it was; in my opinion, it read like a soap opera at times. I was surprised at how funny it was. There were parts that genuinely had me laughing, parts that had my jaw literally drop, and parts that had me tear up. I never would have thought that reading an interrogation could be so engaging.
However, just as I felt with Crime and Punishment, I was disappointed by the ending. Perhaps I am not intellectual enough to understand his vague closing of the story, but I was left with many questions. For example: what happened to Lise? Did Ivan die? Did Dmitri escape? Maybe it was meant to be open ended on purpose, though I just was not satisfied with how the ending was written.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read; I definitely prefer it over Crime and Punishment and I recommend it (despite the boring parts).
mark_kivimaki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75