startjpw23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Sexism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
julianh's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Antisemitism
cowardlyteaman's review
- 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
5.0
It's very slow paced, and sometimes you might think to yourself «Okay, but how does this affect the plot.» Fair point, definitely, but to me personally, such scenes meant everything in the parallel situations of these characters and for Dostoyevsky to explore some of his philosophy, which I think he has the right to with such reflections. Also, as my dad so rightfully reminded me, this book was written in a period where people had the time to read. Not meaning that they weren't as busy as we are now, but simply that their attention spans had not been abused such as ours have due to various categories of modern entertainment.
There is no shame in this, but it's important to note that if you're wanting to read this. I, too, found it boring at times, because no, I genuinely could not care less about Father Zosima.
And on the note of characters I couldn't care less about, we have Alyosha. Yes, I see Dostoyevsky praising and loving him, but I found him pretty whiny, actually. He was about as relevant as an emotional support animal, to be quite honest. That is until the epilogue, where I appreciated his part of the whole journey.
My favourite character was Mitya, though Ivan stands as a close second, and I'm not ashamed to admit that it is because I found them sexy. Not only because I found them sexy, but it was undeniably a factor in there somewhere, and I am young and gay, so who can blame me. Still, they were both fantastically written characters, both with depth and interesting plot lines.
Yes, my review has been mostly about the characters and what I thought of them, but they are the plot after all. However, I want to add finally that I noticed how the synopsis of the book leads with the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich, when that doesn't «come up» until a good... 500 pages in? A bit odd, but I suppose that was what brought the entire piece to a conclusion.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Bullying, Suicide, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Racism, Addiction, Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs
aislinn_mcd_harrison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was sceptical until the chapters “rebellion” and “the grand inquisitor”. From “Mitya” onward I was hooked, but I u der stand somewhat why the parts before were there. I read a review calling this maximalist literature and I definitely think that’s true but it was really an excellent experience and I am so glad I read it. It is my fathers favourite book and I made lots of notes and feel I understand both the book and my dad better in that context
Graphic: Antisemitism, Murder, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
gracchian's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
You will become well-acquainted with the cast of characters imagined by Dostoevsky. You will hate almost all of them, but this hate will be followed by pity, and, in the end, you will rest somewhere in the nest Dostoevsky has built for you—a space above the dizzying drama of the tragedy, wherein you hold no grudges, pity all, and wish only to see that love expressed by all. You will be betrayed and wronged by the characters in this book, and you will forgive them even as they betray you. You will learn what it is that Dostoevsky is trying to portray in Alyosha, or in the monastic Zossima, and you'll be offered a seat at their divinely virtuous table. The book truly brings you into it, and becomes a lived transformation for the reader who attentively follows it—and, it must be said, it is very difficult indeed to not attentively follow Karamazov when it gets going.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death
There is not an ounce of violence glorified in this book. Though there are infinitely heavy subjects brought to the reader's attention, Dostoevsky's message is clear: the one salvation is to love one another, to forgive one another even when one has been wronged, and to aspire to some higher purpose beyond oneself.abbyreadsbigbooks123's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence
madelines_library's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Ableism, Antisemitism, and Rape
This book is great, but there are times in which you may find yourself struggling to get through passages regarding ableism and rape, as well as a section that was pretty antisemitic (and if you're particularly sensitive to the mistreatment of Poles, that is in here too). Also, a couple of major plot points/character development archs center around s*icide and plans around that for the future. Something to keep in mind when beginning the book.vulturetime's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse
Minor: Antisemitism, Suicide, and Rape
Fyodor Karamazov marries a girl who's I believe 16 at the time. I don't quite remember the specifics but her life was miserable with him; there is one character who commits suicide; there is a character who was conceived out of rape.behashta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide
emilymayreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape