I didn't really vibe with the translation I read, which was done in like 1912. Next time I read a russian novel, I'll try to find a more recent translator.

The story and themes still came through, though: this was a real one. ( )

Probably the best I have read by Dostoevsky. The way he created such ruined characters that you could not help but sympathize with. The three brothers, Kolya, Grushenka: all of them were such amazing characters. The monologues were brilliantly written plus the way things had been structured were masterful. Mention one key plot detail only to further elaborate later on (sometimes hundreds of pages later), brilliantly. The stark differences between this book, and the Idiot as well as the Notes from Underground illustrates how talented Dostoevsky was. I am thrilled to read further of his bibliography. ( )

The Brothers Karamazov is an amazing book, although it took me an awfully long time to listen through, the story was well worth it. I’m starting to become more and more adjusted to Dostoyevsky’s writing style and classical writing in general, so I’m hoping to read more and understand more so I can act even more intellectually superior to everyone, a la our main character from Dostoyevsky’s “Notes from Underground”…
Not really, but heck I can’t say it doesn’t give me a bit of a boost to the ego to be able to say I’ve made my way through such a complex story as The Brothers Karamazov.
That said, this story was beautiful, in so many ways, even though it was full of debauchery and stupidity, and stupid debauchery. This family is a mess- heck it seems their whole town is a bit of a mess. But overall I found it extremely interesting to see little bits of myself in the characters, and often in the places that I least expected to. I was also surprised by a number of characters who initially seemed to be unlikable, but when pressed, showed themselves to be individuals with noble hearts. Dostoyevsky doesn’t write one dimensional antagonists- we get a sense of every character, who they are, what they’re like, and can find humanity in all of them.
So I think the prosecutor was very apt in his speech when he said we are all Karamazovs; because we are all able to hold seemingly contradictory ideas together in our minds on a daily basis. That’s basically what it is to be human. You may say “other people do that but I don’t- I follow logic and reason - none of my ideas contradict each other”, but I suspect that there will be some point of contradiction between one idea and another that coexist in the mind of any individual you speak to. Hence why I think this book is such a masterpiece, because it fully captures the paradoxical nature of humanity, of reason, of philosophy.

Hurrah for Karamazov! ( )

Well, to me, it seems a bit ridiculous to even attempt a review of this novel. When review has come to represent observations and criticisms or plot re-hashings, there really seems to be little I, or anyone for that matter, could say about The Brothers Karamazov that isn't already known or hasn't already been said by someone wiser and abler. If I were brilliant, I could share a spur-of-the-moment haiku that appropriately captures my feelings for this story. But I'm not. Brilliant, that is. So how about this: it's Russian, it's rich and it's revered. Read it. ( )

**3.5 stars**

This book is often referred to as the best book ever written and I can see why. It is packed with beautiful dissertations on human nature, religion, psychology, and death. It is well written and the central story (when we finally get to it) is compelling. Understanding the history and life of Dostoevsky is, I would argue, a requirement here. It sheds like on why he's writing what he's writing and why it matters. The final scene (a funeral) is tragic but inspiring.

I've read two other Russian literature books: War & Peace and Crime & Punishment. I prefer both of those books to TBK. TBK, while it has these pockets of absolute brilliance is overstuffed at nearly 900 pages (1,200 on my kindle). The "story" doesn't really get going until the last 1/4 of the book, but I don't really think Dostoevsky cared about the story to begin with. It was simply the vehicle to philosophize and expound.

Crime & Punishment is very similar but it is MUCH more to the point and moves along at a brisk pace. War & Peace, while much longer, was so inspiring to me when I finished it and I think I prefer Tolstoy to Dostoevsky at this point.

I'm glad that I read this. I think that enjoying a book and a book being a great book are not always compatible, in rare cases, and this is one that is simultaneously difficult to read due to its length and wandering narrative while also a beautiful, philosophical treatise. ( )