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Loading... The Brothers Karamazov (original 1880; edition 2002)by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear (Translator), Larissa Volokhonsky (Translator)
Work InformationThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1880)
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This novel has been profoundly instrumental in the shaping of my own existential philosophy and Christian faith, perhaps more than any other, and easily falls into my top ten favourite novels. On the surface, the plot is quite simple and it contains two primary aspects: one is a drama of patricide and the other is the conflicting development of three brothers, the libertine, the intellectual and the faithful. But underneath all of this, and what determines the actions of the characters, is the philosophical ideology which Dostoevsky expresses primarily in the renowned essay, "The Grand Inquisitor", which is a masterpiece of writing in and of itself. It is as a result of these findings that we are invited into the unique psyches of our characters to find out what determines each one's behaviour, and we are thus met with Dostoevsky's own view of life, expressed most acutely in the brothers' separate destinies. ( ) Thirty years ago, at the university, when I read this for the first time I was more interested in the philosophical lines of thought. This time, I was much more impatient with the characters in the novel. I had far less tolerance of their deep flaws. Thirty years ago, though I saw the tragedy in the characters I found emotional release and a kind of pleasure in experiencing the novel. This time I was kept thinking, "make it stop" Mitya is too much. Ivan is too much. Smerdyakov is just awful. This prosecutor is ridiculous. How long can this defense attorney drone on about nothing? Thirty years ago, the lesson of the triumph of child-like faith was mostly lost on me or at least I don't remember thinking about it. Ilyusha had not the smell of decay. The sure-Saint Zossima decayed prematurely. The simple and uncelebrated faith of a little boy received only the brief press of the author's comment. Alyosha and his band of boy disciples would swear to treaure his memory but the greater community might have forgotten him completely. Yet, this boys simple faith could conquer death and its stink. Only one boy received the rebuke of Alyosha. It was the one boy who wanted to grow up, who wanted to be a free thinking man before manhood. It was the teenage boy, Kolya, who tried to snuff out another boys significance, but was contradicted by Alyosha. Yet even he was affirmed as being fully significant in the eyes of God and fully eligable for a resurrection and reunion at the end of the age. A beautiful, lengthy, difficult and rewarding novel. If I keep my wits I hope to read it a third time in this life. 3.5/5 Having gotten through MIDDLEMARCH, ANNA KARENINA--even WAR AND PEACE, I was never so happy to reach 100% on my Kindle. As a former high school English teacher, the one thing I stressed to students over and over when writing was to SHOW and not TELL. Oh, does this novel have too much telling. It's brilliant in parts and overall a compelling story, yet, all that remains in my head is #blahblahblah. Couldn't have finished without the #hashtagbrigade on Litsy. This book is too long and too involved to even attempt to write a comprehensive review. Dostoyevsky is brilliant and insightful, but I am unclear as to what, exactly, he was trying to accomplish with this novel. The worst father (really, he is just an ejaculator, because that was the last moment at which he participated in the birth and rearing of his three [or, maybe 4] sons) in the world abuses and debases his children at his whim. They suffer accordingly in their relationships with him and others - especially females. I found that the overall emotion of the book was just too, too (if you know what I mean) - the three sons all seem to be afflicted with the emotional maturity of 14 year old boys - their perceptions of and treatment of women is both childish and annoying - Ivan and Dmitry are given to making fervid declarations about most everything but especially about Grushenka and Katerina Ivanova - like, give it a rest boys, grow up - you fucked up - you trusted women - big mistake mes amis - I did not feel bad about Dmitry's conviction - the guy had it coming - you cannot spend your entire life abusing others at will, and without reason, and then expect consideration from your peers - the worst parts of the book occur when particular characters (Zosima and Ivan come to mind) go on for dozens of pages giving lectures about their individual perceptions of this-or-that dogma or principle - if you want enjoyment, I recommend that you read Tolstoy whose books are much less preachy and much more compelling. I think Dostoyevsky gets credit for the same reason that Thomas Pynchon ("Gravity's Rainbow") and James Joyce ("Ulysses") do - they are all so abstruse that only really cool and highly intelligent people dig their maundering books - or, so it is assumed - nonetheless - I am glad that I read through the 822 pages and I feel enriched in terms of knowing a little bit more about the Russian people and their society - who are so aggressively and endlessly defamed in the America of 2024. Belongs to Publisher SeriesClube de Literatura Clássica (CLC) (37 [May 2023]) — 21 more Everyman's Library (802-803) Great Books of the Western World (Volume 52, 1952 ed.) Modern Library (151) La nostra biblioteca Edipem (52-53) Is contained inGreat Books Of The Western World - 54 Volume Set, Incl. 10 Vols of Great Ideas Program & 10 Volumes Gateway To Great Books by Robert Maynard Hutchins (indirect) GREAT BOOKS OF THE WESTERN WORLD--54 Volumes 27 volumes 1961-1987 GREAT IDEAS TODAY (Yearbooks) 10 volumes GATEWAY TO THE GREAT BOOKS 10 volumes GREAT IDEAS PROGRAM. Total 101 Volumes. by Robert Maynard Hutchins (indirect) ContainsHas the adaptationIs abridged inInspiredHas as a studyHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Classic Literature.
Fiction.
HTML: What is free will? Is redemption possible? Can logic help us answer moral questions? Renowned Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky tackles all of these topics and many more in this remarkable novel, widely regarded as one of the classic masterpieces of literature. Follow the Karamazov family through the travails that transpire after the murder of their father, and expand your intellectual horizons with a work that celebrated thinkers such as Einstein, Freud, and Pope Benedict XVI cite as one of their favorites. .No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)891.733Literature Literature of other languages Literature of east Indo-European and Celtic languages Russian and East Slavic languages Russian fiction 1800–1917LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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