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Summary: People ultimately want to be good, but few stray from sin
Review: If your going to delve into this book, keep in mind that it is heavy and may take a while. It took me a month. Ivan's High Inquisitor speech took me at least two days. You'll want to have a Bible right beside you at all times, as well, especially if you have never had any Biblical education (like me).
The Brothers Karamazov is, as everyone knows, the story of four brothers: Dmitri the passionate, Ivan the rational, Alyosha the compassionate, and Smerdyakov the bitterly illegitimate. The main event of the story is the murder of these four brothers father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. Fyodor Pavlovich is a base man who was a terrible father and husband in his time. All of his children save Smerdyakov (who really isn't officially recognized as his son) grew up far away from home because Fyodor failed to take care of them while he had them. He's had two wives and both are long dead.
The story starts when the entire family (save poor Smerdyakov) is to meet at the monastary in order to try to solve a strong rift that has grown between Dmitri and Fyodor. Dmitri is angered because his father will not give him money that he feels is his due and is also trying to seduce the woman he loves, Grushenka, with this money. Never mind that Dmitri is also engaged to Katerina Ivanova, a woman of high prestige and dowry who is angered by his betrayal and loved by Ivan.
As you can see we have a rather complex tale on our hands. But it is complex in so many more ways than just the plot. There is a contrast between those of great faith in God and those who are of the enlightened Europe who look upon the Church with disdain. Ivan's ideas in The High Inquisitor are scathing at the kindest. Alyosha is deemed the hero of the novel by the narrator and he is perhaps one of the only people who has a good, unselfish soul. The idea that is so terribly hard to love man when you really get to know him is certainly relevant because almost every character in this novel is a horrible person, looking out only for themselves. Dmitri constantly says "I am a scoundral, but not a theif" when reffering to how he stole 3,000 roubles from Katerina Ivanova but has every intention of returning them.
There are existential, naturalistic, and christian ideas in this book. The overall idea that I took from this book was that ultimately, people want to be good. As Ivan says, criminals are more worried about being excommunicated than being jailed. Humans still will always be able to redeem themselves if they want to. Dmitri wishes only to be an honerable man, Ivan is pained by all the suffering in the world, and Alyosha is the only one who is truly good. While humans DO want to be good and to feel good about all of their actions, few can stay on that path and really follow every conviction that they believe in.
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Summary: Que "masterpiece theatre" music.
Review: **THIS SECTION IS A PREFACE**
Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamazov was written in the twilight of his life, when this highly intelligent author had silenced most of his critics with numerous rebuttal essays and published responces to mute those not fond of his theistic approach to philosophy, and his exacting surgical naturalism with psychology and law.
Just as us westerners esteem the inklings very highly (C. Williams, Tolkein, Lewis, occasionally D. Sayer and others), the orthodox and reformed russian alike hold Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Dostoyevsky, (occasionally Pushkin) in the same esteem.
If you are serious about Dostoyevsky I would consider reading Ivan Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" and Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment," before making the endeavor of Mt. Karamazov. I recommend the two stated because I made the mistake of starting the book (BK) too early in my life, before I had read 'Fathers' and 'C&P'. Reading Turgenev, (who because of his more simplistic nature) I had many things explained to me, through quite enjoyable reading, about the volatile, brewing russian intellectual and political climate. In Fathers and Sons, Bazarov has a striking resemblence to Ivan, the olderst of the three brothers in BK. Ivan is sooooo intricate and complex as a character. This forced me often times to pigeon-hole him conveniently into the modern secular-humanist and popular atheist character. Knowing the agenda and pursuits of Bazarov helped me to understand the bitter agnostic tapestry of Ivan, and the appropriate context of most of the characters. Crime and Punishment helped me on a different level. B.K. provides a formidable paradox in that Dostoyevsky appears to be a brilliant and objective scientist, yet deeply religious and and romantic in his philosophies. Crime and Punishment is a social walk through public and personal morality and the efficacy the soul has on behavior, something that is crucial in understanding in B.K.
I also recommend reading a combined works of Schiller (a german romantic poet just pre-fyodor) whom Dostoyevsky is very fond of and quotes often in B.K.. Reading Alexander Pushkin simotaneously could prove dangerous ;) due to Dostoyevskys jocular and sardonic relationship with the romantic russian. Don't worry about Tolstoy unless you are going on a cruise with the boss for a couple weeks and wish to stay mentally sober.
This translation is by far the best, the foot notes and chapter notes were invaluable. I have read both the Constance Garnett translation and this one, and the difference for me was night and day. It would be true to say that the Garnett translation captures Dostoyevsky's prose better, but a 80 word sentence is a little too long for me, gin and tonic or not. Without further adieu, the actual review:**ACTUAL REVIEW (thanks for the patience:)
The Brothers Karamazov is an epic that spans the far corners of Philosophy, Orthodox Christianity, Nihilism, Atheism, Heretical Catholocism, Psychology, and Law. It brushes upon Anthropology, Cultural Crisis, small scale sociology and cosmology.
Most importantly it is a powerful, moving novel about the ethos and core of what a family is; love that transforms beliefs, and that same love that inspires murder and a pantheon of crimes. It is written in the classic russina style of presenting both sides of an equation and allowing the reader to discern truth from what they will. Alyosha, the youngest of three sons is the protagonist of the novel, as well as the hero. I am feign to use the word hero, however, because he is not at all like the typical mythological hero either in the east or the west; he is a silent, listening hero, ( a still, small voice) that drives the rest of the characters around him in the most powerful display of genuine altruism I have ever read in a novel.
This book changed my life. It spoke to my mind with its intellectual and cerebral labors, but more importantly pulled at my heart, forcing a 22 year-old male college student to cry. Cana of Galilee, the catalyst chapter in the center of the book spurned an incredible personal experience for me, and has left its continuing mark more than a year later. This book improved who I am, strenghtened my mental capacities, expanded my vocabulary, helped me be a better man to my woman, and transported me for weeks from my rut of mired western thought. If you are ready, drop everything and read this book.
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Summary: Masterful
Review: As one of the most philosophical and spiritual books of all-time, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevesky is the greatest piece of literature I have had the pleasure of reading. The plot development is great, but what sets this book apart as one of the greatest literary works of all-time is Dostoevesky's attention to detail. The character development (especially among the three brothers: Ivan, Dmitri, and Alyosha) is tremendous, and the dialogue between the brothers is extraordinary. What will take your breath away are the discusions concerning man's flawed existence in this "wicked" world, and Ivan's take on God's existence and His [God's] divine disaster. The chapter entitled "The Grand Inquisitor" will leave you speechless, and Ivan's "Nightmare" may be the most horrifying portrayal/discourse of the Devil you will ever encounter. Being of strong spiritual faith myself, I found that the more ardent one's spiritual convictions are, the more horrifying this encounter with the Devil will become. The power of this book is that it will challenge whatever embedded beliefs you champion and manipulate them against your own will. If you are a lover of philosophy, or religion, this book is a must.
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Summary: Fyodor was born in the mid 1800's douchebag
Review: Clearly the idiot who read this entire book and did not realize that Fyodor lived throught the mid to late 1800's is freaking clueless.
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Summary: Another Great Russian Writer - Not to be Missed!
Review: Dostoevski is as an important and wonderful a writer as Tolstoy, and I have read each of his books with great delight! This one is actually my favourite Dostoevski book. It has absolutely everything - compulsive plot, great characters, moral lessons and as clear a depiction of the differences between good and evil as I've ever read. The book covers the life of a father and his three sons. This Karamazov family could stand up against any evil modern day villains any day. They are greedy and depraved and we the readers get to see into their innermost souls and determine what drives them. Dostoevski's books are psychological stories as much as anything else though, so we also get to see into the innermost recesses of each of their souls. And don't look for any nice summing up of the plot in a Dostoevsky book - they always leave the reader with more questions than answers. Awesome!
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Summary: The Brothers Karamazov
Review: Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel, all-encompassing and transformative. Can be reread many times. Especially if it is read when you are young, I believe, it will have a discernable (and also possibly not so discernable!) effect on your view of life and of the world. For example, I read it when I was fourteen, seventeen and twenty, and forty years later I continue to hold up the ideal of Alyosha Karamazov as my definition of a "successful" human being. And I've encountered others who feel the same way.
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Summary: Dostoevsky's Best Novel
Review: Dostoevsky's The Brother's Karamazov was his last and greatest novel. It's 19th century style is wordy and slow (at times) by modern standards, but that does not detract from it. This was written in the last year of his life, and Dostoevsky focused all of his considerable talent into this dark tale of patricide. The plot is gripping, the characters are memorable, the setting is real, and the style is excellent. Only a few books rival it in depth, pathos and vision. A masterpiece.
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Summary: I'm getting worried
Review: First of, let me apologize to those looking for the review of the book. I'm actually shopping for "the best" translation of this book but that's not what i'm going to talk about here... I am simply flabbergasted to see that two of the reviewers here actually thought that Dostoevsky was an upcoming young writer?!?!?!? I am now getting worried about the quality of the reading community here. How can people not know that Dostoevsky was born hundreds years ago and manage to write a review about the book?? Ok, i've pulled myself together. As a non-native English speaker and a student of business (and engineering -- i'm just trying to say that i was not forced to read this book) who've spent bearly 20 months in the US, I thought this book was on the classics reading list that every kid in the US was supposed to have read -- I was clearly wrong. Though I don't think that you MUST learn a bit about the authors, I do believe that, at least for classics of this statue, you will get much more out of the book if you know a thing or two about the author. Here's a short little description, that I took from http://www.online-literature.com/dostoevsky, of who Dostoevsky was. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian novelist, journalist, short-story writer whose psychological penetration into the human soul had a profound influence on the 20th century novel. Dostoevsky was born in Moscow, as the second son of a former army doctor. He was educated at home and at a private school. Shortly after the death of his mother in 1837 he was sent to St. Petersburg, where he entered the Army Engineering College. In 1839 Dostoevsky's father died probably of apoplexy but there were strong rumors that he was murdered by his own serfs. Dostoevsky graduated as a military engineer, but resigned in 1844 to devote himself to writing. His first novel, Poor Folk appeared in 1846. It was followed by The Double, which depicted a man who was haunted by a look-alike who eventually usurps his position. In 1846 he joined a group of utopian socialists. He was arrested in 1849 and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to imprisonment in Siberia. Dostoevsky spent four years in hard labor and four years as a soldier in Semipalatinsk. Dostoevsky returned to St. Petersburg in 1854 as a writer with a religious mission and published three works that derive in different ways from his Siberia experiences: The House of the Dead, (1860) a fictional account of prison life, The Insulted and Injured, which reflects the author's refutation of naive Utopianism in the face of evil, and Winter Notes on Summer Impressions, his account of a trip to Western Europe. In 1857 Dostoevsky married Maria Isaev, a 29-year old widow. He resigned from the army two years later. Between the years 1861 and 1863 he served as editor of the monthly periodical Time, which was later suppressed because of an article on the Polish uprising. In 1864-65 his wife and brother died and he was burdened with debts, and his situation was made even worse by gambling. From the turmoil of the 1860s emerged Notes from the Underground, psychological study of an outsider, which marked a watershed in Dostoevsky's artistic development. The novel starts with the confessions of a mentally ill narrator and continues with the promise of spiritual rebirth. It was followed by Crime and Punishment, (1866) an account of an individual's fall and redemption, The Idiot, (1868) depicting a Christ-like figure, Prince Myshkin, and The Possessed, (1871) an exploration of philosophical nihilism. In 1867 Dostoevsky married Anna Snitkin, his 22-year old stenographer, who seems to have understood her husband's manias and rages. They traveled abroad and returned in 1871. By the time of The Brothers Karamazov, which appeared in 1879-80, Dostoevsky was recognized in his own country as one of its great writers. An epileptic all his life, Dostoevsky died in St. Petersburg on February 9, 1881. He was buried in the Aleksandr Nevsky monastery, St. Petersburg.
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Summary: Speaks uniquely to each reader
Review: For starters, nothing can be said that would truly do this sublime work of fiction any true justice. That being said, The Brothers Karamazov engenders a veritable cornucopia of raw emotions and thoughts unequaled in the world of literature. Dostoevsky brings into question faith, justice, sin, redemption, depravity, suffering, & justice via an extraordinary confluence of pure, unbridled genius. Unlike many other acclaimed classics, The Brothers Karamazov precipitates perpetual trenchant introspection and leaves you pondering the complex dynamics of the novel well upon completion. Entering the book and have previously read Crime & Punishment and Notes From the Underground, I knew I would be in for an intense and provocative voyage into profundity - the likes of which are unique to the penmanship of Dostoevsky. I also thought it might possibly be a bit dull and centered solely upon the brothers and their infamous tale of parricide. Needless to say, I could not have been more erroneous in my judgment. Case in point, I found the insidiously deceptive bastard son Smerdyakov to be without question the most intriguing and underestimated of all of the characters. This morosely despairing, yet strangely effervescent tale of deceit, love, murder, and mayhem will truly be one of the best works of fiction that you will be fortunate to have read in your lifetime. Just be prepared to delve into it with your full undivided attention. Alas, this, my friends, is no beach read. "Where there is no God, all is permitted." - Dostoevsky
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Summary: No Question About it...This is the Greatest Realist Novel,
Review: Freud shared two great insights on Dostovesky and Brothers Karamazov. He considered BK the world's greatest novel. It's not by any stretch of imagination to say that Dostovesky anticipated psychoanalysis. If it is in any way a testament to BK's greatness, I have read it three times in the past 8 years or so, and I will probably read it three more times. On the other hand, I read Crime and Punishment only once. I wll reread it. I feel no desire to reread the Idiot.
Freud also said that Dostovesky had chosen to be humanity's jailor rather than its liberator. As an atheist at heart, Freud was obviously refering to Dostovesky's tortured Christianity, and his uncanny way of proposing Christianity as the one and only true way to salvation and subverting other ideologies (i. e Communism, atheism, capitalism, rationalism and etc). Dostovesky's "positive" characters or saints find inner peace in Christianity (Alexey and Zossima). "Negative" characters or sinners find ruin and disasters; they go to prison (Dmitry), go insane (Ivan) or commit suicide (Smerdyakov). Dostovesky is biased. His views are flawed and old-fashioned. Then again, who isn't?!?
However, we continue reading BK because the characters in it touch us in a way that no others ever come close. They are made of flesh and blood, as opposed to the highly idealized fictional characters or one-dimensional caricatures from novels of his contemporaries. Dostovesky explored their emotional turmoils and psychological conflicts in the same way that we experience them in our daily lives.
One more reason to read BK--it has three of the greatest female characters in the canon of Western literature. They are beautiful...and crazy!
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