The Brothers Karamazov

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book, something everyone should read.
Review: "The Brothers Karamazov" is a gut wrenching novel, filled with emotion and serious thoughts. The characters truly let one feel as if they are real. The author has captured that quality that makes the reader feel that they too have experienced these same thoughts. Many serious topics are discussed, always sure to make one think about religion, life and relationships. The wonderful contrast between the characters truly expresses different types of people and personalities. The book is an obvious "must read."

Rating:
Summary: Literature's Most Dynamic Novel
Review: When assessing the greatest written works, one has to include Dostoevsky's seminal novel at the top with only maybe the Bible being a greater work. Dostoevsky examines the one thing that the Bible expects us to have and to have unquestionably - faith. Why is faith important to us and why it causes so much strife, compassion, violence, love - the entire gamut of human emotion - is explored in a most unique manner. With a backdrop of provincial Czarist Russia and family squabbling, the novel sculptes such a complex tale of damnation to redemption all within the structure of a murder mystery (fratricide to be exact), one is drained completely - emotionally, mentally, and spiritually - when the novel is finally completed that one has to sit back in awe of Dostoevsky's marvelous writing style. Characterizations that jump off the page and speak to one's inner most self and chapters that examine the stark reality of the human condition are only the tip of the iceberg of this powerful story that forces one to reconsider what we've been taught about religious faith in the West. Very Highest Recommendation. Best sections - when the athesist brother has a conversation with Satan and when Jesus returns during the Spanish Inquisition and questions the use of his teachings in the current manner employed by the church

Rating:
Summary: Don't Be Fooled By The "Classic" label. A Rousing Adventure
Review: For every person who makes it a point to read one of the "classic" works of literature, there are ten who shy away from them because they all seem too dry and difficult to read. And this one is long. BUT EVERY PAGE IS WORTH IT. This book reads quickly as it is filled extensively with dialogue between fascinating characters. This book is about murder, mayhem, religion, family -- all the great themes. A grand scale WHODUNNIT you'll be drawn into the lives of the Karamazovs and begin to have your own feelings and opinions about them. Did he do it? You'll not only want to know but you'll have your own opinion to share as you read on. This book captures your attention and won't let go

Rating:
Summary: O.J. Simpson in Russia
Review: Hare you having trouble in your life? Falling behind in your bills? Problems communicating with the husband/wife/significant other? Murderous thoughts coursing through your brain? Then THIS is a novel for YOU. Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" is a classic novel with a modern twist. Just like the O.J. Simpson case, Dmitri Karamazov is accused of a crime he believes he did not commit. And, just like the Simpson trial, all of St. Petersburgh has an opinion on the matter. Find out what REALLY happened. If you want to become a first-class intellectual, just buy this tape and listen to it on your way to work. By the time you are done, you will be -- honest -- totally cool. God has touched man this time

Rating:
Summary: The book you must have read...
Review: Maybe noone will ever be able to assess the impact of this book on 20th century literature. Every section in the field of arts has a few (so few!) masterpieces that turned the world upside down. Dostoyevsky contributed at least two such masterpieces: "Crime and Punishment" and "Karamazov". What a waste life must have be for someone who has not read them. Suggesting to a friend to read Dostoyewsky means suggesting to him to seek pleasure.

Rating:
Summary: A MARVEL IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE
Review: Dostoyevsky has reached climax in his last book written. THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV is psychological thriller; an indepth look into the love/hate relationship of individuals. Said by S. Freud to be "the most magnificent novel ever written."

Rating:
Summary: in consideration of Karamazov's opponents
Review: When considering the complexities of Karamazov, several factors must be taken into mind. On the surface the story could be justly written off as a mere 19th century melodrama; however, this is the story of period Russia's social discontent, a protostructure of 20th century existentialism, a psychological case study of the reflected fragmentary mind, post a traumatic neglectfull upbringing. Above all, though, this is THE BIG BOOK ABOUT SPIRITUALITY. It is about man's personal experience and struggle with an absentee God who may or may not exist,may or may not justly intervene, and may or may not even care. It questions the condition of reality, both then and now, here and hereafter: If the divine is nonexistant, then responsibiltity to divine law is nullified, and autonomy for better or for worse is all that remains. It is the singular

Rating:
Summary: A Great Storyline, But...
Review: this was definitely too long.

The story of the murder of 3 brothers' father.
But at the end I find out there's a fourth brother. This is also
the story of the trial that followed. I don't claim to be smart, but this book was definitely over my head.

I just don't know why so many people thought this book was the best, and I'm not one of them.This was definitely too long!



Rating:
Summary: A thought-provoking page-turner
Review: There is so much to this amazing classic, it's impossible to get it all on the first reading. On one level, it's a murder mystery. The town lech, Fyodor Karamazov, is murdered and all of his sons have one motive or another for wanting to murder him. His oldest, Dmitry, appears to be guilty. Fyodor owed Dmitry 3000 rubles (mysteriously missing after Fyodor is killed) and they were both in love with the same woman.

But then on another level, the book is about the nature of faith and God. Each of the relationships is the relationship between ideas. It juxtaposes individualism with the affect of the social order on individuals.

Does faith in itself make people virtuous? Or is faith a structure to prevent people from acting NOT virtuous? Which is more important -- love for all humanity? Or love for the individual? For the religious, morality depends on the immortality of the soul. But, is that then truly morality? Is it morally superior to do wrong and hate yourself for it? Or to not know you're doing wrong at all? Where is the line between suspicion (there's this whole theme in the book that dishonest people cannot love because they will always be suspicious) and skepticism? Is the concept of sin a doomed idea intent on controlling the baser parts of what it means to be human? In which case, the idea redemption is just a way of distancing ourselves from our own humanity. If God gave free will, then why do the religious attempt to take it away? They take away free will and offer security instead, which is like saying God failed and they need to jump in and take over.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Dostoyevsky's last work relates the tales of three squabbling brothers and their sick father. One is a man of the monastery, who grapples with the problem of pleasure, while his brother and father fight for the love of a woman.
Though, what makes this novel so great is not so much the objective character of what happens, but the intrinsic dispositions of the personages (relating in a sense, Schopenhauer's statement that great literature relates the inner states, rather than the outer). It touches on all the problems of human life, all those infinitesimal events which torture us in this brief, fleeting and painful existence, one, that through literature such as this, we for moments, overcome.
Also recommended: Toilet: The Novel by Michael Szymczyk (A Tribute to the Literary Works of Franz Kafka)