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Summary: The Russian's answer to Charles Dickens
Review: I have enjoyed reading both Crime and Punishment and the Brothers Karamazov. This author does a wonderful job weaving an intricate web of characters and events into a classic. It was an enriching way to spend four weeks of reading time. I would also suggest a book like this to any American man who grew up during the Cold War and didn't realize the wonders of Russian culture.
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Summary: My Favorite Novel, My Favorite Translation
Review: The Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of this the greatest novel ever written (pace Henry James) has been justly praised by eminent Dostoevsky scholars who, presumably, read Russian. I do not. But I have read this in another translation and have since gone on to read this teams other translations. I recommend them to anyone as the versions to get. The particular thing I like most is the prose style which emphasizes the ironically comic nature of this novel's narration and characters. The Brothers Karamazov are some of the most *intensely intense* and violent and unpredictable and spiritually tortured a group of boys you're likely ever to meet in literature. The Pevear-Volokhonsky's have rendered this most effectively. The Everyman's library is an attractive alternative to the excellent paperback. It's got that classic, cloth cover look at an excellent price. The softcover version is good too, if a little wieldy. Highest recommendation.
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Summary: Best book I've ever read.
Review: I've read this book cover-to-cover 4 times. Once, I read The Brothers K for 13 hours straight, not bothering to eat. The Russian names may be a little difficult for some, but the story is captivating once you get into it. I would argue that while the Brothers K recycles several themes from D's other works, it is, by far, the most polished, complete novel D ever wrote. I enjoyed it more for the story (3 sons returning to the town of their absent, clownish father after having grown up seperately) than for some of the religious overtones. This translation is better than the others, in my opinion.
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Summary: Best Book Ever Written. Genius
Review: This book is a work of art. This book is not for everyone, but you should give it a chance. It is the best book ever written. Dostoevsky talks about the existance of god, mortality, love of humanity, the Ecclesiastic Court, The Russian Orthodox Church, and more. It is a novel about love, betrayal, and murder. Dostoevsky's Karamazov Brother's is pure genius.
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Summary: The greatest philosophical novel of the 19th century
Review: There are certain accomplishments of human genius which arouse in mankind awe and reverence for the greatness which men are capable of. "The Brothers Karamazov" is one such gem of human thought and achievement.What IS "The Brothers..." all about?
I do not feel competent enough to define precisely the central theme of the greatest, most profound & sophisticated, not to say difficult & complex novel of the 19th century.
All I can say is that it is a book rich with ideas - all pertaining to belief and disbelief. - man's faith in God, & what happens when man rejects faith, God & immortality of the soul.
In terms of the broader abstractions, the theme of TBK is: The "fall of man" & his spiritual re-birth & regeneration.
The "fall of man" comes about as a result of his loss of faith in God & immortality - his spiritual corruption begins from there, & leads to nothing but bloodshed, pain, disorder & destruction.
In the depth of this degradation, steeped in suffering, man learns the truth - the highest truth - God.
Thence begins the growth of faith & virtue in man, which assumes the form of man's taking upon himself guilt towards one & all, & active love towards mankind. D's characterization in TBK is unsurpassed. Each character is the representative of an idea logically connected to the themes & ideas of the novel.
A few words on the three principal characters: 1. Ivan Karamazov - the most complex & intriguing character, Ivan is an atheist who rejects God for he cannot accept "God's order" and logically, becomes a "man-god". To such a man, no moral principles apply - "everything is permitted".
But Ivan is has a deep conscience. He realizes the complete consequences of his ideas - that without God, man can only achieve death & destruction - and so did he, though indirectly. The pangs of conscience & raging spiritual torments take toll of his mental equilibrium, but we are left with a vague promise of the spiritual & moral regeneration in him that lies as a possibility in the distant future. 2. Dmitri Karamazov - a passionate & violent man but honorable & conscientious. In the depths of his soul lies hidden a desperate yearning to become good & noble - to realize all that is sublime & beautiful within man. He too "falls" - the desire to shed the blood of his father & other rash, thoughtless actions become responsible for great misery - both his own & that of others, and thus becomes a medium of demonstrating why D advocates that a man must accept universal responsibility towards one & all. In his worst moment he finds a purpose in life - he finds God & love for all mankind - and sets out on the path of self-reform & redemption. 3. Alyosha Karamazov - the hero of the novel. A Christ-like figure, he acts as the conscience of the corrupt human soul. He is the ideal which all, in essence, want to believe in, reach, & which mankind itself is striving for. He is not free of vices, but overcomes them & reaches a state of spiritual perfection which is indestructible.
That Mitya & Ivan love him shows that somewhere within them, the truth, virtue, a love for life, & goodness - God - is alive, that the "dead in them can be resurrected". And this is the final statement D makes on human nature - even in his most "stinking" sins & corruption, even though all seems lost & irredeemable, man is ultimately a good being within whom lies the capacity of understanding & realizing the truth - of becoming virtuous & heroic, of redeeming himself.
Man has the freedom to choose- but man chooses evil, sins, suffers, & at last understands that the truth (which lies in Jesus) is in fact the truth, & finally attains joy through redemption. As far as plot-construction is concerned, that of TBK is superlative, though that of "Crime And Punishment" is better. The suspense is thrilling, though I think, again,in this respect, "The Possessed" is more blood-curdling.
The skill with which D integrates philosophy, psychology and a suspenseful thriller plot is simply brilliant. A few words in connection to this novel:
1. DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK - IT GIVES AWAY THE ENTIRE PLOT.
2. All admirers of Dostoevsky should not forget to acknowledge the influence of FRIEDRICH SCHILLER on the former. Schiller's plays, "The Robbers" & "Don Carlos" are the sources of most of the ideas explored with greater detail & depth in TBK. In fact D has even used some of the dialogues spoken by the characters in "The Robbers", while the Grand Inquisitor is a character originally from "Don Carlos", given greater depth & a different dimension by D. In conclusion, I shall say that "The Brothers Karamazov" is the greatest novel of the 19th century, & one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all times. It undoubtedly ranks among works such as "Faust" by Goethe & "The Divine Comedy" by Dante. I say this in terms of its philosophical profundity, its analysis of complex ideas, its psychological depth (& complexity) and, above all, its scope & relevance. It is one of the rare novels of world history which can alter the course of human existence.
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Summary: Transformative
Review: This is hands-down my favorite novel of all time. Not just because of the intriguing philosophical issues raised, although that certainly adds to the book. The thing about this book is that somehow through reading it, you become transformed. I have read it two times through, and each time I can say that I am not quite the same person I was when I began it. There is a real power in Dostoevsky's words, and he does well to involve the reader as a whole person: mind, flesh, spirit, and emotion. A central issue and question of the novel involves one of the 3 brothers, Alyosha. When the novel begins at the present, Alyosha is in the monastery as a monk. You learn much about his life in the monastery, his theology, and the spiritual ideals he clings to. Then Alyosha leaves the monastery and is called to become "a monk in the world." This is a running theme of Dostoevsky, and is especially strong in the Brothers Karamazov. How can one live with such high and lofty spiritual ideals in this world where people murder, steal, mock, and other evils? Watching Alyosha be a monk in the world, and seeing how those spiritual ideals can be applied to a corrupt world is fascinating. This is a wonderful book, and worth investing your time and self into. The measure you put in will be the measure you get back, and still more will be given to you. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful and powerful I have found this book to be.
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Summary: A Work of Genius
Review: The Brothers Karamazov is one of the transcendent works of genius produced by human creativity. It ranks among the works of Shakespeare, the music of Mozart, the plays of Sophocles, or the Dialogues of Plato in that it is virtually inexhaustible in terms of the depth and complexity of its vision and insight into what it means to be a human being. I have read this work many times, first when I was 17 and I am re-reading it now for perhaps the seventh time. The poet Robert Lowell once remarked to me in response to a question about a then recent work of fiction: "I don't read new fiction--I had rather spend my limited remaining time re-reading Dostoyevksy." To attempt to summarize the plot of The Brothers borders on the absurd--as if one were to describe "Hamlet" as "a play about a guy who wants to kill his step-father." On the literal level, the story is about the relations among a rather hideous father and his sons and the relationships of the sons with one another and a number of mutual acquaintances. While Dostoyevky is too great an artist to engage in simple allegory and the characters are among the most complexly drawn in all of literature, one of the brothers is in a general sense associated with passion, one with reason, one with spirituality and one with depravity. This schema however greatly simplifies the manner in which Dostoyesky develops these characters since there are many complex and ironic tensions within these general associations. The novel explores at the deepest levels the conflicts between faith and reason, between reason and passion, between tradition and innovation, between hope and despair in a universe that all too often seems indifferent to human suffering. Providing no simple answers, its intent is nothing less than to illuminate the meaning of human life itself. My son will graduate from high school next year. One of the two or three books I intend to give him to read in the summer before he goes to college will be The Brothers Karamazov. I cannot imagine any more compelling recommendation.
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Summary: Complex novel that examines human themes
Review: Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov is one of the best novels I've ever read. I had to read this book for one of my literature classes in college, and first looked at the 900 odd pages with disdain like many who were "required" to read something would. Although this is not a novel that one immediately gets into, the depth of the novel becomes a gripping event to witness. The detail of the four brothers and the Karamazov family is well constructed and outlined in the beginning chapters. As we move on, what makes the novel a great work is the mystery that we must uncover about the death of Fyodor Karamazov and what roles the 4 brothers played in it. Also, the debate over good and evil is constantly addressed through Aloysha, the "good" son, (one of the Karamazov brothers and probably considered the main character)in his questions to his brother and his asking for advice from the elders and priests. What makes the work impressive is that although the four brothers are different in personality, there is a parallel between them in that they must deal with their father's "foolishness" and are all involved in the his death. This novel, although long in duration, is quite impressive in expressing many outlets and themes. Good vs evil, family relationships, conflicts between life and death, murder, and faith to others are among some of the major subjects in this novel. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book that deals with the aspect of the human experience and what we all endure spiritually-- conflicts of life.
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Summary: Best of the best
Review: I was completely undone by this book and actually read it three times in the space of a few months. Just about every philosophical, political and spiritual idea that has preoccupied mankind for the past 100 years (and even before that) gets an airing. Dostoevsky presents his own beliefs with great conviction yet presents the opposing arguments with almost as much conviction. The character of Alyosha is one of the most beautiful in literature and actually taught me more about the concept of Grace than any other "Christian" or "religious" book.
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Summary: Russian Gen Xers Looking for Love
Review: This recent Russian novel has lately been getting a lot of attention in America following the release of The Brothers McMullen, an American movie based upon the book. With all of the hype surrounding the film, this new English translation should propel Dostoevky's work to the bestseller list and may even become one of Oprah's new favorites! The story focuses on three Gen X brothers, Dmitry, Alexi and Ivan, coming to terms with relationships and careers in the ironic and apathetic late-90s. Dmitry is the party kid, recklessly drinking and gambling and picking up loose women. His character is clearly inspired by the anti-heroes of Jay McInernery and Bret Easton Ellis. Then there's the thoughtful college student Ivan. He is wracked with indecision as he finds that his philosophy courses have only prepared him for jobs at the local Safeway. The youngest, Alexi, is the good kid - a former altar boy with a big heart and an eye for good deeds. He becomes increasingly frustrated when he finds that girls don't always go for nice boys. The three brother's lives are all impacted by their troubled relationship with their foolhardy and negligent father. Having lost two wives, his role as a single parent is compromised by excessive drinking and disorderliness. Their troubled household is clearly inspired by some of the seminal writings of S. E. Hinton. When the father unexpectedly dies, the plot takes a 180 degree turn and we suddenly find ourselves in an intense Law & Order style courtroom drama. Look out O.J.! Solving this crazy whodunit becomes a real brain twister. Lovers of teen drama and mystery novels alike will have to exercise considerable restraint to avoid sneaking a peek at the surprise ending!
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