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Summary: The greatest novel ever written...
Review: was what a character in a Kurt Vonnegut book said about this work.And it's certainly the best one I've ever read! The chapter "The Grand Inquisitor," should be read by every fundamentalist Christian...especially those who give their hard earned money to televangelists or who "tithe." If there's one novel to read in this life, choose this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Book-- BAD TRANSLATION
Review: I was fortunate enough to take a semester long course on Dostoevsky, and instead of buying the reccomended translation (fyi: Vintage Classic translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky) I bought this one, and ended up regretting it. The words used in some of the critical passages are translated in such a way that it gives the reader a much different impression of the plot and mindset of the characters. In addition, this particular translation is very awkward in many places making it significantly more difficult to read. I ended up buying the other translation anyway, and my enjoyment of this incredible novel improved tremendously. Spend the extra money on the Vintage edition, Brother's Karamazov is worth it!
Rating:
Summary: A Grand Epic!!!!
Review: This is one of the greatest books ever not written in Dactylic Hexameter, authored by one of the finest novelists who has ever lived. It is a masterwork of storytelling which inquires into such topics as morality, mortality, the veracity of religion as well as some of the possible ethical implications of a universe minus an omnipotent and benevolent creator. And, of course (for those scoring at home) it also contains Ivan's infamous allegory of the "Grand Inquisitor." The novel centers around the denizens of a small Russian town. The way in which D weaves their life stories together reminds me a lot of Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrooks." Within the story one can find representatives from almost every walk of life, from the arrogant and proud to the curious and inquisitive to the slothful and pernicious. In many ways, Dimytri and the father represent Nietzsche's exegesis on the Dionysian, countered against the Apollonian outlook of Ivan. Alexie is somewhere in the middle. But one will understand all of this much better by reading the book. As is the case with Shakespeare's "King Lear," Foucault's "Discipline And Punish," Camus' "The Plague" and Hesse' "Beneath The Wheel," there are scenes within this novel that will stay with the reader for the rest of his / her life. Leading the tragic, difficult and mostly unhappy life that he did, Dostoyevsky knew a great deal more about human cruelty and human suffering than the lot of us. One can easily see just how much his sojourn in Siberia as well as his bout with epilepsy influenced his writings. For those ambitious enough to experience this magnificent literary accomplishment be warned: it is one of the most powerful texts you will ever read. It is literature's counterpart to plutonium. A wonderful book for atheists, theologians, scholars and laymen. Read this book with care, but do read it.
Rating:
Summary: In my top ten list
Review: I have read this book twice and have found it each time disturbing, fascinating and thought provoking. Dostoyevsky put a part of his soul into this book and gives us one of the very best novels of all time. Indeed, it can be hard slogging at times; Russian culture comes very much into play in many parts of the book and it is good to buy a version where these aspects are explained. It filles out much of what Dostoyevsky is trying to say. For this is more than a story- it is an epic that seeks to speak much about the nature of the human condition, of society and of God. On this latter point, Dostoyevsky'd brilliant wade into theological questioning, into the theodicy of God and evil makes for haunting reading. who can answer Ivan's question as to how a small child can go through excruciating suffering and justify it by a heaven to come? Is this the God we worship? What tough questions tha leave me thinking long after reading it! I think Dostoyevsky goes beyond his own desires to write about, as he put it, his hero "Alyosha". Indeed Alyosha is an interesting character -yet perhaps the character with whom at least I can identify the least. His purity and goodness are too incongruous with my own life. Perhaps it is that very nature of his character that Dostoyevsky, the addicted gambler, valued. Much has been said about this novel and it can never be enough. You have not read the greatest of literature until you have read The Brother Karamazov.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Unexpected
Review: I started reading Dostoyevsky with the Notes from Underground, and I never stopped. After Crime and Punishment, I thought I had read the best, but I must admit that I was wrong. Any psychology major out there should have some sort of an interest in Dostoyevsky, since, mathematically speaking, Dostoyevsky equals psychology. I recommend this book, and all of his work to anyone with any interest in any field.
Rating: 
Summary: probably the most boring book i've ever read
Review: After reading Crime and Punishment which became my favorite book, I expected The Brothers Karamazov to much better since I keep hearing this is Dostoyevsky's best and all. I could hardly stand it. It was sooooooo boring. Maybe I'm not patient or something but after 200 pages it didn't seem to be going anywhere. All I had learned was that the brothers didn't like their father. I found almost all the characters to rather cynical and depressing. The only character who I thought was okay was Alyosha. Don't think i put down books immediatly if I don't like them either. I HATE to put down books. My conscience wouldn't get off my back after I quit this. But it just wasn't going anywhere.
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Summary: A Hymn and a Secret
Review: This is hands down the greatest story ever written. Brothers Karamazov probes the depths of the human soul, and seeks answers to the meaning of life by contrasting the personalities of the three main characters each of which represent a facet of human nature taken to it's cartoon extereme: Alyosha the spirit and exemplar of Christ-like love, Ivan the intellect and seeker of absolute truth, and Dimitry the man completely ruled by his passion. Each of the brothers is bound to one another by their common heritage to their father which represents the theme of universal brotherhood expounded by the beliefs of Father Zossima, the spiritual father of Alyosha. Likewise each brother was in part responsible for the death of their father: Ivan by his cold indifference to the well being of his father, Alyosha through is inability to act on his forebodings, and Dimitry by his outright hatred for his father. The idea of ultimate depravity is seen in the lecherous father Fyodor, as that of seperation from God is seen in Smerdyakov, the illegimate son of Fyodor. The two of them are the antithesis to the brothers' unity and serve as a catalyst to the sin they are responsible for. In the end the spiritual Alyosha is the novels hero, and his faith in Christ as the only true freedom from the confusion of life. The Brothers' Karamazov is a must read for anybody who seeks meaning in life and searches for the truth of their soul.
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Summary: A strong focus on darkness
Review: Fyodor Dostoyevsky has a great ability to analyze man. His focus goes all the way to our darkest characterisics (which all of us have to varying degrees) but are kept at bay in the majority of us. Dostoyevsky however describes man and his motives mainly from the viewpoint of man driven by passion, depravity, greed, and lust. Dostoyevsky either ignores man's better qualities or gives them to characters that are less convincing than the depraved ones. The best dialogue in the book comes from the most despicable character, Fyodor the father. To me, this is a major flaw of the book. Dostoyevsky also fails to create any visual imagery of nature or of the characters surroundings. All one gets is a story (which is interesting) and a psychological analysis of the characters. Ivan's intelectualization of the church and it's role in government are conceived only to promote his essays and not to promote his real belief in the church. This consumes too much of the story and it probably had little to do with how the majority of the Russian people felt and even less to do with future events in Russia. This ages the book. In summary, I cannot endorse this book as most of the other reviewers have.
Rating: 
Summary: sweet
Review: i likeded this book...it made me feels good...russian literature smells like rotten streets, but in a good way
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: This is my first Dostoevsky novel. I chose it because Pope John Paul II commented that Dostoevsky influenced his thinking. I believe that this is true since the novel touches themes like suffering, hell, passion, the existence of God, filial relationship, love of country, mysticism, and the consequences of moral decisions. All these themes can be found in both authors writings. Set in Russia, Dostoevsky took me on a long often dark journey through the weaving complexity of the human intellect. My first impression of the is that it is much darker than I thought it would be. Secondly, Dostoevsky seems very modern through some of his psychological observations. I can see why this book impacted the Pope's thinking since it sure seems to have gotten into my head. This book would be interesting for anyone who enjoys literature,theology, or Russian history. I happen to like all three. It is good reading for a psychological murder mystery, a searching for God and insights into the Russian mind just before the revolution. I only give the work a 4 since I am personally not a big fan of the tragedy genre. I would if I could give it a 4.5. The ending left me wanting a sequel but I won't give it away. I also must admit the novel is a bit tedious to start with but picks up momentum and kept me interested. I look forward to reading this work again in a few years. I most likely will pick up things I missed this time through. This to me is a sign of a GREAT BOOK.
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