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Summary: book for confused
Review: I picked up this book for pleasure reading, and it turned out to be the most involved book I read so far. This book has intense philosophy about religion, the existence of God and the relationship between mankind and God. It's a good book if you ever wondered about those thing, and it makes you think deeper. The characters, especially Ivan, in this book are interesting, and I feel I somehow can relate myself to Ivan. I don't want to give away the story, so I will limit myself to basic sketch. Ivan is a skeptist who wants to believe in God but cann't because of his cynical outlook of life and influence of Enlightenment. I don't believe in God, but I was and still am confused if He does or doesn't exist, and I understand well what Ivan is going through in the novel. This book didn't prove or disprove the existence of God to me, but I keep in my mind what this book says. This is a book for people like me, people who want to know the truth about God, but don't know where to start. I think it's a great book, even though it's a bit long, but it's worth every page.
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Summary: These words are an author¿s tears to the world¿
Review: Fyodor Dostoevsky truly poured his soul into writing The Brothers Karamazov. That is my impression of this novel. If you read it, and give it all of your attention, then you too will agree.Now first off, there are some things that those of you that haven't read the book will need to know. Take my word that this novel is excellent; many others think so on amazon.com--and throughout the world--as well. Don't read a lot of reviews here because people tend to give away some of the plot. This book is not an easy read when compared to some other novels. That shouldn't discourage you, but it's better to know it coming in. (Just to let you know, if you read a lot, or even often, this book won't be that hard. However, I do recommend it to those that rarely read and that is why I make sure to note that it isn't the easiest of novels.) Surprisingly, the writing is very personal and anyone will grab onto his style and enjoy the way he warmly tells his Russian story. Another thing to know is that a dictionary will most likely be necessary if your vocabulary isn't large. I'm sure everyone will need one for a few words. The last thing worth hearing is that you will not want to miss this book. It's one of my favorites. In the end, my recommendation is to give this novel a chance. If you're intimidated, which I can see happening, don't be. It's really worth your time and I reassure you that you will learn many things from Dostoevsky's masterpiece. One note of importance: Read the version translated into English by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. It is the truest translation.
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Summary: Thematic Perfection.
Review: What more can be said about this book? It weaves story, character development, philosophy, and of course, humanity better than any book I have ever read. Its questions, thoughts are ubiquitous. It performs the chief and only possible function of philosophical fiction: not finding an answer, but making one think.
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Summary: The magnus opus of a Russian master...
Review: This book is truly one of the most thought-provoking and tragic books of all time. In this book, he coupled the tragic with the joyful; despair with hope in the unique Russian style. A book of this magnitude deserves far more praise and coverage than I can give to it, so I'll close with this: BUY THIS BOOK! You won't regret it.
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Summary: My Opinion (Should be Yours)
Review: This book is, quite simply, one of the greatest ever written. It is an accessible masterwork of plotting and exposition and an enlightening exploration of human nature. In short, if you don't like it, there's something wrong with you. (A review below states that there are three brothers: in fact, there are four. Further, the book scantly touches on metaphysics, and the symbolism, comparatively speaking, is minimal.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellant
Review: An interesting novel, but more importantly it has some marvelous discourses on the philosophy of one's belief in God.
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Summary: The most sublime of fiction
Review: Quite simply, this is the best book I've ever read. Dostoyevsky's perception and psychological analysis are amazing, and his characters are deep and colorful, while still archetypical enough to overcome cultural barriers. His stories would be excellent on their own literary merit and complexity of plot, but his uncanny ability to form them into analogical analyses of human life is what sets him apart from all others. A book like Atlas Shrugged is getting old even only 30 years later, where The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment remain accessible more than a century after their completion. Dostoyevsky remains my favorite author: depths of insight stronger than Rand, subtlety of plot deeper than Eco's, strength of emotion and communication of abstract thoughts clearer than Solzhenitsyn. This book is an absolute classic. "Dostoyevsky paints like Rembrandt, and his portraits are artistically so powerful that even if they lacked the depths of thought that lie behind them, and all around them, I believe that Dostoyevsky would still be the greatest of all novelists." - Andre Gide.
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Summary: It slowly changed my life. It's still haunting me.
Review: I think I am going to read this wonderful book again. There is so much there to relive and cherish, that it's really worth it. I want to tell you how this novel changed my life. It was recommended to me by a Russian Orthodox priest (who was an American though), who considered it the best source of Russian Orthodox spirituality in literature. So I read it. I read it because at the time I was striving to become a true Orthodox Christian myself. The result, however, was the opposite: I lost any faith I ever had in the truth of the Church and all its dogmas. This book gave me an idea that if there is God, it is certainly not what we are taught He is. I think that in this work Dostoevsky reached the very height of what I would call "a war with oneself". He created this unforgettable contrast between what he wanted to believe (and, indeed believed at times) and what he actually was going through in his spiritual search, which were probably indescribable spiritual torments of doubt. I now have this indelible image of Ivan confiding in Alesha, arguing with Satan and, at last, denying God himself in his search for the truth. It was he, who stirred my whole being and it was Dostoevsky himself speaking through Ivan with the most profound sincerety and desperation. Yes, there also was Alyosha, who didn't doubt, who just loved and believed, but, alas, such a gift is not given to everyone! Unfortunately, most of us are more earthly and human, than the sweet Alyosha was. I love this book! I love the brothers, even though they are so different! There are so many things to love "The Brothers Karamazov" for, but it is for this brave, but nevertheless desperate challenge to our faith, and at the same time, a great example of living it, that I praise this book so highly. It is truly as rich, thought-provoking and awe-inspiring as life itself. P.S. I highly recommend the translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. It is the most correct and true to the spirit of the book translation available. By the way, they also translated "Crime and Punishment", "The Demons", "Notes from the Underground" and lots more, so I recommend those as well. And if you really would like to get the feel of how Dostoevsky DID NOT write, try the translation by Constance Garnett! It is outdated and, frankly, in some places she took liberties at what to leave and what to take out. I read "The Brothers Karamazov" in Russian and English, going line-by-line sometimes and discovering those literary atrocities in the most straightforward places.
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Summary: Doubts for all
Review: If you're a believer,this book might lead you to hate everything you've believed in so far. If you're an atheist,it will probably make you desperately want to believe. Anyway,read it because it will change your life.
Rating:
Summary: the brothers karamazov (modern library series)
Review: positive
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