Rating: 
Summary: words fail to describe this enduring classic
Review: Dostoevsky's final work, The Brothers Karamazov constitutes the culmination of his life's work, drawing from all of his previous writings. It is the tale of the three Karamazov brothers--Alyosha, the pious spiritualist; Ivan, the tormented, calculating atheist and author of that famed passage, The Grand Inquisitor; and Mitya, the sensualist involved in a twisted sort of love triangle in which the participants maliciously chicane one another--and their illegitimate half-brother Smerdyakov, sickly and conniving. The central plot focuses on the murder of the brothers' father, Fyodor, and the trial of the suspected murderer (whom I will not name, lest I spoil the book for any would-be readers). Of course, the novel transcends mere murder mystery and courtroom drama; indeed, these elements serve merely as a background for what truly concerns Dostoevsky, the battle for the soul, in which the forces of modern ideologies (e.g. socialism) struggle against the forces of religion, specifically orthodox Christianity. This war for the spirit wreaks havoc on the individual, disorients and incapacitates him; in fact, the most interesting character in the book is not Dostoevsky's declared hero, Alyosha, but rather his brother Ivan, the atheist, whose contemplation of the lack of moral restraint effected by God's absence places him in the most fragile of mental states, which collapses when he must make a moral judgment. It was Dostoevsky's genius to recognize that socialism is more than a form of labor organization, that it is "above all an atheistic phenomenon, the modern manifestation of atheism, one more tower of Babel built without God, not in order to reach out toward heaven from earth, but to bring heaven down to earth." And there lies his enduring relevance to modern times, over one hundred years after his death. Communism and socialism, indeed, have been virtually routed as viable political and economic systems. But the fight of the West versus Communism was not simply a political-economic one; it was, as Dostoevsky would have recognized--and, indeed, as his modern heirs such as Whitaker Chambers and Alexander Solzhenytsin understood--merely a continuation of that great war for the human soul. And that struggle was not, and has not been, won. For those who wish to understand that fight and to take it up with the foe, Dostoevsky is the essential starting point.
Rating:
Summary: The suffering Russian soul
Review: Fyodor Dostoevsky believed that the Russian people were specially marked by God to endure great suffering in order to prepare them to show the truths of Christ's religion to humanity. He did not accept the notions of material progress and scientific rationalism that were coming out of the "Enlightened" West and felt that such ideas would lead only to spiritual bankruptness and immorality. Dostoevsky articulated these viewpoints and sought to project his vision of what the Russian national identity should be in his masterpiece, "The Brothers Karamazov".As Dostoevsky himself revealed in the story, the three legitimate sons of Fyodor Pavlovich each represented different aspects of the Russian identity:
1. Dmitriy Fyodorovich was the uncontrollable and irrational brother who could commit acts of senseless violence and engage in extreme debauchery, but despite all of that, aspired to goodness and felt remorse at all of the bad things he had done.
2. Ivan Fyodorovich was the educated brother who espoused the rationalism and cynicism of the West and who claimed to have renounced God. Despite that, he still had not lost his "Russian-ness" and he himself did not believe in what he preached and still had troubling doubts about the existence of God.
3. Alexei Fyodorovich (Alyosha) was the devout brother who aspired to live in a monastery under the guidance of his spiritual father figure, Father Zossima. Alyosha represented all that was beautiful and holy about the Russian Orthodox faith. Each of these three brothers underwent a crisis in faith that was brought about by the death of their father, either directly or indirectly (as in the case of Alyosha). In each situation, each brother finally came to terms with the suffering that had been placed upon them and accepted responsibility for their actions, or indeed, for all men's actions. I thought Dostoevsky's description of this painful process of spiritual transformation brought on by suffering and anguish was mesmerizing, because I was able to relate to it in some small way. Indeed, considering the responses of many of the other customer reviewers here, I would say that my reaction was not unusual. I would suggest that reading "The Brothers Karamazov" could actually lead you to reevaluate your life principles and manner of relating to people (at least it did for me). I wil not go so far to say that this book changed my life (as some reviewers here have claimed), but at least it made me think, and for that reason this book is wonderful. It's funny how such a transcendent book as this, which has something to say to everybody, was originally written as propaganda for Russian nationalism.
Rating:
Summary: Dare I give stars to the Greatest of all?
Review: The Brothers Karamazov becomes more ironic and comedic with multiple readings and age, i.e. mine. It is also, for me, the novel of the Russian soul/landscape, the ungovernable, mystic and irrational. Traces of Rasputin can be gleaned in Fyodor Karamazov, the patriarch whose decadent life and death is the magnetic core of this masterpiece. Dostoevsky, in his last novel spares few but least of all the lesser landowners, moneylenders and petitbourgoise whose treachery and self-absorption is the essence of the drunken Karamazov. From 3 women, come the brothers and the bastard and it is within their various souls, the archetypal Russian nature and its conflict, comes the plot. In all, the span of the story is but 4 days. Karamazov is the comedy as well as the nature of the murderous avenging of devils that lightens and lifts, to the degree that is possible in this notoriously dense read. In one scene glaring with "a broad, drunken half-witted leer." he manages to speak some of the author's tormented inner debates about religion, God and the progressive, radical elements that would choose violent change and destruction. Despite his tyranny to servants, children and women, Karamazov is a yellow bellied coward. Confronted by Dmitri, his son, Fyodor squeals and runs around the table, "He's going to hurt me, stop him stop him" grabbing desperately to another son's coattails.
Dostoyevsky's final work of the obsessions that consumed him as well as his age is no where more labrynthine than in his depiction of the Russian church. He indicts the overly powerful clergy of the Holy Mother Church of the Tsar- while remaining fanatically Christian. He has contempt for the court system and the repressive penal codes, but a greater contempt for the radicals and assassins who assert that blood is the path to reform and the end of crime. Here, he enlarged on the theme of Crime and Punishment where destabilization and rampant appetites and excess were condemned. Karamazov is less a sermon or a catharsis for its delightful comedy, the burlesque of dreamers, rebels, the pious and the rogues who are part of the great folly, the foolishness and perhaps unredeemable condition of mankind. Dostoevsky was a Christian who could only love a suffering Christ- Ivan, his son intellectualizes religion yet it does nothing but infect his mind and bring nightmares, one of which is the famous chapter of "The Grand Inquisitor." There is an attack upon the deification of the uneducated Russian countrymen when after a verdict came through someone yelled, "Hooray, Trust our Russian peasants, Trust the peasants." Yet they had just convicted an innocent man. Dostoeyvski speaks in the preface as author and creator, in particular in regard to his hero, tells us in the preface that the Aleksi, (Aloysha). The Christlike youngest brother is superior in thought alone, but in his action, he fails to inspire. In no area is Dostoeyevski's own uncertainty more brilliantly depicted than in the question of the nature of the holy man on earth- the monks, the starets and the saintly. Fyodor insults the monks where Aloysha has gone to prepare for the priesthood. He shouts in a mad frenzy to the monks, "why shouldn't I act the fool? ....every single one of you is worse than me. That's why I'm a buffoon- a buffon of shame..Master (falling to knees) what must I do to earn eternal life?" Was he in jest?
It has been said that all the characters are insane, and then rebuffed with, we are just seeing them, in so much vivid light, but they are, like ourselves, just ordinary. This is an event, a necessary ingredient to any reading life.
Rating: 
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.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
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.
|
