The Brothers Karamazov in Reading the Chunksters

Sep 01, 2022 Holly boreham rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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The Brothers Karamazov is my all-time favourite book, and I do not say that lightly. I have read over 300 books, but Brother Karamazov haunts my mind the most, in the best way possible. The novel lives in my mind constantly; it's almost like it has its room in my brain, and now and then, it disrupts my train of thought to remind me of how brilliant a read it was and how much of a genius Dostoyevsky is. It is one of those books that makes you sit for weeks on end, questioning your life and all yo The Brothers Karamazov is my all-time favourite book, and I do not say that lightly. I have read over 300 books, but Brother Karamazov haunts my mind the most, in the best way possible. The novel lives in my mind constantly; it's almost like it has its room in my brain, and now and then, it disrupts my train of thought to remind me of how brilliant a read it was and how much of a genius Dostoyevsky is. It is one of those books that makes you sit for weeks on end, questioning your life and all your decisions. It is like a mirror, showing you your inadequacies, bad decisions, and what you can do to change. It is my favourite book, but I also hate myself for reading it so early on, and now that I have read this masterpiece of literature, anything else I read is pale in comparison.
The Brothers Karamazov centres on three brothers, Dmitri, Ivan and Alexi Karamazov. Dmitri is a hedonist, finding his pleasures through gambling, alcohol and sex. His life is full of sin, but he is forced to change when, all of a sudden, his father is murdered, and he is found guilty. In prison and with the help of his saint-like brother Alexi, Dmitri undergoes a spiritual awakening, which makes him take responsibility for his hedonistic actions and plead for redemption. Dostoyevsky uses Dmitri to show his readers that suffering is necessary, as Dmitri had to face his evil in the face to embrace his goodness.
Ivan is an intellectual, and his intellect leads to his downfall; it is his Achilles' heel. Ivan is filled with doubt about God's existence. He asks if god is real, then why does he inflict so much suffering on innocent people like children? This constant questioning of God’s existence leads Ivan to have a nervous breakdown. In Ivan’s character, Dostoyevsky shows the issues of faith and doubt, which are the central philosophical conflicts of the novel. Dostoyevsky illustrates, through Ivan, that a life of faith is happier and simpler than a life of doubt.
Lastly, the final brother, Alyosha, is described as the hero in the novel. Alyosha is no one special; he has no powers and is not better than anyone in any way. He is merely a human, but his pure heart makes him essential. Instead of spreading suffering and hate, he spreads love and hope. He is remarkable for his devotion to his faith, selfishness, and intense love of humankind. He is a symbol of purity and good. Throughout the novel, we follow him as he spends his time doing good deeds and trying to help them become better and more honest people. Moreover, Alyosha understands human evil and the burden of sin, and when his brother Dmitri struggles with his sin, Alyosha is there to help. He is seen as the novel's moral centre as he encapsulates the ethical attitude that Dostoyevsky considered right. Alyosha is so important because Dostoyevsky uses him to show his readers how humankind should be. If we all learn from Alyosha’s example, humanity can be a better place, full of peace and happiness instead of trauma and conflict.
The three brothers are the main objective of this book. When people read this book, they relate to one of the brothers more than the others.
Overall, through these characters, Dostoyevsky can explore intense philosophical questions about free will, suffering, the existence of God, and moral responsibility. The Brothers Karamazov is important to read because Dostoyevsky delves into profound philosophical and psychological questions that explore the complexities of the human psyche. Reading this book allows us to dissect ourselves. By reading this phenomenal piece of literature, readers can better understand the human experience, their values, and the world around them. ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 Kari Belding rated it it was amazing

I think this just became my favorite novel of all time. There is just such an amazing amount of depth to this novel. It covers so much of what it is like to be human and to live in a society of humans. The character development is the best I have ever read. The main focus of the novel is the dichotomy of good and evil, and how we as humans make sense of our lives and the eternal questions we have about God and morality.

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Aug 06, 2022 Rollito Deprimavera rated it it was ok

Halfway through and I think I'm dropping it, maybe it's not for me or maybe I'll try later. I'm finding the characters too one-dimensional and single minded. Too much like a Greek tragedy where characters are many times impersonations of one feeling or idea. But sometimes I read Greek classics and enjoy them. This one however, I just can't right now. It's too long and quite dark, so you have to be in the mood I guess... ...more

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