TBK Common discussion thread (Spoilers)

[Samadrita, Creator cum Novice Moderator]

Before Ema, Dolors and Garima expressed their interest to read TBK together, I had already started reading it on my own. I know Brian and Kris are reading it at the moment. So that's how the idea of the group was born. I am making this separate thread for now exclusively devoted to TBK discussions. Just in case people want separate threads there will be a poll on the homepage. Till the results of that are out, feel free to use this thread for general discussion.

[Daisy]

The Brothers Karamazov is very philosophical and really makes you think. Its extremely complex and the characters are amazing. I really like Alyosha so far. He seems to be the only brother with sense! I'm very much enjoying it, very powerful.

Is anyone else liking it as well? :)

[Samadrita, Creator cum Novice Moderator]

Daisy wrote: "The Brothers Karamazov is very philosophical and really makes you think. Its extremely complex and the characters are amazing. I really like Alyosha so far. He seems to be the only brother with sen..."

Alyosha was my favorite too. But for the moment it is Ivan. I feel like a changed person after going through 'The Grand Inquisitor' chapter.

[Dolors]

Thank you Samadrita for organizing the group page and make it easier for the members to discuss and comment. You've done a marvellous job.

[Daisy]

Samadrita wrote: "Daisy wrote: "The Brothers Karamazov is very philosophical and really makes you think. Its extremely complex and the characters are amazing. I really like Alyosha so far. He seems to be the only br..."

Hmm.... I'm almost at that chapter, maybe I'll feel the same! :)

[Tej]

Samadrita wrote: "Daisy wrote: "The Brothers Karamazov is very philosophical and really makes you think. Its extremely complex and the characters are amazing. I really like Alyosha so far. He seems to be the only br..."

He is indeed very eloquent and speaks with a know it all swagger laced with seemingly strong convictions, Ivan :)

[Daisy]

I am so in love with this book so far, I can hardly bear it.... I'm in utter amazement at this epic piece of Russian literature and the way its so easily capable of taking over my mind.

Has anyone else been reading it yet? I really want to have a conversation about this book with someone! :)

[Whitney]

It's been a few years, but I've read it a couple times. Love Dostoevsky, even more since taking a Russian Lit class with an amazing professor. I'm hoping to join in with the scheduled discussion for a chance to read the much lauded P-V translation.

I'm definitely an Ivan kinda person (despite understanding that from FD's perspective he's pretty much damned.) Samadrita - I agree, the Grand Inquisitor section provides a lot of food for thought, as well as disturbance. Have you ever read the Ursula LeGuin short story "The Ones Who Walk Away" from Omelas"? It's an exploration of what it would mean to people if the society posited by Ivan actually existed.

Anyway, nice to meet you all. Thanks for organizing this group!

[Samadrita, Creator cum Novice Moderator]

Whitney wrote: "It's been a few years, but I've read it a couple times. Love Dostoevsky, even more since taking a Russian Lit class with an amazing professor. I'm hoping to join in with the scheduled discussion fo..."

Thank you for this insightful comment, Whitney. Initially Ivan appeared to be an arrogant, self-obsessed person who looked down upon those who did not have the gift of his wisdom but what a way to turn things around for him. The Grand Inquisitor has moved me profoundly and I just cannot wait to discover unrevealed aspects of Mitya and Ivan's personalities. My reading has significantly slowed down for the time being though.

And I haven't read any LeGuin yet, something I must remedy soon.

[B. P.]

I know this is marked spoilers, but it seems some haven't read the book yet so I won't be too specific. After reading the whole novel I have to say Alyosha is my favorite character hands down; by the ending of this book I felt that I was Dante being guided through the Inferno with Alyosha as my Virgil.

As fr as chapters go though, I have to say chapter 9 of Book 11 (Ivan's last "pov" chapter) maybe my favorite individual chapter of the whole book. FD uses the preceding chapters of that section to build up to it so well that I amazed at what happened when the reveal comes along, you just don't see it coming like you think you do. It is the only individual chapter besides the last chapter of the novel that I constantly think about.

I'm not using the chapter titles because they spoil. Personally I don't mind spoilers for Russian literature because I think the magic is in the detail for this genre more than the plot itself.