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Most Helpful Favorable Review
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
BRILLIANT !! BRILLIANT !!
This novel has everything you could possibly want in a book: love, family, murder, morals, life, and virtues. My favorite character is Alyosha, and I find myself falling in love with him the more pages I read in the book (could have something to do with the 1958 movie i...Read More
This novel has everything you could possibly want in a book: love, family, murder, morals, life, and virtues. My favorite character is Alyosha, and I find myself falling in love with him the more pages I read in the book (could have something to do with the 1958 movie in which William Shatner plays Alyosha (Alexey)and the more I read the more I picture him as Alyosha. Dostoyevsky did an AMAZING job bringing his characters to life, and like most commentors' here, I agree that by the end of the book, you get to know the Karamazovs. It makes you wish that there was another book following this. MUST READ *****Show Less
posted by Anonymous on September 13, 2007
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9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
This e-book is NOT the Pevear\Volokhonsky translation!!!
The cover that you see belongs to the Pevear\Volokhonsky translation. If you buy this e-book it is NOT THE PEVEAR translation. This is a Gutenberg press book, not the pevear. I am quite disappointed.
posted by 5681884 on December 23, 2010
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Anonymous
Posted December 23, 2010
This e-book is NOT the Pevear\Volokhonsky translation!!!
The cover that you see belongs to the Pevear\Volokhonsky translation. If you buy this e-book it is NOT THE PEVEAR translation. This is a Gutenberg press book, not the pevear. I am quite disappointed.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted July 1, 2011
Incomplete version
This version of the brothers karamazov is an incomplete download. It leaves out about 20% of the book.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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borges
Posted March 21, 2011
Do not pay for this!
Good thing I downloaded the sample first, or I too would have been drawn in by the cover that claims to be the Pevear translation. Don't spend a dime on this freely-available Project Gutenberg edition:
"The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever."5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2007
BRILLIANT !! BRILLIANT !!
This novel has everything you could possibly want in a book: love, family, murder, morals, life, and virtues. My favorite character is Alyosha, and I find myself falling in love with him the more pages I read in the book (could have something to do with the 1958 movie in which William Shatner plays Alyosha (Alexey)and the more I read the more I picture him as Alyosha. Dostoyevsky did an AMAZING job bringing his characters to life, and like most commentors' here, I agree that by the end of the book, you get to know the Karamazovs. It makes you wish that there was another book following this. MUST READ *****
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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"Don't judge a book by its cover."
Shame on you, Barnes & Noble, for using the cover of the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, when it is actually the Project Gutenberg edition. The Brothers Karamazov is a great work of art, but some translations are far superior to others.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted December 24, 2011
This Nook eBook is NOT the version on display!!!
The Brothers Karamazov's translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volonsky is wonderful, the very best so far.
BUT it is NOT what you see when you open this Nook eBook. The translation you see is by Constance Garnett, made early in the 20th century. And worse, it is a public domain version made available by the Gutenberg Project long ago....
This is just unbelievable!
--3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2010
The Best Book Ever Written.
The Headline above says it all.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Nicole-Syracuse-NY
Posted March 14, 2010
Intense Reading
I have to say it was a little hard getting into the book, but once you get about 175 pages in it reads very fast. I loved the book the names were difficult, but if you kept the names straight you will do fine. I would reccomend this book.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Do NOT buy this translation
Constance Garnett is terrible. Do not get an book translated by her.
Get the David McDuff translation or the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation.
This is the best book I have ever read. Hands down.
The first 30 pages or so(first 'book') is somewhat dull, but after the story begins to pick up, it is the most fascinating book you will ever read!
The plot is good. It is a fascinating murder story. I couldn't quite classify it as a mystery, as the intent of the book isn't to figure out who killed 'him', but it is nonetheless intriguing. What is more important, though, is the philosophy. The book is largely an exploration of a variety of religious questions. Those, I will let you ponder for yourself.
The greatest virtue of the novel is the characterization. Dostoevsky an incredible ability to paint a character portrait.
5 stars... For the better translation!3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted December 22, 2007
6 stars if possible
Simply the best novel I have ever read. Period.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted August 11, 2000
It slowly changed my life. It's still haunting me.
I think I am going to read this wonderful book again. There is so much life and passion in it, that reading it again will definitely enrich my soul even further. I want to tell you how this novel changed my life. It was recommended to me by a Russian Orthodox priest 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, turned out 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. On the opposite, Dostoevsky introduces Alyosha, who didn't doubt, but just loved and believed. This young man, according to Dostoevsky's plan, is a prototype of Jesus Christ himself, a man in whom the truth is open within, a man through whom one can truly feel God's love. It is a fascinating character, although, Dostoevsky depicts him in the light of Christian Orthodoxy, as an example of TRUE spirituality, as opposed to any other spirituality. Nevertheless, if we were to take liberties in the interpretation of the work, put the dogmas aside and look at Alyosha as a human being, then we could boldly say, that this young man IS the embodiment of love, truth and godliness. I really would want to at least resemble such a person! And in the midst of this spiritual struggle, there is murder, treachery, repentance, love and comedy, which bring the characters out into your own life. I just 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 all along the text.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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mythoughtisme
Posted November 11, 2009
One of the greatest works of all time
Absolutely phenomenal book. Constance Garnett's translation is great. The book combines great psychology, philosophy, strong views on justice and morality, and deep chacterization into a well designed plot. 19th century Russia serves as a great backdrop to perhaps the greatest book of all time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted April 6, 2008
masterpiece
Simply the best novel ever written.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted July 6, 2007
A reviewer
I'm nearly finished with Dostoevsky's brilliant book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in classic literature. Dostoevsky had the proclivity to inundate his novels with a copious amount of religious fervor (which reflects the years in which it was written..circa 1878-1880 C.E.), however, that in no way diminishes the overall experience. Dostoevsky deserves my utmost respect, and now takes his place alongside such iconic figures as: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Edgar Allan Poe.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted April 3, 2007
A Masterpiece by a Master Writer
Having read almost all of Dostoyevsky's work, I can honestly say that this is by far his masterpiece. It takes every moral dilema ever faced by his previous characters and blends it into one gruesome, fantastic tale of a despicable father and his four incredibly different sons. There are so many different levels to read this book on that it's almost impossible to summarize it in under ten pages and still do it justice. I would highly recommend reading The Brothers Karamazov first before any of Dostoyevsky's other works by seeing the culmination of his ideas (or at least as far as he was able to develop them before dying), it becomes easier to see common themes in his other masterpieces like Crime and Punishment.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted April 14, 2006
Wow.........................
This book is incrediable, an absolute materpeice. Although at first the sheer size is intimidating, Dostoevskies writing style is so wonderfull that the pages simply fly by. Also you if you study philosophy you see where latter philosophers(Nietzsche, Sartre, and many others) got many of their prominate ideas. I'm not going to comment on the actual book, because it is so profound, deep, and a sheer joy to read, that it woild be almost sinfull to spoil the suprising turns and plot twists. JUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted June 24, 2005
Outstanding
Brother's Karamazov definitely merits recognition as Dostoevsky's masterpiece. This book reads with all the suspense of a mystery, yet still offers deep insights into the overriding philosophical ideas of his day. As with all of Dostoevesky's works,the characterization is incredible. The characters are at turns detestable and lovable, but never flat. Alyosha remains my favorite character in all of literature.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 4, 2012
Long and Boring
I don't recommend this book. Now, I'm going to admit here that I've learned that I'm not a fan of Dostoevsky. Perhaps I'm not smart enough, or maybe it's that I just don't have the patience to sit and think about the undertones to his work. But I find his work just to be too long-winded and pointless.
I definitely believe that for books of this era, you really have to be familiar with the political and cultural aspects of the environment in which they're written. Of course, some of his dialogue concerning religion is ageless, but he also had a purpose in writing about it at that particular time.
Moreover, I also think that many books of this just too long. Back in the day, when people didn't have movies, TV, the internet, or cars to drive them places, I'm assuming that people didn't mind staying home to read more. But man, there so many unnecessary details in this book it's just ridiculous.
My mom read this book many years ago, and she said she never really did figure out the point in it. One of my friends said he stopped reading it halfway through because it was boring.
I soldiered through it just so I could say I read it, but I'm not taking anything away with me for having done so.
Recommend skipping this one.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2011
Great book, horrible translation
My biggest recommendation would be to pay for a $0.99 copy. This is unedited and unless you are very good at skimming over major typos, this will add an additional challenge to what some would consider a very challenging book. Fantastic story though!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Fulminata
Posted February 28, 2011
A Book Well Worth The Effort
I was asked recently "Why Dostoevsky." This from a Russian who admires Tolstoy. I will never try placing either Tolstoy or Dostoevsky above the other as they are both astonishing writers, but when I answered for Dostoevsky, I used almost only this book as my reason why. Firstly Karamazov is a very deeply written book. The characters are monoliths, they are not a one dimensional representation of a person, but real people. Next the events in the novel are drawn very carefully and beautifully. There is love, desire, anger, hatred, understanding, and everything in between. The most famous part of this novel is of course the "Grand Inquisitor" scene. It alone would guarantee this books immortality, but there is so so much more. Its worth the time required to read it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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