possm reviewed Les frères Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Truly an experience
5 stars
Content warning I mention some aspects of the ending
Reading this novel moved many things in me - emotionally, intellectually, etc. It was an incredible experience.
Some superficial thoughts: The antisemitism. Maybe I found it particularly striking because I just finished a book about antisemitism, but wtf is with the constantly recurring, seemingly random antisemitism that adds nothing to the characterization or story? On a similar note, man does Dostoevsky not like women. I remember "The Idiot" was similar in this regard. Of course all 19th century novels contain sexism, but there are degrees. I wish Ivan had gotten more "screen time". Feels a bit like he had the big philosophical dialogue, then disappeared into the background, and only came back in time to go insane at the end. I would have liked more of him. The two other brothers were great. I guess more Smerdiakov would have been nice too. And it would have been nice if the author hated Smerdiakov less. A more sympathetic characterization of him would have improved the story a bit I think. I enjoyed the "schoolboys" side story a lot. I didn't enjoy the trial at the end and had to force myself through it. The epilogue on the other hand was totally amazing and made me cry. I liked all the monastery stuff.
That's all the unqualified thoughts I want to share about The Brothers Karamazov here. Reading this book was truly an experience, these past weeks it overshadowed my life. Next time I read it I'll probably go for a German or English translation, or maybe a different French one. I'd like to know how different the translations make the text.
