Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Brothers Karamazov is the last novel of Fyodor Dostoevsky and is considered his greatest. It is both a crime story and a religious and philosophical debate. The story blends human inner psychology with Dostoevsky's philosophical ideas on the existence of God, freedom of Will, and the collective nature of guilt.

Dostoevsky spent two years writing this novel and it was first published as a serial in The Russian Messenger from January 1879 to November 1880.
The Brothers Karamazov is acclaimed as one of the greatest literary achievements in world literature.

Sources: Wikipedia and Goodreads

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (11 November 1821 - 9 February 1881) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist. Many literary critics regard him as one of the greatest novelists in world literature as many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces.

In his novels, Dostoevsky explores human nature and the human condition against the backdrop of the political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia. His novels are also thematically heavy with philosophy and religion.

Dostoevsky's work consists of 13 novels, 3 novellas, 17 short stories, and numerous other works. Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, Adolescent and The Brothers Karamazov are considered his best five. His works are widely read within and beyond Russia and have influenced later writers and philosophers.

Source: Wikipedia

I'm reading Ignat Avsey's translation (Oxford World's Classics edition). Who's in? And what translations are you reading?

I will read the Norton Critical Editions.

I will be reading it in French. Henri Mongault translation.

I have read this twice-it's an amazing reading experience.

I have read once in two volumes.

I liked the sound of the new translation by Michael R Katz- - and just got it for Christmas! As with many other classics authors, I'm apparently the outlier here in that I'll be reading him for the first time. I don't think I'll get to it though until March or April. Looking forward to it though.

Being old, I've read it a number of times. Once more will yield undiscovered nuggets I missed.

This is often called the greatest novel ever written and I agree. I read the Constance Garnett translation.
I'd love to read it again but there's always the old struggle, read something you loved vs read something new.

This is my second time reading. I'd encourage all those who want to reread, although I understand your dillema, Jason.

Just finished Part 1, Book 1.

I'll maybe read it in the middle or ending of January. I'm with more challenges behind!!

I'd like to read this with you guys but I'll probably start mid-January!

Please take your time, Luís and Cleo. The discussion will go on till June.

I'm in.

The Brothers Karamazov this is my edition I will be reading from.

The Bibliophile Doctor wrote: "I'm in.

The Brothers Karamazov this is my edition I will be reading from."

Great!

I'm one reading session in to this - I'm reading it for the first time.

Finished Part 1, Book 2 yesterday. Here, Dostoevsky blends his religious ideals with the story. He examines faith through a mixed character set of believers and non-believers.

I'd like to join in and will be a first time BK reader. I won't be able to start until late January due to real life book group commitments and hope that's okay?

My copy of the Katz translation is slowly making it's way to me via Media mail! :)

Grace

We are a relaxed group, Grace. You can start reading whenever you're ready- you have until the end of June. Also, our discussion threads stay open even after we start new reads and you can comment any time.

Hello everyone! Hoping to start with this by the start of February after I finish some other books :)

Welcome, Kirill and Grace!

Finished Part 1, Book 3. This ends Part 1. This book sets out the ground for what is to come.

I really enjoyed this book in college.

I think I'll be starting this one tomorrow.

Finished Part 2, Book 4. This book helps understand Alyosha Karamazov's role in the novel.

I've finished Chapter V of Book II. I'm in the part where Alyosha enters and participates in the story.

This has been on my shelf forever and it is the only book by Dostoevsky I haven't read. I'm in. I'm reading the Paver/Volokhonsky translation and plan to read along slowly through June.

Grace wrote: "I'd like to join in and will be a first time BK reader. I won't be able to start until late January due to real life book group commitments and hope that's okay?

My copy of the Katz translation i..."

Oh yay- me too- first time + Katz translation. I'll be getting to it more like in April though. I was very drawn to how this new translation was described.

I'm about halfway through now. The interplay between plot-ty sections and the philosophical sections remind me a bit of War and Peace, but I like that (unlike in that book) they're mostly incorporated into conversations, rather than asides from the author to his readers. And I know Shakespeare was read across Europe, but I'm a little surprised by the number of references to him here!

Interesting, Vince. I liked the comparison you made between this book and War and Peace.

Finished Part 2, Book 5. I'm reading these sections very slowly, trying to understand where Dostoevsky is us with his religious debate.

When I read it for the first time, it was with Alyosha that I found the strongest connection. This time with my slow reading, I feel I'm equally drawn to Ivan as well.

I got this book today, I have most of my books lined up for the year and seeing how long it is won't have a chance to read it but one day .... , and enjoy

I'm in the chapter where The Prosecutor intervenes. Cleaning dirty laundry ...

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men, I think, must have great sadness on Earth."... Fyodor Dostoevsky... So, Mr. Dostoevsky, was such pain and suffering worth the acquisition of a large intelligence and a deep heart? Was that artistic ability to write, such as you did, worth such sadness? Would you live that life of such harshness all over again, or would succumb to "normality"?

Did he have a choice?

That is the question, is it not, Rosemarie, do we have a choice?

Suffering breaks us down and humbles us.

With him I feel like his Orthodox fate played a large part, but I think it was his life experiences that had a lot to do with his writing. he endured a serious chronic illness, He was imprisoned in Siberia following a close execution. Fate struck him with loss of his parents, children and spouses in various tragic ways.

The Brothers Karamazov was altered by his own personal tragedy in May of 1878 his son of three, Alyosha died of epilepsy.
His grief is apparent throughout the book.

I know I would need to give meaning to all that suffering and loss if it was a constant in my life as it was for him?
The idea that it brought him closer to God must have been so comforting for him. He saw suffering as inescapable or bound to happen, but one could learn from it in the form of personal and spiritual growth. In a way I find that a very strong character.

I saw the movie with Yull Brynner a few days earlier, and I want to reread the book now (as I do now). However, it's becoming difficult for me, mainly because this one is in two volumes. 800-page tomes are complex for my age (hey, it rhymes, lol).

Totally understandable Luis.
I will have to check out that movie. Did not know one existed actually. Thank you!

Lesle wrote: "Totally understandable Luis.
I will have to check out that movie. Did not know one existed actually. Thank you!"

You're welcome!

Very insightful Leslie. I think you're spot on.

Michael wrote: "Very insightful Leslie. I think you're spot on."

There are several authors I think their lives are full of lessons learned and how they portray them in the writings.

The film is from 1958 and stars a very young William Shatner as Alyosha. Yul Brynner is Dimitri.
The plot of the movie is much condensed from the book but it's very watchable.

Rosemarie wrote: "The film is from 1958 and stars a very young William Shatner as Alyosha. Yul Brynner is Dimitri.
The plot of the movie is much condensed from the book but it's very watchable."

I agree. I've watched it and liked it.

Michael wrote: ""Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men, I think, must have great sadness on Earth."... Fyodor Dostoevsky... So, Mr. Dostoevsky, wa..."

I was thinking of this the other way around. Pain and suffering are every human's lot to some degree. But people with "large intelligence and deep heart" feel them too keenly. I don't know what Dostoevsky really meant, but that was how I understood it since the time I first read it.

Micheal and Piyangie
I took that as:

Feeling pain and suffering too strongly or deeply at level that might be overwhelming in sadness and pain.

Ladies, truly "great" lit is interpretive. Look at the discussion this quote has deepened within us. Since each of us has our own unique experiences, should there not be a variety of interpretations to this quote? I mean, look at all the interpretations the Bible has created by various religious groups over the centuries.

With that being said, I would agree with Piyangie that humans have the capacity to think (through that emotion of doubt), and feel (through that emotion of guilt). Yes, some more so than others.

Let's imagine that all temperature is uniform. How may we determine what's hot? Cold? So, perhaps, we may only determine what love is through hate/suffering/pain? Did he have a choice whether to experience all that he went through in his life (Rosemarie)? Probably not - I mean, who would voluntarily want to experience such hardship? So, as Leslie so observantly (and eloquently) stated, maybe through all his misery (those depths of pain and suffering), he finally found his path to God (that heightened love of Agape)?

I read "The Brothers Karamazov" years ago, and through this challenge, Piyangie, I plan to reread it (with a more experienced vision).

I finished Part 2, Book 6. Still trying to understand the significance of this book which was sort of detour from the story's progress.

I finished Chapter X, Book XI. The talk with the Devil is unmissable!