I finished The Brothers Karamazov this past weekend.  From the last two parts, “Brother Ivan Fyodorovich” and “A Judicial Error,” I was left with no particularly strong feelings or impressions.  It was a struggle to finish – ultimately, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars, leaning towards 4 on Goodreads (which still doesn’t allow Continue reading

Click here for other installments in this review series… What does it say about Dostoyevsky that, after the roller coaster of the last three parts, he switches gears and writes a whole section about – schoolboys? Let me just say: any remaining reservations I had about his writing skills disappeared in this part.  I mean Continue reading

Click here for other installments in this review series… And now we (unavoidably) head into spoiler territory… In these three parts – “Alyosha,” “Mitya,” and “The Preliminary Investigation” – we learn that Grushenka, while attempting to escape with her former seducer, becomes convinced that it is Dmitri “Mitya” Karamazov she really loves.  He pursues her Continue reading

Click here for other installments in this review series… Today I spent some time cleaning out my closet, one of my favorite things to do on academic break.  Afterwards, I settled down to read another part of BK.  In all honesty, the chapter “From the Life of the Elder Zosima” did not look too promising.  Continue reading