The Brothers Karamazov

Review

One of the longest books I have read in a while. And it really is a book much too long by modern media standards. On his death bed, you have a man tell his life story over several chapters and side stories of little importance. There are long elegant speeches and monologues about religion and passion. While the events of the story are interesting, the greatness of this book shines through the characters and archetypes. Like watching a sitcom for years, you grow to ask yourself what these nuanced characters would do and the drama is propelled by their interactions. Each character is beautifully depicted and motivated. The characters are so relatable that If I didn't know any better, I would think this was written in modern times. Nihilism, despair, honor, desperate cruelty, poverty, religious passion you grow to empathize with them all. Weeks later, I still find myself thinking of these characters and their traces in us all.