#The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky

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minor vineBOT
minor vineBOT
magic ridge
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maman

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my dream came true pepemegaSUCC

lunar rock
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I love Dostoevsky (Crime and Punishment is one of my all time favourites) but I was always a bit afraid of starting Brothers Karamazov for some reason. Happy to have some motivation finally CB_giggle

sinful comet
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I'm excited to move onto something that isn't sci Fi for a while.

magic ridge
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I'm pumped for this as well. Looking forward to having people to talk about this with. I'm in another group that is working through "The Idiot" so I will be knee deep in Dostoevsky.

rapid sonnet
sinful comet
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So I don't know what I was expecting going into the book. But I wasn't expecting as much religious references. It's also interesting that they tend to talk about all the characters as a background to catch you up on what's currently happening in the book, which I find interesting. The belittlement and sexism does bother me a bit though.

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@magic ridge,@round onyx,@lunar rock

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:worryStudy: Attention All Dostoevsky Devotees! :worryStudy:

Today marks the commencement of our buddy-read of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Don't let the volume or drama scare you, because it's going to be a year-long br!

Thank you so much for joining, and I hope you'll have fun reading < 33

Some discussion question:

  1. Is this your first time reading this book?
  2. What is your impression of Dostoevsky?
  3. What are your expectations for the journey ahead in reading this novel? Are there particular plot points or character arcs you're especially curious about?
minor vineBOT
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Something went wrong! Please try again later

magic ridge
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the emojis didn't show 🥲

magic ridge
cobalt jasper
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  1. Is this your first time reading this book?

I actually started reading this a few years ago, but abandoned it because of my own mental state.

  1. What is your impression of Dostoevsky?

I love his writing. Crime and Punishment is probably the best writing I have read all my life. White nights is also one of my all time favourite short stories.

  1. What are your expectations for the journey ahead in reading this novel? Are there particular plot points or character arcs you're especially curious about?

I am just here to be part of the journey. Looking forward to picking it up again and this time finishing it xD.

rapid sonnet
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  1. Yes indeed

  2. That man is an amazing writer. Eventhough is novels are LONG the pacing never misses and he knows how to give depth to every character he includes in his work.

  3. I want to be part of the journey, read the options of other, watch perspectives change and just experience Dostoevskys' masterpiece

brave silo
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This one thiccc

fluid pasture
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  1. Is this your first time reading this book?

I’m also a part of the ‘no’ club lol i’ve tried reading it early last year, but it wasn’t the right time for me. I wasn’t focussed.

  1. What is your impression of Dostoevsky?

He’s insanely good at cutting deep into the characters’ essence and their inner lives. No one does it, and no one will, do it better than him.

  1. What are your expectations for the journey ahead in reading this novel? Are there particular plot points or character arcs you're especially curious about?

It’s a very long book. I will have to focus on it from the beginning to keep the momentum going. I’m sure it’s worth it. I’m sure it will be a great experience, mostly considering we’re all doing it together.

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Disclaimer: I won’t start this one until I finish The Idiot (which is pretty good so far, by the way).

fresh igloo
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  1. Is this your first time reading this book?
    Yes, and it’s on my Novelogue poster so I was going to get to it eventually

  2. What is your impression of Dostoevsky?
    The only other Dostoevsky I’ve read is “White Nights”, so “Same vibe as Tolstoy but way less tangent-y”

  3. What are your expectations for the journey ahead in reading this novel? Are there particular plot points or character arcs you're especially curious about?
    I’m going in completely blind, so I have zero expectations

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I also might not start this one for a bit just because I have so many BRs that end in August/September

magic ridge
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  1. Is this your first time reading this book?
    Yes.

  2. What is your impression of Dostoevsky?
    Dostoevsky = Russia in my mind. C&P was one of the best books I have ever read. Dostoevsky is the best at wrestling with "the human condition" in his characters. They are all flawed and terribly real.

  3. What are your expectations for the journey ahead in reading this novel? Are there particular plot points or character arcs you're especially curious about?
    I expect various characters, all equally fleshed out and sufficiently "deep". I expect to struggle with Russian names, as usual. lol.

arctic turtle
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My first time reading Dostoevsky. I've signed up for the Crime and Punishment BR too, as it's another long one and I just realized it's in progress and therefore joinable, so I'll read that one first then this one. My first and only big-Russian-novel-in-translation was Anna Karenina. I didn't realize how much I liked it until I moved onto my next book and it just didn't hit as well. Looking forward to diving into Dostoevsky.

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@magic ridge,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph

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I forgot to say in the first announcement that please remember to share your thoughts&progress with us to gain br-points.

Please use spoiler bars as you see fit and indicate which chapters you are talking about.
Example:
chapter 1
wow long names and ||this happened||.

Be kind to other fellow readers!! And please finish the book within the timeframe. I probably won't extent this br.

Happy reading! Can't wait to read all your thoughts < 33

minor vineBOT
round onyx
# minor vine :worryStudy: Attention All Dostoevsky Devotees! :worryStudy: Today marks the co...

  1. Yes, this is my first time reading the book.

  2. I haven't heard a ton about Dostoevsky other than his writings are good.

  3. I might have a hard time getting through any slower parts since I am a student and it is a longer book, but I'm excited to read it. I have heard the characters and plot lines are very compelling and interesting, but I have not heard more about them since I want to go in mostly blind.

sharp shoal
spare harbor
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Horray!! Glad to find this BR! Brothers was very high on my to read list.

  1. I've read the book before, but need a refresh.
  2. My impression of him changed now that I'm older (since reading his books in my later teens), to explore more of his religious philosophy.
  3. I try not to expect anything. Makes the gift of reading another person's work a surprise.
real jay
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I saw this BR earlier and was too intimidated to join, but now I see that it's a year-long BR and that makes it better, so I'm going to try to be brave! 😅

real jay
# minor vine <@456226577798135808>,<@737748772184129616>,<@627932664560877605>,<@866120117170...

Answering the discussion questions:

  1. Yes, it's my first time reading this.
  2. I don't have an impression of him because I've never read him. I've been wanting to but haven't gotten around to it and always had reasons to keep postponing it. This BR is a great reason to start!
  3. I have no expectations of this book in particular, but I do have high hopes for Dostoevsky's work because of all the praise for him. I don't even know what this book is about. I meant to read Crime and Punishment first but since this is a BR, it's a good place as any to start on my Dostoevsky journey, and maybe better because BRs really help me enjoy and understand a book more when reading other people's comments. I'm excited!
digital daggerBOT
fast frost
digital daggerBOT
real jay
fast frost
real jay
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You shouldn't have told me that, now I'm having an existential crisis 😭 I don't know what to do!

fast frost
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hahaha i havent read Karamazov but i did read C&P and... it is currently my #1 fav novel of all time

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so, y'know... easy decisions

real jay
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Why are you doing this to me??? 💀

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C&P is available for free on audio, I don't have an excuse 😭

fluid pasture
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Not sure if audio would murder the bookomg

fast frost
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i realized i forgot to do the questions:

  • Yes first time reading this book.
  • I think Dostoevsky is one of the greatest writers in any language.
  • I know almost nothing about the plot in this novel, but I expect some nice plot layers, deep and psychologically interesting characters, and a good deal of tragedy.
magic ridge
minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan

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Hello guys, just checking in with you.

So far nobody has started this book, which is okay but please keep the ddl in mind. I will not be extending this br, and it's quite a big book too.

Please also remember to share your thoughts&progress with us to gain br-points.

Happy reading < 33

minor vineBOT
magic ridge
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holy smoke we have 35 people in this br

fluid pasture
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Woohooo! I will start it once i finish The Idiot. I’m expecting to finish it in November.

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Ooops, have to finish it in October. I should know this - I’m leading the brkek

rocky forum
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I will not start reading this until sometime after December, maybe start January

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I have too many earlier dates and also i need to renew my library card for this book, and I dont want to do that until im lower on my tbr number..

fresh igloo
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I’m not starting until November at the earliest. Gotta get through Crime and Punishment First lol

zenith brook
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I plan on getting to this next year as I’ve two other Dostoevsky’s to get through this year

zenith brook
rapid sonnet
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I'm going to start in the winter. I am going to start between December and January

rocky forum
manic elk
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I’ve only read Crime & Punishment , but I liked it. I’m going into this one completely blind, other than that it’s a Russian classic, so I don’t have any major expectations. This is going to be a winter read for me too, but I’m excited to read it.

real jay
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I'm going to do the C&P BR before getting to this one too, but I'll try to do both sooner rather than later!

magic ridge
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wait is this br for a year

cobalt jasper
zenith brook
magic ridge
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damn ayesha will join this then cattoBlushSunglasses

round onyx
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I'm planning on starting this month and doing most of my reading in November/December since that is when my winter break from school is

fast frost
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i havent decided when im going to read this yet

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still intimidated

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i dont want to be the first one either omg

magic ridge
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has anyone started yet thumbcat

real jay
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I don't think I'll be starting this until much later this year or early next year. I signed up for too many BRs with Oct and Nov end dates so will probably get to those first. But please go ahead and start if you want!

lunar rock
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Yeah pretty much same. Still have another brick book to finish till November and many autumn reads. I more or less scheduled this one for 2025

magic ridge
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thread revivial

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I'll read this in November facePuppyEyes

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan

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Hello everybody. This br ends on August 6, 2025.

Please remember to share your thoughts&progress with us to gain br-points!

Happy reading!

minor vineBOT
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Something went wrong! Please try again later

fluid pasture
magic ridge
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boop

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan

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Hello guys. This br ends on... okay we still have a handful of months ahead.

Please remember to read the book and share your progress&thoughts with us to gain br-points.

Happy reading!

minor vineBOT
manic elk
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This is definitely a 2025 read for me

ivory spear
magic ridge
minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan

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Heyyy monthly check in--

Please remember to share your thoughts&progress with us to gain br-points!

reading status:
reading: Andoria, Zico

happy reading < 33

minor vineBOT
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Something went wrong! Please try again later

alpine flicker
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I'm joining this BR next year!

alpine flicker
neat kestrel
# minor vine :worryStudy: Attention All Dostoevsky Devotees! :worryStudy: Today marks the co...

Super late joiner since I didn't know this BR even existed omg

  1. Yes.
  2. Depressed Russian with little hope left in humanity? At least that's what I got from Notes from the Underground and Crime and Punishment.
  3. I honestly have zero idea about the themes and plot of this novel, so I don't really have any expectations? I'm expecting sibling rivalry as a central plot-point though, knowing how Dostoyevsky is...
digital daggerBOT
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gesundheit

magic ridge
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you are in for a ride poobSmirk facePuppyEyes

orchid crow
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Just saw this buddy read post, has the group started? I started on my own a few days prior and Im at Book 2 Chapter 5 currently. Going slow, making notes and googling everything 😆

fast frost
tiny vortex
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Hi! I just joined this discord and am also currently reading The Brothers Karamazov! I finished book 5 yesterday so I'll soon continue on with book 6. I'm not quite sure how this buddy readings thing works but I'd like to get involved :D

fast frost
tiny vortex
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Sounds good!

tiny vortex
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Last night I read Zosima's ||backstory :o I love how that one guy came back to kill him, but didn't, it makes so much sense!!||

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex

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Happy New Year!

And...we'll all finish this book this year for sure, right?

Please remember to share your thoughts&progress to gain br-points.

reading status:
reading: Andoria, Zico, Lib, gobarsingh

Happy reading : D

minor vineBOT
manic elk
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it's one of 2 classic chonkers I'm determined to finish this year

fresh igloo
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I found a LibriVox audiobook that I can live with so I’ll for sure finish it

tiny vortex
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I finished book 8. || Dmitri just got arrested and I think im missing something ... did he only kill gregori? Or also Fyodor? And where did he gzt the money from? ||

rocky forum
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riiiightt

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this is a great reminder

magic ridge
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I'll start reading this very soon (posting here so I won't procrastinate Flushedlemon )

rapid sonnet
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The book smiles at me from my bookshelf defeat

tiny vortex
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finished book 10. I've heard some people have difficulty with this part, cuz it's so different from the previous books. I think the main point of the book is just that it || picks Alyosha's story back up (which went a bit to the background with the whole Dmitri thing). It shows how Alyosha followed Zosima's advice ("get out in the world", which I interpreted as like "don't be a useless christian in a monastery, be a usefull christian in the world") by him bringing Kolya & the kids back together with Ilyusha.||

alpine flicker
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When does this end?

fast frost
alpine flicker
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Plenty of time phew

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Thank you

torn pecan
magic ridge
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beep

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex

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Hello! This is a reminder that this br ends on August 6!

We've got plenty of time but please keep in mind that this is a big book! Please finish this br within the br duration as I won't do any extensions.

Please also share your progress and thoughts with us to gain br-points. : ))

Happy reading!

minor vineBOT
lunar rock
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Was thinking about starting this one in March 👀

tiny vortex
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I finished it already

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Books 9 (||preliminary investigation of Dmitri||) and 11 (||Ivan Fjorodowitsj||) were my favourite . Book 5 (||with the Grand Inquisitor||) and 10 (||The kids||) were also pretty good.

magic ridge
alpine flicker
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Started just now

alpine flicker
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Book 1 Chapter 1,|| nothing I love more then a gloomy death||

alpine flicker
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Onto Book 2

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I love the writing style

alpine flicker
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Have some notes I'll share soon

alpine flicker
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I love all the emoji reactions

alpine flicker
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Halfway through Book 2

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||A lot of discussion on religion. A throwaway comment about divorce being a sin.||

teal salmon
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May join! Commenting to remember

alpine flicker
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On to Book 3 now

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Part 2

spare harbor
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On Book 6, Ch. 2
Up to this point, I think each main character's personal philosophy and religious perception has been revealed, and so it's getting to a point where I'm looking forward to seeing how they respond to any new event that may challenge their opinion. I've read this book back in my high school days, but with age, I'm certainly enjoying the second read now that I have more life experience and understanding. All great books deserve such a revisit, I think ❤️

alpine flicker
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Book 3 still

spare harbor
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Finished!

minor vineBOT
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@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@manic elk,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex,@viral lichen

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Hello guys!

This is a little reminder that this br ends on August 6!

I went on a hiatus but I'm back now tehee. Super excited to read all of your thoughts! Also CONGRATULATIONS on making good progress : ))))

If you haven't started yet, share with us when you plan to get into it : )

Happy reading! And remember to share your lovely progress&thoughts with us to gain br-points!

minor vineBOT
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Something went wrong! Please try again later

fresh igloo
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I’m gonna start in April, just have a lot of BRs that end around 3/31. I have found a LibriVox recording I intend to use though

manic elk
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omg. I need to start this. Maybe I'll take a break from Les Miserables and start this. I'm at a good stopping point for that. They're both such chonkers 😵‍💫

lunar rock
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I will actually start this one today pepemegaSUCC Won't be reading too fast, breaking with some smaller books in between since this one is a bit intimidating sweat_cat Have translation from Pevear and Volokhonsky

lunar rock
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Book 1 Chapter 2 || “As a father he did precisely what was expected of him; that is, he totally and utterly abandoned his child…” ||

lunar rock
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Finished Book 1 || Not much I can tell. Not very eventful, mostly introducing the characters and their relationships and background. I like the writing. Hope for more, I like complex characters ||

round onyx
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I plan on starting late April or early May. I'm graduating from college the first week of May so I'll have a ton of time after that!

upper granite
upper granite
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I also finished Book 1 - ||I know absolutely nothing about this story, but I find it.. convenient that all three brothers find excuses to show up at their fathers door after having no contact with him for so long catsus The narrator says it's all an coincidence but then again the narrator talks as if he's a character in the book. So he isn't exactly reliable..||

lunar rock
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Book 2 Chapter 2 || Second hand embarrassment is real ||

midnight galleon
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Book 1, Ch 2: ||It's just striking how passive Fyodor is. He simply doesn't care about Dmitri at all. He forgets about him, ignores him, and lets others deal with him. This form of neglect must be deeply damaging for Dmitri.||
||Dmitri grows up without a stable home, passed from one guardian to another. This lack of roots seems to shape him into the impulsive, passionate character he is today. It's said that he never finished high school, fought a duel, was broken to the ranks, led a wild life and spent a lot of money. Would he have turned out differently if his upbringing had been different? Or was this reckless nature always part of him? Maybe Dostoevsky is through Dmitri's character wondering the question of nature vs. nurture. Are we shaped by our environment, or do we have innate characteristics that emerge no matter what?||

midnight galleon
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Book 1, Ch 3: ||Fyodor's second wife, Sofia, is quite a contrast to his first wife, Adelaida. She is described as helpless, meek, innocent, and suffering from an undefined but profound emotional fragility. She came from a hard background, and wanted to escape her benefactress. She obviously replaced one abusive situation with another by marrying Fyofor. Plus she's 16 years old, so a child. She doesn't fight back like Adelaida did, but retreats into suffering. Her tale is very tragic.||
||Fyodor is a pathetic figure, he steals, mistreats Sofia horribly, and completely forgets about his children. He is incredibly selfish, but I don't know, is there supposed to be something deeper in his selfishness? I also wonder if he feels any guilt at all, or has he completely numbed himself to the damage he causes?||
||After Sofia's death, the history repeats itself and Fyodor completely abandons Ivan and Alexei as well, just like he did with Dmitri. Ivan grows up serious, intellectual, and emotionally distant. He is the opposite of his father: Fyodor is presented as very chaotic and foolish, Ivan is controlled and thoughtful.||

upper granite
# midnight galleon Book 1, Ch 3: ||Fyodor's second wife, Sofia, is quite a contrast to his first wi...

Ooh, that isn't how I read Sofia at all. ||I mean, it didn't sound like she came from an abusive situation. She sounded like she had a strict governness and she decided to be a brat about it. Typical 16 year old rebelling against strict parental figure. It also didn't sound like she started out with a emotional fragility, it read to me like Fyodor broke her with his wicked ways. (and by destroying whatever romantic image she had concocted in her head) And since she CHOOSE him and this life, he said she didn't have any room to actually complain. He was like.. victim blaming? gaslighting?||

midnight galleon
# upper granite *Ooh*, that isn't how I read Sofia at all. ||I mean, it didn't sound like she ca...

That's so interesting how we've read her completely differently! ||I understood that she'd been abused as the narrator described her as an "unhappy young woman, who had been terrorized since childhood", and that "she would rather drown than stay with her benefactress." So I think she was already fragile before Fyodor and wanted to escape her current situation, and the marriage and Fyodor's treatment of her broke her. But I definitely see how Fyodor was victim blaming as well||

upper granite
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||(I think I read that as teenage hysterics, it was so overdramatized and something I would 100% say as a teenager. Because the narrator is part of the story, what he says is what he has heard or experienced himself (or researched) but taken by itself I'm leaning more toward you're probably right)||

midnight galleon
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||Tbh it's a good point that we're really dependent on the narrator here, could be that he's misleading me very hard. It's so early on in the book and I don't have much information, so this is the conclusion I came to based on the information given blobShrug||

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Book 1, Ch 4: ||From the start it's made clear that Alyosha is not just different, he is special. According to the narrator, he is a person of genuine goodness. Actually, he seems almost saintly. He has managed to avoid bitterness despite his upbringing, and instead of resenting his father's neglect, he develops compassion. I feel like Dostoevsky is suggesting here that Alyosha's faith and purity are not just innate but also a choice; he deliberately embraces love instead of hate and bitterness.||
||In the last chapter, the narrator called Alyosha "the future hero" of the novel. Alyosha is gentle, introspective, and almost otherworldly in his goodness. I'm wondering if he will remain this pure throughout the novel, or will there be some moral complexity and struggles with temptation?||

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Book 1, Ch 5: ||Zosima is a direct contrast to Fyodor. Where Fyodor is selfish, crude, and disrespectful, Zosima is humble, wise, and deeply compassionate. Alyosha's devotion to Zosima makes sense, he is everything Alyosha's father is not.||

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Book 2, Ch 1: ||There's so much tension in the air susge. From the moment they arrive, the Karamazovs and their company bring a disruptive energy to the monastery. Fyodor seems to be there to make a spectacle of himself, and he just mocks everything. Dmitri isn't even there, what's up with that?||
||The play with contrasts is really interesting here. When one thinks about the monastery, an image of a refuge from the chaos of the world can come to mind. And now this refuge is infected by the dysfunction the Karamazovs' bring.||
||Fyodor is so ridiculous here, he's mocking the monastery and behaving like a buffoon (like the book loves to call him). His disrespect is not just directed at religion, but maybe at the entire idea of morality. I'm not sure, but I feel like his behaviour is more than just foolishness, it's a way to avoid accountability. I don't know, is his mockery just a performance, or does he truly believe in nothing?||

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Book 2, Ch 2: ||The title of this chapter, "The Old Buffoon," suggests that Fyodor is nothing more than a fool, a man too ridiculous to be taken seriously. But is that really the case? While he certainly acts foolish, there's something calculating about his behaviour. He wants attention: By playing the role of the buffoon, he ensures that all eyes are on him. To him, even disgust is preferable to being ignored. He is also testing boundaries, as by ridiculing the people viewed as sacred, he forces others to react. And lastly, he avoids serious confrontation. Instead of addressing real issues, like his mistreatment of his sons, he turns everything into a joke. Is this a defense mechanism?||
||Despite everything, Zosima doesn't take the bait. Fyodor is being offensive and disruptive, but Zosima remains calm and composed. Rather than getting angry or arguing with Fyodor, he just observes. There's again a saintly feel to his patience, but it's also a bit frustrating. Maybe confronting Fyodor would've been the thing that shook him. Now he kind of was allowed to continue his nonsense||

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Book 2, Ch 3: ||I'm so grateful there are notes in the back of the book, without them some details would be totally lost to me hehebirb. Like the fact that the little boy in this chapter who died at almost three years old is named Alexei, and Dostoevsky himself had a son pass away at the same age who was called Alexei as well. Little details like this fascinate me!||
||Ivan has shown intellectual skepticism towards faith, and Fyodor has openly mocked it. Unlike them, the women here approach faith with raw emotion and sincerity. Their faith is deeply personal, and it's shaped by their struggles. So far what I've noticed is that Dostoevsky seems to portray women as being more naturally inclined towards faith than men. While (most of) the men express religious doubt or scorn, the women seem to embrace belief wholeheartedly. But why is this? Is it because they suffer more and therefore seek greater comfort in faith?||
||Zosima listens to these women patiently, and offers them comfort. He provides a space for them to be heard. I don't know if his role is to necessarily provide answers, or if his simply is in his ability to listen. Typically religious figures can act as preachers, but here Zosima is more of a compassionate presence.||

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Book 2, Ch 4: ||Madame Khokhlakov wants to believe, but she can't. She's caught in between belief and doubt.||
||Zosima's answer is very simple. He tells her that faith is not something to be debated intellectually, but something that comes through action. Instead of questioning whether God and immortality exist, he suggests that she should love others actively and live a life of compassion. If she does these things, faith will come naturally. To me, this is an interesting response because it reverses the usual way people around me have been thinking about faith. Instead of believing first and then acting on that belief, Zosima is suggesting the opposite: act as though you have faith, and belief will inevitably follow.||

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I have nothing to say about this next chapter, my brain is blanking so hard omg probably because it's 3 am and I need to sleep

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just so you know, it isnt a requirement that you comment on every chapter 🙂 feel free to skip some if you prefer

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Book 2 Chapter 4 || I am not a religious person but was enjoying those chapters. More grounded ideas, real flawed people etc. ||

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I enjoy reading your comments

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Book 2, Ch 6: ||I think Dmitri's anger toward his father is rooted in a sense of deep injustice. He's angry about Fyodor's general lack of responsibility as a father (and probably about his mistreatment of his mother as well), then there's the ongoing feud over the inheritance, and now they're in some sort of rivalry over a woman. When he shouts "Why is such a man alive!" it isn't just about him hating Fyodor personally, it could also reflect his view that men like his father shouldn't even exist, they're so evil. But Dmitri's rage is a little scary here, it's so intense.||
||Zosima is widely respected as a holy man, so when he kneels before Dmitri, it is seen as something truly shocking. Everyone is pretty much stunned, and even Dmitri himself is uncomfortable. What could be the reason why Zosima did this?||

lunar rock
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Book 2, Ch 7: At this point I really need to write down the names of the characters, as well as all their nicknames. Would make reading this so much easier
||Zosima tells Alyosha that after he dies, Alyosha should leave the monastery. This is shocking because Alyosha has devoted himself to the monastic life, and yet Zosima seems to suggest that his destiny lies in the world, not in the monastery. Zosima also advices Alyosha to marry and travel, which is surprising, considering the traditional expectations of monastic life.||
||Alyosha meets Rakitin, who is just full of sarcasm and cynicism. He is very different from Alyosha. He sneers at Alyosha's faith and innocence, and treats his goodness as naive foolishness. He gossips about the Karamazovs, and analyses them as if they were characters in a soap opera rather than real people. I just don't like him sobAUGH||
||Rakitin makes some interesting remarks about Dmitri and Grushenka. He says that Dmitri may despise Grushenka, yet he can't stay away from her. He is engaged to Katerina but is obsessed with Grushenka, even though he knows she's playing games. And Rakitin seems to view this obsession as purely physical. Rakitin also speculates about Ivan's role in all of this, and suggests that Ivan wants Katerina and will take advantage of the chaos to win her. He also implies that Ivan is interested in her wealth as well. This is a real mess hehebirb.||
||Alyosha remembers that Rakitin is somehow related to Grushenka, and this offends Rakitin so much. Why is he so sensitive about this? Does he secretly desire Grushenka, despite his mocking attitude? Or does he feel shame about his own origins and wants to distance himself from them? He clearly isn't as emotionally detached as he's pretending to be. He has his own insecurities, even if he masks them with sarcasm.||

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Book 2, Ch 8: ||Just as things seem to be somewhat settling, Fyodor bursts into the room, laughing like a madman. It's like he doesn't even know why he's doing it, he just feels compelled to stir trouble. At first, he pretends to be respectful, but very quickly, his mockery takes over. He criticises the monks, and even pounds the table in some kind of fake sentimentality, making up grievances against the monastery that aren't even real. Does he believe his own lies? Does he rewrite his past in real-time, allowing himself to get swept up in his own fabricated emotions?||
||There's an explosive clash between Fyodor and Pyotr. Pyotr completely loses his temper the moment Fyodor arrives. In the end, he storms out in fury. This is interesting because Pyotr thinks that he is superior to Fyodor, but here he is just as reactionary and emotional. Instead of rising above the situation, he lets Fyodor get under his skin almost immediately. In a way, Fyodor wins here. He gets exactly what he wants, which is to disrupt and humiliate everyone in the room.||
||What is this sudden shift of gears? Now Fyodor declares that he's going to use his parental authority to take Alyosha away from the monastery. This is a wild move, because he clearly doesn't care about Alyosha at all. I don't think he actually wants Alyosha at home, either, he just wants to assert dominance and win against the monks. It's just a power move, designed to make himself feel in control.||
||Ivan decides to leave with Fyodor but refuses to speak to him. He pushes Maximov away from the carriage, making it quite clear that he won't let himself be associated with Fyodor's foolishness. He doesn't want to acknowledge his father, and even when Fyodor is talking about cognac as a way to bond, Ivan just ignores him completely. This shows that Ivan, despite being detached, is still deeply ashamed of his father. Yet at the same time, he's still drawn into the family dysfunction, unable to fully break away.||

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Book 3, Ch 1: ||The loss of their baby is a deeply personal and tragic event for Grigory and Marfa. The detail that the baby was born with six fingers and that Grigory called him "a dragon" is especially interesting. This belief in a "confusion of natures" hints at a deep superstition in his worldview, and the fact that he didn't want the child baptized at first shows how much he feared what was unnatural. After the child's death, Grigory never speaks of him again; this suggests deep guilt, grief, or shame. And yet, there's a softness in his love for children. He fussed over the Karamazov brothers when they were small. He is a man of contradictions in a way, rigid yet caring.||
||Grigory's discovery of Lizaveta giving birth in the bathhouse is so haunting. The image of this mute girl, alone in the night, giving birth in secrecy, is deeply unsettling. It feels horrible that she had to go through that.||

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Book 3, Ch 2: ||Lizaveta is so far one of the most striking characters in this novel. She's both an outcast and a honourable figure. She's called the "holy fool" - does this in her case mean someone mentally impaired but spiritually pure? Lizaveta's extreme poverty and suffering contrast with her selflessness; she gives away food, and anything people offer her. She is harmless and completely honest, which makes her loved by the town. But despite all of this, she is still powerless. The people of the town care for her, but they don't protect her. This leads to her being violated (it's not explicitly said what happened to her, but I do believe she was assaulted).||
||It isn't confirmed that Fyodor assaulted Lizaveta, but the implications are deeply disturbing. The scene with the drunken men mocking her and her body is horrific, and in that scene Lizaveta is completely stripped of her humanity. Fyodor is the only one who insists that she is a woman and expresses desire for her. Fyodor also doesn't deny it, even if he isn't necessarily owning up to it either.||
||Smerdyakov's birth is marked by pain and death. His mother dies very quickly after giving birth to him, making his existence tragic from the start. He is given a humiliating name. He is also not claimed by Fyodor as a son, but rather as a servant.||

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Book 3, Ch 3: ||Why is Alexei so intimidated by Katerina? Is she an authority that he finds overwhelming?||
||Dmitri has a strong desire to send Alexei to Katerina and Fyodor in his place. Maybe he feels too ashamed to face them himself? Or does he see Alexei as a mediator, someone who can navigate the emotional chaos that's in there?||

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Book 2 Chapter 7 || Okay it seems like there is a lot of drama and romance between Dmitri, Ivan, Fyodor, Katerina, Grushenka. So I guess Rakitin may be right that it can only end with violence. Did Zosima ask Alyosha to go do all those things because he knows in the end he will come back to monastery but first he needs to experience those things in life? Wonder what's with Rakitin and Grushenka ||

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Book 2, Ch 8 || I kinda feel bad for Pyotr Alexandrovich 😂 And Fyodor and how he behaves every time kekCry || No smart thoughts, just happy I finished Book 2

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Book 3 Chapter 3 || That was some sad Grigory story wth omgSame with Lizaveta because it does look like Fyodor took advantage of her and her disability. The narrator is interesting. Sometimes it feels like they know everything, but other times, they seem like just another observer. The narrator says at the end of Chapter 2 they should say more about Smerdyakov but no time for "ordinary lackeys" lol what. So they are for sure biased. I wonder if it's someone we already know from the story? ||

honest sierra
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Book 3, Ch 4: ||Dmitri's initial motive is revenge. Katerina slighted him at a party, so he vows to have his revenge. When he learns of the colonel's theft, he sees an opportunity to trap Katerina. His suggestion to Agafya that Katerina should "secretly" be sent to him is repulsive, and it just shows him at his worst. But when Katerina arrives at his door, Dmitri's emotions shift. Instead of taking advantage of her desperation, he gives her the money freely and bows to her. This is some contradictory behaviour. Did he give her the money out of love? Out of pity/guilt? Or to feel superior?||
||Katerina's decision to go to Dmitri's house is an act of immense courage and desperation. It seems like she is willing to sacrifice herself to save her father. However, when Dmitri has his moment of unexpected generosity and just gives her the money, the situation completely changes. Katerina's bow to the floor was a powerful moment. It's a gesture of deep gratitude, but maybe also an acknowledgement that there's now a debt between them.||

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Book 3, Ch 5: ||Katerina what are you doing here?? She not only gives Dmitri money but offers herself: "I'll be your furniture, the rug you walk on." (I just can't with this line). She so badly wants to save him. Dmitri, in return, betrays her by taking that money and spending it on a wild spree with Grushenka. Now he's calling himself a "thief" and a "pilferer," but he doesn't even try to justify anything.||
||It's so crystal clear that Dmitri and Fyodor are on a collision course. Both of them are obsessed with Grushenka, and neither is willing to let the other have a relationship with her. Fyodor has literally locked away money as a bribe to win her over. Dmitri is watching every move, waiting for a moment to strike if Grushenka shows up. And then he just says it: he would kill his father. It's just a quick moment, spoken in passion. Alexei is shocked, and so am I Flooshed. Does he really mean it, or is he just lost in his emotions?||

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Book 3, Ch 6: ||There's a lot of information about Smerdyakov, and it paints quite an unsettling picture. He was a cruel child, hanging cats and burying them with ritualistic ceremonies (someone get this child some help). He questioned religious teachings at a young age, and he seems to do it with mocking derision, not as much out of curiosity (it's still no excuse to hit him, just don't hit your children). He has really no interest in people, there's no strong friendships.||
||Fyodor treats Smerdyakov like a mix between a servant, a son, and an experiment. At first, he just ignored him completely. Then, when he learns about his epilepsy, he suddenly starts caring. He tests Smerdyakov with books, money, and freedom. Fyodor trusts him completely, despite the fact that Smerdyakov is being painted on to have this dangerous, unpredictable nature. Does Fyodor see something of himself in him? Is Smerdyakov being genuinely honest here, or is he simply playing the long game, waiting for the right moment?||

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Book 3, Ch 8: ||Fyodor is so self-serving here. His talk about Russian peasants needing to be whipped, his dismissal of morality, and his casual reference to a sadist he met in Mokroye reveal how little he cares about anything beyond his own pleasure. He wants monasteries destroyed for their "foolishness," but then decides they should stay open so people like him can sip cognac in comfort.AwkwardMonkey He's alternating between mockery and fear, so maybe deep down, he's terrified of what life without belief means.||
||The direct questioning ("Is there a God? Is there immortality?") sets up the ideological battle between Ivan and Alexei. Ivan says no; there's no God, no immortality, no devil. He is a rationalist, an atheist, and a skeptic. Alexei says yes; his faith is simple, unwavering, and unshaken by Fyodor's mockery. Fyodor is siding with Ivan, but not out of conviction. It seems that he's using atheism as an excuse for his own behaviour.||
||Fyodor is also claiming that Zosima is a "sensualist" who doesn't believe in God. He recognises Zosima's wisdom and power, but rather than grapple with it honestly, he tries to drag the elder down to his own level. Does he mock Zosima this way because Zosima represents something Fyodor himself could never be - moral, selfless, respected?||
||Fyodor just completely forgetting that Sofia is Ivan's mother as well is just wild||
||Dmitri's sudden arrival, his shouting, and Fyodor clinging to Ivan in terror tells just how explosive the dynamic between them is. Why is Dmitri here? Is it about money? Grushenka? Does Fyodor actually think Dmitri will kill him? If so, that means Fyodor at least on some level knows he has wronged Dmitri so deeply that murder seems like a reasonable possibility.||

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Book 3, Ch 9: ||Dmitri's attack on Fyodor is shocking but not unexpected. We've known all along that his anger toward their father was bubbling over, this is just the moment it erupts into action. He assumes Grushenka is in the house, which just fuels his anger. He also beats Grigory, who raised him; this shows how resentment and unchecked emotions truly can make people hurt those closest to them. But does Dmitri truly want to kill Fyodor? Ivan seems to think so. But Dmitri doesn't follow through. His exit is as dramatic as his entrance, and he chooses to leave rather than stay and finish what he started. And the message to Katrina, what's up with that? The "bows to her and bows out" suggests a final severance.||
||Fyodor is terrified of Dmitri, and justifiably so. But then he asks for a mirror to look at his bruised face. Is this just vanity, that he's more worried about his appearance than his injuries? But his response to Alexei is telling: "Only you I'm not afraid of." Fyodor, who constantly manipulates, seeks comfort from the one son who won't hurt him. He asks Alexei to go to Grushenka to see if she will choose him or Dmitri, but then reverses the request, calling her a cheat. He's caught between desire and paranoia||
||Ivan's reaction to the attack is where things get really interesting. Unlike Alexei, who is horrified by the violence, Ivan barely seems to care. His "viper eating another viper" comment suggests that he sees the whole conflict as meaningless and self-destructive. When he discusses the idea of who "deserves" to live, he asks "Why bring worth into it?" I understand this to mean that he is suggesting that people don't judge others' lives based on morality, but rather on self-interest and personal motives. His hypothetical question about killing Fyodor is particularly unsettling. Is he just playing devil's advocate? Or is this a confession of his own dark thoughts? Does Ivan actually hate Fyodor enough to want him dead?||

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Book 3, Ch 10: ||Katerina's reaction to Dmitri's farewell is not sorrow, but determination. Instead of accepting his departure, she assumes it's impulsive and that she can still "save" him. But save him from what? She clearly still loves him, but her love seems more like an obligation than a genuine romantic connection. She refuses to believe that Dmitri could actually leave her for Grushenka; is this love, pride, or both? Her idealised version of Grushenka is also surprising. She's calling her "an angel", she so desperately wants to believe that there's going to be some noble resolution to this, even when it's clear that the situation is very messy.||
||Grushenka's entrance is shocking because she's so different from the woman I've heard about. Dmitri and Fyodor see her as a seductress, a femme fatale who wields power over men. But when Alexei meets her, he notices that she has a childlike quality in her. This contradicts her reputation as manipulative. She certainly likes to watch others squirm, especially Katerina. Her true nature remains elusive. Is she actually cruel, or just childishly enjoying her ability to provoke others? When she tells Katerina that she charmed Dmitri just to laugh at him, is she being honest or just trying to wound her rival?||
||Grushenka's final act of humiliation is quite brutal but also very smart. She lets Katerina kiss her hand multiple times before refusing to return the gesture. By withholding the kiss, she turns Katerina's submission into a permanent stain on her pride. This moment makes it evident that Grushenka understands power. She doesn't need to slap or scream, her refusal is enough to shatter Katerina. Katerina, up until this point, has carried herself with grace. But the moment Grushenka denies her that symbolic kiss, her composure breaks completely. She calls her all kinds of names, and nearly physically attacks her. She's clearly deeply wounded.||

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||Grushenka's parting shot is the real dagger: she reminds Katerina of her own shame, her own moment of desperation when she went to Dmitri at night, offering herself. This is a devastating move because Grushenka is dragging Katerina down from her pedestal, showing her that they're not so different after all. She's basically saying to Katerina that "you judge me, but you're no better." Katerina is feeling utterly humiliated. She turns against Dmitri, and is angry that he told Grushenka about her past. But is she truly angry at him, or at herself for having been so vulnerable?||

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Book 1: So far, the thing I like most about this is the ||unnamed first person narrator, and the way the plot is being conveyed as though this neighbour or someone close to the family is gossiping with you about what they know about the Karamazovs.||

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I feel a little bit like the ||brothers are kind of different caricatures of men, like one is the innocent and religious one, one is the proud and educated one. This might be because Dostoevsky is sort of splitting his own personality up across the brothers, so each brother represents part of himself, but they don't quite feel like complex or dynamic people yet.||

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Book 3, Ch 11: ||Dmitri jumping out pretending to be a robber is certainly a choice, I don't understand these men anymore. But he's clearly so enchanted by Grushenka's unpredictability and defiance. Unlike Katerina, who is bound by duty and sacrifice, Grushenka is free and refuses to be humiliated. These are qualities that seem to captivate Dmitri completely. He's also admitting that he's a "scoundrel." At least he has some self-awareness.||
||So Lisa's love letter catsus. I forgot, is this girl 14-15 years old? Nevertheless, it is a moment of tenderness and simplicity in contrast to all the chaos going on with Dmitri, Katerina, Fyodor, and Grushenka. Maybe it also is supposed to serve as a reminder that not all love is destructive. I still wonder if her love for Alexei will remain pure or become another entanglement later on. Her claim that she has loved him since childhood suggests an idealised, innocent affection.||

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Book 4, Ch 2: ||Fyodor's treatment of money is so interesting. He hoards it, talks about it constantly, and uses it to manipulate those around him. It's his main tool of power but at the same time, he's terrified of losing it.||
||Alexei, despite all of Fyodor's nonsense, keeps showing him respect. The moment where he kisses Fyodor on the shoulder is surprisingly tender and shocks Fyodor himself. So far, this small action has been perhaps the only moment of genuine affection Fyodor he has received. I wonder if Alexei is purposefully portrayed here as very Christ-like: he is showing love even to someone who doesn't seem to deserve it. It's a stark contrast to the greed, hatred, and paranoia that dominate the Karamazov family.||

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Book 4, Ch 3: ||Alexei's attempt at kindness is violently rejected. The boy attacks him multiple times by throwing stones and biting his finger. Why does the boy react this way? His aggression feels like a defense mechanism, as though he's lashing out at a world that has hurt him deeply. The way he starts sobbing right after attacking Alexei is telling. His rage isn't directed at Alexei personally, but at something deeper.||
||Alexei remains gentle, curious, and patient. Despite being attacked, he doesn't condemn or punish the boy. Instead, he just asks what he has done to him. The boy doesn't answer, probably because he doesn't know how to explain his feelings. Alexei wants to look for the boy later, so he certainly has some "seeker of the wounded souls" thing going on here||

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Book 4, Ch 4: ||Lisa is very intense for sure, but what else can you really expect? Does she want her letter back because she is embarrassed of her confession, or does she fear Alexei's reaction? Her insecurity is evident, she desperately wants to believe he took her seriously. Alexei, true to his nature, doesn't mock her. Instead he declares that he will marry her when the time comes cringeHarold. Lise points out her paralysis, as if testing his sincerity. To this Alexei says that he will wheel her around, but he believes she will walk by then. All of this just sounds like they'll have a very fragile foundation in their marriage: Alexei's attitude seems to be a little like "Oh, she'll do for a wife", Lise is so young and her idea of Alexei is idealised. Like please stop this foolishness||
||Madame Khokhlakov claims that Katerina clearly loves Ivan but is persuading herself that she loves Dmitri. Is this true, or is it just her interpretation? But yeah, things are getting really messy.||

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Book 4, Ch 5: ||Alexei stating that Katerina loves Ivan, not Dmitri, is explosive. He speaks the truth that no one else is willing to say. He says that Katerina only loves Dmitri "from strain, not in truth." Alexei is suggesting that her devotion to Dmitri isn't based on love, but on duty and self-sacrifice. Ivan's reaction is also telling: He recognises that Katerina has never truly loved him, but that she's always been aware of his suffering and longing. His description of Katerina's faithfulness is brutal; he sees it as a self-imposed martyrdom, where she clings to Dmitri just so she can continue suffering and proving her moral superiority. If Dmitri were to change and reform, Katerina would have no purpose. She needs his failure in order to maintain her own sense of self-righteousness. Katerina's reaction to Alexei's words is pure rage, calling him "a little holy fool." This insult says so much, she both resents him and also fears the truth in his words. She desperately wants to believe that she loves Dmitri, and Alexei is threatening that illusion.||
||Ivan's departure for Moscow looks like he's running away from all the feelings and emotional chaos surrounding Katerina. His pain is obvious, but he won't fully admit it. He claims that he and Katerina were never friends, that she only kept him around out of revenge. Is he right, or is he speaking from bitterness here? Alexei tries to stop Ivan from leaving, blaming himself for the turn in conversation. He is feeling responsible for the pain he caused, even if he spoke the truth.||
||So is that little boy that bit Alexei the son of the captain who Dmitri publicly humiliated?||

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Book 4, Ch 6: ||The first impression of Captain Snegiryov is one of shame, struggle, and broken dignity. He's described as weakly built, so he's physically unimposing, and his life has been shaped by misfortune and disgrace. His angry, sarcastic outbursts reveal his inner torment: He is a man who has been beaten down by life and is deeply resentful of his own humiliation. His initial shouting when Alexei knocks suggests that he is always on the defensive, as if expecting another attack.||
||The revelation that the boy who bit Alexei is Snegiryov's son adds another layer to the story. Now, the attack from earlier makes sense; he is not just a violent child, but a boy trying to defend his father's honour. When Ilyushechka confesses what he did to Alexei, Snegiryov threatens to whip him. When Alexei objects, he mocks the idea that he would punish his son. Does he say this to maintain his pride, or is it genuine? Would he have beat his son if Alexei hadn't said anything?||

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Book 4, Ch 7: ||Snegiryov's reference to his beard being fuller before Dmitri dragged him by it is striking. His physical appearance reflects his humiliation. His beard, often seen as one of the symbols for masculinity, was literally torn from him. His indecision about seeking justice shows how powerless he truly feels. If he challenges Dmitri, he could be killed. If he sues, he could be ruined even further. He is trapped. He is a man in a state of internal war. He despises his humiliation. He loves his family and wants to take care of them, but he cannot bring himself to "sell" his honour, even if it means his family will continue to suffer.||
||The moment Alexei hands him the money, we can just see Snegiryov's deepest conflict laid bare. At first, he is overcome with joy, speaking about how this money will change his family's life. His dreams suddenly feel possible again. His descriptions of his family makes it clear that they truly need this money. For a moment, it really seems like he will take it. But then something changes. Dostoevsky depicts the psychology of humiliation very well here. Snegiryov is mouthing words silently, as if something is choking him from within. It's most likely pure shame and self-loathing. Maybe it's fear of what his son will think of him. When he throws the bills on the ground and stomps on them, that's his final act of defiance.||

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Part 1 - Book 1: “The History of a Family” ch 1-5
||This is all so sordid. And all this teaser business of “I’ll tell you about that later” is rather frustrating lol but I suppose that’s the nature of serialized 19th century literature. So far, I think I’m keeping all of the characters’ names straight, but I might end up with a chart like I had for War & Peace. Such garbage parenting tho! And the servants stepping up to take care of the kids in the face of the parents’ neglect and debauchery feels like a direct commentary on … someone. I don’t know enough about Russian history to really know. So far what I’m wanting is more dialogue and less info dumping, tbh. I don’t really like any of these brothers yet, and the father is repugnant in his treatment of both women and children. I guess since I’m an eldest child, I want to connect with Dmitri the most, but we’ll see||

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Book 5, Ch 1: ||At the beginning of the chapter Lise is embarrassed and emotional, no longer laughing at Alexei as she did before. This suggests that something in her has changed, perhaps she has realised how serious her feelings for him are. She confesses that her letter was not a joke and kisses his hand impulsively. It just feels very desperate. She hides her face in shame, showing her inner conflict. Alexei is also being quite bold here, kissing her. He's been very timid and restricted before, so this was surprising. At some point, the mood of the conversation kind of shifts. Lise tells Alexei that she will spy on him, open his letters, and tests his submission. She in a way is playing power games with him. The push and pull of their conversation (first tender, then flirtatious, then strangely controlling) makes for a confusing read. Lise seems both sincere and manipulative. So I don't really know what to make of her. Is she just a mischievous, playful girl who enjoys teasing Alexei? Or is her behaviour some kind of mask for her own pain or insecurity? She both wants submission from Alexei and agrees to submit to him, which suggests a confusion about power, control, and love.||
||Alexei goes along with Lise's behaviour. He doesn't seem deeply passionate or excited about their future as a couple, but he also doesn't reject it. When Lise tells him that she'll spy on him, he accepts it without too much protest, only saying that he will resist her on the most important things. His sadness also lingers throughout the scene, but he doesn't try to explain it to Lise. This just makes me wonder if Alexei really loves Lise, or is he simply going along with what seems "right", as marrying Lisa would align with what Zosima told him to do.||

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||Madame Khokhlakov tells Alexei not to take Lise's affections seriously, as if Lise were just playing a game. But does she actually believe that, or is she trying to control the situation in her own way? Her insistence on reading Lise's letter shows that she has an intrusive nature, she is always involved in everything. But I still understand her, Lise is so young||
||There's despair as well in this chapter. Alexei is deeply sad, but he cannot fully explain why. His faith is being tested, his family is falling apart, and his mentor is dying. He speaks of his brothers "destroying themselves", suggesting that he most likely feels very powerless here when it comes to their fates. His belief in God seems to be wavering, which is shocking for Alexei, who has so far had unwavering faith and has served as kind of the novel's moral and spiritual center.||

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Book 5, Ch 2: ||To me, Smerdyakov's comments when discussing with Maria show that he is full of resentment, and feels like an outsider. He says that he hates Russia and believes it would've been better if Napoleon had conquered it. Is this because he sees himself as above the average Russian, in the same way he looks down on Fyodor and his sons. He complains about how Ivan calls him a "stinking lackey", but then turns around and says Dmitri is "worse than any lackey." He is clearly obsessed with social status, yet he also hates those who are higher up than him.||
||It feels like Smerdyakov is hiding something. When Alexei asks him about Dmitri's whereabouts, Smerdyakov dodges the question. He also acts quite defensive. He's going to play a bigger role than just a bigger servant, that's for sure.||

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Book 5, Ch 3: ||Ivan states that he believes in God and in eternal harmony, but he refuses to accept the world as it is, with it's suffering, cruelty, and injustice. He believes in God, but cannot accept the suffering of innocent people. He believes in eternal harmony, but he refuses to take part in a world where people are harmed. He doesn't question God's existence, but he questions whether the world God created is justifiable. Is Dostoevsky throwing us one of his philosophical arguments here, that one can believe in God but still reject His creation?||
||Before all this philosophical stuff, Ivan also has a moment of personal resentment. He snaps at Alexei: "Am I my brother Dmitri's keeper or something?" and that Katerina will eventually realise she loves him, not Dmitri. This shows that, despite all his grand ideas, Ivan is still deeply human. He resents his role in the family, and seems to be jealous of Dmitri. His intellect may be powerful, but he isn't immune to pride, bitterness, and longing.||
||Throughout this chapter, Alexei listens patiently, compassionately, and without judgement. He is the opposite of Ivan; while Ivan questions and doubts, Alexei accepts and trusts. Ivan even hints that he wishes Alexei could "heal" him. Does Alexei represent something that Ivan feels that he cannot reach? At the end, Alexei asks Ivan why he doesn't accept the world. This question challenges Ivan directly, and instead of brushing it off, Ivan thankfully says that he'll answer it. I really want to know what his explanation is||

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Book 5, Ch 4: ||Ivan doesn't believe it's possible to love one's neighbour up close. According to him, if people were truly exposed to others and their flaws, they would struggle to love them. Love requires distance and illusion. He deems true Christ-like love (which Alexei believes in), the kind that loves despite disgust, flaws, or suffering, impossible.||
||Ivan shifts the conversation to the suffering of children, a subject he seems to believe is the ultimate test of any moral system. He acknowledges that adults are flawed, sinful, and capable of evil, but children are different. They are innocent, and yet they still suffer. He tells Alexei horrific stories of real-life events, where children are tortured, murdered, and brutalised by cruel adults. These descriptions were absolutely horrible to read, and I was so tempted to just skip them. But I think this was done deliberately. Ivan wants Alexei (and the reader) to feel the full horror without looking away. All of the stories are just so devastating. Ivan's message is clear. If God exists, and if He allows such suffering, how can that be justified? Can any reward, any future redemption, ever make up for a child's suffering? Even if, at the end of time, all is explained and forgiven, does that undo the reality of their suffering? He is not really arguing against God's existence here, it's rather a moral refusal to accept the world He has created.||
||Ivan also states that if the devil doesn't exist, and man has therefore created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness. This is a reversal of the biblical idea that man is made in the image of God. Instead, Ivan suggests that man is the creator of evil, of cruelty, of suffering. There is no external "Satan" to blame, human beings are entirely responsible.||

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||||Ivan also asks Alexei a question: If he could build a perfect world, full of happiness and harmony, but it required the torture of one innocent child, would he accept it? Alexei refuses. So he also cannot accept happiness built on innocent suffering. Ivan's point here is that even if eternal harmony is real, it's built on suffering. That price is too high. If salvation requires even one child to suffer, then Ivan rejects the salvation itself. And that's his rebellion||
||Alexei's counterargument is Christ, who has already suffered for all and everything. Alexei believes that the answer to suffering is Christ's sacrifice. Christ took on the suffering of the world voluntarily, offering himself as the price for redemption. Ivan doesn't respond to this directly. He simply notes that he hasn't forgotten Christ, so maybe a part of him is still struggling with faith. And now he's going to start expressing his thoughts through his poem, which is a shift.||

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I need to come back to this one, still on Book 3 Chapter 3, hopefully will read a bit today

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Book 3 Chapter 5 || Drama, drama, drama. Dmitri says "everything". Poor Katerina. I wonder if Dmitri really means it, I feel like it will actually happen, he will kill his father or if not then someone else will die in this drama circle. Feel bad that Ivan and Alyosha are getting involved in it. Love and money problem, that never ends good ||

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Book 5, Ch 6: ||Ivan is in an anguished and irritated state, but he doesn't quite understand why. His encounter with Alexei and their discussion is still on his mind, but there's something else that troubles him. Then he realises that it's Smerdyakov. The phrase that Smerdyakov is "sitting in his soul" is particularly unsettling here. It suggests that Smerdyakov isn't just physically present in Ivan's life but also psychologically embedded in him, haunting his thoughts.||
||Smerdyakov plays a dangerous game in this conversation. He presents himself as a mere observer, a passive servant who's simply stating facts, yet he is carefully planning ideas in Ivan's mind. He implies that Dmitri might kill Fyodor, and that Dmitri feels entitled to Fyodor's money. He also points out how the inheritance could be lost if Grushenka marries Fyodor. According to Smerdyakov, it would be wise for Ivan to leave town. And there's also the possibility that Smerdyakov himself might be conveniently having an epileptic fit at just the right moment... Every point he makes is designed to frame Fyodor's murder as something that is inevitable, while simultaneously suggesting that Ivan should remove himself from the scene (as if to make sure that Ivan has plausible deniability). Also, Smerdyakov's nervousness about being seen as an accomplice seems disingenuous. I don't think he's afraid of being blamed, he's just luring Ivan into complicity. He wants Ivan to know that the situation is ripe for a disaster, and wants to see how Ivan will respond.||

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||Ivan is obviously deeply repulsed by Smerdyakov. He calls him names but doesn't really confront him. He doesn't report Smerdyakov's suspicious behaviour. After all he's just heard, he isn't making the decision to stay and protect his father. Instead, he still decides to leave town. In a way, this makes him a moral accomplice if something were to happen. Even if Ivan doesn't explicitly desire his father's death, his departure ensures that he cannot interfere. And perhaps that is exactly what Smerdyakov's was hoping for.||

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Book 5, Ch 7: ||Ivan is angry, restless, and almost irrational in his desire to lash out. He has an urge to go and beat Smerdyakov. Why does he feel such hatred towards him?||
||Ivan's reaction feels like he senses something is wrong but refuses to acknowledge it. His entire conversation with Fyodor about going to Chermashnya is a series of refusals and half-hearted agreements. He clearly doesn't want to go, but he also doesn't firmly reject the idea. He's in turmoil here. He is running away from his father, his family, and his own responsibility, but he doesn't fully sever the ties. Instead, he leaves the decision open-ended. And yet, once Ivan is gone, he immediately feels a sense of guilt. He prides himself on being a rational man, but his emotions betray him at every turn.||
||Fyodor is like a child waiting for a dream that will never come true. He is trembling with excitement at the thought of Grushenka arriving, completely blind to the danger he's obviously in. It is almost comical how seriously he takes the knocking signals, pacing around and waiting, when in reality, the thing he should be worried about isn't Dmitri's jealousy, but his own vulnerability. His obsession with money also shows here. He's deeply concerned about this deal, trying to secure thousands of roubles, and using indicators (the beard) to determine if the man is lying . Fyodor sees the world only through his desires: money and women. He is utterly oblivious to the gigantic storm brewing around him.||
||The most suspicious event is Smerdyakov's fall down the cellar steps. The timing is just too perfect. Just as Ivan leaves, Smerdyakov conveniently becomes bedridden.||

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Book 6, Ch 1: ||Zosima appears to be so joyful and peaceful here. Despite knowing he is near death, he is cheerful and full of love. His life isn't dominated by greed, lust, or anger. That makes him a bit of an outlier in the novel, since so many of the other characters struggle with these things.||
||Zosima's warning about Dmitri is significant. He urges Alexei to find his brother before something terrible happens. The way he speaks suggests that he's had some kind of spiritual vision about Dmitri's fate. He says he saw something in his face that horrified him. What exactly did Zosima see in Dmitri? Was it an omen of the crime that is about to happen? Or was it simply the overall weight of Dmitri's suffering?||
||Zosima's decision to tell about his brother feels deeply personal. It paints the picture that Zosima's path to becoming a monk wasn't straightforward. Maybe he also struggled with his faith before fully embracing it. The comparison between Alexei and Zosima's brother is also interesting. Zosima tells Alexei that he resembles his brother spiritually. The novel often contrasts Alexei with his brothers; where Dmitri and Ivan are tormented, Alexei is calm and faithful. This moment feels like a passing of wisdom from the elder to his disciple, as if Zosima sees in Alexei a hope for the future.||

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Book 6, Ch 2: ||Zosima's brother, Markel, is an intriguing figure. He initially rejected religion, but suddenly underwent a transformation when faced with death. His insights that people should all serve each other are radical, especially in contrast to the rigid social hierarchies of Dostoevsky's time. What exactly causes Markel's change of heart? Is it simply the reality of death forcing him to rethink everything? Or did he have some deeper spiritual awakening? Markel's influence on young Zosima is clear, but Zosima suppresses it for many years while he indulges in his military life. His eventual return to his brother's teachings feels like a realisation of something that was always within him.||
||Zosima's transformation begins in a moment of violence when he strikes Afanasy. This is a turning point because it's not the duel itself that makes him ashamed, but the act of cruelty toward a defenseless man. He realises that his pride, anger, and sense of entitlement have blinded him, much like his blind obsession with the young woman. His decision to throw away his pistol in the duel is shocking. In a society where honour is everything, where men die to preserve their reputation, he chooses humiliation and moral clarity over pride.||
||The story of the mysterious visitor is interesting. He's a man who has spent fourteen years carrying the weight of a murder. His crime haunts him, and he also feels guilty that an innocent man was blamed and died. Zosima becomes a kind of confessor for him, and pushes him toward the public truth. After his confession, his suffering is not over. He goes mad, suggesting that the burden of guilt was too much for him, or perhaps that his sanity was always tied to his ability to repress the truth.||

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Book 3 Chapter 8 || I did enjoy this whole religious talk. I am not religious but I like those debates and trying to understand/explain things like faith and god. Also Fyodor was already an awful human being before and now on top of that he even forgets Ivan has the same mother as Alyosha kekCry And the drama with Grushenka continues, love how they try to resolve this among themselves not caring at all about what Grushenka actually wants, classic ||

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Finished Book 3 || Totally did not expect that Alyosha and Katerina meeting will finish like that. What is wrong with Grushenka?! So vile and at the end what she said with Katerina offering herself for money... AND WHY IS DIMITRI OKAY WITH IT AND LAUGHING? And the love letter from Lise... Yeah she is 14 year old, I know different times and all but yikes. I guess it was supposed to be all nice and sweet here but I can't forget just how old she is, weird ||

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I haven't had a ton of time to read but I just finished book 2. The ||second hand embarrassment is real, Fyodor Karamazov is the worst and I honestly don't blame his sons for despising him.||

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The ||monks come out looking fairly level headed and reasonable here, mostly keeping their cool while the Karamazovs largely behave in outrageous ways, particularly Dmitry and Fyodor. Interesting that we get the motivations of these two men and their romantic entanglements from yet another side character.||

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Book 6, Ch 3: ||Zosima's reflections on Russia are interesting. He contrasts the European revolutionary spirit (where the poor rise against the rich) with what he sees as the uniquely humble nature of the Russian people. Even after centuries of oppression, they don't harbor vengeful hatred. Instead, they demand dignity and respect while honouring their betters. This is a deeply romantic view of the Russian peasants, but is it realistic? His vision of future social harmony is also idealistic. He believes that the rich will be shamed into humility, voluntarily giving up their riches. This might be a deeply Christian perspective, but history doesn't seem to support it. The wealthy don't often give up their power without force. So is Zosima's hope for class equality some kind of prophetic vision, or just naive?||
||Zosima's death is quiet and humble. He dies kneeling, bowing his face to the ground. It's a final act of submission to God.||

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I like that this book has fairly short chapters, so it lets you tackle this enormous tome through digestible chunks, which makes it feel easier to read

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Book 7, Ch 1: ||From the start, there's an eerie sense that people are waiting for something supernatural to happen. The desire for a miracle suggests that for them, holiness must be validated by tangible signs. But when decay inevitably sets in, their faith turns to doubt, even to condemnation. Here Dostoevsky is very well commenting on religious hypocrisy: how easily people shift from respect and admiration to vilification when reality doesn't meet their expectations. They once adored Zosima, but now that he doesn't fit their preconceived image of a saint, they turn on him.||
||Father Ferapont's hatred for Zosima seems irrational, and yet it's revealing. I feel like Ferapont is meant to represent a particular kind of religious extremism, the belief that true faith must be harsh, joyless, and full of suffering. He sees Zosima's message of joy and love as a threat to "true" spirituality.||
||Alexei's reaction is very strong. His world has just been shaken. He deeply loved and trusted Zosima, and now the elder's memory is being torn apart. Worse, there is no miracle, just the undeniable fact of death and decay. Father Paissy immediately senses that something is changing in Alexei. His twisted smile and wave bring to my mind despair, or at least disillusionment. It feels like he's thinking "If this is what faith is - arguments, hypocrisy, and a reliance on miracles - what's the point?" He silently departs from the hermitage, and it feels like he's walking away from the spiritual certainty he once had. Is Alexei losing his faith entirely, or is he simply moving toward a different, more personal understanding of it? Zosima's teachings were about love and humility, but the people around him seem to have missed the point. Maybe Alexei must leave the monastery to find the kind of faith that Zosima represented.||

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Book 7, Ch 2: ||Alexei says that he isn't rebelling against God, he just doesn't accept his world. This echoes Ivan's argument from earlier. Alexei also considered this day as "one of the most painful and fatal days of his life." Fatal implies that something died. Is it his childlike faith? His certainty? His belief in miracles? Perhaps this is the moment where Alexei must transition from a simple, almost naive faith to one that's deeper, more tested, more fully aware of the horrors of the world.||
||Rakitin is a character that just enjoys seeing others fall. His reaction to Alexei's pain isn't one of sympathy but of mockery. When he says that even schoolboys don't believe in miracles, it's clear that he's trying to drag Alexei down to his own level. His motives are both selfish and cruel. He enjoyes watching Alexei struggle and, worse, he actively wants to see him fall. His excitement at leading Alexei to Grushenka makes that clear. Rakitin is someone who resents goodness and actively seeks to corrupt it. He seems to take pleasure in the idea of "saints" being dragged into sin, as if it validates his own choices.||
||It's shocking that Alexei just accepts all of Rakitin's offers: the sausage, vodka, and the visit to Grushenka. The Alexei we've known so far would have refused, most likely. Why does he now agree? It feels like a moment of surrender, of exhaustion. He's in pain, and perhaps, for the first time, he's allowing himself to be human instead of trying to be a saint.||

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Book 4 Chapter 3 || Why Fyodor makes me angry kekCry Alyosha I beg you don't say he is not evil, he is! And what a weird scene with schoolboys and throwing rocks. Is it to show Alexei is so kind and nice no matter what? ||

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I am up to Book 3 Chapter 10. I'm thoroughly enjoying this. ||Fyodor is an idiot and I wish him ill. Get karma'd, idiot. I feel for Alyosha, he's kind of the straight man in the midst of Muppets in this one. Everyone is scheming and coming unhinged and behaving like idiots, and he's just trying to keep the peace and take care of his family. I also really like Grushenka, she BE scheming and playing these dumbass men (and other women) against each other, and I find her extremely entertaining. More of her please. ||

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I wouldn't mind if Dostoevsky showed rather than told ||with Grushenka. Having her just explain her nature and personality to the other characters, rather than letting the reader draw conclusions about her based on her actions and words, was a liiiiittle bit heavy handed and not my favorite thing||

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Book 7, Ch 3: ||Grushenka is flirtatious and bold, yet also vulnerable and deeply wounded. Here she seems almost childlike in her excitement. She wants to seduce Alexei, yet she ends up being the one who confesses and seeks forgiveness. It's fascinating how much she changes in Alexei's presence. At first, she seems to be playing a game, testing him. But as she looks at him, she suddenly finds herself ashamed; not because he condemns her, but because he doesn't. His presence forces her to see herself honestly, and it shakes her.||
||Rakitin is just rotten, no redeeming qualities. He believes himself superior to others and takes pleasure in their moral failings. He is just so delighted at the idea of seeing Alexei fall, and he tries to keep things superficial and mocking. Unlike Grushenka, he never has a moment of realisation or self-awareness.||
||Grushenka's tale of the onion is very interesting. Grushenka clearly identifies with the woman in the story: she sees herself as fundamentally bad, but she also clings to the idea that one small act of kindness might redeem her. Alexei says that Grushenka is "higher in love" than they are, so he at least sees something deeply good in her.||

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Book 7, Ch 4: ||The passage that Father Paissy reads from the gospel holds deep significance for Alexei. He loves this moment in scripture where Christ turns water into wine, because it's a miracle of joy, one that brings celebration rather than awe or fear. This choice of passage doesn't feel accidental in Dostoevsky's end, as it looks like he's connecting it to Alexei's own awakening. His faith is being transformed, moving towards something more joyful and personal.||
||The onion is referenced again, this time by Zosima. It suggests that small acts of goodness, even if they seem insignificant, have spiritual weight. Alexei is being reassured that what he did for Grushenka (offering her grace, rather than condemnation) was meaningful.||
||It's a powerful moment when Alexei wakes up feeling as though his soul is completely free. He wants to forgive everyone and ask for forgiveness, he's having a spiritual awakening. It's not about visions or supernatural experiences; it's about a total shift in the heart. It's moving. Alexei's sorrow, his struggle, his confusion, all of it leads to this moment of profound clarity. And yet, it's not an ending. His decision to leave the monastery, to follow Zosima's guidance to "sojourn in the world", suggests that his faith must now be tested and lived out in the messiness of life outside of the monastery.||

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Book 8, Ch 1: ||Dmitri has become just unhinged. He jumps between different fears: on one hand, he dreads that Grushenka will choose his father, and on the other, he fears what will happen if she gave herself to Dmitri himself. His obsession with Grushenka is about control, self-worth, and honour. If she goes to Fyodor, Dmitri will be humiliated. But if she chooses him, he still feels unworthy unless he can provide for her on his own terms. Dmitri's totally refuses to rely on Grushenka's money. In theory, maybe that's great. But there's also a deep insecurity in this. He sees money as defining his worth, as something that determines whether he can claim Grushenka. He wants to be the hero who rescues her, not the desperate lover who leans on her generosity. This fragile sense of self-worth is what makes him so tragic; he's willing to do anything, even spiral toward disaster, to maintain his sense of honour.||
||Samsonov's deception is brutal. He listens to Dmitri's proposal, lets him humiliate himself, and then sends him on a wild goose chase. Dmitri, in his manic excitement, believes he's just gotten a brilliant lead, but I can already sense that this will get nowhere.||

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Finished Book 4. Ivan seems to have ||really figured Katerina out, he's seen right through her. I found his speech to her to be very insightful and it made me like him a lot more as a character. The running joke that the doctor can "make no sense of it" is entertaining to me. Also, this whole section with Snegirev was really interesting. That money would've completely changed his life and that of his family, but he couldn't look his son in the eye or hold his head up if he took it. What an awful predicament to find oneself in. ||

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This book is a slooooow burn, I'm almost 300 pages in and I think we've covered three days? That is some commitment to detail.

lunar rock
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(And money)

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Book 8, Ch 2: ||Dmitri's journey is already off to a bad start: he's chasing after a man he doesn't know, following vague instructions from an untrustworthy source. But he clings to the idea that this must be his chance. He puts so much energy into waking up Lyagavy, only to realise that the man is dead drunk and useless. It's quite absurd. Dmitri, who sees himself as a passionate and honourable man, is now reduced to waiting for a drunk man to wake up and decide his fate. Dostoevsky builds up some tension here, as Dmitri could explode in rage, but instead he just simmers in frustration, waiting for the right moment. The irony is there; Dmitri always acts impulsively, but here he forces himself to wait, and it turns out to be totally pointless.||
||Lyagavy just crushes Dmitri's hopes. He isn't just a bad lead, he's an insult to Dmitri's intelligence. He isn't just unwilling to help, but he also seems amused by Dmitri's desperation. His manners and refusal to acknowledge Fyodor are infuriating, and it's easy to understand why Dmitri feels so humiliated. What makes this worse is that Dmitri realises, too late, how ridiculous he's been. He even wonders how, as an intelligent man, he could've been fooled so easily. Again, there's a moment of self-awareness, but he doesn't linger on it for long.||

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Finished Book 5. Ivan ||monoglues for so long in this section. There's some interesting stuff in there about his perspectives on God, the church, and what it means to be a person in the world, but he takes a long time making his point. Generally though I like Ivan as a character. We get some rich descriptions about his experiences with anxiety in this section. I haven't quite been able to figure out his motivations, as he seems to flip flop and not always know himself what he wants to do or why.

I have mixed feelings about Lise. Her relationship with Alyosha is cute and endearing, and I get that she's young, somewhat immature, unwell, and fairly high strung, but she's also doing the annoying thing where she says what she means but then takes it back, and goes back and forth between honesty and making Alyosha play guessing games.

I'm really interested in what Smerdyakov is up to. He seems to be fully scheming. He encouraged Ivan to leave and seems to have manipulated him into going to Moscow. He's made sure to tell Dmitry about the knocking signals, and has told Fyodor that Grushenka also knows about the knocking signals, so Fyodor will think the knocking is Grushenka and not Dmitry. He's now conveniently having an epileptic fit that the book implies is fake, as he wants to be out of the way when Dmitry comes. It seems that he wants Fyodor dead and is scheming and playing his cards to have all the various Karamazovs do what he intends for them.||

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I feel like tension is ramping up at a snail's pace, but we're getting there

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Book 8, Ch 3: ||Dmitri arrives to the meeting with Madame Khokhlakov in a state of absolute desperation, convinced that she will give him the money just to be rid of him. Instead, he finds himself caught in a surreal conversation about gold mines. For a moment, Dmitri actually believes she might help him. He is overwhelmed with gratitude. Then, there's the punchline: she has no money to give him, and even if she did, she wouldn't lend it. After this revelation, Dmitri's rage is volcanic: he bangs his fist on the table, storms out, and beats his chest in an uncontrollable manner. His emotions are so raw and kind of theatrical that it's both terrifying and pitiable. He's being mocked by fate at every turn, and it's pushing him toward self-destruction. Even the thought of suicide creeps into his mind, a sign of how utterly cornered he feels.||
||The way Dmitri rushes through the town after leaving Madame Khokhlakov is chilling. He isn't just desperate, he's losing control. His paranoia flares up as he accuses Samsonov's serving woman and Fenya of lying about where Grushenka is. He doesn't just ask them about Grushenka's whereabouts; he yells at them, frightening them. This paranoia and explosive anger make it easy to believe that an act of violence will be committed.||
||I'm just wondering if at this point Dmitri is even making choices anymore. Is he being completely controlled by his emotions and circumstances? He isn't stopping to think, he's just reacting.||

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Finished Book 4 || Indeed a slow burn. I don't understand and don't like Katerina. Alyosha is probably the best character so far. Glad we discovered about Ilyusha and why he attacked Alexei. The scene with money powerful and sad ||

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Book 8, Ch 4: ||Dmitri's approach to his father's house is almost animalistic: he leaps over the fence, lurks in the shadows, and watches Fyodor through the window like a predator stalking prey. His thoughts are driven by impulse, not logic. He assumes that Grushenka is inside, even though he has no evidence. He's so convinced of his father's treachery that he doesn't even consider that he might be wrong. When he taps out the secret signal, it's just a moment filled with cruel irony: Fyodor, believing that his lover has arrived, opens the window eagerly, only to be greeted by the presence of his own son, ready to kill him. When Dmitri pulls out the brass pestle, it's evident how close he is to committing murder. This isn't just a burst of anger, it's a slow, deliberate buildup of hatred. But then, just as he's about to act, fate intervenes.||
||Dostoevsky gives the story a fateful twist by having Grigory wake up at that exact moment. He stumbles upon Dmitri just as he's about to flee. The fact that Grigory immediately recognises him and shouts "Parricide" is significant. He doesn't just see Dmitri as an intruder, he sees him as someone who has already crossed the line into the unthinkable. Dmitri's attack on Grigory is brutal but also strangely hesitant. He strikes him, but instead of fleeing, he immediately helps him. So at this point, Dmitri hasn't fully embraced violence. He's horrified by what he's done, and his first instinct is to try to save Grigory. There's a contradiction (his impulse toward destruction and his simultaneous guilt) that defines his character. He isn't a cold-blooded killer, he's a man who has lost control of himself.||
||After all of this, Dmitri learns that Grushenka has left for Mokroye. It's like a final knife in his gut. He has just risked everything, attacked a man, and nearly killed his father, all based on a false assumption. His rage and jealousy have been misdirected, now he's left with nothing but more desperation.||

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||At this point, Dmitri has done terrible things, but he hasn't quite crossed the ultimate line yet. His attack on Grigory was violent, but his immediate regret shows that he isn't completely lost. But I'm still thinking about how much control he really has. His emotions drive him like a storm, and at this point, it seems inevitable that he will do something even worse. If Grigory hadn't woken up and stopped him, would Dmitri have killed his father? Would he have hesitated at the last second, or was he already too far gone?||

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Book 8, Ch 5: ||Dmitri bursts in and immediately grabs Fenya by the throat, and also shouts at her. That's terrifying, but what makes it even more disturbing is how quickly he changes afterward. One moment, he's attacking her; the next, he's speaking gently, as if nothing happened. That's some unhinged behaviour.||
||Where did this money come from? Pyotr Ilyich immediately picks up how strange it is, where could Dmitri have possibly gotten such a large sum? The implication is there: did Dmitri rob, or even worse, kill his father? I don't know for sure what Dmitri's done. His hands and clothes are covered in blood, he's carrying around a suspiciously large sum of money, and his erratic behaviour suggests he's done something terrible.||
||Dmitri also seems to be in a state of ecstasy. He isn't just desperate or panicked, he's in a heightened sense of emotion, a feverish intensity that makes everything feel unreal. His wild generosity, his obsession with the pistols, his manic excitement about going to Mokroye; these aren't the actions of someone thinking rationally. He throws around money like it doesn't matter, ordering champagne and delicacies as if he's celebrating something. But what is he celebrating? His own destruction? His final moments of freedom before the inevitable collapse?||
||When Dmitri leaves, there's a sense of finality. Fenya begs him not to hurt Grushenka, but I don't know what he's truly planning. He claims he won't hurt anyone, but can he be trusted? Even he seems unsure of what he'll do.||

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Book 8, Ch 6: ||Dmitri's mood changes so quickly. In the carriage, he briefly considers stopping, stepping out, and killing himself. It's a moment of absolute despair, a continuation of the death wish he's expressed previously. But then, as soon as he begins thinking about Grushenka, the darkness fades, and his heart fills with hope again. One second, he's suicidal; the next, he's surging forward with renewed purpose.||
||There's something theatrical about Dmitri's arrival to Mokroye: the way he jumps out of the carriage just as the innkeeper appears, the immediate demand for Grushenka, the extravagant offer of money. It feels like Dmitri is stepping onto a stage, preparing for some grand moment.||
||Dmitri's expectations about Grushenka are also interesting. He's been imagining her reunion with the officer as something devastating, something final. But when he arrives, he learns that she's bored with the officer. This completely changes the stakes for Dmitri, perhaps Grushenka isn't as lost to him as he feared. But what does Grushenka actually want? Is she just playing a game with the officer, seeing if he still desires her? Or is she genuinely trying to decide between two men, Dmitri and this old flame from her past? Her boredom suggests that she isn't as emotionally invested as Dmitri is.||
||The ending of this chapter is filled with anticipation. Dmitri is led into the room and watches Grushenka from the shadows. I wonder what Grushenka is thinking when she notices him. Does she feel fear? Surprise? And for Dmitri, this is the moment he's been racing toward. But what happens if Grushenka doesn't react the way he wants her to? What happens if she chooses the officer after all?||

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Finished Book 6, so up to the end of Part 2. This section ||really dragged for me. I am not interested in religious philosophy, so it felt a little bit like being lectured at. This is especially true because I felt like the plot was starting to ramp up, with the tension between Dmitry and Fyodor, Ivan's leaving, and Smerdyakov's meddling, so I was disappointed that this section didn't continue with that plot, and instead sort of took an axe to any sort of tension that was building.||

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Book 8, Ch 8: ||Grushenka is unpredictable here. One moment she's drinking and laughing, and the next, she's weeping behind the curtain. She admits that she still loved her former fiancé. That's a huge moment. She had been holding onto a fantasy, and now, with brutal clarity, she realises that it was just that: a fantasy. The man she once loved had returned, but certainly not for love. It's heartbreaking, and it at least somewhat explains why she's so emotionally erratic. Then, in the same breath, she declares that she now loves Dmitri. But what kind of love is this? Is it genuine, or is it born out of disappointment and desperation? She's been hurt, humiliated, and betrayed; does she turn to Dmitri simply because she needs to believe in something else?||
||Just when it seems like Dmitri finally has the woman he loves, everything comes crashing down. The police arrive. Dmitri barely has time to process what's happening. There's a brutal accusation: Dmitri is being charged with the murder of his father. This moment is even more tragic, because for a brief second, Dmitri was happy. He had Grushenka in his arms, she had just chosen him over her past. And in an instant, it's all ripped away. But nevertheless, he still needs to face the consequences of his actions.||

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Finished Book 7. Alexei is ||really going through it in this one. I still find Grushenka the most compelling of the characters. Her conflicting feelings about the man who seduced her, and whether or not she's too proud to go back to him, felt very human. I was reflecting on how intensely the people in this book express their feelings, almost to the point of ridiculousness, and how maybe this has to do with the idea at the time of what the characters in a novel should do, say, or feel. We've moved more towards realism in novels I think, where characters behave more like contemporary people and don't express themselves so extravagantly. This can sometimes make it hard for me to read the classics, because the characters feel absurd, unreal, and less relatable for it.||

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I'm so tired and typing thoughts is hard, so I hope that was coherent kekCry

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45% of the way through this book and I still feel like ||we're mostly getting character building and plot set up? I love a good slow burn but this might be too slow even for me.||

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Book 9, Ch 1: ||Fenya being terrified it's Dmitri when hearing knocking at the gate shows how unhinged he must've seemed in that moment. And he told her directly that he killed a man?? Whether Dmitri meant it literally or was speaking in a fit of madness is unclear, but it's a confession that now seals how others see him. At this point I'm a little lost, I don't know what's really happened.||
||Pyotr Ilyich is so hesitant and unsure here. He doesn't rush to the police, but weighs his options. He even considers that it could be viewed as a scandal if he went to Fyodor's house in the middle of the night to check on him. So he's obviously caught in something much bigger than he knows how to handle. Ultimately he thankfully does decide to go to the authorities, but only after checking whether Madame Khokhlakov gave Dmitri the money. But at least he's going||
||Now Madame Khokhlakov is all "I foresaw it all!!" She's overly self-involved, casting herself as the tragic near-victim. She instantly concludes that Fyodor has been murdered. She doesn't even hesitate. She clearly expects the worst from Dmitri. But she's also willing to assist the investigation by providing the note. She's cooperative, even if melodramatic.||

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Book 9, Ch 2: ||There's a lot of officials introduced, and I'm so bad with names omg. The commissioner, Mikhail Makarovich, is described as "none too bright." But he's also a good man, decent, dutiful. So he's just limited, in a way. It makes me wonder what kind of justice system is being depicted here? It's not necessarily corrupt, but certainly not the best either.||
||There's two discoveries made: The brass pestle in the garden (likely the murder weapon) and the envelope of three thousand roubles, addressed to Grushenka. These clues seem damning, but also too neat, if that makes sense? It almost feels like something is being staged? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into things. And then there's Smerdyakov, he's suffering from horrible fits and is supposedly near death. But a part of me is like, is he really? The doctor is clearly fascinated with Smerdyakov's case, perhaps even suspicious. He notes how unusual it is for someone to have prolonged epileptic fits like this. Is Smerdyakov faking (tbh I don't know how you could pull that off)? Or is he genuinely ill and still somehow involved? Or not at all?||

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Book 9, Ch 3: ||Grushenka throws herself at Mikhail's feet and things are so dramatic. She declares herself guilty, even though she hasn't actually committed the murder. But she feels sure of her guilt: she's guilty of setting so many of these events in motion, guilty of playing games with men's emotions, perhaps even feeling guilty of realising too late that she actually loves Dmitri. Her dramatic plea to be judged alongside Dmitri is intense to say the least. It feels like a moment where she shreds all her previous games and masks; this is raw emotion. But it's also useless. The authorities are operating within a rigid system that doesn't recognise moral guilt, only legal responsibility. Dmitri just cannot share his trial with her.||
||Dmitri declares himself not guilty, but then adds that he has shed blood. The fact is that he attacked Grigory, and he did it violently enough to make himself believe he killed him. But when he hears that Grigory is alive, his first response is relief. So he's not indifferent to suffering, even though he has these reckless, violent tendencies. But he isn't the cold-blooded killer the authorities might imagine. The way he reacts to the news of his father's death is also revealing. He asks how Fyodor was killed, and it feels like he's trying to understand what has happened. He's genuinely surprised to hear about the head wound. If he had been the murderer, wouldn't he already know this? Is this all a clue that Dmitri truly isn't the killer?||

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||The issue of the money becomes the main point of the interrogation. Dmitri claims that the three thousand roubles belonged to him, that his father owed him much more but that he would've settled for this sum. This statement plays directly into the prosecution's theory: If Dmitri believed that money was rightfully his, wouldn't he have taken it by force? From Dmitri's perspective, he's asserting his grievance. His father was an unjust man, and Dmitri had a right to what was his. From the prosecution's perspective, this proves motive. If Dmitri thought the money was his, then he would've been willing to kill for it. But where is the money? The envelope was found empty, and Dmitri (at least to my understanding) hasn't spent that much money. If he had stolen it, wouldn't there be some trace of it? It's confusing to me how the authorities don't talk about the whereabouts of that money||

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Book 9, Ch 4: ||Dmitri is uncooperative from the start; not because he has something to hide, necessarily, but because he refuses to play by the prosecution's rules. When they press him about why he needed three thousand roubles, he dismisses the question as focusing on "little things," which is clearly not how they see it. He has this attitude of "Why should I explain myself to you?" When he critiques their interrogation methods, it's a classic Dmitri moment: impulsive, arrogant, but there's also a little bit of insight in it. He seems to recognise that the law doesn't seem to care about his truth, it only wants to fit his words into their version of events.||
||The moment when the brass pestle is brought up is a turning point. Now they bring up something concrete to Dmitri. And what does he do? He makes things worse for himself. First, he gives vague, unconvincing explanations like "I grabbed it to keep off the dogs" or "I took it because it was dark." The district attorney immediately calls him out, asking if he always grabs a weapon when it's dark. Here's where I feel frustrated with Dmitri. Instead of carefully defending himself, he lashes out emotionally. His sarcasm with the "Write down that I grabbed the pestle in order to run and kill my father" comment only makes him look more guilty.||

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Book 9, Ch 5: ||The investigators reveal that the garden door was found open. Dmitri is shocked, and insists that when he was in the garden, the door was closed. If Dmitri didn't enter through the door, and he didn't kill Fyodor, then who did? More importantly, how did they know about the secret signal system that only Dmitri, Smerdyakov, and Fyodor knew? Something doesn't add up here.||
||Here's where things get really interesting: when the prosecutors bring up the possibility that Smerdyakov committed the murder, Dmitri immediately rejects it. Why is he so sure Smerdyakov didn't do it? Is it arrogance? A refusal to believe that such a "weak" person could be capable of something like this? Or is Dmitri, in some twisted way, protecting Smerdyakov? His reasoning sounds weak; he claims Smerdyakov wouldn't kill for money and calls him a coward. But is he underestimating him? The people who are deemed weak and are overlooked can sometimes be the most dangerous. Does Smerdyakov want people to see him as weak so they don't suspect him? Again, could his epilepsy and fits be a cover for something more calculated?||
||The final part of the interrogation centers around the money. Dmitri refuses to explain where he got the cash from. This is another moment where he's just shooting himself in the foot. He could clear things up by telling them the truth, but he doesn't. The fact that he doesn't even confirm how much money he had makes the authorities even more suspicious.||

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Book 9, Ch 6: ||So the envelope is empty. Dmitri panics when he sees it, and his immediate reaction is to accuse Smerdyakov. Things certainly took a turn here. There's also a contradiction: Dmitri swears that he's seeing the envelope for the first time, but the authorities remind him that he was the one who originally mentioned it being under Fyodor's pillow. How did he guess where it was if he had no part in the crime? Obviously he could've just known that Fyodor kept his money hidden there, but it still raises questions.||
||The open door still remains a mystery. Dmitri insists that it was closed when he ran out, but Grigory's testimony contradicts him. If Grigory is right, then the murderer must have escaped through the open door. If Dmitri is right, then someone else must have opened it after he left. I just feel very strongly that a third party was involved.||
||At the end of the chapter, Dmitri finally agrees to tell the truth about where he got the money. But before he can speak, the prosecutor nudges Nikolai Parfenovich to stop him from encouraging Dmitri to speak. Why? Couldn't a confession help clarify things? Are the authorities so convinced of Dmitri's guilt that they don't actually want him to explain? Do they fear that a logical explanation will weaken their case? This moment suggests that the prosecutors aren't just searching for truth; they're building a case, shaping the narrative to fit their version of events. Even if Dmitri can explain himself, they may not be interested in hearing it.||

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Book 9, Ch 7: ||Dmitri finally admits what he's been keeping secret: he stole the money from Katerina, or rather, he never delivered it. He admits it was wrong, but insists he was always planning to return half of it. He says that he's "a scoundrel, but not a thief." That distinction, for Dmitri, is everything. He believes that by keeping the remaining fifteen hundred roubles separate, by wearing it in an amulet around his neck, he preserved some part of his honour. He's clinging to the idea that, deep down, he's still redeemable. There's some strong existential shame going on. He spent the money recklessly, and betrayed Katerina's trust. But because he thought about giving some of it back, he doesn't see himself as entirely lost.||

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Book 8, chapter 5. Ooooh ||Dmitry has been up to some shit. Interesting that there's a cut away, and then Gregory sees him running from the house. I kind of like that we don't know what happened between Dmitry and Fyodor yet, but we know that Dmitry seems to have at least stolen the money from his father (and then immediately forgotten that he wanted it to pay his debt to Katerina, but that's fiiiiine)||

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Oooh I have just nudged past the 50% mark

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Book, I will win yet

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Book 9, Ch 8: ||The interrogation brings in a parade of witnesses, each with their own biases, memories, and personal feelings against Dmitri. Their testimonies don't paint a coherent picture but instead muddy waters further. Trifon Borisich is certain that Dmitri had three thousand roubles both a month ago and yesterday. The peasants back Trifon's claim that Dmitri had three thousand. Kalganov is reluctant to give evidence but confirms that he too had heard about Dmitri's wealth. The Polish officers seem eager to paint Dmitri in a bad light. Pan Mussyalovich recounts how Dmitri tried to bribe him, and asks that Dmitri calling him a "scoundrel" is put in the record. Maximov throws a wrench into everything by claiming that he saw twenty thousand roubles in Dmitri's hands, a completely absurd exaggeration that undermines his credibility. The investigators latch onto Grushenka's testimony, especially when she confirms that Dmitri frequently spoke about having three thousand roubles and had mentioned his wish to kill Fyodor "several times" in fits of rage. The fact that she dismisses these statements as mere anger doesn't seem to reassure them.||
||It's a little striking how Dmitri's innocence regarding the murder seems almost secondary to the investigators. The entire case hinges on whether he had stolen the money, whether he was lying about his finances, and whether he was capable of murdering out of financial desperation. But the evidence remains murky. The prosecution assumes that, if Dmitri lied about his money, he must have also killed Fyodor to get more of it.||

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||Here Grushenka is very honest and self-aware. She admits that she'd been "enticing" Dmitri in her "vile wickedness", that she never truly cared for Fyodor, and that she trusted in Dmitri's nobility. It's tragic, because that nobility - the idea that Dmitri could never cross the line into actual murder - is exactly what's in question. Dmitri's dramatic plea for her to believe in his innocence is almost more for himself than for her. He desperately wants her to see him as a man falsely accused, not as a reckless, violent son spiraling into destruction.||

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Book 9, Ch 9: ||Before Dmitri is taken away to jail, he apologises to Grushenka for ruining her with his love. Dmitri is aware that his love has pulled Grushenka into a storm she didn't ask for. The fact that he stops himself from saying more shows that in his mind, he has nothing left to offer. Words have failed him in a way.||
||As he's led away, Dmitri says farewell to the crowd, even to Trifon Borisich, who now refuses to acknowledge him. It's a deeply human moment: Dmitri, despite everything, craves connection. He wants someone to see him, hear him, believe him. But almost no one does. Even Mavriky Mavrikievich snaps at Dmitri from calling him an "old fellow." That small detail is cutting. All the warmth and humanity has drained from Dmitri's world, replaced with protocol, punishment, and alienation.||

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Book 10, Ch 1: ||What stands out to me in this chapter is the asymmetry between Anna and her son. Her love is absolute, extremely self-sacrificing. She builds her entire life around Kolya, studies with him, protects him socially, and is even careful around his classmates to avoid him getting bullied. Kolya's response to all of this seems to be coldness and superiority. He apparently loves his mother very much, but just doesn't really show it. It almost feels like he withholds warmth as a way of asserting dominance. He knows the power he holds and uses it. When she cries hysterically, he grows colder. After the incident on the railway, he just wakes up "as unfeeling as ever." He very much feels like a little Ivan in the making; proud and emotionally guarded.||
||A big part of me was prepared for the train stunt to end very differently (aka Kolya dying a horrifying death), but there's some mercy in this book and that didn't thankfully happen. He's trying so hard to impress the older boys. He actually fainted during the stunt (can't blame him one bit for that, I would too), and then lied about pretending to be unconscious to scare them. He needs desperately to be seen as daring, even if it means doing incredible stupid and dangerous crap like this. But this works for him, and his reputation as a "desperado" is secured.||

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Book 10, Ch 2: ||Okay so there's some tenderness in Kolya. He genuinely wants the children to be comforted in his absence, and brings the toy cannon. When they start to tear up, he performs dog tricks with Perezvon to make them feel better. He's not all ego, there's also care.||
||"Female sex", okay boy be quiet.||

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Book 10, Ch 3: ||It just feels like Kolya is constantly performing. He mocks everyone, but all of it seems driven by an anxious need to be seen as witty, superior, and mature. I feel a little sad for him. He very much has the energy of a teenager who tries way too hard to be impressive. He's exhausting, but also very familiar in this way.||
||Poor Smurov. He reads as very loyal, unsure, and a little intimidated. Kolya treats him like a servant. When Kolya snaps at him for simply asking a question, it hurts. Kolya needs Smurov's admiration, but he also can't tolerate being questioned, even gently.||

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Book 10, Ch 4: ||Obviously Smerdyakov hasn't grown out of his desire to harm animals, and now he's also teaching others to do it pepeStarege. Why isn't anybody suspicious of that man||

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Book 10, Ch 5: ||Kolya's entrance feels like a rescue. After all his posturing, the theatretical stories, the bravado in the market, this moment is pure: he walks over to a dying boy, strokes his hair, and lies to bring him piece. Because yes, I think that it's a lie. Zhuchka isn't really back. But this lie is different. Kolya reads the situation and decides that to restore Ilyusha's spirits in this moment, to heal him even a little, requires an act like this, of imaginative mercy. So he transforms Perezvon into Zhuchka. And everybody joins in. Some of them might genuinely believe that the dog is Zhuchka, some are in on the lie because they love Ilyusha and know that this is what he needs to heal.||

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Book 10, Ch 6: ||Kolya's mask begins to slip. He parrots back phrases he clearly doesn't fully grasp. These ideas aren't his; they've been borrowed, most likely from Rakitin. It's interesting how transparent this performance is to Alexei. He doesn't shame Kolya or argue with him. Instead, he just simply expresses sadness that someone with Kolya's warmth and potential is already tangled in all these half-digested ideologies.||
||Kolya's talk of his convictions feels like less about belief and more about identity. He wants so badly to be taken seriously. When Alexei points out how young he is, Kolya is annoyed: "The point is what my convictions are, not how old I am." Yes, Kolya should be listened to and taken seriously. But it feels like his big words are really a smokescreen for a deeper cry of "See me, take me seriously, I'm afraid I'm absolutely ridiculous."||

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Book 10, Ch 7: ||The doctor might be right about Syracuse being a good option, but he delivers his prognosis with such coldness, such unfeeling detachment, that it feels brutal. His "squeamish" expression, his fear of Perezvon, and his lack of acknowledgement of the family's poverty make him seem almost alien in this space. Kolya immediately mocks him by calling him a leech, showing some of the same bravado that he's channelled earlier. But here it clashes with the gravity of the situation. Alexei has to step in and warn him by saying "If you say another word, I'll break with you forever." Alexei isn't just correcting Kolya's behaviour, I think he's also demanding moral seriousness. And for once, Kolya listens.||
||The Captain's gesture, pointing wordlessly to the state of his home when the doctor suggests Sicily, is such a devastating moment for me. There's no self-pity, no lashing out. Just mute acknowledgement of a system that doesn't even pretend to care about people like him. When he later collapses into tears by Ilyusha's bedside, it's a moment full of despair. But what's striking is that Ilyusha becomes the comforter. A dying boy telling his father that he should love some other boy after he's gone? despairgesad||

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||||Just a while ago, Kolya was dazzling an audience, boasting about his intellect and pranks. Now, he's holding back tears, barking at the doctor out of helpless rage, then literally running out and sobbing in the hallway. That image of him breaking down out of sight, followed by Alexei gently guiding him back to responsibility, is moving. His outburst, telling Ilyusha to "shut up" when he says to be replaced after his death,feels protective. It's the reaction of someone who cannot bear the emotional weight of what's happening, who wants to stop the unbearable before it gets spoken into the world. Then he hugs Ilyusha and runs away, not out of selfishness, but to recover. And when Alyosha reminds him to keep his word about coming back, it's like he's giving Kolya something to hold on to, something that he can concretely do to help this awful situation.||
||Alexei continues to play the role of a moral compass and emotional anchor; not by preaching, but by being present and unwavering. His quiet guidance of Kolya is almost paternal. He knows Kolya's trying to be good, trying to be brave, but also that he's barely keeping it together. Alexei doesn't belittle him, rather he dignifies him by expecting him to keep his promise.||

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Book 11, Ch 1: ||Grushenka wants to believe Dmitri loves her, but she's riddled with doubts, many of which are most likely fueled by her own experience of being used and discarded by men in the past. Her sarcasm, her accusations, her tears, they all come from that place of bruised self-worth. I don't think she's particularly wrong to doubt Dmitri; he's emotionally reckless and jealous. But Grushenka also doesn't realise that Dmitri's jealousy is likely rooted not in distrust of her, but in his own insecurity. There's a moment where she says Dmitri gets jealous on purpose. That's such an interesting psychological insight. Is she suggesting that Dmitri uses jealousy as a weapon to keep her emotionally off-balance? Or that he's self-sabotaging, inviting drama into his life? Either way, it speaks volumes about the toxic patterns between them.||
||Once again, Alexei is being the emotional anchor. His gentleness with Grushenka isn't just kind; it's intimate, though not romantic. He listens to her with real care. He doesn't try to reason her out of her feelings or dismiss her jealousy. Instead, he speaks softly, reassuring her that Dmitri does, in fact, love her. And Alexei genuinely believes it, he isn't just saying it to be reassuring. His promise at the end to share whatever he learns of Dmitri's secret with Grushenka was quite a radical move. It feels like Alexei is placing her in the center of the narrative, giving her emotional ownership over Dmitri's whole story and decisions.||
||Grushenka asks Alexei if Ivan loves Katerina, and Alexei says he doesn't. But does anyone really know the full truth of what Ivan feels? Even Ivan himself seems unsure.||

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I have read up to Book 9 Chapter 3. The whole section where ||Dmitry, Grushenka, and the other folks are partying and getting drunk on wine read almost like a dream sequence, and Dmitry seemed almost manic in his behaviour. Now that we're starting the interrogation, I honestly don't think Dostoevsky would have it be as straightforward as just "Dmitry killed Fyodor." There are still 400 pages of this book, there's no way we don't have another twist or turn in there yet. My money is Smerdyakov personally. I think he's faking the epileptic fit.||

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There is still the case of ||the money, which Dmitry seems to have ended up with, but I still think some kind of scheming occurred to frame him for his father's murder.||

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I am finished up to the end of Book 10. The ||sudden shift from Dmitry's questioning to the side plot with Ilyusha and Kolya was a bit jarring. In some ways I believe Kolya as a precocious 13 year old, but in other ways I feel like he talks in a way that is really incongruous for such a young character. Maybe this comes down to the translation, and the kind of formality of the language.||

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I took a break after finishing Book 4 but seeing so many comments I have FOMO so after finishing my other read will try to get back to it soon omg

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Book 11, Ch 2: ||Madame Khokhlakov now thinks Lise has gone mad, and he's suspicious of Ivan's influence. She doesn't elaborate much, but what's implied is unsettling. Ivan visited Lise briefly and soon after, Lise descended into hysteria. This raises a lot of questions for me. What exactly did Ivan say or do during those five minutes? Is Lise's mental unraveling tied to something Ivan told her, or revealed about himself? Why did she react so strongly afterward, insisting that her mother never receive Ivan again? Madame Khokhlakov seems genuinely concerned about her daughter.||

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Book 11, Ch 3: ||When Alexei enters the room, it's immediately clear that Lise has changed. There is something "malicious and guileless" about her. It's like her innocence is corrupted from within. And her words confirm it. Lise tells Alexei, calmly and clearly, that she wants to suffer. That she wants to be deceived, to be tormented, to set fire to her house, to do evil. The girl who once wrote love letters to Alexei now says she doesn't respect him. Even more chillingly, she doesn't want anyone who treats her well. Why? Why this plunge into darkness?||
||Lise's confession isn't just self-loathing, it's a complete reversal of moral values. she speaks with a twisted sense of clarity. She doesn't try to justify her feelings. She knows they're destructive and still embraces them. Her health, her intelligence, her current situation overall feel irrelevant to her. She wants meaning through pain; or if she can't have that, at least chaos. It's no coincidence she fantasizes about the boy under the train (Kolya). That story, originally an image of daring or curiosity, becomes, in her mind, something much more sinister. She envies the extremity of the act, the drama of it. And when she says that people love that Dmitri killed his father, even though they pretend it's terrible, that might be Lise reaching a terrifying level of honesty. She's saying the quiet part out loud: that there's something thrilling about violence, about breaking rules, about watching destruction unfold. She loves the idea of Dmitri's crime. She wants to join in.||

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||That final image is so haunting. After slamming the door on Alexei, Lise reopens it; not to call him back, but to hurt herself. She crushes her own finger in the door, deliberately and methodically. Then she looks at it and whispers how mean she is. This act of self-harm isn't just an outburst; it feels like a kind of ritual. In that one violent gesture, Lise confirms everything she said. She wants pain. She wants to destroy her body, her innocence, her sanity.||
||Alexei doesn't seem to fully grasp what he's witnessing. There's also something heart-wrenching in his helplessness. He's kind, gentle, and wants to help, but there's no way to "fix" this. He can't reason her out of this darkness. And he's been sent away with a letter to Ivan, a man who may be suffering from the very same thing to Lisa but in a different form.||

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Hello! This br ends on August 6! We have about 4 months left : )

reading status:
reading: Andoria, Zico, Lib, gobarsingh, Voracious Reader, Intro, dot, Sofia, thelastpage, lemondrop
finished: Otsu Ren

PLEASE lmk if I missed anyone! Happy reading < 33

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honest sierra
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I have about 200 pages of this left, we are pushing to the end

honest sierra
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Book 11 Chapter 3: I feel like ||the female characters are becoming steadily more unhinged. Both Lise and her mother read as different flavors of "hysterical." I think Dostoevsky's depiction of Lise is more sympathetic, but Lise's mother is played off as a bit of a joke. To be fair, the book is chalk full of flawed characters and it isn't just the female characters, but Mrs. Khokhlakov leaves kind of a bad taste in my mouth. I also kind of miss scheming and self interested Grushenka, and am not as connected to her or interested in her now that she's done a 180 and decided to be this loyal, adoring wife-figure to Dmitry. ||

manic elk
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You guys are killing it! I’m taking a break, but will be back at this next week sometime

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 4: ||So the secret is that Ivan has proposed an escape plan. Dmitri doesn't yet know whether he'll be convicted, but he's clearly preparing for the worst. He very quickly brushes off any real hope for acquittal. He doesn't seem to be trying to manipulate Alexei or spin the narrative. He's not playing a part, he's just a man trying to survive a storm. I wonder how this idea of escape will be handled morally. Is Dmitri going to be seeing it as a coward's move, or a just response to an unjust system? The fact that Ivan suggested it adds complexity. Does he feel guilt over their father's death, and is trying to make up for it? Or is he just acting on the instinct of "get Dmitri out, no matter what"?||

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 5: ||Katerina's role here is complicated. She's about to testify in a way that could help convict Dmitri, the man she once loved (and possibly still does). She asks Alexei if Dmitri is afraid for her or for himself. Her remark about Alexei maybe wanting to "trample" her after her testimony reveals her own anxiety. It feels like she's trying to justify what she's about to do, and maybe test Alexei's forgiveness in advance. I get the feeling that she's very insecure.||
||What stands out to me is that even though Katerina is acting against Dmitri, she's still emotionally involved with all three men: Dmitri, Ivan, and even Alexei, in a sense. She clings to the idea of doing what's right, while also using her power to wound. Her visit to Smerdyakov is eerie, why would she go to the man Ivan has called a parricide? Is it out of curiosity, calculation, or something else? What does she hope to find there?||

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||Ivan is unraveling. He's irritable, bitter, and feverish - not just physically but mentally. His line about Katerina thinking he's crazy lands hard; it's part sarcasm, part resignation. The mention of the doctor diagnosing a "nervous fever" confirms what's been building up for some time already, that Ivan is losing his grip. His reaction to Lise's letter is cruel. He calls her a "little demon" and says that she behaved like a loose woman. Alexei is absolutely right to scold him here. Ivan has become so cynical, so emotionally jaded, that he just lashes out at everyone. But I still just want to know what actually happened between him and Lise during that short visit. Why did she spiral afterward?||
||Ivan mentions a document that "proves mathematically" that Dmitri killed Fyodor. That's a plot twist for sure. It's an incredibly cold and clinical phrase, "proves mathematically", especially given the emotional stakes here. Ivan speaks as if the truth is a formula. But why is Katerina holding onto this document? If she truly believes in justice, why hasn't she turned it over sooner? Ivan says that he's keeping quiet until the verdict is passed. He explains that he wants to wait so that Katerina won't destroy Dmitri out of spirits; this reveals his own manipulative edge. He's playing a psychological game, trying to contain Katerina's vengeance.||

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 6: ||Ivan wants Smerdyakov to confess or slip up, to give him a clear truth. But that's not really happening; Smerdyakov dances around every direct question, blending flattery, gaslighting, and cold logic.||
||When Ivan tells Smerdyakov that he doesn't suspect him at all, you can tell how desperately he wants that to be true; not because he necessarily believes it, but because if Smerdyakov didn't do it, then Ivan couldn't be guilty by association. Smerdyakov's last line about not reporting the whole of their conversation by the gate drips with menace. It's a veiled threat. A reminder. Ivan was there. Ivan did hear him. Ivan didn't stop what happened next.||
||Ivan tells Alexei that that night he wished for their father's death, and that he may not have minded helping Dmitri along. It's a brutal confession. But I don't think he's just testing Alexei, he's trying to absolve himself. But when Alexei admits he thought Ivan might do it, Ivan doesn't find peace. He turns cold. He starts avoiding Alexei. Ivan wants to be absolved, but not judged. He wants someone to say that it's okay, he's not guilty. But when Alexei kind of confirms his guilt in a way, even gently, Ivan recoils.||

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 7: ||Smerdyakov doesn't accuse Ivan in a dramatic way. Instead, he calmly lays out the logic: Ivan left. Ivan wished for the murder. Ivan didn't stop anything. That's enough. He made himself available as a silent accomplice. It's chilling how reasonable Smerdyakov sounds when he says all this. He doesn't threaten, he simply observes. He just hits with his observations, even saying that Ivan left Fyodor "as a sacrifice."||
||Smerdyakov accuses Ivan of being motivated by money, the inheritance. That makes a believable argument. The murder isn't some grand philosophical act. It's small and greedy and full of personal resentments. Ivan insists that he wasn't "counting on" anyone to do the murder, but then he adds "If I had been counting on anyone then, it would most certainly have been you and not Dmitri." So is he basically acknowledging that, deep down, he knew Smerdyakov was the one capable of acting on the thing Ivan could only fantasize about? That would make him guilty - not of murder, but of creating the climate for it.||
||Just when Ivan seems to have hit emotional rock bottom, Katerina hands him Dmitri's letter. It's a drunk, desperate, self-damning mess. But I'm still sure Dmitri didn't do it. Ivan is convinced of Dmitri's guilt. This letter could very well convict Dmitri. The fact that Katerina visited Smerdyakov raises more questions: What did he tell her? Could she also suspect Ivan? Is she playing a game of her own? Is she simply confused and desperate?||
||Ivan is at the edge. He's lost faith in his reason, in Alexei's innocence project, in Katerina, in himself. And quite possibly in justice, too. The idea that he might kill Smerdyakov is terrifying; not because it would be out of character at this point, but because it would almost complete the arc. He didn't kill Fyodor, but if he kills Smerdyakov, it's a kind of second murder. As if, by trying to destroy the instrument of his guilt, he's trying to destroy the guilt itself.||

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 8: ||The chapter begins with Ivan pushing down a drunken peasant and leaving him in the snow. It's such a cruel moment, but it also sets the stage perfectly for everything that will soon follow. Ivan's later decision to save the man feels like his desperate attempt to reclaim some kind of goodness in himself, to rebalance the scale.||
||Smerdyakov's confession is almost too calm. He tells Ivan everything, piece by piece, and he does it without emotion. He didn't kill Fyodor out of some passionate emotion, but out of calculated opportunity. And, as he claims, to fulfill Ivan's unspoken wish. That's the horror for Ivan: he created the conditions. He created them through distance, through silence, through contempt for his father without action to prevent harm. Smerdyakov says that he viewed himself as Ivan's "minion." That turns Ivan's intellectual posturing into something with real, irreversible consequences. Ivan thought Smerdyakov beneath him, even stupid, but that pride blinded him. Smerdyakov was listening the whole time. He understood Ivan's ideas more literally than Ivan did himself. And then he acted on them.||
||Smerdyakov says that out of all Fyodor's children, Ivan is the most like Fyodor. Ivan, who has always rejected Fyodor's vulgarity and selfishness, is suddenly told that he's his father's spiritual heir. That can't feel good. But I don't think Ivan inherited Fyodor's greed; he inherited his moral cowardice. Fyodor was a man of wants and evading responsibility, and Ivan has tried to live by intellect alone, evading responsibility while thinking he's above it. Both are absent; Fyodor is an absent (and shitty) father, and Ivan is absent in the sense that he abandoned the house knowing something awful could happen.||

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||Smerdyakov producing the money is a simple but theatretical gesture, I didn't see that coming. It's proof, yes, but it's also an offering, a final trap, a test. Will Ivan take it? He refuses it in the moment, saying he'll show it in court. But Smerdyakov's probably right when he says no one will believe Ivan. That's part of the tragedy: too much time has passed, Ivan has lost credibility. Justice may still be possible, but it's going to cost Ivan maybe everything.||
||Ivan returns home, ill and hallucinating, his mind unraveling under the pressure of truth and guilt. His eyes scan the room and land on the sofa. Something is there, something that troubled and tormented" him. It isn't said what this object is. Is it the ghost of his father? Some kind of devil? His own guilt, made visible in his ill state? Is it the idea of Smerdyakov?||

lunar rock
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I’ve heard Book 5 Chapter 5 is the most famous part in this book and I will read it soon PE_PandaAwwShakeZoom

lunar rock
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Book 5 Chapter 5 || Wow. The way it explores faith, freedom, and human weakness was so intense and unsettling. The idea that people don’t actually want freedom, that they would rather give it up for comfort, security or someone else to make decisions for them, felt way too real. Not a first time I am reading something like that (Escape from Freedom by Erich Fromm).

“In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, ‘Make us your slaves, but feed us.’” ||

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 9: ||The Gentleman is a projection of Ivan's own mind, yet he feels more like a character than a hallucination. Ivan knows the Gentleman isn't real, but he can't win the argument. Even though he's essentially having a conversation with himself, he can't escape the logic that he's helped build.||
||Alexei brings news that Smerdyakov has hanged himself. The only person alongside Ivan who knew the truth about Fyodor's murder, and now he's gone. Was it out of guilt? Or did he want to ensure Ivan suffered alone with the knowledge? Now Ivan has to face absolute isolation. There's no proof, and no witnesses. There's not much left of this book, I want to know how it ends so badly||

lunar rock
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Finished Book 5, Chapter 5 for sure was my favourite blobooh

midnight galleon
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Book 11, Ch 10: ||Smerdyakov's note, "I exterminate my life by my own will and liking, so as not to blame anybody", is very flat and formal. There doesn't seem to be any anguish, no apology, not even guilt; it's just a cold statement of self-erasure. It's as though he's stepping out of the story entirely, wiping the state clean. Is this his final manipulation? A calculated way to shut Ivan down forever, leaving him with no proof, no clarity, no redemption?||
||Ivan talks about how he feels like he's awake in his sleep; he walks, talks, and sees. He's unraveling. His rational mind can't keep up with the emotional weight bearing down on him. He's trying to fight the Gentleman, fight his own guilt, fight the idea that he planted the seed of patricide, but his body and mind are failing him.||
||Alexei's presence here is everything. He cares for Ivan without arguments, he prays for both Ivan and Dmitri. He thinks that the root of Ivan's illness is that God's truth is overcoming his heart and Ivan doesn't want to submit. Ivan's intellect has tried to stand on its own, cut off from God, and it's failed because the heart wants more than logic. It wants justice, love, meaning, redemption. And those aren't found in reason alone. Alexei sees Ivan as standing at a threshold: either he will surrender to the truth (whatever that looks like) or he'll destroy himself in bitterness. Alexei reflects that Ivan will "either rise into the light of truth, or perish in hatred, taking revenge on himself and everyone." That line stings because we've already seen Ivan begin to do that. The rage, the contempt; he's already walking that path. But Alexei's hope remains||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 1: ||Right away, the narrator draws attention to the spectacle of the trial. The courtroom is packed with people not just from the town, but from other cities as well. This isn't just a trial; it's an event. The ladies root for Dmitri, not because of the facts, but because of his reputation as a "conqueror of women's hearts." The men, meanwhile, dislike him, often for personal slights. It's clear that the people aren't really looking for justice. They're looking for entertainment, or perhaps confirmation of their own narratives.||
||Dmitri enters the trial not as a man but a myth: the wild, passionate Karamazov son, suspected of killing his father. He pleads guilty, but only to drunkenness and depravity, not to murder. He's absolutely refusing to play the role the courtroom wants him to play. Katerina and Grushenka are transformed from individual people into archetypes: the scorned woman and the femme fatale. They aren't even on trial, but they're being judged all the same.||

rocky forum
honest sierra
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Book 11 Chapter 9: I was ||bang on about Smerdyakov, 10 points to me. I'm interested in how/whether Ivan will be implicated in the murder in some way. Also, I'm really interested in this depiction of the devil as a former aristocrat who's down on his luck since the abolishment of serfdom, this sort of "gentleman sponge" character. Very fun. ||

lunar rock
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Book 6 || All about Zosima and his life story. It slows down the main plot unfortunately, but at least I liked how thoughtful and calm it was. A lot about love, forgiveness, and how people should treat each other. Some parts felt too long, but there were also some good ideas in there. I liked the story about the man that killed, still the weakest Part/Book so far, hard to go through ||

lunar rock
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Book 7 Chapter 1 || “he was a tea sipper” AU_jerrygasp ||

lunar rock
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Finished Book 7 || People were weirdly expecting Zosima’s body not to decay, like he’d be some kind of saint even in death, but then he starts to smell, and everyone takes it as a sign that he wasn’t actually good. Was funny how people were saying all shit about him like oh no he drank coffee oh no he ate candies that has to be the reason. Like they are better. That part felt sad for Alyosha, who’s already going through a lot and now he started having even more doubts and thoughts. His moment with Grushenka was unexpected but nice she showed him some real kindness and they had a weirdly nice connection? It was like she saw how broken he was and just wanted to comfort him. It helped snap him out of his crisis a little, hopefully. Wonder what the tragedy is if she is leaving with this soldier or whoever what’s with Dimitri and Fyodor, no problem anymore between them? Can’t be that easy ||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 2: ||Grigory's testimony is emotionally rich; he talks about Dmitri's childhood and how he has forgiven Dmitri for attacking him, he also calls Smerdyakov "godless." But his testimony lacks hard evidence. His stubborn insistence that the garden door was open is one of those moments that could be seen as authoritative, but Fetyukovich's cross-examination undermines it. Was Grigory even awake? He drank balm that had vodka in it. That detail suddenly turns his whole testimony to something that can't really be trusted.||
||At first, Rakitin's testimony seems to work. The audience is swayed. But then Fetyukovich goes for the jugular: Did Rakitin take money from Grushenka to lure Alexei? Rakitin's whole intellectual posturing collapses in an instant. He says that it was "a joke," but it doesn't matter. The moral ground he stood on vanishes. The strategy here is quite brilliant: Fetyukovich isn't necessarily disproving facts, he's picking apart the characters.||
||Captain Snegiryov's testimony is just filled with raw emotion. He is a broken man (also evidenced by his appearance) refusing to condemn Dmitri because of his son's wishes. He falls to the judge's feet in tears, and the crows laughs. That's so cruel, what's wrong with these people||
||Fetyukovich's strategy becomes clearer as the chapter progresses. He's not just cross-examining, he's contaminating every witness. Trifon Borisich is made to admit that he might have stolen 100 roubles. The Poles are revealed to be con artists. Their credibility is slowly stripped away, not by hard evidence, but by moral implication.||

honest sierra
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I am finished! I enjoyed ||the trial maybe the most of the whole book, though that says more about what I was in the mood to read than it does about the book, I think. I will say that the closing remarks by each of the lawyers went on for a very long time, and when the prosecutor started up a second time I think I audibly groaned haha. I did like the use of irony in this section though, as each lawyer presented the case as they understood it, while the reader knew what was correct and false in each of their speeches.

In general, I felt like the characters in this book were very long winded and it took a lot of focus and energy to keep up with their monologues. Dostoevsky had big things to say about what it meant to be a person, a Christian, a Russian in that period of history, and I do admire the scope of the book and the sheer effort required to complete it. However, I don't think this was the right book at the right time for me. I'm in the process of working on a degree project that takes years to complete, and so I guess I already feel bogged down with having to persist at something every day, and this book felt like it compounded that feeling of having to persevere, rather than just read to enjoy myself. I hope that makes sense. ||

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I am feeling very accomplished though!

lunar rock
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Book 8 || was crazy. Dmitri isn’t my favourite character. He’s messy, impulsive, constantly spiralling but I guess that’s what carries this part. His energy is just unhinged and that makes everything feel so intense and unpredictable. He’s desperate, broke, jealous and kind of tragic which makes it hard to look away even when he’s being a disaster. Nicely build up tension. All this emotional chaos and feels like something huge is about to happen, especially with all the narrator’s talk about the coming tragedy. And Mitya wanting to kill his father (thinking about it before). And then the murder actually happens and Fyodor is dead and the twist is that it doesn’t seem like Dmitri did it, even though everything was pointing to him from the very beginning. That ending just blew the whole story wide open. Now I’m fully hooked. It’s not just who did it, but how and why, and what’s going to happen to Mitya now. Things are getting juicy ||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 3: ||Dr. Herzenstube is a gentle and sympathetic figure who's known Dmitri since childhood. He states that Dmitri's "mental abnormality is self-evident." There's a tone of compassion in his words; he speaks not only as a doctor, but as a kind old man who remembers Dmitri as a boy with "a good heart." He doesn't deny Dmitri's violence, but he sees a wounded human being under it all. The Moscow doctor is more remote, more "scientific," but even he emphasizes that Dmitri was in a kind of frenzy, a manic, impassioned fit, when the subject of the 3000 roubles arose. Again, there's the suggestion that Dmitri wasn't in full control of himself. But is all of this madness, or just intense emotion? I feel like Dostoevsky is probing this question. Is "madness" just another word for when human emotion exceeds the bounds of what society deems acceptable?||
||When Dr. Varvinsky takes the stand everything shifts. He doesn't entertain any notions of psychological abnormality. To him, Dmitri's actions are not the result of madness, but the predictable consequence of "jealousy , wrath, and continual drunkenness." And the jury believes him. The court, the crowd, all align with this version of the story. Why? Maybe because it's simpler. Madness introduces doubt. Madness requires compassion. But wrath and jealousy? Those are punishable. Varvinsky's view in a way brings the narrative back under control. Dmitri becomes a man who chose to act violently, not a man who was overwhelmed by forces inside him.||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 4: ||Alexei's testimony is exactly what can be expected from him: earnest and compassionate. He's not trying to manipulate the jury or make a case; he's trying to tell the truth, as he sees it, filtered through faith and brotherly love. When he calls Dmitri "noble, proud, and magnanimous," he's not naive. He knows his brother's flaws. He even admits that there was a time he feared Dmitri could commit parricide. But in typical Alexei fashion, he places his trust in a higher power. He says, "I was always convinced that at the fatal moment some higher feeling would always save him," and from his perspective, it has, because Alexei believes Dmitri is innocent. That's powerful, but also problematic. His belief isn't based on physical evidence, it's based on a feeling.||

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||You can almost see the tension rise in the room when Grushenka takes the stand. She's bold and unapologetic, calling Smerdyakov "the villain," dismissing her flirtations with Fyodor, and accusing Katerina of being a "man-stealer." She speaks with raw emotion and wounded pride. The public scorn her. They don't believe her; not because her story doesn't add up, but because of who she is. The idea of a fallen woman daring to speak with confidence enrages them. They'll root for a romanticized Dmitri, but they have no room in their hearts for a woman who doesn't behave meekly. Also, the revelation that Rakitin is her cousin and that he accepted money from her, completely undercuts his earlier testimony. It's satisfying, especially since Rakitin positioned himself as a kind of moral authority. But again, the damage is done. Grushenka's credibility is wrecked in the court's eyes.||
||I'm bracing myself for Ivan's turn on the stand. Will it save Dmitri or just destroy him?||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 5: ||Ivan's testimony is very unsettling. His physical and mental state sets the tone. This clearly isn't the composed, razor-sharp Ivan we've come to expect. He's barely holding himself together. He pulls out the envelope of money and insists that Smerdyakov murdered their father at his suggestion. But no one believes him. The irony is there: this is the confession everyone's been waiting for, and now it's being dismissed as madness. I can't help but feel for Ivan here. We've seen him wrestle with guilt. Now, he's living in the fallout. He tried to remain intellectually aloof, to be the "rational" man who rejects moral responsibility for actions not directly his own. But Dostoevsky is making a point here that even the passive bystander has blood on his hands. The moment where Ivan says he has only one witness, but it's inadmissible, is heartbreaking and brilliant. He's clearly referring to the Devil, the hallucinated Gentleman, his own tortured subconscious. There's no way to "prove" his guilt, and yet it defines his entire being now. It's like his soul is screaming, but no one in the courtroom speaks the same language.||
||Katerina steps in and wow, what a scene. Her unraveling is both tragic and damning. She goes from the poised, noble woman admired by society to a vengeful, devastated lover who turns against Dmitri in the most public way possible. Her showing the letter isn't just a legal blow, it's an emotional bomb. And her motivation seems both desperate and contradictory: she wants to punish Dmitri and save Ivan at the same time, but in doing so, she hurts them both. Is she trying to martyr herself? Is this her form of penance, or revenge?||
||Grushenka throws herself into the chaos too. Her fury at Katerina, calling her a "serpent" is evident. It's easy to forget how public this all is: a packed courtroom watching this human drama spiral out of control. This is all so intense.||

upper granite
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Book 2 - Chapter 2 - ||The way Miusov is overreacting to Fyodor reminds me of a piece of advice I once received - That, in unhappy/problematic/traumatic family relations, when they argue, they're not actually fighting about the subject of the day, but rather the feelings the other person has made them feel in the past. It is why most of those arguments never lead anywhere, because you're not really trying to solve what you think you're upset about. You want your feelings justified, and for the other person to admit complete fault.

Because, Fyodor isn't saying anything mean here. Not rude or anything. He might be acting, playing pretend, but everything he says is of worship and grateful. ||

velvet oriole
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I read the book last year so I'll try to get in the discussion as much as possible

velvet oriole
velvet oriole
digital daggerBOT
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Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

lunar rock
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Book 9 Chapter 3 || I can’t imagine who actually killed Fyodor, Smerdykov but why ThinkO_O And the money problem hmm||

lunar rock
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Finished Book 9 || Chaotic but in enjoyable way. Dmitri gets arrested for his father’s murder and all the stuff piling up against him is wild. He shows up with blood on his hands, a lot of cash, and he talked about killing his father multiple times. I am the most intrigued about the money. Why he had still 1500 from 3k if he always said he used it all. And did he indeed say, previously while drinking with them, that he actually has 3k specifically? Too tired to actually go back and investigate that, lol. But I am sure he didn’t kill and that’s not the plot twist here. But I believe he is still hiding something about this whole money story just don’t know what ||

lunar rock
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Book 10 || Okay I did not expect this shift in a story at all. Still quite enjoyed it with a friendship theme but… yeah would probably prefer to stick to Dimitri and murder plot. I wonder if this part was necessary for something in the future or just in connection with the past chapters and Ilyusha story ||

lunar rock
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Book 11 Chapter 2 || Ivan suddenly back. What if he wasn’t really gone or not gone all this time, could he killed Fyodor but why ||

lunar rock
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Finished Book 11. That was like my second favourite part I think after Book 5 Chapter 5. The last chapters were CB_Chef_kiss || The talk with Smerdyakov, him explaining how he killed Fyodor, explaining why it’s Ivan’s fault too and how he is the actual murderer. And the whole talk with Satan. I liked it quite a lot ||

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I was thinking I am close to the end but not really sweat_cat will still take some days I guess but I will try to read faster now because I am intrigued

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 7: ||The doctors (I think two of them) said that Dmitri showed signs of mania, even abnormality. But the prosecutor handwaves all of this away and sides with the other doctor, Varvinsky, who basically just says Dmitri was drunk, jealous, and angry. I'm not sure what to think of this. If Dmitri was mentally unstable at the time of the murder (or at least very much on the edge), that should matter. But the prosecutor wants to preserve a certain moral clarity. He needs Dmitri to be rational, because if he's rational, he's responsible. And if he's responsible, the justice can be served cleanly, without ambiguity. Overall, the spotlight is kept very strictly on Dmitri. Ivan's statement or Smerdyakov aren't really discussed||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 8: ||Ippolit goes after the alternative theory of the crime, Smerdyakov being the killer, very aggressively. He essentially puts doubt on trial. His whole case depends on framing Smerdyakov not just as implausible, but as absurd. But I have to admit, the doubt around Smerdyakov is reasonable. But to me, Ippolit's dismissal of Smerdyakov is suspiciously convenient. At one point he says "Let us lay aside psychology, gentlemen, let us lay aside medicine, let us lay aside even the logic itself, let us turn just to the facts." Why would he want to lay aside psychology at this point, when the motivations and mental states of everyone involved are absolutely essential? Smerdyakov's cowardice, his epileptic fits, his strange relationship to Ivan; all of this begs for deeper analysis, not dismissal.||
||Ippolit raises a point about Ivan's delay in revealing the truth: why not come forward immediately? But here's where the argument turns slippery. Ivan isn't a calculating man; he's cracking under pressure, tormented by guilt and hallucinations. He's unraveling. The idea that he could be calmly manipulating evidence from behind the curtain just doesn't ring true emotionally.||
||Another detail that stood out to me was Ippolit's insistence that Smerdyakov wouldn't have left the envelope behind. Yes, his explanation is logic, but also seems to be too logical. People in crisis do foolish things. Killers panic. Smerdyakov may have been cunning, but he was also deeply unstable. So he's not someone who makes every move by the book.||
||Finally, Ippolit's framing of Dmitri's return to check on Grigory (saying it wasn't compassion, but calculation) feels particularly cruel. Dmitri, for all his chaos, has moments of humanity, and this seems to be one of them. It's one of the few ambiguities that might sway the jury towards mercy. But the prosecutor flips it again. Every flicker of goodness is reinterpreted as cunning, every hesitation as guilt.||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 9: ||The prosecutor mentions that Dmitri is someone who "always lives in the present moment." This is both true and misleading. Yes, Dmitri does live moment-to-moment, he's a man driven by passing, not planning. But to take this as evidence of murder is a kind of twisted logic: because he's reckless and impulsive, he must be capable of murder. It's as if Dmitri is being judged not just for this crime, but for the way he lives his life.||
||Ippolit's theory about Dmitri running back for his pistols - that he was acting out a sort of doomed romantic fantasy - is compelling in its own theatrical way. It very much reads like the climax of a tragic novel: the antihero returning to die for love, only to be undone. But again, this interpretation depends more on a reading of events than on provable fact. The prosecutor is shaping Dmitri into a character, not a man. And then there's the question he throws: Why didn't Dmitri shoot himself? It's as if survival becomes further proof of guilt. But could it also be proof of something else? Dmitri doesn't kill himself, perhaps because he's not the murderer, or perhaps because a part of him believes in another chance, another way of life.||
||At the end of his speech, Ippolit declares that the jury "represents Russia," and that their verdict shouldn't "justify the murder of a father by his own son." This feels like a very direct appeal to nationalism, to pride, to the public's sense of self. Suddenly this is no longer just about Dmitri, it's about Russia's moral standing. The weight of the world is dropped onto this jury. It's manipulative, absolutely, but also effective. How could they not feel the pressure?||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 10: ||Dostoevsky doesn't just tell us what Fetyukovich says; he shows us the effect of his voice, his presence, the way he can stir and move the room. It's fascinating how much performance matters in this trial. Especially that line about the courtroom "trembling with rapture" stuck with me for some reason.||
||Fetyukovich doesn't deny Dmitri's faults. In fact, he embraces them. "A man of stormy and unbridled character" - this is honest, and it's also strategic. It lets the jury feel like they're not being lied to or manipulated. Dmitri is no saint, but being volatile doesn't make him a murderer.||
||Fetyukovich pushes back again the prosecutor's interpretation of Dmitri checking on Grigory. He calls it what it might truly be: pity, springing from a conscience that was already intact. I think Dostoevsky raises a moral question here: Can real compassion come from someone moments after a violent act? Fetyukovich argues that yes, it can. And that maybe Dmitri's conscience wasn't just intact, but alive and reactive because he had nothing to hide. He wasn't scrambling for a cover-up, he was shocked at what he had done and needed to repair it.||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 11: ||Fetyukovich's "complete denial" of the money is a bold move. Everyone has talked about this money; it's the central point of motive, the presumed object of desire, but has anyone seen it? The defense's logic is simple: if there's no tangible evidence of theft, can you convict someone of robbery? And if you can't convict them of robbery, what becomes the motive of murder?||
||The part where Fetyukovich addresses the envelope found on the floor, and the untouched mattress, wow. He brings a simple, physical logic that punctures the neatness of the prosecution's narrative. If the envelope really contained thousands of roubles, if it was tucked beneath a mattress, if someone was desperate enough to commit parricide for it, wouldn't the scene show some evidence of disturbance? This isn't certainty, but a different interpretation to the prosecution's. And in a murder trial, that uncertainty matters||
||Again with the boldness: Fetyukovich doesn't deny that Dmitri had money, he just denies that it came from the crime. Dmitri claims it came from Katerina, and Fetyukovich pushes the idea that maybe she's the one misremembering or rewriting things. He delicately casts her second testimony in a new light; he's not calling her a liar, but suggesting she could be "a vengeful woman." That phrase is meant to work on the jury's emotions. People remember Katerina's intensity, her dramatic behaviour, her conflicted loyalties, and Fetyukovich knows that.||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 12: ||Fetyukovich downplays the role of the pestle. He's inviting the jury to consider a distinction we often overlook: intent versus impulse. Just because Dmitri picked up something heavy doesn't mean he planned a murder.||
||Fetyukovich centers Dmitri's emotional unraveling at Mokroye - his belief that he had killed Grigory and his overwhelming desire to end his own life - as evidence not of guilt for Fyodor's murder, but of a guilty conscience about a different crime. Fetyukovich is asking the jury: why is this version of events any less believable? Why must we assume the worst?||
||When Fetyukovich turns the focus to Smerdyakov, it's like the room gets darker. He doesn't paint Smerdyakov as a meek coward, but as something totally different : resentful, cunning, very bitter, and capable of deceit. His envy, his desire to escape his station and reinvent himself as "a Frenchman" point to a motive fueled not by passion but by long-brewing contempt. And perhaps most compellingly: Smerdyakov had knowledge of the money, and helped prepare the envelope. That's not just a coincidence, it's opportunity. Fetyukovich walks a fine line here. He doesn't overstate Smerdyakov's guilt; instead, he gives the jury just enough to doubt the state's case. That's the brilliance of his argument: not to assert a new truth, but to break the illusion of certainty.||
||The moment when Fetyukovich appeals directly to the conscience of the jury, inviting them not to find a new truth but to recognise doubt, is stirring. It's not a defense of Dmitri as a perfect man (he clearly isn't), but a defense of reason, mercy, and humility before judgement. His insistence that the jury should be "sincere" hits hard. In other words: don't be swayed by the public drama or the glamour of certainty. Be honest about how much you truly know, and how much is speculation.||

midnight galleon
#

Book 12, Ch 13: ||Fetyukovich begins by acknowledging something profound: that Dmitri isn't simply on trial for murder, he's on trial for parricide, a symbolic crime that weighs far heavier on the moral scale. The implication is that even with uncertain facts and contradictory testimonies, the idea of a son killing his father is enough to bend the will of the jury. It's not just about facts, it's about taboos and primal emotions.||
||One of the most audacious parts of the defence is when Fetyukovich reframes the victim, Fyodor, not as a tragic father figure, but as an unworthy one. He reminds everyone of Fyodor's years of abuse and negligence, of how he left young Dmitri completely alone while drinking. Later on, he even seduced the same woman his son loved. This speech raises immediate reactions. When Fetyukovich suggests that a man like Fyodor didn't deserve his son's love, the parents applaud. That shocked me a little. Not because Fyodor didn't deserve the criticism (he surely did), but because that applause seemed to signal a collective recognition of injustice done in the name of parenthood.||
||Finally, Fetyukovich also brings in Russia in all of this. He counters Ippolit's metaphor of Russia as a "mad troika" with his own vision of a "majestic Russian chariot." He's not just defending Dmitri anymore, he's asking the jury to see themselves as custodians of national dignity. Will they give in to hysteria and myth? Or will they exercise thoughtful, even heroic, restraint?||

midnight galleon
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Book 12, Ch 14: ||Ippolit's object is a little sad, really. He's clearly bitter; his narrative has been overshadowed by the poetic and passionate performance of the defense. He calls out Fetyukovich for doing the very thing the prosecution was accused of: storytelling. Fetyukovich's genius was not just in casting doubt, but in casting a myth. In contrast, the prosecution now seems dry and almost petty by comparison. The public is clearly tired of Ippolit's voice, even angry that he dared interrupt the "show."||
||Dmitri's final speech is devastating. He reaffirms his innocence, but it's not a confident declaration; it's full of anguish, desperate for mercy, and so vulnerable. You can feel that he knows it's over before the verdict is even spoken. His begging is the collapse of a man who has been pulled through an emotional storm, who still believes in love and forgiveness, even if society has cast him aside. His plea to "have pity on Grushenka" shows that his love, flawed and frenzied as it may be, is still human and genuine. It's truly one of the most tragic elements of this novel: Dmitri is so guilty in so many ways, and yet, at this most crucial point, it feels like he's innocent of the one thing that matters most.||
||And then comes the hour-long deliberation and the dreaded answer: "Guilty." Not going to lie, this was a punch to the gut. Despite all the reasonable doubt, the impassioned defense, the courtroom energy seemingly leaning in Dmitri's favour - none of it matters. The public's reaction is mixed. The women are hysterical. Many of the men seem smug.||
||Grushenka's piercing cry is quite the final image. She's been a quiet presence through so much of the trial, and here, finally, her pain bursts out. It's not just about losing Dmitri. It's the end of any hope that love and truth might somehow win over appearances and prejudice.||

midnight galleon
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Epilogue, Ch 1: ||Here we see Katerina unraveling, not in hysteria, but in self-awareness. She admits to her jealousy and rage. She seems to acknowledge that her manipulation of Ivan helped push him into madness. This is a rare moment of truth from her. She says, "I am the cause of it all." She sees herself clearly, maybe for the first time. But I also can't help wondering if she is taking on too much blame here. Or is this finally her facing the truth of how her pride hurt everyone involved?||
||Even though Ivan is physically present in the next room, his feverish unconsciousness gives him the feeling of a ghost. The fact that he was the one organising Dmitri's escape is moving. It suggests that even as his mind began to break, he held on to this one purpose: to try and help his brother.||
||Katerina's guilt is twofold: she feels responsible not only for Dmitri's conviction but also for Ivan's mental collapse. And yet she still struggles with her wounded pride. She clearly loathes the idea of Dmitri running away with Grushenka, and even as she agrees to help in the escape plan, it's layered with pain and conflict. Her grudging acknowledgement that Ivan will one day leave her "some other woman, someone easier to live with" is another moment of self-awareness, and it also speaks of her loneliness. This is the Katerina we rarely see. Not the grand, passionate, dramatic figure, but the weary, broken woman who knows she's driven people away with her behaviour.||
||Alexei is again playing the role of the moral compass. He doesn't scold or moralize, he listens. He encourages, this time firmly. He tells Katerina that Dmitri needs her, and he insists that she go, not for her own sake, but for his. Maybe Alexei is pointing out Dostoevsky's ideal of love: action for the sake of others, even if it hurts.||

midnight galleon
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Epilogue, Ch 2: ||Dmitri's love for Grushenka is still intense, but it's tempered now with realism, even melancholy. He knows that fleeing Russia isn't a joyful adventure, it's exile. His imagined future is "digging the land." For all his former recklessness, Dmitri now dreams of quiet, honest labor. And yet, he still clings to Russia, to some ideal of the land that lives in his soul.||
||Katerina bursts into the room, and embraces Dmitri not as a lover, but as someone finally letting go. Their old, painful attachment is gone, but they now recognise each other's suffering. Katerina admits that she made herself believe Dmitri was guilty; not because she had proof, but because she wanted him to be. Out of spite. Out of pain. That kind of honesty takes enormous courage. And maybe it underscores Dostoevsky's theme that truth, however painful, is the only path towards salvation.||
||Grushenka arrives like a storm, and cuts through the moment by saying that they're both "wicked." She won't allow this reconciliation to pass without protest. And she's not wrong. Katerina was cruel. But Grushenka's own inability to forgive keeps the cycle of hurt going. She is just as proud, just as scarred. These two women - so often treated as opposites - are mirror images of each other. Both have loved and lost Dmitri. Both have fought over him, tried to own him, and suffered for it.||

midnight galleon
#

Epilogue, Ch 3: ||Kolya has grown so much. From the smug, precocious boy we first met, he's now sincere and vulnerable. When he admits he'd give anything to bring Ilyusha back, it breaks the last of his boyish bravado. He's just a kid in mourning. That vulnerability, his need for comfort, is what allows Alexei to step into the role he's been moving toward all along: not just the compassionate brother, but the spiritual guide. Alexei's speech to the boys is one of the most heartfelt moments in the book. He offers them a memory; a moment of being together, being kind.||
||The cry "Hurrah for Karamazov!" is actually one of the most profound send-offs Dostoevsky could give Alexei. After all the confusion and pain, he is cheered; not because he's a hero in the traditional sense, but because he brought people together in love and remembrance. That's a powerful thing. The boys' love for Alexei doesn't feel like childish hero worship. It feels earned. Alexei hasn't preached at them; he's walked with them, wept with them, held their pain, and helped them see meaning in it.||

#

Omg I really finished this book omg

honest sierra
alpine flicker
#

Gosh I completely forgot to keep going with this book

#

I will continue because I was really enjoying it

lunar rock
#

Book 12 Chapter 5 || That is not going well at all. Ivan is my favourite character I think, it hurts me to see him like this. On top of that he was supposed to be the saviour for Dmitri, our only hope and his testimony is nothing but madness for people. And the plot twist with Katerina how could she omg I can’t see how Dmitri will recover from her testimony. ||

manic elk
#

Part 1 - Book 2 “An Unfortunate Gathering” Ch 1-4
||All this faith healing business just is not keeping my interest, but I’m not a Christian, so I’m not really the right audience for this section, and maybe not this book. Also, men who tell mothers to get over their grief at the loss of a child, because that child is in heaven, just piss me off. Get over yourself sir. You have no idea what it means to be a life-giver. Seriously.

So. I’m also suffering. lol||

manic elk
#

Ok. I need to know, is this going to eventually have a plot? Or is it just opportunity for philosophical monologue? Cuz fr idk if I can continue with this as it currently stands.

honest sierra
#

but the book breaks out into philosophical monologue throughout

twin glacierBOT
#

but the book breaks out
into philosophical
monologue throughout

- thelastpage🕯
manic elk
twin glacierBOT
#

Ok. Thank you. I
may DNF. I’ll give it
a few more chapters

- lemondrop
lunar rock
#

Book 12 Chapter 9 || I am biased because I like legal things but I like it quite a lot. This speech is so how to say something that could be one sentence in 100 sentences and make it sound smart. It’s not about facts it’s about the soul of Russia, apparently. But like in a dramatic way. It makes you think about how persuasive language can be used to shape reality, convince others etc. ||

lunar rock
#

Book 12 Chapter 14 || This whole time I wasn't sure what will happen. Our narrator already hinted Dmitri will be sentenced. At some point he said "and this was the moment, the catastrophe that started it" etc. etc. but still the last chapter made me think but maybe? This speech saved him? Nope, doesn't look like it. || Can't wait to see what Epilogue brings

lunar rock
#

And somehow I finished omg kekCry pepemegaSUCC sweat_cat

#

Chaotic thoughts warning || I’m biased because I like Dostoevsky so I really enjoyed this one. Probably a bit more than The Idiot. More than Crime and Punishment? No. I'm not religious, but I really enjoyed the religious parts. It was fascinating to see how religion shapes others, how powerful it can be when used right and how deeply it can guide people’s lives. At the same time, I appreciated that the novel gave space to people who were "against" religion too. Ivan’s thoughts were some of the most interesting in the book. And the free will, all that in: The “Grand Inquisitor”, the chapter that is the most famous for a reason, it was so good! The themes of morality and family were everywhere, we had so much of both because we had so many pages for that... but it wasn't really boring. I also really enjoyed Book 11, especially the conversations between Ivan and Smerdyakov, and the surreal turn when Ivan talks to Satan. Book 12 was a surprise favourite too the legal arguments were dramatic, over the top, and somehow went beyond the trial, they were about whole Russia. It's old so obviously it has its issues, especially with female characters. Plus some Zosima's chapters were simply boring and unnecessary. It had ups and downs, but I was engaged almost the whole time. And Ilyusha omg || Solid 4/5.

digital daggerBOT
#

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

lunar rock
manic elk
#

Yeah. I can’t do this rn, cuz it’s making me alternately bored or cranky. Life is too short. Sorry, but I’m out of this one

honest sierra
alpine flicker
#

I'm up to Book 4 yippee

#

Part 2

alpine flicker
minor vineBOT
#

@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@fluid pasture,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex,@viral lichen,@velvet oriole

#

Hello! Just a reminder that we have about 3 months left in the br! Please continue to share your amazing notes on the book and your progress. They are so fun and thought-provoking to read!

Happy reading!! < 33

minor vineBOT
fluid pasture
#

Hello, i’ve left this br a long time ago, don’t know why i’m still on it pepeHands

exotic sedge
fluid pasture
#

I think so. I remember looking everywhere to make sure it was done properly. I’ve done it again now. Thank youcattoHearts

exotic sedge
#

no problem!

alpine flicker
#

I finally got back into this book

#

Up to Book V now

#

I'll be sending all my notes once I fully finish the book

#

Book IV is my favourite thus far just because of|| the passages relating to Katerina Ivanovna and love||

alpine flicker
#

Onto Book VI now

#

||The passsage about child abuse was so vivid and upsetting||

alpine flicker
#

||Quite a lot of Book V was Father Zossima||

minor vineBOT
#

@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex,@viral lichen,@velvet oriole

#

Hello! Thank you for sticking around! I hope this has been enjoyable for you < 33

We have a bit more than 1 month to finish the book, as it ends on August 6. Please let me know if we want an extension.

minor vineBOT
alpine flicker
minor vineBOT
#

@magic ridge,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@tidal spruce,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex,@viral lichen,@velvet oriole

#

hi everyone, i'm taking over this buddy read from seapotato! this br ends on 7th of august
please remember to share your thoughts and discuss the book for the br points.

゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ r__eader tracke__r
reading:
andoria (189593583068643330)
philip_love_phan
gobarsingh
otsuren
peridot (1328708404033880074)
voracious reader

finished but not enough discussion:
lib (186164629850947586)

finished:
thelastpage
bookish_bunny
introwertczyka
◟ let me know if i missed you!

some discussion questions for you 𐔌՞. .՞𐦯 nothing too deep, sorry!
i. if you haven't started the book yet, when are you starting? keep in mind that this is a chonker of a book and you only have 1~ month left. i won't be doing extensions and will be submitting the report on time.
ii. if you've finished, ||father zossima asks alyosha to go into the world to try to do good in it. does alyosha succeed?||
iii. if you've finished, ||is it likely that dmitri will change once he is free?||

if you haven't started it yet, let me know when you think you'll start ♡ˎˊ˗

minor vineBOT
fresh igloo
#

I havent started yet (had a few other bricks to get through) BUT I have the LibriVox audiobook ready

last orchid
#

awesome, thanks for letting me know!

real jay
#

Guys, I messed up. omg I have the audiobook all ready and was going to start today but when I went to start I realized that it's the abridged version. I tried to find another copy but the earliest one is a 22-week wait. I'm not going to make it 😭

last orchid
#

oh nooo TH_pepecrying

fresh igloo
fresh igloo
#

I’m using Version 3 (Garnett translation, read by Bruce Pierie), and it’s actually decent quality

1.1- ||Sounds like none of the sons are going to have much of an upbringing between the wives dying and the debauchery||

1.2- ||”Irregular boyhood” sounds like an understatement.
All young Russian landowning men know is Join Army, Gamble, Ask For Money, and Lie.||

real jay
fresh igloo
#

1.3- ||Given the father and older brother, it makes total sense to join a monastery and just. Remove Yourself From The Incoming Lawsuit||

fresh igloo
#

1.4- ||”I don’t dispute that he was very strange-“ ouch
It sounds like something terrible is going to happen to Alyosha, Beloved By All (Except His Schoolmates But Even Then Only Sometimes)||

fresh igloo
#

1.5- ||in my heart, getting Zosima to play Third Party feels like a good idea but also my head agrees with Alyosha that no one’s going to take it seriously||

#

Brucie pronounced “contempt” in such an unexpected way that I zoned out for a minute kek

fresh igloo
#

2.1- ||If I’ve learned anything from Ann Radcliffe…||

alpine flicker
#

I'm out guys sorry!!

#

I'm only halfway through

#

Not going to ginish for ages

last orchid
#

ia_teacup_book progress tracker

currently reading:
andoria (189593583068643330)
phlip_love_phan
gobarsingh
otsuren
peridot (1328708404033880074)
ctrl_altmer_del

finished:
thelastpage
bookish_bunny
introwertczyka
r0kkstar

finished but needs more discussion:
lib (186164629850947586)
otsuren

last orchid
real jay
#

@last orchid I don't think I'll be able to do this one, I haven't figured out how to download the files from Librivox (Thanks for the hookup @fresh igloo ) and play it away from the computer. I'll have to look into that but I don't think I can do it in time before the BR ends. Thank you for hosting though! blobHeart

last orchid
#

oh thats okay sweety! im sorry you couldnt snag a copy asad

real jay
#

It's my own fault. I should've checked that my copy was the unabridged version 😭

last orchid
#

oh no i can see how you got mixed up /gen!

fresh igloo
#

2.3- ||Zosima is…surprisingly chill.||

2.5- ||Crime could also be diminished if people knew their base needs could be met.

Also, I kept expecting to hear something more about The Vatican + Papal States, but I know they’re talking about Russian Orthodoxy, not Catholicism.||

fresh igloo
#

2.6- ||No wonder Alyosha joined a monastery. His father is exhausting, even to Zosima||

rocky forum
#

Theres no way im gonna get to this book on time, but props to all that finished it

zenith brook
#

I don't think I'll be getting to this one either sadBear

#

Thanks for hosting though! I'm hoping to get to this sometime next year

fresh igloo
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2.7-||”Your family needs God so bad that I think you need to leave the monastery” is not where I thought it would go||

fresh igloo
#

3.2- ||I’ve been reading SparkNotes after each chapter and the word they used for what happened to Lisaveta was “seduced” when it SHOULD be assaulted.||

last orchid
#

@ivory spear @orchid crow @spare harbor hey! just wanted to check in, are y'all still reading this book?

fresh igloo
#

3.7- ||I don’t know much about Russian Orthodoxy but I’m with Smerdyakov||

3.8- ||I hope something bad happens to Fyodor Pavlovich.||

3.10- ||Oh Grushenka is going to have SUCH a W&P Helene-esque death, I’m calling it now||

Im reading SparkNotes at the end of each section and they kinda went off with phrasing it like ||”Alyosha is impervious to the conflicts and built-up hatreds of the other characters”||

fresh igloo
#

I’m on 4.5 (I’m half-tired so I’m not thinking much) and I’m going to try to finish?

fresh igloo
#

4.5- ||Dmitri can still be in Katerina’s life as a brother-in-law, if she insists on marrying into that family.

I think that 200 rubles is what. 5 grand in modern USD?||

#

Redid my inflation math, ||less than 5k but still several grand||

spare harbor
#

I'm worried about your sparknotes, as I can assure you that Alyosha is quite aware of other characters conflicts, does what he can to give an opinion only if allowed to do so (in a cordial manner as is wanted of morally good etiquette), and does fret/think over their problems.

"Impervious" could also be construed as meaning that Alyosha is completely blameless, which is pretty true 🤔

spare harbor
fresh igloo
# spare harbor I'm worried about your sparknotes, as I can assure you that Alyosha is quite awa...

It’s obvious that he cares lmaoooo. The first part of the paragraph was: || One of The Brothers Karamazov’s major arguments is that Alyosha’s nonjudgmental love of humanity improves the lives of the people with whom he interacts. Specifically, he bridges the communication gap between Dmitri and Katerina, provides hope and love to Lise, and tends to Fyodor Pavlovich after Dmitri attacks him. Dostoevsky repeatedly shows how Alyosha is impervious to the conflicts and built-up hatreds of the other characters, and how his soothing, relieving presence encourages peace and resolution between them.||

#

4.7-||The captain was never gonna take the money. Just walking in you could tell that the only thing he has is pride||

fresh igloo
#

5.2- ||Dmitri and Fyodor seem to operate on the same types of silences as pets- normal and Suspicious

“…abolish the soldiers” Interesting sentiment given what’s going to happen in the next 40 years. Also, Costa Rica abolished its standing army in 1948 so it’s at least been attempted.

“It’s not as if I am his keeper” sure hope this isn’t playing to a certain fratricide. ||

last orchid
#

@velvet oriole sorry for this ping! but did you end up finishing this book?

velvet oriole
#

I actually finished it like in spring

last orchid
# velvet oriole Yeah 🥺

from what i saw, i don't think you did enough discussion for br points. if you want them do you mind answering the discussion questions here #1267073147925037088 message and sharing more of your thoughts

velvet oriole
# minor vine hi everyone, i'm taking over this buddy read from seapotato! this br ends on 7th...

Alyosha ||definitely succeeded imo. It's true that his family basically fell apart: his brother Dmitri went to prison, his brother Ivan has gone absolutely crazy, but Alyosha befriended Ilyusha, and helped him have a peaceful life before he passed. He showed this scared child who bit him some respect and compassion, reconciled him with his classmates and helped his family the best he could, even though their name was shamed. He treated Captain Snegirov with respect, which helped him retain his composure while he was mentally in a place of hopelessness. I liked even the small moments with the Snegirov family, like when Ilusha is gifted a toy cannon. It's impossible to say Alyosha didn't succeed at doing good when he helped his family, seemingly cruhed by humiliation. He treated everyone he could with dignity, even Rakitin who introduced him to Grushenka, seemingly to "ruin" him and be under the "corrupted" influence of Grushenka||

#

||Actually its Alyosha who heals Grushenka in the "Two Onions"/"parable of the onion" chapter, yk when they were all vulnerable and Grushenka cried and stuff. Tbh I don't blame Grushenka for anything bad she might've done, she was insanely hurt and had been waiting for one man for years, for him to be such a disappointment.||
Alyosha kind of has a major effect on everyone he's around, because of how kind and respectful he is to everyone. He's some sort of symbol of perfection and faith

#

But it happens a bit differently Liza, ||she thinks that she's immature and childish, and is very insecure, especially during the letter episode but Alyosha treated her and her love confession with respect, to the point Lise is stunned. She then makes fun of Alyosha because he took her seriously, when she herself just sees herself as a "silly little girl." Because of her own insecurities, she becomes very derogatory to herself. I actually did feel pretty sad for her. But Alyosha did what he could and actually showed compassion to her||

#

I'll write some thoughts later

last orchid
#

ah thank you!

fresh igloo
#

I’m on Book 7, holding off on notes until the end to save time

twin glacierBOT
#

I’m on Book 7,
holding off on notes until
the end to save time

- ctrl-ABBA-del
fresh igloo
#

I’m starting Book 9. If I make it, great. If I don’t, oh well and I’ll still finish it this week so I can cross it off my poster

fresh igloo
#

Okay yeah I’m not gonna make it. Thank you for getting me to actually start it tho

minor vineBOT
#

@zenith roost,@fast frost,@honest sierra,@arctic turtle,@cobalt jasper,@fresh igloo,@zenith girder,@zenith brook,@void condor,@midnight galleon,@wicked pivot,@rapid sonnet,@nimble fossil,@torn pecan,@lean adder,@magic ridge,@magic ridge,@heady bloom,@rocky forum,@livid pelican,@sinful comet,@brave silo,@modest apex,@spiral yew,@kindred breach,@round onyx,@lunar rock,@errant nymph,@sharp shoal,@uneven warren,@real jay,@misty sorrel,@obsidian tartan,@alpine flicker,@neat kestrel,@tiny vortex,@viral lichen,@velvet oriole

last orchid
#

hey everyone! hellokitty_bow this br is now over, thanks for joining.
i've submitted the end report and have thelastpage, bookish_bunny, introwertczyka, r0kkstar written down as having read AND done enough discussion for br points.

if i missed you, feel free to ping me! 001_2shakyhearts

honest sierra
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thanks so much jana! I appreciate the motivation to finally read this

last orchid
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you're welcome!

viral lichen
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From <t:1765670400:D> to <t:1773532800:D> | Leader(s): @wintry iris

Book Link

ID: 692e7205fbcdb05b819018d3
Announcement: #buddy-reads message

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Goodreads
The Brothers Karamazov

The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery, a courtroom…

viral lichen
mossy turret
wintry iris
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it's gonna be fun i promise

steep patio
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i wanna read this

mossy turret
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book acquired pepeStarege OH BOY!!!

wintry iris
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BOY OH BOY OH BOY !!!!!

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very excited

steep patio
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i’m so nervous for this!!

wintry iris
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i am too, but i’m sure we’ll be fine! we will make it through, i believe in us

hearty shuttle
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i am very very excited for this 😄
let me pull out my fancy copy of this book 😄

mossy turret
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It starts today so imma go ahead and begin peepoSmile

wintry iris
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@lime haven @magic ridge @mossy turret @rose flower @novel oak @still pike @misty sorrel @steep patio @jagged fern @karmic holly @strong dome @latent dagger @raw plover @grave jolt @pallid prawn @old carbon @eternal slate @hearty shuttle @flint kiln

It is December 13 in the morning where I am, so this BR has officially begun! This novel is dense in both page length and content, so I am super impressed by everyone who is willing to take on the challenge with me. Over the next few months, I will be posting discussion questions and sending reminders to people, but you don’t have to wait for me to post your thoughts as you read! Just remember to use spoiler tags when discussing plot points ||or else…your socks will get holes.||

I have a few questions below to get us started ^_^ Feel free to answer any (or all) of them!

  1. How are you feeling? Are you excited, nervous, indifferent, etc.?
  2. Which translation are you reading, and in what language?
  3. Have you read any of Dostoevsky’s works before? If so, which one(s), and what was your impression?
  4. This is a deeply religious book. In a world that is increasingly leaning towards secularism, why should we continue to concern ourselves with religious/spiritual literature? (I may resurface this question in the future when we’ve gained more insight!)
wintry iris
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  1. I’m feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement. I’m nervous because it’s so dense, but it’s not like I haven’t finished books this length before so I believe in myself! I’m also feeling really excited because I’ve only ever heard amazing things about this book, and I can’t call myself a true Dostoevsky fan until I’ve finished it :3 I am most excited about engaging in thoughtful discussion with everyone, because I will definitely need help unpacking things from this book!
  2. I’m reading the translation by Constance Garnett, in English.
  3. Yes, I’ve read Crime & Punishment, Notes from Underground, and White Nights. I’ve been a C&P glazer since high school and I still find so many ways to bring that book up in conversations.
  4. I asked this question because I was inspired by part of A.D.P Brigg’s Introduction in my edition, so I won’t say too much. I am by no means religious, but I consider myself a spiritual person, and I believe that there are just some things that cannot be explained by science (so far, at least). I also admire some of the values in popular religions and I believe there’s a lot to learn from them, even if their followers may not represent them favorably. Also, religious art is so fire like whaattt
grave jolt
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I'll probably get a Kobo for Chrimuh and then start this, maybe February tho, very excited!

steep patio
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i have the libra 2

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  1. I’m super nervous! it’s the longest book i’ll have read up to date

  2. i’ve heard that the Pevear & Volokhonsky translation is really good

  3. no this will be my first

wintry iris
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wow i’m impressed! i’m excited to see what you’ll think

grave jolt
steep patio
steep patio
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i’m also not very religious but my family are buddhists and i’ve grown up around it

mossy turret
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How are you feeling? Are you excited, nervous, indifferent, etc.?
im always ready to read me some classics
Which translation are you reading, and in what language?
im reading Ignat Avsey's translation into english
Have you read any of Dostoevsky’s works before? If so, which one(s), and what was your impression?
White Nights which i gave 3.5/5, Crime and Punishment which i gave 4/5 and Notes from Underground which i remember hating but its been so long so idk
I dunno how to answer the last q right now kekCry

digital daggerBOT
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Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

wintry iris
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bahaha i don't expect many people to answer question #4, i put it there in case anyone was enthusiastic about getting some thoughts in immediately

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i enjoyed Notes from Underground more than White Nights, but that's maybe because the former made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions and that's always entertaining for me

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gonna try and finish Book 2 of Brothers today ^_^

grave jolt
wintry iris
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looking forward to your thoughts!

mossy turret
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part 1, book 2, ch 3 (good lord kekCry ) ||"There is no sin... that God would ot forgive the truly penitent" well i fucking hope not! if God forgives.... you know whats .. I wouldnt want to go to heaven with them||

mossy turret
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part 1, book 2, ch5 || "all states on earth must eventually transform themselves wholly into the Church... havng first renonced all aims that are incompatible with those of the church" oh hell naw dystopia ass||

wintry iris
# mossy turret part 1, book 2, ch 3 (good lord <:kekCry:1269303993411047434> ) ||"There is no s...

||I interpreted what he said as like, if you're truly regretful of your actions, then it's okay and God will forgive you. I think in this case, where the woman's husband was abusive then like lowkey I get why she ended up murdering him 😭 butttt I do wonder if it was some child molester confessing to Father Zossima instead.. well that's a crime that is committed out of pure selfishness and evil. That's a pretty good reason for keeping the church and state separate...||

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That actually leads me into something else I was thinking about. For those who've read Book 2, Chapter 5: What are your thoughts on ||the debate about ecclesiastical courts?|| I'll probably resurface this question in a few weeks because I think it'd make an interesting discussion.

||I find it interesting that Ivan is pro-ecclesiastical courts, especially since he's not religious at all. Ivan's idea of punishing criminals would be in brutal, guillotine-style, and they "would be cut off then not only from men, as now, but from Christ." Then I thought to myself, this "threat" of being both physically and spiritually excommunicated wouldn't work on those who didn't believe in God-- like Ivan himself. Father Zossima's approach makes the most sense (even if he forgives the worst people) because he truly believes everyone is inherently good. I feel like as the Church, that's what they're supposed to do, no? If it's the church's job to forgive sinners and encourage them to do better, then the state must be in charge of enacting physical punishment on criminals. But if the church and state become one and the same, then everyday life and the religion itself become warped. It would not only force monks to tarnish their faith by sentencing people to death, but it would also force commonfolk to conform to the church's beliefs. This includes Ivan, who is an atheist and academic. Christianity seems to be a very popular religion in the book, but I think it's funny that he hasn't thought about what would happen to people like him if ecclesiastical courts did become a thing.||

||This also kinda reminds me of what's been happening in the United States, with recent controversies and debates about how separate the church and state really are... I wonder what Ivan would think.||

viral lichen
mossy turret
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part 1, book 3, ch 2 ||Fyodor deserves to die in the most horrible way. i want to join in. no wonder his kids killed him||

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also ||fuck grigory too. him next||

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part 1, book 3, ch 4 ||wow dmitry takes after its rapist father. this book better not be about forgiving rapists.||

lime haven
# wintry iris <@1410079604286296087> <@456226577798135808> <@294625575694499840> <@43135957137...
  1. indifferent, i just feel like my experience with russian lit is really impoverished, especially given its importance to western lit overall
  2. constance garnett, english. because it was free poobSmirk
  3. i have not
  4. now that god is dead (--nietzsche --michael scott), i think a lot of people feel alienation or dissatisfaction from the higher beliefs currently available. i don't think any of our frameworks, past or present, offer many answers or meanings that cause people to feel a sense of completion or renewal, which seem to be important for higher beliefs that can keep a society glued together. maybe it'd be a minor salve for the modern condition of spiritual emptiness to read literature with themes from before god was dead
mossy turret
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part 1, book 3, ch 10 || clearly Katerina and Grushenka need to get together and forget dmitry||

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||oh never mind pepeStarege ||

steep patio
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i’m so nervous

wintry iris
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oh dear i think i pinged the wrong person sorry iggy!

wintry iris
steep patio
wintry iris
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would you feel better reading it in your native language? if you’re still down to read it in English, there’s no problem in looking up stuff online afterwards for clarification! i sometimes use websites like sparknotes and litcharts if i really don’t understand what’s going on in a specific chapter or something. i’m sure people in here would also chip in if you have questions!

steep patio
mossy turret
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u can always ask us or spark notes it whatever u dont understand

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oops i just repeated what debi already said lol

wintry iris
wintry iris
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Book 3, Chapter 5: ||katerina be like “i can fix him” 💀😭💀 girl stand up ‼️🙏||

steep patio
mossy turret
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part 2, book 4, ch 2 || huh "as far as im concered, once youre dead, thats the end of it, but if you want to commemorate me, thats fine by me, if not, to hell with you! thats my philosophy" buddy needs a class in philosophy because what||

mossy turret
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part 2, book 4, ch 5 ||well, i thought katerina was coming to her sense. how tf does ivan support this lol||

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part 2, book 4, ch 5 ||this drama is insane lmao. katerina needs an adultthat will tell it to her straight, shes being stupid||

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part 2, book 4, ch 6 ||why is staff captian calling this woman Arina his mother and wife, does it mean anything or is it lieral incest up in here||

wintry iris
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DAMN dawg u are speedy

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ima try and finish book 4 today

wintry iris
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Overall thoughts on Book 3:

  • Yeah there's a lot of shitty stuff happening, but some of it is so bewildering that it's almost comical. Like there are some moments that are actually funny as hell 😭 (no pun intended) It's been so entertaining.
  • In Chapter 7, Smerdyakov was spitting facts fr when ||he was arguing about how he would renounce his faith if it meant he wouldn't have to suffer. It's absolutely true that complete devotion to Christ would mean that you need to completely isolate yourself from worldly possessions and thus the world itself, like he clocked that! This is what I learned when I was still a Christian too, and the many contradictions that Smerdyakov brings up are very similar to the thoughts I was having right before I left the Church. I absolutely adore how Dostoevsky creates characters that represent different perspectives towards religion/spirituality. There's an addictive challenge in trying to unpack everyone's minds and motives.||
  • Chapter 10: ||I was surprised with Alyosha's first impressions of Katerina! I didn't realize he could think badly of anyone, especially since he genuinely did not see his own father as evil. It kinda makes me like him more ngl, like I am realizing that he is only human, after all. His hypocrisy is revealed when he assumes that Katerina is too prideful, since this assumption actually makes him the prideful one. He is humble enough to retract these thoughts, though I wonder if his character will develop further. Also, Grushenka is a SNAKE!!! Holy shit. Not a girl's girl at all. I woulda wanted to beat her ass too ngl, like the audacity and disrespect is actually insane.||
  • ||The love letter from Lise to Alyosha is so cute ;-; I hope nothing bad happens to either of them. I want Alyosha to live a fulfilling life and truly follow his own path, whether that be with the monastery or with the commonfolk.||
  • ||Also, the bond between the brothers is so heartwarming aaaa I love it||
mossy turret
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Part 2 book 5 ch 4 ||I've never agreed with a mf more than this. Yes fucking exactly. They claim oh we have free will. Well if the price of free will is genocide and rape then I dont want free will, no one should...let God be a tyrant and force everyone to be good, free will isnt worth this price||

astral sapphire
# wintry iris <@1410079604286296087> <@456226577798135808> <@294625575694499840> <@43135957137...

Hope I'm not too late to join you guys!

  1. Curious, honestly! Whenever I'm faced with one of the classics, I can't help but wonder what all the buzz is about.
  2. Same as everyone else (I think), the English translation by Constance Garnett. Because it's free.
  3. It would be my first one. I've heard a bit about Dostoevsky and the themes that usually show up on his works through cultural osmosis, but that's about it.
  4. Regardless of whether we name it as such and how much it relies on phenomena and beings outside of our understanding, I reckon that all religions tacitly act as answers to the question of how should a person live their life for it to be meaningful for themselves and others. And since that question is bound to be relevant for as long as humanity exists, I believe that stories depicting religious themes will remain equally relevant as well.
wintry iris
heavy karma
wintry iris
wintry iris
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Overall thoughts on Book 4:

  • ||Ivan and Katerina would be so cute together but it’s too bad they would also be the most toxic straight couple ever 😭 #doomedhetero||
  • ||It’s crazy how Snegiryov was so grateful for the money at first and spent so much time fantasizing about how he was gonna put it to use, just to throw it to the ground at the last second. His family is on the brink of survival yet he felt that accepting the money was losing his dignity, and that ended up mattering more.||
wintry iris
wintry iris
jagged fern
# wintry iris <@1410079604286296087> <@456226577798135808> <@294625575694499840> <@43135957137...

hello! i just finished reading my last book (The Fountainhead) and im excited to get started on this one

  1. im excited, ive been recommended this book by a couple of friends over the years.
  2. Constance Garnet
  3. i have not, this is my first Dostoevsky book
  4. I think religion has a very big role in history and philosophy whether we personally believe in it or not. I think at its core, most religions preach having a positive moral code, and a sound personal philosophy. Obviously you can develop those things without religion, but some people never do whether religious or not. In the Fountainhead, there are plenty of characters whose personal philosophy is rooted in sin, they exploit, overindulge, deceive, they're hypocritical, and you could argue that it's encouraged to do those things to get ahead in a modern capitalist world. I've never been religious, but lately I've been wondering if we'd all be better off being reminded to love thy neighbor and reminded of what falling into sin (or just bad practices) looks like every week or two.
wintry iris
wintry iris
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Book 5, Chapter 3:

  • ||This is the most emotional I've gotten so far while reading this book. For someone as logical and reclusive as Ivan to open up about his sudden intense desire to live--it's so touching.||
  • Fave quote: ||"I have a longing for life, and I go on living in spite of logic. Though I may not believe in the order of the universe, yet I love the sticky little leaves as they open in spring. I love the blue sky, I love some people, whom one loves, you know, sometimes without knowing why...It's not a matter of intellect or logic. it's loving with one's inside, with one's stomach."||

Book 5, Chapter 4:

  • Memorable quotes from Ivan: ||"I think if the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, he has created him in his own image and likeness."|| ||"And if the sufferings of children go to swell the sum of sufferings which was necessary to pay for truth, then I protest that the truth is not worth such a price.||
  • ||The points he made are hard to argue against, especially since men are supposedly natural sinners. Our distinction between right and wrong, our determination of which sentient being's life is worth more than the other, organized religion itself, cruelty and hatred... it's all man-made and artificially imposed. If men are naturally sinners and they have artificially decided that sin = the devil and virtue = God, and God made Man... Ivan is essentially saying that no benevolent God would have created such an evil and hateful species. All he wants is for the suffering to stop. How much suffering needs to happen before enough is enough?||
mossy turret
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up to part 3, book seven, ch 2 ||not a big fan of the author acting like these people are real lol"i am glad that my young hero did not turn out to be too rational at such a moment" buddy you created the mf||||

mossy turret
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part 3, book 7, ch 3 ||"he's rebelled against his god, he was going to truck into my sausage" LMFAOOOOOOOOO bro what is going on in this scene rn ||

mossy turret
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part 3, book 7 ch4 ||what we dont get to see dmitry kill the rapist!? I WANTED TO SEE!!!! fuck grigory too though good riddance sideeye ||

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part 3, book 7 ch 5 ||this dude suks at committed murder kekCry he didnt wash his hands or nothin?? might as well have gone to the police and turned himself in atp||

astral sapphire
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Finally got around to finish book 1! Hopefully I should have some more time to dedicate to the book soon enough to catch up to you guys. Here's my take on it thus far.

||I can clearly see now what's the hype around Dostoevsky, his understanding of the human condition is impeccable. I have seen people very similar to the characters of the book, and I can see how the different formative experience of all three of the brothers would culminate in people with those particular personality traits as adults. It all feels so deeply grounded and human for lack of a better word.||

||Also, the book is deeply philosophical in nature, but it doesn't feel preachy (at least thus far). I feel more like Dostoevsky is showing me a story framed by his outlook on life and less like he's telling me how the world works using the characters as puppets in his play.||

||To finish this (since I'm yet to reach the part where the meat is), a couple of sentences I underlined because they made me literally stop reading and reflect about them for a minute or two:||

||"As a general rule, people, even the wicked, are much more naïve and simple-hearted than we suppose. And we ourselves are, too.||

||"Though these young men unhappily fail to understand that the sacrifice of life is, in many cases, the easiest of all sacrifices, and that to sacrifice, for instance, five or six years of their seething youth to hard and tedious study, if only to multiply tenfold their powers of serving the truth and the cause they have set before them as their goal—such a sacrifice is utterly beyond the strength of many of them."||

heavy karma
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book 2 ch 2 || Fyodor’s behaviour is hysterical lol its just so much fun reading him go to weird tangents…its seems like he's not a buffoon but in fact just rage baiting everyone||

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book 2 ch 3 || Lowkey wish I too were able to find solace in mere words of someone like elder. I didn't expect this much religion talks and then I read the synopsis of the book and it clearly mentions social and spiritual life in russia...never too late to read the synopsis igpepeISeeYou ||

mossy turret
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part 3, book 9, ch 4 ||this is the guiltiest dude of all time lmao bro. i wonder if he seems sincere he didnt kill his father. well whoever did did everyone a service..||

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part 3, book 9 ch 5 ||ok so if dmitry isnt lying i guess the rapist fell and broke its head against a table kekCry ||

hearty shuttle
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my copy

image.png
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I started reading it

Part 1 : Book 1 || I am loving the narration already , the father is a jerk ,
all the brothers have gone on different paths in life and i cant wait to see what happens next ||

mossy turret
hearty shuttle
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i love all the worthsworth classics

hearty shuttle
wintry iris
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i’ve also read the same Dostoevsky works as you have 😎 very hungry for more

wintry iris
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i finished Book 5 like a week ago and i’m still not done thinking about it 😭 i’m like 3 days into journaling about it, hopefully i have something coherent to share in a few days

latent dagger
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After quite a while I'm finally starting!

  1. I'm rather excited about reading this one, since it's been on my TBR for a while. I think I'll like it very much.
  2. I'm reading it in russian, because I prefer my first reads to be as close to original as possible catMeowThink
  3. I have read some of his works, not all of them tho, unfortunately. I've read Crime and Punishment, White Nights, Notes from the Underground and Insulted and Humiliated. I really like the writing style Dostoevsky has, so I had a pleasant time with all of the books I've read, but I enjoyed Crime and Punishment and Notes from the Underground the most.
  4. While the world is becoming more indifferent to religion, I think there's a lot of places that revolve heavily around it and/or were shaped by it is such a significant way you can't possibly subtract the religion aspect from it. For example even if countries like Germany and France are not as religious as they used to be you can't escape the so called 'cultural christianity' in there - it's present in the architecture, in regional traditions and even the way people behave. Even if the kids don't go to church they are still raised by the relatives that did. So I think reading religious literature would not only be useful for understanding the past but also the present.
digital daggerBOT
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Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

latent dagger
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Ah yes, I missed Carl's responses to CaP

hearty shuttle
hearty shuttle
wintry iris
wintry iris
latent dagger
# wintry iris i love the regional comparisons you bring up, and that’s so exciting that you’re...

Oh I should've taken better notes on this when reading my last translation, but yes, there are definitely differences when it comes to some minor details, like properly translating some proverbs or measurements. That is those were the ones that stood out to me the most, because I didn't do a proper comparison, so can't be too sure about more plot-relevant details (I mean it did feel different to me on the translated read but that might as well be because I've last read it almost a decade ago)

mossy turret
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part three, book 9, ch 9 ||im so confused. grushenka in her testimony practically said she doesnt love dmitry and was only leading him on, but he doesn't care or notice she says this, and later one she still says that "shes his and always will be" in front of the investigators, was she lying like wtf is goin on lol||

jagged fern
# wintry iris That actually leads me into something else I was thinking about. For those who'v...

||I think Ivan believes that the church holds people accountable personally. When i read thru this section the note i wrote down to remember his ideology was "to steal= to betray the state, and to sin= to betray the self." I believe he is trying to argue that in a religious ruled state, to commit a crime is to admit you are ungodly or not good enough to follow the laws of the church, and that leads to more introspection and hopefully self improvement. Whereas in their current society, you can commit tons of crimes and there is no introspection necessary, all you have to think about is what your consequence will inevitably be. I think Ivan believes that a criminal, and a sinner, are two very different people, and most criminals are created by circumstance, whereas sinners have a flawed outlook on the world around them, and therefore should be ostracized from society. Honestly his view kinda makes sense to me, and like ive mentioned before i've never personally been religious at all so its kinda funny. Really the only thing I can appreciate about religion as a concept is that it really makes you look inward at yourself, even if its thru the veil of "god judging you" it really makes you inspect your own doings and the morality of it. I think Ivan is arguing that a system that perpetuates that line of thought, would overall produce less law breakers than the current system. I dont want to say I agree here but even when Dmitri chimes in saying that "oh so then everyone who chooses not to play along will be basically removed from society?" I have to argue that even in modern america, the land of the free, if you refuse to play along in the capitalist rat race, the only freedom you are afforded is the freedom to starve. I think a good governmental system needs a lot more moral structure for its citizens, i dont think it should be labelled as a religion but it should preach similar values, without taking away peoples rights as modern religion does. ||

grave jolt
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I'll start this soooon

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I'm currently reading white nights, so beautifully written, I can't wait to start this

wintry iris
wintry iris
# jagged fern ||I think Ivan believes that the church holds people accountable personally. Whe...

||The distinction between the 'criminal' vs. the 'sinner' is so interesting! I think I'm mostly caught up in the logistics of what would happen if ecclesiastical courts became a thing, because it doesn't make much sense that pastors would tarnish their faith while simultaneously trying to increase others' faith with no guarantee. But anyway, I agree with you that a huge plus would be the moral structure. I'm not sure if Ivan's idea is the best and I don't have a better idea right now, but I can definitely see how, for instance, laws in the U.S. make people think "If I commit this crime, I'm going to go to jail" rather than "If I commit this crime, I'm going to hurt someone." There's that tricky balance between structure vs. autonomy that you mention at the end. I actually also see a vague difference in your views vs. Ivan's, because while you are agreeing with his desire for ecclesiastical courts, you are thinking more about people's need for introspection and self-actualization while he is--what I believe--thinking more it in terms of keeping people under control. Maybe.||

wintry iris
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Thoughts on Book 5, Chapter 5: The Grand Inquisitor

There is so much to think about and so much to say. Ima just choose a few things to talk about tho cuz i don’t wanna yap too much 😛

||Dostoevsky–through Ivan–has such a deep understanding of how faith affects people: “This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time.” Any Marx readers in the chat who can add onto this?! I’m thinking of the notorious passage where Marx views religion as the “opium of the people.” He was essentially arguing that religion promotes an illusory happiness that numbs people to the REAL causes of their pain (e.g., illness and poverty), and we should just remove the causes that make people miserable and want to seek religion. But… then the Church won’t be able to abuse its power by using the people’s poverty in order to keep them under control, which is exactly what is happening in Ivan’s story. And that’s the Church industrial complex for you! 😝Every time I think about indulgences it pisses me off||

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||The cardinal (and Ivan) believes that suffering people would hand over their freedom in exchange for food and peace and security, so he abuses that power, stating that physical suffering is way more obvious than spiritual suffering. I’m called back to the debate about ecclesiastical courts, where Ivan argued that crime would go down if people were threatened by the thought of being spiritually ostracized. But if people are still physically suffering after the church and state become one, would they really be swayed by spiritual punishment? In Ivan’s story here, the cardinal mentions how the people “will love us like children because we allow them to sin.” I’m assuming it’s similar to how Father Zossima easily forgives criminals and leaves them to morally repent, rather than have them face physical punishments. So if ecclesiastical courts were to become a thing, but physical conditions don’t get better for people, why would a criminal want to avoid spiritual punishment if they know they’re ALSO getting a physical punishment anyway? Checkmate, IVAN!!! 🫵 I'm just rambling here not even gonna lie, my ass loves to theorize about literally anything||

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||After Ivan finishes the story, Alyosha asks him, “How will you live, how will you love them?...With such a hell in your heart and your head, how can you?” Ivan replies, “The strength of the Karamazovs–the strength of the Karamazov baseness.” Dostoevsky might be implying that the passion and the abnormally intense desire for life is a uniquely Karamazov characteristic, but I feel like it’s just something that is uniquely human (calling back to what Frikiman said earlier). It’s simply human nature to care about the “sticky little leaves that open in spring” and the “blue sky.” It’s not so much that Ivan has a “hell” inside of him. He sees all of the hate in the world and all of its cruelty; he sees the harsh reality. And yet, he cannot help but continue to hold so much love. I don’t wanna get too political, but we are witnessing the most horrifying things happening to people right now. It is natural to feel discomfort (how could we not?), but it is also okay to have hope and continue leading your life with love. It’s okay to believe that things will change, because change has happened many times in the past, and it was fueled by hope! (We can channel this hope into action, but I’ll save that conversation for another time). I am reminded of that internet quote by god-knows-who: “I know love is real, because I am full of it.” Like wow, that is Ivan. Guys I love Ivan! There is a Karamazov inside all of us.||

mossy turret
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speaking of Ivan, up to part 4, book 10, ch 5 ||Ivan has completely and utterly disappeared from the story. im thinking he maybe murdered the rapist, make me like him even more ||

mossy turret
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up to part 4, book 11, ch 3 ||Ivan is suddenly back without telling alyosha, and apparently told dmitry something that set him off. hmmmmmm||

mossy turret
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part 4, book 11, ch 4 ||"Rakitin says you dont need God to love mankind. only a snotty pipsqueak could assert such a thing" its true though, there are many people who are true good people who dont believe in God for whatever reason||

mossy turret
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part 4, book 11, ch 8 ||wow smerdyakov is the same level of scum as his rapist father, apple does not fall far from the tree||

wintry iris
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WOW you are so quick 😭 i am so impressed

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i hope to catch up in like 4 weeks 😌

mossy turret
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Part 4, book 12, ch 12 ||im just saying, committing suicide the day before the trial where you're accused is an admission of guilt... it shouldn't even be a question if you ask me lol||

mossy turret
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End of part 4 ||welp they cooked Mitya. Well he cooked himself good lord. Good riddance to smerdyakov fuck that guy||

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I finished da book

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Ending: ||was strange. We get 0 closure, does Dmitry escape prison successfully, live with Grushenka (even though I really don't like her lol) does Ivan die? Like girl you can't leave us with that bruh||

minor vineBOT
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@wintry iris,@lime haven,@magic ridge,@mossy turret,@rose flower,@novel oak,@still pike,@misty sorrel,@steep patio,@jagged fern,@karmic holly,@strong dome,@latent dagger,@raw plover,@grave jolt,@pallid prawn,@old carbon,@eternal slate,@hearty shuttle,@flint kiln,@jaunty inlet,@heavy karma,@viral lichen,@graceful slate,@magic ridge,@astral sapphire,@plush portal,@normal bone

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Hello readers, I hope everyone’s holidays were relaxing and fun! We are officially 1 month into this buddy read with about 2 months remaining, how is everyone doing? I want to give a quick shout out to Frikiman, whipper snapper, Tintin, and cam for progressing on this hefty read and contributing their thoughts in the channel :hearts: And a huge congrats to iggy, who finished it so quickly! :partying_face: I have some discussion questions below for Part 1 (Books 1-3). These are optional but a great opportunity for thoughtful contribution, and you can always come back to them later! Feel free to answer any (or all) of them, and as always, don’t forget to use spoiler tags :relieved:

  1. What do you think Dostoevsky is beginning to suggest about what makes someone “guilty” or “innocent” — even before any crime has occurred?
  2. Share a scene that stood out to you! Why this scene?
  3. Book 3, Chapter 3 “The confession of a passionate heart – in verse”: ||Why do you think Dostoevsky shifts into an intensified, poetic style here? How does it affect your interpretation of Dmitri’s character?||
  4. Are there any questions that have come up for you as you’re reading, or any theories you have about what will happen in the book later on?

If you haven’t already (and whenever you’re ready), please answer one of two of the icebreakers in the previous pinned message! :heart_hands: This is mainly for me to know that you’re still interested, and hopefully for you to feel more warmed up for the book ^_^

minor vineBOT
steep patio
mossy turret
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ill try to make a review and all that tomorrow

steep patio
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oh okay no problem! sorry haha

wintry iris
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i am developing a parasocial relationship with several characters 😭 i hope nothing bad happens to them ^_^

wintry iris
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Thoughts on Book 6:

||It wasn’t until literally the last 2 pages of Book 6 that I realized this was a response to Ivan’s Grand Inquisitor. Ivan and Father Zossima differ greatly in personality lmao, and I also thought they differed a lot in their thoughts too, especially with that debate about ecclesiastical courts in Book 2. I had interpreted them to be sort of opposites when it came to theology, but they’re actually much more similar than I thought! I was struck by how similar they sound when they talk about love and how they continue to lead their lives with love. For Ivan, continuing to have love in his heart appears to be something he can’t control, and he doesn’t believe it will change the world for the better. Father Zossima, on the other hand, is much more optimistic, and believes that love is salvation. For him, hell is not a scorching earth with demons but “the suffering of being unable to love.” When he said that “there are some who remain proud and fierce even in hell, in spite of their certain knowledge and contemplation of the absolute truth” – I knew he was referring to the Inquisitor. The ending of Zossima’s monologue is rather ominous, but the overall message inspires hope. I can’t help but feel that Ivan could’ve found comfort in Zossima’s story, seeing as it answered a lot of questions that were posed in his.||

wintry iris
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Thoughts on Book 7:

||I’ve been the most upset while reading Book 7. Alyosha cannot catch a fucking break! I’m not even mad about the superstitious monks being shocked at a dead body fucking rotting. I’m just furious that all of a sudden, they start shit talking a DEAD person who was literally their elder 3 hours ago LIKEEE??? You guys are all RATS!!! And they should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for weaponizing his death to feed their egos and their narrow view of asceticism. It’s disgusting.

I’m also disgusted by Ratikin for being a fake ass friend and purposefully taking him to Grushenka to hopefully see his downfall. And Grushenka is STILL a snake for trying to defile Alyosha, who is still a monk!!!!! Truly a tag team made in hell.

Anyway, I will say I was intrigued by the onion story. The way she introduces it got me cracking the fuck up in the cafe though, like out of the blue she goes, “I did give away an onion” like what 😭 The ending to this scene was bittersweet. Grushenka gave an onion to Alyosha by expressing her empathy, like wow all he really needed was someone to talk to </3 and Alyosha in turn gave her an onion by having genuine faith in her that she could overcome her snake ass personality, but I’m gonna have to wait and see if she actually changes||

astral sapphire
# minor vine Hello readers, I hope everyone’s holidays were relaxing and fun! We are official...

Just finished book 3! Might make a more thorough overview on books 2 and 3 later on, but let me answer the questions for now.

  1. It seems to me there are may be two ways to answer this question (or perhaps, they're both the same, when push comes to shove). On one hand restraint is heavily emphasized. Dostoevsky shows in no uncertain terms that there are ugly, selfish drives inside every single person ||(with the obvious exceptions of Lizabeta who's free of sin, like all people with severe intellectual disabilities by the old Christian belief; and Father Zosima, who's portrayed as an ideal, a state only achievable by someone at the end of their journey). Even Alyosha admits to Dmitri that he, too, has such drives (even though, in his case, it seems to be nothing but mere physical attraction, something several orders of magnitude away from what Dmitri implied to have done, or from what it could be gleaned Fyodor has done), but chooses not to yield to them. Compare and contrast with Dmitri and Fyodor (I guess Grushenka could be added here, but she only appeared once thus far), who keep on sinking into lower pits because they can barely entertain the notion of not immediately doing whatever they feel like whenever they feel like (it's particularly telling how Fyodor could not conceive the possibility that the monks did not sleep with women)||. On the other hand, virtuous people live a life of self-sacrifice, while sinful ones lead one of selfishness and self-centeredness. ||Of particular note is how both Fyodor and Dmitri want to be accepted by Alyosha, who they both consider as "angelic". They do not want to change, they do not repent for their actions, they only want to know that someone out there sees them for what they are, and still is not driven away in disgust. Interestingly enough (and I suppose, very intentional) is the fact that this is exactly what Father Zosima considers to be the function of a monk during what he intends to be his last speech: to bear the sins of humanity, regardless of how deep they may be||.
  2. ||Probably Dmitri going full ham when Alyosha finds him on his way to Katerina's house. For the reasons I mention below.||
  3. ||Honestly, it was amazing characterization. Up until that point I wasn't sure about what to expect with Dmitri, since he only briefly shows up at the monastery, but when he started hamming it up I immediately thought "oh... so he's just like his father".||
  4. I kind of prefer not too think too much about theories, lest I spoil myself. I really do enjoy how Dostoevsky mentions things here and there without making a big deal out of them and they they turn out to be central to the plot. ||Had that happen to me when Madame Khokhlakov and Lise mention Katerina Ivanovna, and for a second I was wondering who was that and if I had somehow missed something in the earlier pages. Only for her to turn out to be at the center of what seems to be the main conflict right now||. Wouldn't want to rob myself of surprises like that moving forward.
astral sapphire
jagged fern
# minor vine Hello readers, I hope everyone’s holidays were relaxing and fun! We are official...

just finished book 3

  1. || I think Dostoevsky is leaning on this topic heavily. I think he is trying to argue that evil people can be seen as "innocent" their entire lives, and innocent people can be pushed into criminality/guilt. In my previous message I talked about Ivan's judicial system suggestions, and I think through that monologue Dostoevsky was trying to suggest that a godly man can remain godly (or maintain his innocence) while doing something technically illegal by todays standards, and vice versa. I think he's really trying to push our understanding of guilt and innocence through the interactions of the sons and Fyodor. If you believe in the current judicial system, and don't see a better alternative, AND you don't care that Fyodor got his ass beat, that makes you a hypocrite, at least thats what i'm getting from it. ||
  2. || The scene introducing smerdyakov and explaining his backstory was really insane to me. It really showed the depth of how evil Fyodor is and made me hate him much more, he has a visual representation of his own sin. ||
  3. || I think Dmitri is sort of a mirror. i'm sure we've all met people who seem obsessed with everything you also like, and then you realize they just do that with every person in their life, and its almost like they're just a frankenstein of all their acquaintances interests, and they're kinda devoid of a sense of self. I feel like this is the case for Dmitri, he'll say anything youd like to feel respected or get something from you. So of course he becomes oh so poetic and godly when only Alyosha is around. it was pretty funny honestly. ||
  4. how do you guys keep up with names? i find myself mixing up a lot of the ppl besides the brothers. maybe i just need to lock in more
astral sapphire
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about the names, what took me the most to get was getting used to the short forms (so like, Dmitri → Mitya) and the fact that the second name is not the surname but the patronymic

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then, the names of the monks, I'm still figuring out

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Father Paisy was brought up in book 4 and I was like "who was this one again?"

wintry iris
# astral sapphire Just finished book 3! Might make a more thorough overview on books 2 and 3 later...

This was a delight to read, it's so thoughtful! ||I really like the point about Fyodor and Dmitri wanting to be accepted by the angelic Alyosha. Because they want his acceptance, they still strike me as people who feel some sense of guilt, even if they do not plan to change their ways. Especially in Book 3, it was almost like Dmitri was treating Alyosha as a confession booth. Perhaps he wasn't exactly repenting, but he was fully owning up to his sins and confessing them all to Alyosha, and that seemed to give him some relief. He couldn't tell anyone else! I wonder if you got the same impression.||

wintry iris
# jagged fern just finished book 3 1. || I think Dostoevsky is leaning on this topic heavily....

Your answers are so insightful, specially the second one 👀 ||You made it sound kind of vague, but you are implying that Smerdyakov is a karmic manifestation of Fyodor's horrific actions, right? I hadn't even thought of Smerdyakov like that, but now I'm really excited to see how his character develops throughout the book (or not, idk what happens lmao). I think your answer to Q3 is especially interesting, because it seemed to me that Dmitri is actually a foil to Alyosha. We know how ugly and deceitful Dmitri can be, so when he began reciting poetry to Alyosha, I felt that it displayed the contrast between the two brothers even more. It seems to me that Alyosha will continue to love both of his brothers no matter what they say or do.||

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About the name remembering: The same as what Frikiman said about getting used to the short forms, but also trying to remember the alternate forms! Like I kept thinking Agrafena was Grushenka's sister or cousin or some shit, not realizing it was the same person for several chapters 💀 Ngl, I be searching names up online when I can't remember, and most sites will usually display all versions in the same line.

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I be searching up the monks' names too idgaf!!! They are the hardest to remember for sure

mossy turret
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idk how but i just figured it out not too far in

astral sapphire
# wintry iris This was a delight to read, it's so thoughtful! ||I really like the point about ...

Been thinking about this. ||I really like how you say he treats Alyosha as a confession booth! I think that's actually a core aspect of his character. He has a calming, non-judgemental attitude, so everyone ends up coming to him to tell him his woes (which seems like the "core loop" of the novel, in a way: something happens, and then whoever is involved needs to tell Alyosha in particular and/or get him to convey some sort of message to the other parts involved). Really makes me wonder why Father Zosima wanted him to leave the monastery and live a normal life, since Alyosha seems like someone that would follow in his steps and end up becoming like him. For sure, the turmoil in his family must have been a major factor (and he explicitly tells him that both of his brothers will need him), but for it to be a something permanent instead of merely temporary makes me wonder if he may've had ulterior motives. Could it be because he thought a good, honest man like him would do better as a role model for the people rather than walled away into a position where he could be treated with derision as the strange "other" (like Fyodor does)? I hope this is expanded upon later on.||

wintry iris
minor vineBOT
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@wintry iris,@lime haven,@magic ridge,@mossy turret,@rose flower,@novel oak,@still pike,@misty sorrel,@steep patio,@jagged fern,@karmic holly,@strong dome,@latent dagger,@raw plover,@grave jolt,@pallid prawn,@old carbon,@eternal slate,@hearty shuttle,@flint kiln,@jaunty inlet,@heavy karma,@viral lichen,@graceful slate,@magic ridge,@astral sapphire,@plush portal,@normal bone,@obsidian tartan

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Hello readers, happy Wednesday! We’re midway through the week, but also midway through this buddy read :sunglasses: Below are some discussion questions that pertain to Books 4-6.

**1. If you haven’t started reading, when do you think you will begin? Is there anything holding you back? **
2. Book 4, Chapter 5 “A laceration in the drawing-room”: What is the significance of ||Katerina’s “laceration?” The term may be translated differently depending on what version you’re reading; I’ve seen “strain” being used. What do you think of her so-called “self-laceration?" What purpose do you think it is serving—or meant to serve?||
3. Book 5, Chapter 5 “The Grand Inquisitor”: ||What does the Inquisitor suggest about mankind’s desire for freedom?||
4. Book 6: What parallels do you see between ||Father Zossima’s story and Ivan’s story of The Grand Inquisitor? Do you believe Zossima’s story was meant to be a response to the questions raised by Ivan?||

minor vineBOT
grave jolt
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🔜kekCry

astral sapphire
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might take me a bit longer to reach this milestone, I'm swamped with work and assaulted by seasonal migraines
still hope to get there within the next couple of weeks

wintry iris
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no worries, take care of yourself first!

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if it makes anyone feel more relaxed, i can offer an extension to anyone who ends up needing one, but we can talk more about that in march :P

astral sapphire
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can only speak for myself, but I reckon I won't need it either way
still, really appreciate the offer

wintry iris
# minor vine Hello readers, happy Wednesday! We’re midway through the week, but also midway t...

I'll answer #2 today and revisit the other ones later!

I find the choice of diction extremely interesting. ||I know some versions use “strain,” but I wonder why Constance Garnett chose to use the word “laceration,” which is defined as a deep, jagged wound. So a “self-laceration” is not just implying a self-sacrifice, but more so self-harm. I initially thought Katerina was aloof as hell for getting so hung up over a man who doesn’t love her back. Reminds me a lot of some of my friends IRL lmfao. But in this chapter, she struck me as a narcissist, or rather, someone who has narcissistic tendencies (I’m no expert on psychiatric terms). She’s crazier than I expected.

“When he becomes unhappy with that woman, and that is bound to happen quite soon, let him come to me and he will find a friend, a sister… I will gain my point… I will be a god to whom he can pray – and that, at least, he owes me for his treachery and for what I suffered.” Here, she essentially confesses that she’s expecting Dmitri to come running back to her in a pitiful, pathetic state, filled with regret. She’ll become chased after and worshipped by him, but she will not return his romantic feelings because she will have “moved on” and transcended to a “god.” Her desire to be adored has nothing to do with Dmitri’s feelings and everything to do with her ego and getting revenge on him. I am in no way comparing her feelings to what real people might feel when they harm themselves; this is pretty complex and it’s still hard to wrap my head around. The use of “laceration” is intense, but it seems to me that Katerina doesn’t mind harming herself in this way at all. Perhaps it’s more so the toxicity of it all that is harmful (i.e., the fact that she won't be able to pursue other relationships, focus on herself, etc.), but I think the real laceration will come when she slowly realizes that Dmitri doesn’t actually give a fuck about her, and that wound will stay open... I think. This is just a theory :P||

wintry iris
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  1. ||The Inquisitor believes that mankind cannot handle freedom. Obviously the people in Ivan’s story do not truly have freedom, because they live in poverty and their day-to-day lives are controlled by bread and circuses:||

||“Turn [these stones] into bread, and mankind will run after Thee like a flock of sheep, grateful and obedient.” “We shall set them to work, but in their leisure hours we shall make their life like a child’s game… and they will love us like children because we allow them to sin.”||

||This sounds eerily similar to what's happening in modern-day America, for instance. Keep people slaving away for their survival, and fill their free time with easily consumable slop and material rewards so they won't have the time or the energy to even think about their lives outside of what is handed to them by the elites. Allow them to fuck up once in a while and they will be so grateful for your forgiveness because you feed them and keep them alive. They're merely given the illusion of choice. But even if they did have true freedom and the ability to make choices, the Inquisitor believes that humanity wouldn’t be able to handle all of this responsibility.||

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||The cardinal alludes to the three Temptations of Christ without really explaining what they were, and I wanted to look them up for more context. I was most struck by the third temptation, which is the “Mountain.” In this narrative, Satan takes Jesus to a very high mountain where all the kingdoms of the world can be seen, and offers them to Jesus if he falls down and worships Satan. Of course Jesus refuses, but the Inquisitor believes that was a mistake, as people supposedly desire a supreme leader to follow and obey. I’m thinking about how in real life, when crises happen, we automatically look toward news outlets, politicians, health organizations–the “experts.” Even when I zoom back into micro-level interactions, I think about how some of my girl friends have repeatedly returned to toxic situationships even though they have full autonomy in leaving. I know why they return to their chains, because those chains bring them comfort. It’s the bread and circuses all over again. People will knowingly and happily continue to suffer as long as they gain immediate and material gratification in return. I’m not going to generalize all of humanity like this though, because there are courageous and eclectic characters who have been gaining more and more attention. A revolution will happen!||

minor vineBOT
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@wintry iris,@lime haven,@magic ridge,@mossy turret,@rose flower,@novel oak,@still pike,@misty sorrel,@steep patio,@jagged fern,@karmic holly,@strong dome,@latent dagger,@raw plover,@grave jolt,@pallid prawn,@old carbon,@eternal slate,@hearty shuttle,@flint kiln,@jaunty inlet,@heavy karma,@viral lichen,@graceful slate,@teal heath,@astral sapphire,@plush portal,@normal bone,@obsidian tartan,@rocky hedge

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Hello, my radiant, resilient, remarkable readers! :star2: Discussion questions for Part III, Books 7-9 are here already due to timeline constraints, but don’t worry, these are optional and available if you'd like guided opportunities for contribution. Also, the next (and last!) discussion questions won’t be released for another month!

As a reminder, this buddy read officially ends on March 14, unless I get any requests for extensions. I really love reading everyone’s thoughts, so don’t be afraid to request an extension if you need one ^_^ The more readers, the better! :heart:

  1. Book 7, Chapter 3 “An onion”: ||What does the onion symbolize? What do you think Dostoevsky is trying to convey through Grushenka’s story?||
  2. ||There were quite a few moral conflicts happening throughout Books 7-9, whether internally or externally. When I say “moral conflict,” what scene stands out to you?||
  3. Book 9, Chapter 8 “The evidence of the witnesses. The babe”: ||The unique nature of being a Karamazov has been brought up several times throughout the book, and now once again near the end of Dmitri’s dream in this chapter. The Karamazov characteristic Dmitri described was “recklessness” (at least in Garnett’s translation). Was it truly “recklessness” being represented, or was it something more than that?||
minor vineBOT
astral sapphire
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don't want to jinx it, but it seems like the migraines have subsided for the time being
I should be able to give the answers to the previous books soon enough

wintry iris
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so glad to hear you’re feeling better!! very excited to read more of your thoughts whenever you’re ready 😎

wintry iris
# minor vine Hello, my radiant, resilient, remarkable readers! :star2: Discussion questions f...

Took a little break from reading because of personal problems, but i’m back in business 😝

  1. ||One onion is like one moment of forgiveness or faith in someone. Dostoevsky’s trying to say that anyone can be redeemed, no matter what they’ve done in the past. You don’t need to save the world to experience redemption, you just need one genuine moment of connection with someone – a simple onion is all it takes. I honestly think this scene says more about Alyosha than Grushenka. Similar to Dmitri, I’m sure Grushenka really needed to hear that someone still believes in her capability to be good. What struck me, however, was Alyosha humbly downplaying his compassion for her: “What have I done to you? I only gave you an onion, nothing but a tiny little onion, that was all!” And he was moved to tears by what he said. I don’t think he expected someone to appreciate his words so much, and it makes his imminent departure from the monastery even more bittersweet.||
grave jolt
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gosh i'll probably won't finish in time. I tried an audiobook for this but i think i'd rather read it physically

wintry iris
wintry iris
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Thoughts on Book 10:
||Reading about Kolya's relationship with Illusha was so heartwarming, as was reading about his budding friendship with Alyosha. I did wonder why Dostoevsky suddenly switched to these particular characters to focus on. Maybe it has something to do with how Alyosha's described as the hero of the story? I need to know the answer to this so badly. Because although the focus was on Kolya, Alyosha still played a pivotal part in helping the kid reunite with his friend, come to terms with his feelings, and also walk through his grief. I can also see it as some more world-building and providing more social/historical context, maybe?|| Basically I love Alyosha so so much, he is so wonderful

wintry iris
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Thoughts on Book 11:
what the hell is going on oh my god i am shaking ||First of all, why did the narrator just randomly throw at us that Alyosha had BEEN thinking that Smerdyakov was the killer?!?! This is like the first time we know about this, and Alyosha ain’t even in the chapter dawg like you can’t just leave us like this!!!! 😭 ||

||And second, what the hell is up with Lise? I’m honestly disappointed that this is how she turned out, but it’s understandable considering what she has gone through. She is only fifteen after all, so I’m chalking it up as her going through an angsty phase that is particularly self-destructive... I just wish she would get a therapist lmfao. However, I was actually kinda shocked by Alyosha’s reaction. I truly thought he would put up more of a fight, especially since their ‘engagement’ and first kiss was so tender and emotional. But I’ve realized he was never actually in love with her, and more so viewed her as someone to guide and protect. Lise wants someone who is passionate and will fight for her, and Alyosha is just not that guy. On that note, Alyosha has been giving off aromantic vibes ngl. He is really stepping into this figure of a saint, more and more.||

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||And finally, the actual reveal. Oh my god. I actually accidentally spoiled myself on who the killer was while reading the Introduction of the book (never doing that again), but the scenes leading up to the reveal somehow still had me on the edge of my seat. The small uncertain back-and-forth snippets between Ivan and Smerdyakov—the suspense was insane. I could imagine myself in that room with them, Ivan pacing around in disbelief. I find it baffling that someone like Smerdyakov would attempt to put the blame onto Ivan, and I’m even more baffled that it works! On Ivan, of all people! Like bro, lock in. Please don’t spiral further 💔 ||

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i have about 150 pages left omggg i'm finally in the last stretch !!

maiden pecan
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Probably a stupid thing to start this book now and want to finish it in 15 days when I should take my time reading it

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But I'll do it anyways

wintry iris
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@maiden pecan in case you're wondering, it has taken me on average 2-3 hours to finish each "book" in Brothers Karamazov. there are 12 books + an epilogue

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although i would recommend taking your time, i do think it's doable! i definitely spent extra time processing each book and journaling as well. and also, i am very open to giving extensions to people who want them c:

maiden pecan
maiden pecan
wintry iris
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you got this, i believe in you 🥳 it's a very entertaining read, so i hope you enjoy it!

maiden pecan
# wintry iris <@1410079604286296087> <@456226577798135808> <@294625575694499840> <@43135957137...
  1. A little scared because I haven't read a book in two months and I'm going straight into a Dostoevsky novel.
  2. Richard & Larissa's translation
  3. I've read Notes from the Underground and White Nights. Need to reread the first one to actually understand what was going on. The first time I read it I wasn't prepared enough to tackle the book.
  4. I didn't know that this book was religious. I myself think there is no such thing as a God so yeah. I think religion has it's good sides, but I won't go into that here.
wintry iris
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i’m 1/3 through Book 12 and my heart has been racing. this entire book has been a rollercoaster but Books 11 and 12 in particular… omg. i’m on the edge of my seat and i need to take a break again. i don’t wanna finish this book ugh i love this adventure 💔💔💔

wintry iris
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Finished Book 12 ||OH MY GODDDDD IM MAD AS HELLLLL WHERE DID THEY GET THE JURY FROM THEY DEADASS BROUGHT THE MOST IDIOTIC OF IDIOTS||

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||i know that shit was rigged||

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i have more coherent thoughts that i’ll get out later

wintry iris
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NOOO I FINISHED IT 💔💔💔💔💔

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oh my god i am devastated. i’m so excited to reread it next winter

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oh my god. life-changing.

wintry iris
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okay while i'm in the middle writing an actual review, let me just say yall need to hop on dostoevsky tumblr cuz the fanart goes insane

maiden pecan
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Didn't get much of a chance to read it until today, and I'm liking it so far

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Took a bit of time to get used to the writing but it's been pretty smooth since then, I'd expected the text to be more dense

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Almost done with part 1 and I have a few passages I quite liked, I'll send them later

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Also since I now know that I'll definitely not be finishing it on time, I'll relax and read it at my pace. (So to debi, turn the br report in without hesitation when the time comes, I don't care much about the points)

wintry iris
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and i'll see if this BR ends up getting an extension or not, i'll need at least 2 ppl to let me know i think. but if there's no extension, please feel free to keep sending your thoughts on here after the BR ends !! i do wanna talk about the book with more ppl still 😭

viral lichen
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Well I don't know if I will finish this in time as I've been slumping terribly, but I've started the book and read through Book 1.

||I really like the different personalities of the three brothers, they are pretty distinct so far not just in how they behave but also how they see the world. I think I always had the impression that the brothers were quite close, so I am curious to see if that is the case and how else it plays out

Alyosha is of course the current favourite. I wonder how his story in particular will develop eyes2 I am also curious to learn more about who the narrator is and how they know the brothers story so detailed, if it will be brought up

I don't know if it's just my translator (David McDuff) but the writing is also very fun and interesting. I think Dostoevsky (and any RusLit really) always gets a bad rap for being boring/complicated when that isn't really the case. Long does not equal difficult, after all||

wintry iris
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Happy March, my magnificent, marvelous, multifaceted readers! Below are discussion questions for Books 10-12 + the Epilogue. These are not mandatory, but feel free to answer a few if you need some guidance to contribute to our discussion! You can also go back through the pinned messages for previous discussion questions :star2:

Friendly reminder that this BR does officially end in a week on Saturday, March 14 UNLESS two or more people ask for an extension, which I am very happy to give :heart_hands: I’ve had such a blast reading this book and seeing people’s thoughts, so if there are messages rolling in even after the BR ends, trust that I will still be reading them and responding :fingers_crossed:

  1. Book 10: ||This book marks a switch in plot and tone, delving away from Dmitri’s story. What do you think the purpose of Book 10 is?||
  2. Book 11: ||What does Smerdyakov’s assertion that “everything is permitted” reflect about his worldview, and how does this compare/contrast with Ivan’s beliefs?||
  3. Book 12: ||What questions does this chapter raise about guilt and moral responsibility? Feel free to focus on a specific character.||
  4. Dostoevsky conveys many debates and contradicting narratives through his characters. What is one debate that has stood out to you, and why?
  5. In the beginning of the novel, ||Alyosha was described by the narrator as the “hero” of the story.|| Now that we’ve finished it, why do you think that is?
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pallid prawn
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Sorry I haven’t been able to start this one and probably won’t pick it up after this BR ends.

wintry iris
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aw no worries!

wintry iris
# minor vine Happy March, my magnificent, marvelous, multifaceted readers! Below are discussi...

  1. ||I think it might’ve acted as a reprieve, to be honest. At least, it felt that way for me. I got to see my fave character Alyosha in not-as-depressing scenarios where he acts as a kind, moral guide to children who are the future of Russia! And in hindsight, I feel like Questions 1 and 5 are pretty similar when it comes to the answer. The schoolboys’ dynamics reflect some of the Karamazov’s characteristics, and Dostoevsky is telling us through Book 10 that everyone and everything starts somewhere. It starts when they’re young, and that’s when their development matters the most. Thank goodness the boys have Alyosha then!||

  2. ||My book's translation of the quote is “all things are lawful.” Smerdyakov thought he and Ivan were on the same wavelength when Ivan expressed his skepticism about God and the concept of morality. Ivan is an intellectual who simply enjoys thought experiments, but Smerdyakov (the psychopathic simp that he is) takes Ivan’s word as “law” instead. Or perhaps, it was also “permission” (from the other translation "everything is permitted") to kill the man he also hated. I was initially so intrigued by Ivan and wanted to learn more about him, but this scene where Smerdyakov reveals everything.. I became SO fascinated by Smerdyakov’s character. Dostoevsky, you genius. Smerdyakov is Ivan’s philosophical ideas incarnate, and Ivan has to suffer with guilt from the consequences. I think Big D is also trying to tell us that if we wanna ramble about abstract thought experiments, make sure you’re not rambling to a psychopath who would actually carry them out and use them as a justification for their actions.||

hearty shuttle
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i wanted to read this book so bad but just life got in the way
in a good way

so i am sorry to not having read this with you all

wintry iris
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don't be sorry! only one person other than myself ended up finishing within the time frame, and i almost let life get in the way in a bad way 💀 if someone else decides to start another BR for this and yall join it, it's basically like an extension anyway (someong ping me when that happens)

wintry iris
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submitted the end-of-BR report 😎 shout out to iggy for being the only other person to finish the book! i hope everyone else can read this someday, this was truly one of the best literary adventures i’ve been on