The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Published by Barnes and Noble Classics: New York, 2004. Translated by Constance Garnett in 1912. Originally published in Russian 1879-1880.

This is one of those books you hear about, but that seems a bit intimidating to read. A translation from the Russian, 700 pages long, a novel full of debates about philosophy, the existence of God, and good versus evil.... Yet, it is well worth the read.

Dostoevsky gradually unfolds the story, introducing us to each brother and allowing them to truly understand each of their individual viewpoints, before eventually 'launching' into the main 'plot' (their father's murder) around half way through the book. The fact that this murder is such a long time in coming shows how unconcerned Dostoevsky is in the plot itself (not that there is a lack of events up until that point); rather, he is far more interested in the discussions that the plot, and the collision of the various characters, can produce. So when the religious brother Alyosha meets with the intellectual atheist brother Ivan (for example), the two can have a few chapters worth of dialogue on the existence of God before anything else happens 'plot wise'.

I loved this fact. To be able to present different viewpoints in such full ways and allowing for proper debate on topics is something I greatly admire. As a Christian/theologian who loves apologetics and really digging in to the questions of life, this novel stretched me, challenged me, and even encouraged me in my faith. And this is an interesting thing, as the back cover states: "The novel is particularly famous for three chapters that rank among the greatest pages of Western literature: "Rebellion" and "The Grand Inquisitor" present what many have considered the strongest arguments ever formulated against the existence of God...Ultimately, Dostoesvky believes that Christ-like love prevails. But does he prove it?" I think, like with some other books I have read in the past, that a text can either shake or strengthen your faith depending on how you go in to it, and how much you are happy to wrestle through the answers. For myself, I believe that God is good, and that there are answers to every objection we have against him, even if we don't see it at the time. Perhaps this makes me more open to ask hard questions of God (as this book does in places) without doubting his goodness.

Either way, I really enjoyed this book. It is a classic for a reason.

 Completed 15 June 2019.

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