Anyone interested in the central question facing mankind will find `The Brothers Karamazov' an essential guide. That question--on man's capacity for responsibility and the proper role of the state and religion--is posed throughout the story in dialogue and events, and is framed neatly in a 20-page section where Ivan presents a poem titled `The Grand Inquisitor' to his brother Alyosha. The chapter that bears that title (Book V, Chapter V) is a masterpiece in itself and should be studied for its narrative technique alone. But the ideas it presents are so immense, so mind-blowing and inspirational, that literary criticism is not sufficient.

Indeed, `The Brothers Karamazov' should not be classed merely as a novel--it is a book of philosophy, theology, and sociology as well that ranks with the greatest documents in those disciplines. There is a fictitious plot, of course, and the characters in the story are some of the most unique in all of literature, so it is rightly praised as a novel. But the modern reader looking for a plot of twists and romantic intrigues is bound to disappointment. Dostoevsky does not stir up drama through the placement of unexpected developments or improbable character traits. Instead, he relies on the inherent needs and wants of all men to make vivid his story.

The amount of dialogue may be shocking (tedious) to one accustomed to the modern show-don't-tell policy in storytelling. Today, novelists and screenwriters let a character's actions speak for them--it is quicker and provides a much more convincing impression. It also limits the kind of ideas that are posed in the story to simple, prosaic ones like `she likes him' or `he wants to defeat him.' By contrast, Dostoevsky allows the characters to speak for themselves, which creates a much longer and subtler exposition, but also frees the ideas to be vast and monumental.

What is the fundamental nature of socialism? What are the uses of the church in finding purpose? In finding salvation? Why is there suffering? What is the meaning of death? Read the brothers' dialogues and contemplate.

Dostoevsky's own philosophy is seen in the protagonist, Alyosha. This is so despite the fact that the author ably covers every perspective on every topic presented in the book, and one can hardly find a positive assertion throughout. If there is one, it rests in the overall effect of the words and actions, a concept Dostoevsky articulated in a personal correspondence--it is that "Man is a mystery; if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time."

A word about the translations: The title of Book IV has been translated differently in every version I have seen (other chapter titles are also inconsistent, but Book IV is seemingly the most difficult to agree on). The original Russian is `Nadryvy,' which literally translates to `Ruptures,' though no translations I have seen use `Ruptures.' The word is used throughout the book to convey the motif of `pressures' or `strained conditions about to break.' The various options I have seen for this title are `Lacerations' (Garnett), `Strains' (Pevear & Volkhonsky), `Torment' (MacAndrew), `Crises' (Avsey), and `Crack-Ups' (McDuff). Given this is a central theme, the potential reader might look into which translation he prefers before buying. Apropos, the Princess Alexandra Kropotkin print version bears the Garnett translation, as does the Frederick Davidson audio recording.

I've read this translation, as well as the Pevear/Volokonsky translation. This translation tends to be less interpreted. For instance, what Pevear and Volokonsky translate as 'contemplative love' Avsey translates as 'love-in-dreams' which is more open to interpretation. As a result, this translation might be more difficult to understand. But this is a beautiful translation (of an amazing book) which I highly recommend. Especially as a re-read.

It would be presumptious of me to "review" Dostoevsky's great masterpiece "The Brothers Karamozov" or, as Avsey has convinced me it should be rendered, "The Karamazov Brothers." Yes, it is one of the greatest novels ever, yes, it is life-changing, and yes, it is on that short list of books that should be read before you die. More than a murder mystery of course, it concerns the existence of God, fraternal rivalry, the question of guilt, the condition of Russia and what it means to be Russian.
So, the main question is what translation to choose? As I don't read Russian, my only criteria was how it read in English. Did it flow well, did it maintain interest, was it "literary"? I had sampled the more popular Pevear-Volokhonsky translation, the current Penguin Classics version, and the older Garnett translation too, and while I did not get too far in any of these, Avsey's version gripped me from the start and I ripped right through it on vacation. The Oxford World's Classics edition has much to recommend, including a time chronology, an index of main characters (an absolute necessity, as the same characters are referred to four or five different ways sometimes), and extensive editorial notes. Also, a minor point, but kudos to the printers Clays Ltd. for a superb job of printing, the paperback is a wonderfully crafted work of art!

I read as far as page 574 (of 974) and would have given up a lot sooner if I wasn't reading it for a bookgroup discussion. The concepts and plot of this book would be interesting but the writing style made me nauseous. There is just too much unnecessary detail and irrelevant addition to make it interesting. It also makes it confusing and interferes with the main themes and plot.

It would be a good exercise for someone learning English to take parts of this book and summarize them down into less words. (If someone did that with the whole book it might be an enjoyable read.)

This was my first attempt at reading Dostoevsky and probably my last.

I cannot take credit for the title of my review - apparently, Sigmund Freud said it first, and, while I cannot say that I would agree with Freud on every subject, I must say, unequivocally, that I agree with his statement about The Karamozov Brothers (with the caveat that, of course, I have not read every novel ever written, so, take the statement for what it's worth).

My only lament regarding this novel is that I cannot read Russian directly; however, as the other reviewers of this book have pointed out, the translation by Avsey is brilliant - there is simply no other way to describe it. I first read Dostoevsky in high school - Crime and Punishment, specifically - I devoured it in a few days, if that. I absolutely loved it. Since then, I have gone on to read other Dostoevsky novels, including The Idiot, and, of course, The Karamozov Brothers. Based upon reading these novels, and many others throughout the course of my life, I must say, truly, that The Karamozov Brothers is the most breathtaking novel I have ever had the pleasure to read in regards to scope, vision, and in capturing the human soul via the written word. When Crime and Punishment and The Idiot are warm up novels to something even greater, well, that's saying something.

As for the book itself, Dostoevsky understands humanity. And, more than that, he is able to somehow capture the essence of a person - their thoughts, desires, fears, in a way that, more than any author I have ever read, makes one feel as if one is not reading a novel, but rather, witnessing real events, and real people, struggle with the great mysteries of life. Reading it is like a peering through a window into the human soul.

Does God exist? Is science a complement to or repudiation of religion? Do we have souls? Is any action permitted, or are there fundamental truths about right and wrong that govern the human reality? Are we responsible for our own actions, and, if yes, then to what extent are we responsible? Are we responsible for the actions of others, and, if yes, then to what extent? Is religion a savior or destroyer of humanity?

While these all seem like pie in the sky questions, theoretical, and wishy-washy - they are in fact as relevant today (as evidenced by the furor over evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design, and the relationship of science and religion) as they were in Dostoevsky's time - and, I am sure, have always been and will always be pivotal questions surrounding the human experience. Further, while these questions are at the heart of the novel - the novel is not just about these questions, but about people, their journey, and how these questions impact and interweave with their, and our, daily lives...from how we treat strangers, to how we treat ourselves, and everyone and everything in between.

Life is rarely black and white, if ever, and it is the dichotomy between right and wrong, good and evil, guilt and innocent, taking responsibility vs. abdicating responsibility - that drives all of us, and that makes each of us who and what we are, for better or ill. It is those same forces that drive The Karamozov Brothers as a novel, and make it a crowning achievement and testimonial to the very essence of humanity itself.

Read it.