Comments on: The Brothers Karamazov Readalong: Book 4 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Mon, 11 May 2026 21:05:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296&cpage=1#comment-37024 girldetective Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:11:43 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296#comment-37024 Dostoevsky has a sense of humor, it's just way more discomfiting than Dickens'. Fr. Ferapont, who sees demons: the fasting + the mushrooms doesn't necessarily mean he's in touch with the spiritual, IMO. Dostoevsky has a sense of humor, it’s just way more discomfiting than Dickens’.

Fr. Ferapont, who sees demons: the fasting + the mushrooms doesn’t necessarily mean he’s in touch with the spiritual, IMO.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296&cpage=1#comment-37021 Amy Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:57:23 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296#comment-37021 Ritalee, I agree about Father Ferapont and thinking a book just about the monastery would be worth thread. Kristin, a little of Dickens' sense of humor would be very welcome. Not to mention his (relatively, anyway) brevity. Ritalee, I agree about Father Ferapont and thinking a book just about the monastery would be worth thread.

Kristin, a little of Dickens’ sense of humor would be very welcome. Not to mention his (relatively, anyway) brevity.

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296&cpage=1#comment-37020 girldetective Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:47:51 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296#comment-37020 I should probably stop comparing it to Bleak House, but I do, and miss the Dickens. I should probably stop comparing it to Bleak House, but I do, and miss the Dickens.

]]> By: Ritalee http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296&cpage=1#comment-37018 Ritalee Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:07:02 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296#comment-37018 I enjoy your recaps too -- they also make me appreciate the book more. Most of the characters are stressful to spend time with, and as I begin book 5 reading Ivan talk about cruelty to Aloysha I glance ahead and notice that his side of the conversation takes up the whole next two pages without any indentations for new paragraphs. Dostoevsky loves to bring up Russians whipping horses across the eyes (see Crime and Punishment) and it makes me sick. I know this is beyond the scope of book 4, but my main point is about the endurance required for lengthy conversations. Father Ferapont is a lot of fun and I like his counterpoint to Zosima. I would be happy to read a book simply about the monastery and its characters. Lise is thoroughly annoying and her love affair with Alexei completely baffles me. Seriously, it made me long for Twilight. I'm still acclimating to this gargantuan novel and think about why Woody Allen is enamored of the Russians -- the wordiness, the angst, neurotic women. I find myself wondering how I'll feel about it all at the end. Underlying everything, I think, is the necessity of compassion, and I look forward to this concept spooling out through our characters. I enjoy your recaps too — they also make me appreciate the book more. Most of the characters are stressful to spend time with, and as I begin book 5 reading Ivan talk about cruelty to Aloysha I glance ahead and notice that his side of the conversation takes up the whole next two pages without any indentations for new paragraphs. Dostoevsky loves to bring up Russians whipping horses across the eyes (see Crime and Punishment) and it makes me sick. I know this is beyond the scope of book 4, but my main point is about the endurance required for lengthy conversations.
Father Ferapont is a lot of fun and I like his counterpoint to Zosima. I would be happy to read a book simply about the monastery and its characters.
Lise is thoroughly annoying and her love affair with Alexei completely baffles me. Seriously, it made me long for Twilight.
I’m still acclimating to this gargantuan novel and think about why Woody Allen is enamored of the Russians — the wordiness, the angst, neurotic women. I find myself wondering how I’ll feel about it all at the end. Underlying everything, I think, is the necessity of compassion, and I look forward to this concept spooling out through our characters.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296&cpage=1#comment-37016 Amy Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:51:16 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=5296#comment-37016 "He’s a good listener and well liked. Doestoevsky’s right in that these don’t seem exemplary. UNTIL HE’S SHOWN IN THE MIDST OF A BUNCH OF BAT$H1T CRAZY PEOPLE." That's a very Bloggess kind of statement. :-) I agree with everything you've said. It's Russian-ness is a tough row to hoe at times. Still, I'm intrigued and wonder--will Alyosha eventually replace the holy elder? And were Russians at the time even remotely how Dostoevsky paints them? “He’s a good listener and well liked. Doestoevsky’s right in that these don’t seem exemplary. UNTIL HE’S SHOWN IN THE MIDST OF A BUNCH OF BAT$H1T CRAZY PEOPLE.”

That’s a very Bloggess kind of statement. :-)

I agree with everything you’ve said. It’s Russian-ness is a tough row to hoe at times. Still, I’m intrigued and wonder–will Alyosha eventually replace the holy elder? And were Russians at the time even remotely how Dostoevsky paints them?

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