tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post4798561093032030227..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: How Reading The Brothers Karamazov is Like Driving From New York to Los AngelesBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30090548412809958712013-08-22T18:58:44.281-04:002013-08-22T18:58:44.281-04:00As always, thanks for your kind words Maria.
Ind...As always, thanks for your kind words Maria. <br /><br />Indeed this one was so big sand important that I decided to write three posts. In addition I never tried to wrap arms around the entire work, I just really tried to talk about three subjects that I found interesting.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50556437096235063772013-08-22T17:48:28.607-04:002013-08-22T17:48:28.607-04:00I can see that this novel has had a great impact o...I can see that this novel has had a great impact on you! You have dedicated several posts to it, which I think is totally necessary for a novel of this length and depth. One post cannot possibly cover even part of the richness contained in this work!<br /><br />From your comments, I see that this novel certainly requires some thought, along with immersion in the plot. That's typical of Russian novelists, especially Dostoevsky, and makes their works that much more fascinating!<br /><br />Thanks for all these posts! They are very interesting!! : ) Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33944577189662171422013-08-12T18:33:44.353-04:002013-08-12T18:33:44.353-04:00Hi Hi Himadri - Good point about a lot of things n...Hi Hi Himadri - Good point about a lot of things not making sense. But one thing for me is how, at least in this novel he managed to craft such deep and realistic personas yet create a work that was ultimately as fun as it was serious.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48133660846079598562013-08-12T18:09:51.224-04:002013-08-12T18:09:51.224-04:00I've long had a love-hate relationship with Do...I've long had a love-hate relationship with Dostoyevsky, and I think I love him more than I hate him. There's so much in his novels that, frankly, just doesn't make sense. he is a law unto himself. I could compile a list of all that is wrong with his novels... and yet, scenes and chaarcters and moments from his novels are lodged firmly in the mind when more "perfect" novels are all but forgotten. I can't figure it out, to be frank... He is a maddening writer worth being maddened by.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15616809855126654832013-07-30T19:03:58.054-04:002013-07-30T19:03:58.054-04:00Hi Heidi - The only Russian novel that I read in c...Hi Heidi - The only Russian novel that I read in collage was actually Dostoevsky’s The Demons. Even today, I have only read a scant amount of Russian literature. I really need to get to Crime and Punishment.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-8638510095303081282013-07-30T08:05:00.149-04:002013-07-30T08:05:00.149-04:00I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and reviews o...I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and reviews of this book. It's on my shelf--ready for reading. I needed a little break after Crime and Punishment. I so look forward to reading The Brothers K now. I'm currently reading some fluffy summer stuff, and also tackling David Copperfield. But, truly I've been surprised by the Russian authors I've read over the past 2 years. Why did I never read any of this in college?Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-21491567534149465952013-07-30T05:53:16.167-04:002013-07-30T05:53:16.167-04:00Hi Petty - Indeed this is one of the all time grea...Hi Petty - Indeed this is one of the all time greats I think.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-63585177185173135852013-07-30T05:36:21.677-04:002013-07-30T05:36:21.677-04:00A work that contains some of the most dynamic and ...A work that contains some of the most dynamic and interesting characters who ever lived on paper. Wow, you don't get a better recommendation than this. <br /><br />Great post, thanks.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1014644759474635732013-07-28T09:02:04.521-04:002013-07-28T09:02:04.521-04:00Hi Caroline - Translation is always an issue espec...Hi Caroline - Translation is always an issue especially when it comes to Russian. I spent a little time on researching what would be the best translation of this book.<br /><br />There are a multitude of strong opinions out there as to who is the best English translator of of Dostoevsky. I settled on the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky version as they seemed to take such great pains to capture the essence of the works. <br /><br />In his introductory essay to this book, Pevear described just ho complex and subtle was Dostoevsky’s style in this work and the corresponding challenges involved in translation.<br /><br />Pevear argues that Dostoevsky attempted to imitate an inexperienced writer throughout much of this work. In other parts he would lapse into the voice of a character, but sometimes only partially so. Pevear explained how he and Volokhonsky attempted to convey all this in translation.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27509597099030141662013-07-28T04:37:59.313-04:002013-07-28T04:37:59.313-04:00I like your travel story.
The longest Dostojevsky...I like your travel story. <br />The longest Dostojevsky I've read was Crime and Punishment and that was such a quick read. Both my parents have read almost all of his work and I've never heard them mentioning any of it was boring. <br />I'll be reading this, once I get to it in a French translation. I really don't know how well Russian translated to English or FRench or any other language. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-41981982071561199942013-07-27T11:54:29.956-04:002013-07-27T11:54:29.956-04:00Hi Guy - Agreed about the effects of Demons.
One...Hi Guy - Agreed about the effects of Demons. <br /><br />One might describe that book as a ride though the deep Louisiana Bayou!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51371276537343339582013-07-27T11:45:35.351-04:002013-07-27T11:45:35.351-04:00I loved Demons (one of the best books I've rea...I loved Demons (one of the best books I've read) but I had to recover from it. I felt as though I was dragged into this very dark place and needed rehab. Part of it was the slow dread from the murder that I knew would happen. And this is coming from someone who reads a lot of crime. <br /><br />How far along are you? Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52482119706751782592013-07-26T20:13:23.678-04:002013-07-26T20:13:23.678-04:00Hi Naida - For me the joy of the journey is usuall...Hi Naida - For me the joy of the journey is usually what I do expect. However this was an exceptional trip!<br /><br />Have a great weekend!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81605146572088577532013-07-26T18:27:04.567-04:002013-07-26T18:27:04.567-04:00Great post Brian! I have yet to read Dostoevsky bu...Great post Brian! I have yet to read Dostoevsky but I like the comparison you have used here. I think the unexpected sometimes is what was meant to happen all along.<br />Happy reading and happy Friday.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-54977111911957350182013-07-25T22:19:28.162-04:002013-07-25T22:19:28.162-04:00i Lucy - Thanks so much.
I think that one reason ...i Lucy - Thanks so much.<br /><br />I think that one reason that this book is a such a great teacher about people is that the characters seem to be so very real. More so then in almost every other piece of literature.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20754152138392273682013-07-25T14:26:55.585-04:002013-07-25T14:26:55.585-04:00I love this post! I completely agree with your pra...I love this post! I completely agree with your praise of the book - it also being one of my favourite pieces of literature - and I love the analogy you've used. The Brothers Karamazov is a book than can teach us so much about our own lives, or help us to understand both situations and people that little bit better.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15103141646225036708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45248638971010983922013-07-25T07:54:47.594-04:002013-07-25T07:54:47.594-04:00Hi Sharon - Indeed a work like this does lead to l...Hi Sharon - Indeed a work like this does lead to later fruitful harvests!<br /><br />I agree about Demons.I first read it years ago as an assignment for a Russian history class I was taking. I remember writing a paper that focused on how Russian Nineteenth century radicals influenced their twentieth century counterparts.<br /><br />I do remember that novel being very depressing.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-18148377746491463242013-07-25T01:38:01.124-04:002013-07-25T01:38:01.124-04:00I meant to add that I also read "Demons"...I meant to add that I also read "Demons". I liked it a lot although in many ways it was much more depressing but I think Dostoevsky was trying to alarm his readers into looking around them and see where their country was headed. I just didn't realize how early the communist ideals developing in Russia.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55848514809602836782013-07-25T01:36:16.701-04:002013-07-25T01:36:16.701-04:00I'm glad you liked the book because it's o...I'm glad you liked the book because it's one of my favorites. I believe it's planted seeds in you that will germinate. I love books that do that to me. Take care!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46343185485183515652013-07-24T18:52:11.844-04:002013-07-24T18:52:11.844-04:00Hi Suko -Way to go standing up for Hoboken!Hi Suko -Way to go standing up for Hoboken!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-80278275100212702272013-07-24T17:13:53.182-04:002013-07-24T17:13:53.182-04:00It sounds like this book took you on a very intere...It sounds like this book took you on a very interesting and unpredictable journey, which included numerous side trips. As for Hoboken, this picturesque place is also Frank Sinatra's birthplace, as well as the location of Carlo's Bake Shop. Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71200254785362465352013-07-24T04:27:41.874-04:002013-07-24T04:27:41.874-04:00Hi Richard - I read Demons. I did like it but as I...Hi Richard - I read Demons. I did like it but as I recall in many ways it was very different from this book. I remember it having interesting but less complex characters. This is a long book and has lots of pages of dialog and digressions. <br /><br /><br />One best goes in it intending to take their time.<br /><br />As for Hoboken:<br /><br />According to Wikipedia - "The first officially recorded game of baseball took place in Hoboken in 1846 between Knickerbocker Club and New York Nine at Elysian Fields In 1845"<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoboken,_New_Jersey#Birthplace_of_baseball<br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-2602996973839563552013-07-23T23:16:32.967-04:002013-07-23T23:16:32.967-04:00I'm encouraged to hear your opinion of this no...I'm encouraged to hear your opinion of this novel because even though I'd like to read it, I've heard more than a few bloggers I also trust say that it was a big and unwieldy bore for them. D's "Demons" was such a big and unwieldy bore for me that I gave up on it about 50 pages before the ending and haven't returned to it yet. By the way, I loved your travel analogy but suspect L.A. would be a much better destination for most folks than Hoboken!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.com