Hmm... The first review, and of all things... a Dostoevsky novel; one of my favorite Russian Author's. I wonder how in depth I should make this study... but I'll start with the preliminaries.

This novel... was one of the most captivating novels i have read in my entire life. I spent two nights reading the damned thing, it is roughly 900 pages, but definitely worth the time. I've learned alot of things through this book, it is hailed as one of the greatest Christian novels coming from Russia (ironic is how Dostoyevsky's writings are normally attributed to existential philosophies, yet he was an orthodox christian...) His writing style in this book is easily appealing to many people. Let me begin with the plotline of all things.

Alyosha would be the main character in this novel, however, you must note that many russian novels contain many, MANY characters, and this one is not to be excluded. As the title states, this novel is centered on the Karamazov family, who are noted to be sensualists. Alyosha, at the beginning of this book, lives in a monasterie with his Elder Zosima, apparently one Holy fellow. Alyosha is noted to be pure, and many people trust him wholly, based on his purity and innocence. Fyodor, Alyosha's Father, tends to keep all his son's inheritance as his own, the trouble that causes the plot in the whole of the novel. Alyosha's three brothers are as follows: Dmitry, the sensualist (most like his father and very aggressive), Ivan, the intellectual (you will see by the end of the novel, that he is plagued by visions, and becomes insane), and Smerdyakov, the bastard child (he is the cunning of the three, and wants to be a Frenchman). The Brother's Karamazov was meant to be a prequel to the novel Dostoevsky attempted to write, explaining more of Alyosha, but he died before ever accomplishing the feat. Dmitry wants to have his inheritance from his father, and demands it; however, his father, who in fact does pay the whole amount, pays it in very small sums. Dmitry feels cheated out of his inheritance, and demands three thousand rubles (russian currency) so he can pay back his former fiancee. Greshunka, the leading lady in this novel, is the source of all problems. Dmitry, and his father, are both madly in love with her, and are both dead set against eachother because of this. When Dmitry doesn't have the three thousand rubles to pay back his former fiancee (which he scoundered away one night with Greshunka) his father views this as an accomplishment. Fyodor takes the three thousand and uses it as bait to lure Greshunka to him, to go off and marry. Fyodor is scared for his life for most of the novel, for fear that his son, Dmitry would kill him. Alyosha plays the intermediary in all this and tries to reason with both of them, but unsuccessfully. One night, Dmitry goes to his fathers house, and seems like he kills Fyodor. He decides to go out that night with Greshunka, and scoundered away another three thousand rubles, which seems he has taken from Fyodor. When the body is found at 2 AM that night, the police immediately suspect Dmitry, and arrest him in the town next to where the story takes place. He is questioned, and the court scene follows. Dmitry is persecuted, and it seems he will go to Siberia and work the coal mines for patricide. In all actuality, you find out that Smerdyakov was actually the killer... but you will have to read the book in order to find out that all of this makes sense (this review has been jumbled, it is hard to abridge a novel this complex, i've just covered the very undetailed basics).

Throughout the whole novel, there are many discussions of the existence of God, the Genealogy of Morals, and various topics that are worth mentioning, however i will omit them. In general, this is a curious study to nature of people as a whole, and if you have any decency, you ought to atleast make an attempt to read this peculiar study. You will find out it is a great read, but then again that is my opinion.