Book Review
The Brothers Karamazov (by Fyodor Dostoevsky)
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- I noted, in particular, Dostoevsky’s emphasis on the psychological states of his characters. Far greater attention is paid to describing what the characters are doing and saying, as opposed to how they are or look like or what their physical conditions might be. In contrast to GGM’s writing, which paints such a vivid image of the world one feels transported into it, Dostoevsky’s writing is heavier on the action.
- Dostoevsky’s writing is also peculiar in the best sense. He frequently uses scare quotes, sometimes multiple times in the same line. He often qualifies statements and adds tid-bits of information in little twists after initially presenting an idea. These dexterities in form are part of why I enjoyed “The Brothers Karamazov” so much even if it took me over two months to read it!