The Brothers Karamazov
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
(I finally finished this weekend!)

Dostoevsky proves himself a master of character complexity and development. Strange how the book just, ends. As it appears more character driven than plot driven it would seem to make more sense if the last to scenes of the book were switched, allowing the somewhat surprising behavior in the prison hospital to end the novel with some sort of progression or surprise. However, Dostoevsky's intention to write a sequel/series might have been just what prompted him to end the novel with seemingly minor characters. Who knows what part he intended the school boys to play, or what the death of the young boy may have prompted in the coming book. When considering this, the ending leads to a great deal of mystery and thoughts, which we'll never be able to answer.

Long book, and many times I wished I could just quit it, but in the end, I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn from the masters and willing to take a painful, but rewarding ride. The language is beautiful. The characters, compelling and confusing and altogether far too real!

Reading in bed....

...Until you fall asleep...

Both favorites. :)

Bellanotte

Getting close! Part Four, with about 130 pages to go! Book club is Saturday, so I think I know my Friday night plans. You and me, Dostoevsky. You and me.

But in some cases it is really more creditable to be carried away by an emotion, however unreasonable, which springs from a great love, than to be unmoved. And this is even truer in youth, for a young man who is always sensible is to be suspected and is of little worth- that's my opinion!


Water the earth with the tears of your joy and love those tears.

Everything that is true and good is always full of forgiveness.

-a few highlights from The Brothers Karamazov

The Brothers K are killing me! (I think that's ironic and witty, but I actually haven't reached the point in the novel when the murder occurs, so I don't really even know!) I read and I read, and I get nowhere. The version I've been using is double-columned! It's like reading the bible! And trying to do it in a month!

And not only that, but the ever-growing list of books is calling my name! Meg, Em and I were wandering the Elliot Bay Bookstore yesterday after brunch, and Meg asks, "Oh Kati, did you read this yet?" pointing to Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a book I've had my eye on for probably two years and I received from Kim for Christmas. Yeah, Meg read it last winter. How about this one? The Help. Another book I got for Christmas and haven't got to. Meg read it over Christmas, in a couple days. "Nope, Meg. Still on my shelf" I have a stack of books I have been given or bought that I have yet to get to. I received a new one at Esther's book exchange party, Em shipped one to my house as a surprise last week, I purchased one yesterday, and was lent three from T today (that I had asked to borrow). However, Brothers K continues to loom before me!

This morning, I threw Fahrenheit 451 in my purse anyways. My version of Brothers K is due back to the library today anyways and I figured I'd need something else to read on the bus ride home. But, guess which book I read the entire way in this morning... and which I can't wait to finish reading tonight?! :)

Oh books. Some love them for the pleasure, I think I love them for the pain. That's probably worth you worrying about me over. But admit it, many of you love the pain of a good run. It's the same with a book. A movie, you might hurt for an hour, maybe two. But then, you're quickly delivered at the safe happy ending. Oh no, a book can leave you in agony and discomfort for days and unless you commit to the journey, you'll never reach the end. Should you try to skip, the end won't even make sense to you, let alone touch you.

Oh books, not for the weak of heart.