The Brothers Karamazov

I am listening to this audiobook as a complement to my actual reading of the hard copy. I was finding it hard to get through the book and was running out of time to get through it (work is starting to pick up pace). I purchased this audiobook so I can listen to it on longer drives as well as refresh what I had read and maybe even move ahead.I really enjoyed the voice 'acting' of the reader. His voice is pleasant, accented, but doesn't overdo the personalities of the characters. I really love how he reads Fyodor Karamazov's part. Totally better than how it was in my head! The women are not read in any sort of falsetto, which I appreciated very much. His pacing was perfect. It's rare that an audio CD is better than if I'd read it myself, but this was one of those rarities.This reading comes in a DVD-sized casing with two CD's. This is particularly convenient for listening in cars since I don't have a multi-CD changer and I don't have to reach over and change CD's often.I was going to give this audio CD away after I was done with it, but I am falling in love with his voice and with how this book was read. Awesome. Totally recommended.

I don't read Russian, unfortunately, so I have to deal with "The Brothers Karamazov" in translation. That said, I like this translation - easy to understand (given the style and verbosity of the author) and seemingly well formatted in English. The reader is top notch. I like his well thought out ability to make his voice change to indicate who is speaking since there is very heavy layers of dialogue in most of this book. I was a little hesitant at first to buy an abridgment of a classic such as this because I didn't know what would be omitted. I shouldn't have worried - the abridgment is expertly done and the book stands it very well indeed. Fyodor Dostoyevsky still comes through at almost all points as clearly (or more clearly) as when I read it from a regular (non-audio) book. I like to listen to such a masterpiece while driving in the car on a long trip and the excellent reader on this audio book makes this even better.

This recording of "The Brothers Karamazov" is a great way to get into the written novel. Although, it certainly tells the story so well, one needn't fear something of the essence of the novel has been missed if one doesn't decide to read it as well. I highly recommend this version of the various audio books for "Karamazov."

The bitter sweet realization is that we are so entrenched in our committed lide-style, that even given a second chance to change, wewould not, as evidenced buy the old man saying."Go. and come no more."

We bought it as the Gift Exchange and our daughter in law loves it very muchThrilled to listend it

At nearly 50 years old, I just found this title and enjoyed it very much.

THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, which is one of Dostoyevsky's all time best, perhaps the best, adds to make him perhaps the best writer of all times. The author came up with so many great ideas and characters that are so real to life even in their complex emotions and rationales that we relate to the characters as if we are in their heads. In the end, not only do we have a great story, we are also left with a beautifully written work of political, psychological, sociological, ethical and psychological thought that is very true not only to Russia, but to other lands and peoples as well.The greatest soul writer of all times and great contributor to human psychology successfully created a beautiful and amazing dynamism between the Karamazov brothers that has been the core of many stories after involving siblings. There is the unreliable father, the old Fyodor Karamazov whose life dominates his sons and whose death casts a huge shadow on their future.Sensual Alyosha who is the youngest of the Karamazov brothers is the main character of the story, and he is noted for his strong faith in god and humanity, deep kindness and sense of sacrifice.Ivan the atheist has a sharp mind and is the critical analyzer who seeks for meaning in everything. He is skeptical and dwells more on rationale in his dealing with people and issues. In the end, his intellectual mind misleads him and opens the doors to the nightmares in his life.Dmitry is the sensitive brother who has a strong consideration for anything living, Smerdyakov their half-brother, is the cunning illegitimate son of old Fyodor Karamazov and works as Fyodor's servant.The characters of the brothers and the events of their lives made for the complex and fascinating story of exceptional proportions, where faith, meekness, atheism, indifference and slavery to negative instincts and impulses are often in conflict. Faith and atheism or disbelief in God is taken to epic proportions in Ivan's encounter with the devil.Dostoevsky stated that, "when there is no God, all is permitted.". That assertion is reinforced in books like The Union Moujik, The Idiot, Crime and Punishment. The absence of God or lack of faith in man makes it possible for man to thrive in his worst animal instincts. Even when man starts with good intentions, the absence of faith usually derails him to the point where the good intentions are overshadowed by the negative effects of his actions. My conclusion is that this is a rare masterpiece.