Hello book club!
For something slightly different, Sean hosted Liza Libes (of Pens and Poison fame) for an impromptu discussion on The Brothers Karamazov, focusing especially on Book V (“Pro and Contra”).
Sean and Liza examine the pivotal dialogue between Alyosha and Ivan, in particular:
Rebellion: Ivan’s rejection of a world (and a God) that permits the suffering of innocent children for the sake of some eventual harmony — and his famous line about “returning the ticket.”
The Grand Inquisitor: Ivan’s poem in which Christ returns to Earth during the Spanish Inquisition and is arrested. The Inquisitor argues that free will is an unbearable burden for most people; the Church has therefore chosen security and authority over freedom…
Enjoy!
Don’t forget to join our book club!
We just started reading Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov! The next discussion is on Tuesday, August 18, at noon ET.
Watch the recording of the first session (covering Books 1–4) here.
To support our mission, please consider a paid subscription. It makes a HUGE difference to the time and resources we can dedicate. You’ll get:
Live book discussions (biweekly) and recordings
Access to our incredible community of readers
Regular essays to guide you through the books we’re reading
The entire library of articles, essays, and podcasts
