The name Karamazov carries kara, the Turkic word for black, in its roots. Dostoevsky named his family for darkness and then spent 800 pages proving it.
Yes. Maybe not the most polished at times, but it’s undeniably alive. There’s also a deep architecture Dostoevsky baked into the story which rewards rereading. I’ve been writing companion articles for each of its twelve books this year and can attest—it does not get old: https://armchairnotes.substack.com/p/the-brother-karamazov-book-club-2026
This was fantastic. One of the best talks on the Brothers K I've heard. To be pedantic with the pronunciation, it's Karamzov, not Karamatsov. It's a Russian З and not a Ц.
The inclination to not want kids is likely two-fold. But, I think both reasons might stem from one. Children who don’t have good support from their own families, (young) adults who didn’t get enough encouragement and knowledge passed down from their parents/relatives will be reluctant to have kids because they feel ill-equipped. Some may still feel the urge to have kids because of a genetic desire passed down, a sort of biological clock that is used to wanting kids at a certain age. The other possibility for not wanting kids is two people who have become used to casual sex; they want the fun without the responsibility. But, I have a feeling even they are acting out of a source of poor parenting and lacking support. People turn to sex as an escape from life’s disappointments, including family.
This book doesn't include cyborgs or milking minotaurs.
It’s really good. But middlemarch is the greatest novel ever written.
The name Karamazov carries kara, the Turkic word for black, in its roots. Dostoevsky named his family for darkness and then spent 800 pages proving it.
Yes. Maybe not the most polished at times, but it’s undeniably alive. There’s also a deep architecture Dostoevsky baked into the story which rewards rereading. I’ve been writing companion articles for each of its twelve books this year and can attest—it does not get old: https://armchairnotes.substack.com/p/the-brother-karamazov-book-club-2026
I will be reading you.
I thought this was the greatest novel until I read Anna Karenina.
This is great!!
This was fantastic. One of the best talks on the Brothers K I've heard. To be pedantic with the pronunciation, it's Karamzov, not Karamatsov. It's a Russian З and not a Ц.
The inclination to not want kids is likely two-fold. But, I think both reasons might stem from one. Children who don’t have good support from their own families, (young) adults who didn’t get enough encouragement and knowledge passed down from their parents/relatives will be reluctant to have kids because they feel ill-equipped. Some may still feel the urge to have kids because of a genetic desire passed down, a sort of biological clock that is used to wanting kids at a certain age. The other possibility for not wanting kids is two people who have become used to casual sex; they want the fun without the responsibility. But, I have a feeling even they are acting out of a source of poor parenting and lacking support. People turn to sex as an escape from life’s disappointments, including family.