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The Brothers Karamazov [Jimcin Recordings Edition]  By  cover art

The Brothers Karamazov [Jimcin Recordings Edition]

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky,Constance Garnett - translator
Narrated by: Walter Covell
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Publisher's summary

Dostoevsky studied human nature with passion and precision. He plumbed the depths and never winced at what he found, even when it was beyond his understanding. This extraordinary novel is a recital of his findings, told in the story of four brothers: Dimitri, pleasure-seeking, impatient, unruly; Ivan, brilliant and morose; Alyosha, gentle, loving, honest; and the illegitimate Smerdyakov, sly, silent, cruel. What gives this story its dramatic grip is the part these brothers play in their father's murder.
©1987 Jimcin Recordings (P)1987 Jimcin Recordings

What listeners say about The Brothers Karamazov [Jimcin Recordings Edition]

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    174
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    33
  • 1 Stars
    17
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    91
  • 4 Stars
    55
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    8
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    118
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

This is one of those life-changing books that has a profound impact on all who read it. On one level it is the story of a murder in which the murdered man's sons share varying degrees of complicity. However, it also has a deeper level. It portrays the spiritual drama of the characters moral struggles between faith, doubt, reason, and free will. Wonderful story, though not exactly light reading. Walter Covell is one of my favorite readers and he did his usual excellent job. Five stars.

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46 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I Tried Covell, Davidson, and Woolf

Any additional comments?

I tried all three narrators available for the unabridged Brothers K. I hated them all to begin with, but Covell is the one that I was able to settle into. Davidson's condescension, though I tried my best to ignore it, was just too much. Woolf and Clovell are both underwhelming, and it takes more concentration to hang on, but between them, I like Covell. In general, I've found boring narrations to be less offending to the ear across a long listening than obnoxious ones that might be more dramatic. Listening to Covell is sometimes like hearing those computer-automated voice, but it can actually become endearing after a while. In any case, while his voice didn't do anything to enhance the reading, in the end he didn't detract from it. I've read the book before, and I found the sensation of hearing Covell's reading exactly the same, whereas Davidson's narration jarred the spell completely for me.

It's a shame there is not a reading of this novel as great as Guidall's masterful Crime and Punishment, but this performance still amounts to a wonderful experience.

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

This is an amazing book and I really felt that listening to it helped me get more out of it.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is one of the reasons I joined Audible!

I loved it! I have read this book a number of times and in different translation but it was great to listen to it while on the road.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Looong Story, Below Avg Narration

I had seen an excellent redition of the story as a play a year ago so I had high expectations.

In contrast to the play, I found that the story had its high points but it required getting through many long dreary stretches. I have found the other major Russian works of literature as interesting but difficult to get through in the past so that should also be taken into consideration.

I thought that the narration as well below average for Audible. The narrator's different voices remind me of some cheap CDs of children's stories that I hear my kids listen too. Poor and inconsistent voice differentation made me wish that he didn't bother trying to use varied "voices" at all.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

I'm going to try a different reader/translation.

I listen to A LOT of audio books. Long ones. Like "War & Peace"..."Moby Dick"..."Bleak House". But, this one I couldn't finish, despite several tries. The reader lacks emotional nuance. And the simple pacing of words, which could bring a scene vividly to life, is dull and listless. He's got great pronunciation of words. But, still...I'm going to look for a different version and give it another try.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Ugh!

Despite having listened to, and loved, several dozen long 19th century English, European and Russian novels, I found this one so obnoxiously butchered by its reader as to be unlistenable.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Perceptive and Engaging Family Narrative

Where does The Brothers Karamazov rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As far as fiction goes, I would rate this #1.

What did you like best about this story?

I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of drama, psychology, philosophy, religion, law, & Russian History!

Have you listened to any of Walter Covell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. But based on the 40 hours of this recording, I would recommend, and will definitely seek out other recordings by Covell!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The chapter entitled "The Grand Inquisitor"... Also some of Father Zossima's speeches...

Any additional comments?

One can tell that this novel was first written serially, and that Dostoyevsky was paid by his output. The story does lag in some places, especially for the modern reader, so accustomed to speed, but all in all the work is a must-read (or must-listen) for the thinker...

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth it, even if you're not a fan of "classics"

What made the experience of listening to The Brothers Karamazov the most enjoyable?

A well done reading of a story worth hearing.

Any additional comments?

I'm not a huge fan of classic literature, but this story is still relevant and powerful, particularly if you know any sullen young "intellectual" men with chips on their shoulders, or happen to be one.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic

What made the experience of listening to The Brothers Karamazov the most enjoyable?

The narration was great.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a classic story, many know the plot even before they listen, but still, the way the character development unfolds is masterful. Dostoevsky is genius as most of us recognize it.

Any additional comments?

Throughly loved it.

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4 people found this helpful