I am reading once again The Brothers Karamozov (rather, beginning it again) and I am intrigued by Fyodor Karamazov. He is supposed to be “one of the most loathsome characters in all literature,” and I am finding I pity him more than loath him. Granted he was utterly wretched to his children (and that might indeed be cause enough to call him loathsome), but he is not so evil as one might expect. Perhaps it’s not that he is evil as much as he is utterly apathetic about everything and everyone except himself and his concerns. He is childish, and I guess I pity him more than loath him for that. I am longing to talk to someone about this book . . .