This is a hard book for me to rate as in some part the story really moved well and was very strong and in others I felt like that was a lot of fluff that wasn’t needed.

The story was meticulously written and really helps to expose a few things

the dangers of the absence of God on a society, the dangers of political radicalism, and the dangers of the, for lack of a better word, “educated ideals”

.

All of those are were present from the beginning. Between the soft liberalism of

Varvara & Stepan

who would enjoy the benefits of being seen as educated and forward thinking while still enjoying the safety and pleasantries of high society during a functional society. 

With their children

I’d argue that their ideas were taken to their logical end in the most extreme way.

. It’s another stark reminder to be weary of anyone who tries to create a Utopia in a fallen world. It will naturally lead lots of ugliness.

As for the book, there several complaints I have. A bit too bloated for my taste at parts and some of the philosophical conclusions of the more moral characters seemed flawed. 

That being said, it does stick with you. It’s gives you a lot to chew on and think about.