Even though I was *assigned* the Brothers Karamazov in HS I don’t think I ever read it because this plot/storyline did not seem familiar…

This book felt a little like “eating my vegetables” - I finished it, but I didn’t like any of the characters. It was a little hard to care what happened to any of them.

And also a little hard to believe some of their actions / motivations - James in particular. Did he REALLY not remember to look for the bag?! And their arch rivals adopted their dog even though it was all over the news that it was suspected the dog had been eaten?!

I can’t speak to the immigrant experience - but the dog metaphors / allusions / etc seemed really over the top.