Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky

Advantages: Ecellent story and characters
Disadvantages: none

Crime and Punishment is one of those novels that we all feel we should read but relatively few actually do. It is considered a classic of western literature but maybe despite or because of this, reading it can also seem a daunting prospect. THE STORY Raskalnikov a young Russian, a former student at Petersburg University has fallen on bad times, he is desperate and penniless. He is worried about the fate of his widowed mother who lives in the provinces ...
...Raskalnikov carries out the brutal crime but events don't quite go as planned and he begins to regret aspects of what he did. Although he is not a suspect in the crime his increasing feelings of guilt lead him to confess his crime to Sonia, a young prostitute he has befriended. She being devoutly religious despite her occupation tries to help him through his torment. Eventually Raskalnikov crosses paths with the man investigating the murder Porfiry ... Read review

Advantages: Well-written, exciting
Disadvantages: Depression may ensue

...to get away with the crime easily, he knows that most people are caught because they make a mistake and he is confident that he won't. I don't want to reveal too much of the plot but needless to say Raskolnikov's plan goes out the window as he struggles to cope with the consequences of his actions. The whole mood of the book is quite black and depressing, a reflection of the hardships faced by the Russian people. Background events include one tragedy ...
...than one level as a crime novel, as a psychological study of crime, as a satirical dig at the justice system, or even as a study of the implications of intelligence in an uneducated society. There are a wealth of ideas buried within the text and because they are so concisely stated it takes some time to mull them all over. The emotions experienced by Raskolnikov are expertly conveyed to the reader throughout the book, it is difficult not to feel ... Read review

Advantages: excellent style, easy to read, good story, excellent writer
Disadvantages: can be very deep but still enjoyable

...an important key of the crime and as a witness… Porphyre already has suspicion on Raskelnikov who tends to be more nervous. An extreme feeling of guilt pushes him to go and see the judge not to tell his act but to relieve his conscience. But Porphyre is now convinced of his guilt and looks for total confession. In the meantime Raskelnikov meets a young prostitute Sonia. He is totally upset by this poor girl who has to sell her body for the ...
...and confesses her his horrible crime. She makes him understand he has to go the Police and tell the whole thing. He is convicted to the deportation via Siberia. It is very hard for Raskelnikov to accept his faith and the punishment. He knows he cut himself off from society because of his total alienation. Sonia succeeds in delivering him from his obsession and his guilt and he finally has a feeling of human solidarity, something he was looking for ... Read review

Advantages: Absolutely trustworthy psyhological types
Disadvantages: Maybe a little too psyhological novel

Russian anecdote in style of black humour: "Dostoevsky takes a walk in Petersburg and meets Raskolnikoff with a bloody axe in his hand. Dostoevsky: "Dear God, Rodion, how could you kill that granny for only ten kopecks?!" Raskolnikoff: "Hey, ten grannies make a rouble!" Large, cold city of st. Petersburg full of mist, injustice, rich and poor people presses on minds of its inhabitants. A poor, miserable student Rodion Raskolnikoff lives here, realises ...
...are not going to do any good for this world, but collect their money and even hope for eternal life on heaven after death. Seeing all that, Raskolnikoff decides that people are sheep, and only that who will treat them so, who will do anything to reach his point, will be a great man. He decides to prove himself that he can do something that other people - sheep - cannot do - to kill someone and chooses an old women moneylender as his victim. Her life ... Read review

Advantages: Bleak and thoughtful, one of the greatest Russian authors
Disadvantages: translation is horrid

...and that is an unforgivable crime as well. If anyone should know of a different English translation of this novel, please let me know. I am unable to finish it in it's present form. In my opinion, Garnett is a very poor translator, and this novel is in dire need of a new, readable translation. New readers to Dostoevsky should steer clear. Buy "The Brothers Karamazov" instead. ... Read review