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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first tried to read this book when I was 16 and I remember enjoying the first part and then getting very bored as soon as we changed perspectives. I'm glad to say it went better this time. This is the kind of book best enjoyed while listening to Tchaikovsky, or the tortured Russian musician of your choice. It adds to the ✨mood✨.
I enjoyed the exploration of humanity, of morality and of the limited options people had according to their position in society and their gender. One starts the book, if not firmly, at least tentatively on the side of the protagonist, and then, well, things happen. The characters range from detestable to saintly, so new POVs are good for a change of pace. This book does tend to go on a tad too long occasionally, but nothing Tchaikovsky won't let you through. There are a few completely gratuitous antisemitic comments, which were unpleasant.
I don't know that I'd recommend this as an introduction to Russian literature. Speaking of Tchaikovsky, Pushkin's [b:Eugene Onegin|27822|Eugene Onegin|Alexander Pushkin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388373138l/27822._SY75_.jpg|1795311] is an easier read and I found the writing gorgeous (it is poetry after all), but this book is not as inaccessible as all that, so if you're intimidated, don't be.
I enjoyed the exploration of humanity, of morality and of the limited options people had according to their position in society and their gender. One starts the book, if not firmly, at least tentatively on the side of the protagonist, and then, well, things happen. The characters range from detestable to saintly, so new POVs are good for a change of pace. This book does tend to go on a tad too long occasionally, but nothing Tchaikovsky won't let you through. There are a few completely gratuitous antisemitic comments, which were unpleasant.
I don't know that I'd recommend this as an introduction to Russian literature. Speaking of Tchaikovsky, Pushkin's [b:Eugene Onegin|27822|Eugene Onegin|Alexander Pushkin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388373138l/27822._SY75_.jpg|1795311] is an easier read and I found the writing gorgeous (it is poetry after all), but this book is not as inaccessible as all that, so if you're intimidated, don't be.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Crime and Punishment
Our protagonist Raskolnikov, a 23 year old former student falls into destitution and convinces himself that killing a pawnbroker to steal her money will solve his problems. He also manages to convince himself that if he uses to money for "good" that this would be a morally justified killing.
While Raskolnikov is definitely impoverished, and while the situation is so dire that his sister is set to marry a well off suitor in order to help the family financially, his lot is life it not as grim as that of Semyon Marmeladov, an alcoholic who has squandered his families money to the point that his daughter is forced into prostitution.
The difference is that Marmeladov knows he is a disgrace, while at this point Raskonikov still thinks rather highly of himself.
This story is book-ended by the crime and the punishment. While it breeze through the crime, its the guilt driven madness that we read about the most.
It has been argued (and I agree) that the torment of guilt was the real punishment.
Unfortunately I was not a fan of this book. I'm not sure if it was the irritating characters, of the story itself. But I was not a fan.
Our protagonist Raskolnikov, a 23 year old former student falls into destitution and convinces himself that killing a pawnbroker to steal her money will solve his problems. He also manages to convince himself that if he uses to money for "good" that this would be a morally justified killing.
While Raskolnikov is definitely impoverished, and while the situation is so dire that his sister is set to marry a well off suitor in order to help the family financially, his lot is life it not as grim as that of Semyon Marmeladov, an alcoholic who has squandered his families money to the point that his daughter is forced into prostitution.
The difference is that Marmeladov knows he is a disgrace, while at this point Raskonikov still thinks rather highly of himself.
This story is book-ended by the crime and the punishment. While it breeze through the crime, its the guilt driven madness that we read about the most.
It has been argued (and I agree) that the torment of guilt was the real punishment.
Unfortunately I was not a fan of this book. I'm not sure if it was the irritating characters, of the story itself. But I was not a fan.
100 pages in i thought “this is going to ruin reading for me”
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even though this was written in the 1860's, there's something that feels very modern about this. A gripping classic
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes