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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
In the beginning, I didn’t know where this book would take me, but it led me on a deep, excruciating, and painful—yet philosophical—journey.
Towards the middle of the book, I found myself truly falling for Raskolnikov, even though he seemed to despise everything. I understood that it was only because of his circumstances. There were so many powerful moments in this book, especially early on, when a man describes how destitution will make someone lose all morality. With poverty, you at least have something—you can still hold onto the goodness you were inherently born with. But destitution means having nothing, being left stranded like an animal in the woods, begging, yearning to find a way to survive.
Then there was that quote about suffering, about how great suffering is needed. That idea stayed with me. This book just blew me away. And that moment when they say a murderer and a harlot come together to read the Book of God—something about that was so powerful. I can’t quite put it into words. It was poetic, yet deeply moving. Two people who, by all logic, should be against the book, coming together to read it. I’m agnostic, but I don’t know—something about it resonated with me.
And then there’s the character who shoots himself in the head. I could see his death coming, and I’m glad it did—because he was unredeemable, and he knew it. And I’m glad Dostoevsky knew this too. When he mentioned the dead girl he saw, the one who drowned, and said he knew her, I believe she was one of his victims. It was a portent of his suicide. He saw her death—her suicide—before he ultimately committed his own. His victims followed him.
Towards the end, I read every word with urgency, with anticipation, with fear of what might come, even though I had a strong feeling that Raskolnikov would finally admit to the murder he committed.
This book is a masterpiece—one that forces you to question the morality and integrity of mankind while haunting you with a plethora of uncomfortable emotions. I could see the vivid imagery, smell the alcohol and meat described. I loved stepping into that world, the world of 19th-century Russia.
Towards the middle of the book, I found myself truly falling for Raskolnikov, even though he seemed to despise everything. I understood that it was only because of his circumstances. There were so many powerful moments in this book, especially early on, when a man describes how destitution will make someone lose all morality. With poverty, you at least have something—you can still hold onto the goodness you were inherently born with. But destitution means having nothing, being left stranded like an animal in the woods, begging, yearning to find a way to survive.
Then there was that quote about suffering, about how great suffering is needed. That idea stayed with me. This book just blew me away. And that moment when they say a murderer and a harlot come together to read the Book of God—something about that was so powerful. I can’t quite put it into words. It was poetic, yet deeply moving. Two people who, by all logic, should be against the book, coming together to read it. I’m agnostic, but I don’t know—something about it resonated with me.
And then there’s the character who shoots himself in the head. I could see his death coming, and I’m glad it did—because he was unredeemable, and he knew it. And I’m glad Dostoevsky knew this too. When he mentioned the dead girl he saw, the one who drowned, and said he knew her, I believe she was one of his victims. It was a portent of his suicide. He saw her death—her suicide—before he ultimately committed his own. His victims followed him.
Towards the end, I read every word with urgency, with anticipation, with fear of what might come, even though I had a strong feeling that Raskolnikov would finally admit to the murder he committed.
This book is a masterpiece—one that forces you to question the morality and integrity of mankind while haunting you with a plethora of uncomfortable emotions. I could see the vivid imagery, smell the alcohol and meat described. I loved stepping into that world, the world of 19th-century Russia.
I was afraid of reading this book for a long time, but it was considerably easier to read than I thought. Worth all the hype, potentially one of the best books I’ve ever read.
as it is a classic, i'd known the major storyline of the book and doubted if it would keep me to the very end of the pages, but alas, i was proven wrong. the debacles Rodya had to go through until he finally turned himself in was told in the most exceptional way. the mood was at times greatly depressing, and at times immensely thrilling i could not put it down for hours.
the story revolves on a man's murder and the consequences that follow. Rodya, the protagonist, had a strong conviction that his murder was justified; that it in itself was an execution of his original theory about human nature. but among the most intriguing variables of the story are not his internal debates of the morale of his doing, but the (literally and figuratively) isolation he'd endured before and after.
from legal point of view, one can argue that the act was derived from temporary madness--a defense that indeed had begun to be accepted in Russia at the time. but the psychological effects he suffered from that onwards was incredibly depicted, long before Freud even. he was mentally unstable, and, as a result, his physical health was impaired, too. one would argue that that alone was his true punishment.
the story revolves on a man's murder and the consequences that follow. Rodya, the protagonist, had a strong conviction that his murder was justified; that it in itself was an execution of his original theory about human nature. but among the most intriguing variables of the story are not his internal debates of the morale of his doing, but the (literally and figuratively) isolation he'd endured before and after.
from legal point of view, one can argue that the act was derived from temporary madness--a defense that indeed had begun to be accepted in Russia at the time. but the psychological effects he suffered from that onwards was incredibly depicted, long before Freud even. he was mentally unstable, and, as a result, his physical health was impaired, too. one would argue that that alone was his true punishment.
Of all the things to take away from this, I find I mostly think of Svidrigaylov's idea of eternity as an empty room with spiders in the corners. Hope you're wrong, dude!
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this being my first reading of the year might say a lot about my current mental state... nevertheless a fun read love you dostoevsky <3