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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Russian literature is probably my favorite variety. I'm not certain why that is, seeing as how nothing ever ends the way you'd like it to. This was a prime example of that trend.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is such a thought provoking book and also the first Dostoyevsky book I have ever finished (though not my introduction to his work).
Raskolnikov is such a fascinanting character (although I like to joke that he is a loser sometimes (maybe he is)). I could find bits and pieces of him in me, one for example is how much mental gymnastic and emotional turmoil I go through when I try to justify my own action, or how our guilty conscience can control us and drive us to insanity.
A character that I admire is Sonya, how she was still so full of compassion, love, and hope in spite of all the suffering she went through throughout the story. I also love that Sonya is basically potrayed as a saint despite the nature of her work (prostitution).
But I think the best character here is Razumikhin. I actually think it’s amusing that he seemed to be the only character who still managed to be mentally stable despite enduring a similar living condition with most of the characters (in the slums of St Petersburg). It's truly admirable how he stood by Raskolnikov as he got crazier and crazier because I would have given up or gone crazy too lol
Admittedly it was hard to get through the beginning at first because I had not finished/read a book since last year and the pacing of the book is slow (although the whole story, excluding the epilogue, took place over the course of about a week or so), but I persevered and pushed throught and eventually I started devouring the book!!
Admittedly it was hard to get through the beginning at first because I had not finished/read a book since last year and the pacing of the book is slow (although the whole story, excluding the epilogue, took place over the course of about a week or so), but I persevered and pushed throught and eventually I started devouring the book!!
Albeit there are some parts that felt draggy (maybe it's just me).
Sometimes the characters would talk endlessly, it felt so long-winded, and I would ask myself, ‘where are they going with this?', but I think the key is just to push through and then eventually I would realize where they were leading the conversation to (admittedly still confusing sometimes).
Definitely is not the last book of Dostoyevsky I will read, and would suggest everyone to read it!!
Definitely is not the last book of Dostoyevsky I will read, and would suggest everyone to read it!!
Chef-d’oeuvre. 600 pages de suspens, d’enthousiasme ou on suit Raskolnikov à travers les rues de Saint-Petersbourg. À lire absolument, j’ai adoré.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, I guess we're screwed by human irrationality forever...
Another revered classic. Another incredible, engrossing read. It painted vivid lifelike images in my head for the entirety of the book and made me think deeply about political movements and human nature. I can't really give a book a higher rating.
And a note on Dostoyevsky translations. The Oliver Ready translation of this was wonderful. I don't speak Russian so I can't tell if it's note for note perfect but the way it read was smooth and made reading Crime & Punishment a breeze that was both moving and gripping. I couldn't put the book down. I have previously read the Pevear & Volokhonsky translations of Notes from Underground and half of The Brothers Karamazov before tiring of it and putting it down. I found both of those translations to be difficult to read due to stilted prose and odd sentence structures. I couldn't make it through the latter due to these faults. When comparing several translations in preparation for and during this book I found the exact same problems with the P&V version. I also came across articles which were vitriolic of their translations as they found many first time readers of Dostoyevsky were unable to find the magic in his writing and were forever turned off of him. I personally was so put off by the P&V translation of The Brothers Karamazov that I wasn't sure if I would ever attempt Dostoyevsky again. If a friend had not insisted I read Notes, I'm not sure if I would have ever thought about doing so myself. I think Pevear & Volokhonsky have done an extreme disservice to Dostoyevsky through their awkward translations and if you're reading this I would implore you to stay away from them. If you have read and enjoyed them, great. But maybe try a different translator and see what you think.
Another revered classic. Another incredible, engrossing read. It painted vivid lifelike images in my head for the entirety of the book and made me think deeply about political movements and human nature. I can't really give a book a higher rating.
And a note on Dostoyevsky translations. The Oliver Ready translation of this was wonderful. I don't speak Russian so I can't tell if it's note for note perfect but the way it read was smooth and made reading Crime & Punishment a breeze that was both moving and gripping. I couldn't put the book down. I have previously read the Pevear & Volokhonsky translations of Notes from Underground and half of The Brothers Karamazov before tiring of it and putting it down. I found both of those translations to be difficult to read due to stilted prose and odd sentence structures. I couldn't make it through the latter due to these faults. When comparing several translations in preparation for and during this book I found the exact same problems with the P&V version. I also came across articles which were vitriolic of their translations as they found many first time readers of Dostoyevsky were unable to find the magic in his writing and were forever turned off of him. I personally was so put off by the P&V translation of The Brothers Karamazov that I wasn't sure if I would ever attempt Dostoyevsky again. If a friend had not insisted I read Notes, I'm not sure if I would have ever thought about doing so myself. I think Pevear & Volokhonsky have done an extreme disservice to Dostoyevsky through their awkward translations and if you're reading this I would implore you to stay away from them. If you have read and enjoyed them, great. But maybe try a different translator and see what you think.
While I did appreciate the lessons, the classicness of this book, and the themes of faith in this book, it was quite long and dragged a lot, especially during the middle.
Things I liked:
⚖️ The faith themes, especially with turning to faith as the only redemption for suffering and sin
⚖️ The old versus new ideals that we see with Raskolnikov in the beginning and the end
⚖️ Sonya's character, and the story of Marmaladeov
⚖️ Raskolnikov's paper and how it portrayed his viewpoint
Ultimately, I think I've said my opinion. I'm glad I've read it and I have a new appreciation for Dostoevsky as a writer but boy was this hefty.
Things I liked:
⚖️ The faith themes, especially with turning to faith as the only redemption for suffering and sin
⚖️ The old versus new ideals that we see with Raskolnikov in the beginning and the end
⚖️ Sonya's character, and the story of Marmaladeov
⚖️ Raskolnikov's paper and how it portrayed his viewpoint
Ultimately, I think I've said my opinion. I'm glad I've read it and I have a new appreciation for Dostoevsky as a writer but boy was this hefty.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Woohoo w koncu sie udalo!! Ale oh Gods, podsumowanie tego byloby ciezkie. Powiem tylko, ze mega smutna ogolnie jest ta ksiazka jakby no :((( they deserve better. Also, chcialxbym druga czesc z dalszymi losami Raskolnikowa i Soni