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yooniereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Dostoyevsky's writing, or at least the translation of it, is something I have to actively get my head in to. A lot of people described this book as "existential", and I think it's an accurate description. It wonderfully and hauntingly presents you the psyche of Raskolnikov when he takes control of his destiny in the worst possible way.
Existentialism posits that a person is solely responsible and in control of his actions and destiny. A thought, I think, perfectly summarized by the following quote:
Existentialism posits that a person is solely responsible and in control of his actions and destiny. A thought, I think, perfectly summarized by the following quote:
To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's.
The writing is very... of its time. However, I enjoyed how guilt and morality is presented in such a thought-provoking way. Granted, I read this for a philosophy class, and I certainly have more to say about it philosophically. But in the literary sense, it's a good murder story told from the perspective of the murderer if you're okay with working through big chunks of text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Sexism
zainab_fatima_b's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder
laurenvoice's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was hard to decide which star rating to give this book. Crime and Punishment is a fascinating read, yet, at the same time can be quite dull!
I read this edition of Crime and Punishment alongside listening to the Audible edition read by Will Poulter. First and foremost, it has to be said that Poulter gave a marvellous performance of Crime and Punishment. Poulter played each character well and can keep the reader engrossed throughout this Russian classic.
However, it did not occur to me that this Penguin Vintage Classic edition would be translated differently to the Audible edition. This was rather silly of me to think they would be translated the same. Anyway, it is quite easy to get two different interpretations of the book but it is easy, however, to know that this book was about a crime and indeed a punishment.
Crime and Punishment to my surprise was much more graphic than I expected it to be, and of course, the crime was not as I would have expected. Raskolnikov drove himself insane, but, it seemed he never felt guilt for the crime he committed. It was a rather odd read, but, it was an important read, nevertheless.
Dostoevsky talked a lot about psychology in this story, and for someone who has studied Forensic Psychology and Criminal Psychology, I am shocked that this book was never recommended. This book would be a good read for those that study or are interested in psychology, especially in the fields of forensics, criminal psychology, and criminology. As Crime and Punishment discusses many philosophical debates concerning crime, justice and society.
Furthermore, it was also interesting from a feminist point of view, how Dostoevsky talked about women. Although this book does have a patriarchal air about it, there were scenes that showed the reader that demonising and abusing women and children was in itself a criminal act. In one scene, for example, Raskolnikov tried and gave money to protect a young girl that had clearly been assaulted by some men. We also saw how Marfa Petrovna had cleared Dunya's name after accusing her of seducing a married man, when it was in actual fact, a man trying to take advantage of Dunya. Finally, we also saw the disgust that Raskolnikov had about Svidrigailov, a middle-aged man, taking a girl barely 16-years-old as a fiancée.
Overall, Crime and Punishment left me feeling indifferent. Yes, Crime and Punishment is both an important and engrossing read, it also goes off on tangents and lengthy descriptions that seemed rather unnecessary, making the book quite dull at times.
I read this edition of Crime and Punishment alongside listening to the Audible edition read by Will Poulter. First and foremost, it has to be said that Poulter gave a marvellous performance of Crime and Punishment. Poulter played each character well and can keep the reader engrossed throughout this Russian classic.
However, it did not occur to me that this Penguin Vintage Classic edition would be translated differently to the Audible edition. This was rather silly of me to think they would be translated the same. Anyway, it is quite easy to get two different interpretations of the book but it is easy, however, to know that this book was about a crime and indeed a punishment.
Crime and Punishment to my surprise was much more graphic than I expected it to be, and of course, the crime was not as I would have expected. Raskolnikov drove himself insane, but, it seemed he never felt guilt for the crime he committed. It was a rather odd read, but, it was an important read, nevertheless.
Dostoevsky talked a lot about psychology in this story, and for someone who has studied Forensic Psychology and Criminal Psychology, I am shocked that this book was never recommended. This book would be a good read for those that study or are interested in psychology, especially in the fields of forensics, criminal psychology, and criminology. As Crime and Punishment discusses many philosophical debates concerning crime, justice and society.
Furthermore, it was also interesting from a feminist point of view, how Dostoevsky talked about women. Although this book does have a patriarchal air about it, there were scenes that showed the reader that demonising and abusing women and children was in itself a criminal act. In one scene, for example, Raskolnikov tried and gave money to protect a young girl that had clearly been assaulted by some men. We also saw how Marfa Petrovna had cleared Dunya's name after accusing her of seducing a married man, when it was in actual fact, a man trying to take advantage of Dunya. Finally, we also saw the disgust that Raskolnikov had about Svidrigailov, a middle-aged man, taking a girl barely 16-years-old as a fiancée.
Overall, Crime and Punishment left me feeling indifferent. Yes, Crime and Punishment is both an important and engrossing read, it also goes off on tangents and lengthy descriptions that seemed rather unnecessary, making the book quite dull at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny
wilde_for_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
alienstatement's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So good I will never shut up about it. I am a Raskolnikov apologist
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism
impeachnixon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
juneyard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Alcoholism
justinareads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
slutforalbertcamus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
C'est ma critique sans analyse poussée, direct après avoir refermé le livre et sans temps de réflexion.
Mon premier réflexe est de parler de la fin. Les deux derniers chapitres de ce livre continuent cette longue tradition que j'ai de lire des livres avec des fins magnifiques, que ce soit L'Etranger, Les Fleurs du Mal, Du Côté de Chez Swann ou même l'Ingénu (un livre que je hais à part pour cette fin), les fins sont souvent les meilleurs parties du roman. Cette fin adresse enfin la résurrection qui a été présentée à travers tout ce long récit, à travers le personnage de Sonia, Porphiri, et simplement le mythe de Lazare. Cette fin acte la résurrection par l'amour, ce qui en tant que tel pourrait paraître un peu... déjà vu, mais qui semble dans ce roman prendre une forme toute nouvelle et incroyablement touchante.
Du reste je dirais que ce livre est un chef-d'oeuvre thématique, dans le sens où tous les concepts ici explorés sont parfaitement reliés et atteignent tous des conclusions satisfaisantes. Le livre a des défauts certains, avec l'antisémitisme au premier plan et peut-être le traitement des personnages féminins, et Dostoïevski n'est certainement pas un ange. Mais malgré tout cela, c'est une lecture intense et immensément immersive que propose ce livre.
Mon premier réflexe est de parler de la fin. Les deux derniers chapitres de ce livre continuent cette longue tradition que j'ai de lire des livres avec des fins magnifiques, que ce soit L'Etranger, Les Fleurs du Mal, Du Côté de Chez Swann ou même l'Ingénu (un livre que je hais à part pour cette fin), les fins sont souvent les meilleurs parties du roman. Cette fin adresse enfin la résurrection qui a été présentée à travers tout ce long récit, à travers le personnage de Sonia, Porphiri, et simplement le mythe de Lazare. Cette fin acte la résurrection par l'amour, ce qui en tant que tel pourrait paraître un peu... déjà vu, mais qui semble dans ce roman prendre une forme toute nouvelle et incroyablement touchante.
Du reste je dirais que ce livre est un chef-d'oeuvre thématique, dans le sens où tous les concepts ici explorés sont parfaitement reliés et atteignent tous des conclusions satisfaisantes. Le livre a des défauts certains, avec l'antisémitisme au premier plan et peut-être le traitement des personnages féminins, et Dostoïevski n'est certainement pas un ange. Mais malgré tout cela, c'est une lecture intense et immensément immersive que propose ce livre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Antisemitism
Minor: Racial slurs
nachtvlucht's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape