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loyaultemelie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Edit: Though I initially left Crime and Punishment unrated, I must capitulate to the inevitable. This was my second favorite book I read in 2023. It made me discover (much to my self-loathing) one of my favorite authors. I think about this book, almost every. single. day. It would be the height of folly for me not to give Crime and Punishment five stars.
People who say Dostoevsky had an instinctive understanding of the way humans work are not wrong. The complexity of every character is at times overwhelming. Though Dostoevsky does not refrain from casting moral judgement, he does place everyone and everything within a living, breathing world.We know why Rodya commits murder. We also understand the acuteness of both his suffering, and of his arrogance. He believed that he could be a 'great man,' but instead it was he - not Sonya, who he tells this often misquoted and misunderstood out of context line to - whose 'worst sin is that [he's] betrayed and destroyed [himself] for nothing.' That we the audience, and Sonya herself, sees this while he doesn't is proof of masterful writing.
Regardless of how much I dislike Dostoevsky's philosophy later in life. Regardless of how complicated the legacy of 'great' Russian literature is. All these things are important to remember. But I would also be lying to myself if I pretended that this book did not touch me in spite of all of that. I adore this book, plain and simple. I must reckon with that.
Despite my personal loathing for Dostoevsky as a human, I did indeed enjoy this novel. I will say Garnett’s translation is my personal favorite - I believe she captures Dostoevsky’s manic prose better than P&V
People who say Dostoevsky had an instinctive understanding of the way humans work are not wrong. The complexity of every character is at times overwhelming. Though Dostoevsky does not refrain from casting moral judgement, he does place everyone and everything within a living, breathing world.
Regardless of how much I dislike Dostoevsky's philosophy later in life. Regardless of how complicated the legacy of 'great' Russian literature is. All these things are important to remember. But I would also be lying to myself if I pretended that this book did not touch me in spite of all of that. I adore this book, plain and simple. I must reckon with that.
Despite my personal loathing for Dostoevsky as a human, I did indeed enjoy this novel. I will say Garnett’s translation is my personal favorite - I believe she captures Dostoevsky’s manic prose better than P&V
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
aliceeee_'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
4.75
Honestly, I get why this is such a highly regarded book. It is great. It is definitely slow and takes a while to get you into the story. But, once you are invested you can’t put the book down. It might take a while to get to that point, but it is worth it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
deathofdoa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO BAD i literally had an identity crisis for weeks cause of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
veryill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Rape
rhiannonsyme's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
valreadssometimes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
3.25
Reading this was a punishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
maria_borges1507's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Um retrato de pobreza e desespero.
Um thriller psicológico (escrito num século em que tal coisa não existia) onde os pensamentos e angústias das personagens são revelados de uma forma absurdamente extraordinária.
Um thriller psicológico (escrito num século em que tal coisa não existia) onde os pensamentos e angústias das personagens são revelados de uma forma absurdamente extraordinária.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
klimatyczny_bluszcz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
That was a piece of great literature. Glad that I have finally read it!
I was so invested and amazed while reading. Loved how Dostoyevski layered this novel and created such psychologically complex characters. I have no idea what else to write about a literary masterpiece that so many people write and talk about. It was just a greatly good book.
I was so invested and amazed while reading. Loved how Dostoyevski layered this novel and created such psychologically complex characters. I have no idea what else to write about a literary masterpiece that so many people write and talk about. It was just a greatly good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Deportation
saara's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Murder
healnotslay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well. The crime being to not value life enough and the punishment being the existential crisis as a consequence.
The crime being failure at grandiosity and the punishment being keen awareness of the failure.
The crime being unnecessary cruelty to the people you love and the punishment being feeling undeserving of their forgiveness and kindness.
The crime being murder and the punishment being the constant anxiety of being caught, to the point where confession to the crime is catharsis.
Etc etc etc
I read the Garnett translation & is prob the main reason it's not a 4 star read, I wish I'd picked a different one. Her Anna Karenina one is quite good (in my uninformed opinion) but it feels clunky here.
The crime being failure at grandiosity and the punishment being keen awareness of the failure.
The crime being unnecessary cruelty to the people you love and the punishment being feeling undeserving of their forgiveness and kindness.
The crime being murder and the punishment being the constant anxiety of being caught, to the point where confession to the crime is catharsis.
Etc etc etc
I read the Garnett translation & is prob the main reason it's not a 4 star read, I wish I'd picked a different one. Her Anna Karenina one is quite good (in my uninformed opinion) but it feels clunky here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder