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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THIS BOOK!!!
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment is an absolute masterwork of psychological depth, moral dilemmas, and existential torment.
Not for the faint of heart.
At its core, the book is a feverish descent into guilt and conscience, following Raskolnikov, a man who commits a murder believing he is above morality, only to unravel under the weight of his own mind. Dostoevsky brilliantly dissects alienation, redemption, and the clash between intellect and emotion, with an unforgettable supporting cast-Sonya’s quiet strength, Porfiry’s psychological traps, and Luzhin’s deliciously despicable arrogance.
What makes this novel so gripping isn’t just its philosophical depth, but its sheer tension throughout-Raskolnikov’s paranoia is palpable, and each conversation feels like a high-stakes battle of wills. The writing (especially in the Michael Katz translation) is sharp, immersive, and eerily modern.
If you love books that explore moral complexity, psychological torment, and the human need for redemption, READ this book, esp. the Katz’s translation.
Absolutely brilliant!!
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment is an absolute masterwork of psychological depth, moral dilemmas, and existential torment.
Not for the faint of heart.
At its core, the book is a feverish descent into guilt and conscience, following Raskolnikov, a man who commits a murder believing he is above morality, only to unravel under the weight of his own mind. Dostoevsky brilliantly dissects alienation, redemption, and the clash between intellect and emotion, with an unforgettable supporting cast-Sonya’s quiet strength, Porfiry’s psychological traps, and Luzhin’s deliciously despicable arrogance.
What makes this novel so gripping isn’t just its philosophical depth, but its sheer tension throughout-Raskolnikov’s paranoia is palpable, and each conversation feels like a high-stakes battle of wills. The writing (especially in the Michael Katz translation) is sharp, immersive, and eerily modern.
If you love books that explore moral complexity, psychological torment, and the human need for redemption, READ this book, esp. the Katz’s translation.
Absolutely brilliant!!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Jeg vet ikke helt hva jeg skal si, for jeg har så mange tanker og meninger som bare surrer om hverandre i hodet mitt. Jeg tror ikke jeg kommer til å sove i natt, og tror denne vil komme til å være med meg i en veldig lang stund, kanskje hele livet. Jeg håper iallfall det.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nobody does morally grey like Russian authors, and Dostoevsky is no exception. Crime and Punishment is a deep dive into the mind of a criminal, making us sympathize with Raskolnikov while also recognizing exactly what’s wrong with him. He swings between guilt, denial, and even pride in his crime, keeping us constantly questioning his true nature. Did he always intend to kill, or did something in him change afterward? The novel’s brilliance lies in this ambiguity. This is not just a crime story; it’s a psychological masterpiece.
“Life has stepped into the place of theory and something quite different would work itself out in his mind”
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Una obra, tiene una forma de narrar las emociones de forma impecable. Excelente
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
hefty read. interesting!
Crime and Punishment marks the first book I read by Dostoyevsky, and it certainly won’t be my last. This book follows the young and egotistical Raskolnikov and his guilty conscience. Raskolnikov who, seeing an elderly pawn woman as a “lesser” being because of her cruelty and because his own level of intelligence, believes it to be no crime to murder her, as it would also be a benefit to society. The rest of the story follows the aftermath of this crime and his turmoil and denial of remorse.
“Crime? What crime? ... My killing a loathsome, harmful louse, a filthy old moneylender woman
who brought no good to anyone, to murder whom would pardon forty sins, who sucked the
lifeblood of the poor, and you call that a crime ?”
It’s apparent in this book that the author believes one must admit and embrace suffering in order to gain moral redemption, a very anti-nihilistic point of view. It’s rare to find an author who makes his characters’ emotions seem so true-to-life and authentic, but Dostoyevesky did a marvelous job of achieving just that.
“Crime? What crime? ... My killing a loathsome, harmful louse, a filthy old moneylender woman
who brought no good to anyone, to murder whom would pardon forty sins, who sucked the
lifeblood of the poor, and you call that a crime ?”
It’s apparent in this book that the author believes one must admit and embrace suffering in order to gain moral redemption, a very anti-nihilistic point of view. It’s rare to find an author who makes his characters’ emotions seem so true-to-life and authentic, but Dostoyevesky did a marvelous job of achieving just that.