A review by gautamgopalk
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

First published in 1866, Crime and Punishment is a Russian fiction by Fyodor Dostoyevsky about the suffering of a poor university student who has convinced himself to murder an old pawnbroker. The novel deals with the inner workings of the mind of this central character (Rodion Raskolnikov) and the anguish he faces. It is well written and it is an interesting take on the human psyche when it comes to crime. There are long passages which might make the reader go on a philosophical journey, with a focus on themes of suffering, social alienation, economic disparity in society, morality and religion. The plot of the story by itself is simple and not the highlight of the novel.

This could be a disappointing read because of the hype around it. This particular English translation by Constance Garnett isn't good. It can be difficult to relate to the protagonist or feel pity for what he is going through. The pacing of the story isn't consistent which has an overall effect of a boring read.